The regular season is officially finished. Every single conference either has their conference tournament this week or, in the case of four conferences, have already sent a team to the national tournament. We had four tightly contested championship games already and it looks like that trend will only continue. Particular congratulations go out to the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs who by winning the Big South are going to their first-ever NCAA Tournament.
For those of you who have been following our This B1G Week post the past few months, we have some final standings to announce. Grant finishes the season with a record of 60-43 (58.3%) and Troy finished with a record of 72-41 (63.7%). Going by percentages this means Troy is our winner, so please send any congratulations or prize money to @t_roystory on Twitter.
Autobids
The following teams have already received automatic bids to the NCAA tournament: Liberty (Atlantic Sun), Gardner-Webb (Big South), Bradley (Missouri Valley), Murray State (Ohio Valley).
Conference Profiles
Times Listed are EST
American (AAC)
- Championship Date - Sunday 3/17 @ 3:15 pm - ESPN
- Thoughts - Houston is a very serious team for this March. They enter their conference tournament with only two loses all year. Cincinnati is their biggest competition but have already lost to them twice. UCF and Temple are looking to sure up their resume for the Big Dance so look for them to give people headaches in the tournament.
- Grant's Projected Winner: UCF
- Troy's Projected Winner: Houston
American East
- Championship Date - Saturday 3/16 @ 11 am - ESPN 2
- Thoughts - Can Cinderella go dancing again? Last year UMBC pulled off one of the most unlikely upsets ever by being the first 16 seed to beat a 1 seed. This year they'll have a tough round to get back to the NCAA Tournament by facing foes Vermont and Stony Brook.
- Grant's Projected Winner: Vermont
- Troy's Projected Winner: Vermont
Atlantic Coast (ACC)
- Championship Date - Saturday 3/16 @ 8:30 pm - ESPN
- Thoughts - Can someone other than the big three (Duke, UNC, and Virginia) challenge for the tournament crown? These three are not only three of the best in the conference but three of the best in the country. I wouldn't count Virginia Tech or Florida State out but right now it's hard to see it not being one of these three.
- Grant's Projected Winner: Virginia
- Troy's Projected Winner: North Carolina
Atlantic-Ten
- Championship Date - Sunday 3/17 @ 1 pm - CBS
- Thoughts - Are VCU and Davidson really ahead of the pack or will someone else challenge them? The team schools have been atop the conference most of the year but a team like Dayton has really come on as of late.
- Grant's Projected Winner: VCU
- Troy's Projected Winner: VCU
Big 12
- Championship Date - Saturday 3/16 @ 6 pm - ESPN
- Thoughts - For the first time since 2004 Kansas does not enter this tournament as conference champions, Kansas State and Texas Tech share that honor. Now the rest of the Big 12 is looking to stop another trend featuring Kansas. The past six tournaments have either been won by Kansas or Iowa State. Both teams have a real chance to keep that alive but I have a feeling they won't.
- Grant's Projected Winner: Texas Tech
- Troy's Projected Winner: Texas Tech
Big East
- Championship Date - Saturday 3/16 @ 6:30 pm - Fox
- Thoughts - Can someone other than Villanova or Marquette make a run? The Big East is hard to judge this year. While these two teams are up top in the standings I could easily see someone from the middle of the conference making a run to a tournament title.
- Grant's Projected Winner: Seton Hall
- Troy's Projected Winner: Villanova
Big Sky
- Championship Date - Saturday 3/16 @ 8 pm - ESPN U
- Thoughts - The Montana Grizzlies enter this tournament as the one seed as they've been for the majority of the conference season. They won the regular season, finishing a game ahead of Northern Colorado. I expect Northern Colorado and Eastern Washington to give the Grizzlies a run for their money.
- Grant's Projected Winner: Montana
- Troy's Projected Winner: Montana
Big Ten
- Championship Date - Sunday 3/17 @ 3:30 pm - CBS
- Thoughts - In a season full of surprises what will surprise us here? I think more than any other conference in the country the Big Ten teams 1-14 have a chance to go far in Chicago. My guess is that it'll still be one of the Michigan schools or Purdue but really anyone could beat anyone.
- Grant's Projected Winner: Michigan
- Troy's Projected Winner: Michigan
Big West
- Championship Date - Saturday 3/16 @ Midnight - ESPN 2
- Thoughts - Will UC Irvine run away with this thing? They have easily been the most impressive team in the conference but who knows what will happen in March when things get weird.
- Grant's Projected Winner: UC Irvine
- Troy's Projected Winner: UC Irvine
Colonial
- Championship Date - Tuesday 3/12 @ 7 pm - CBS Sports
- Thoughts - Hofstra comes in as the favorite to win this tournament. They're a solid team with a win total in the mid-20s that could be a tough out in the national tournament. The Pride will face challenges from Northeastern and Charleston if they want to go dancing.
- Grant's Projected Winner: Hofstra
- Troy's Projected Winner: Hofstra
Conference USA
- Championship Date - Saturday 3/16 @ 8:30 pm - CBS Sports
- Thoughts - Old Dominion has been the team expected to win their league for awhile. A logjam at spots 2-7 have allowed them to win the regular season despite losing their final two games. Still, even with struggles recently, I think the Monarchs can go dancing.
- Grant's Projected Winner: Old Dominion
- Troy's Projected Winner: Old Dominion
Horizon
- Championship Date - Tuesday 3/12 @ 7 pm - ESPN
- Thoughts - Wright State and Northern Kentucky lead the league in a seemingly two-horse race to claim the autobid. The two split their two regular-season matchups, each by 4 points, and if they meet in the title game it'll be very competitive.
- Grant's Projected Winner: Northern Kentucky
- Troy's Projected Winner: Wright St
Ivy League
- Championship Date - Sunday 3/17 @ Noon - ESPN 2
- Thoughts - Who will take the smart way out of New Haven (pun very much intended)? This is only the second year of the Ivy League mini-tournament and will be a competitive one. Yale, Princeton, and Harvard look like they'll be duking it out and I hardly expect Penn will be able to win it.
- Grant;s Projected Winner: Harvard
- Troy's Projected Winner: Harvard
Metro Atlantic (MAAC)
- Championship Date - Monday 3/11 @ 9 pm - ESPN/ESPN 2
- Thoughts - The MAAC will be one of the most competitive tournaments out there. The top half of the league is separated by a very thin margin. While the winner probably won't get a very good seed, most teams are just barely above .500 or below it, yet it'll be a fun tournament to watch.
- Grant's Projected Winner: Iona
- Troy's Projected Winner: Iona
Mid-America (MAC)
- Championship Date - Saturday 3/16 @ 7:30 pm - ESPN 2
- Thoughts - Will someone be able to steal a bid from another conference? Buffalo is definitely in the Big Dance so if they don't win their tournament a bubble team will be biting their nails. Bowling Green was the only other school to come close to matching the Bulls so if someone steals the bid I think it'll be them.
- Grant's Projected Winner: Buffalo
- Troy's Projected Winner: Buffalo
Mid-East Atlantic (MEAC)
- Championship Date - Saturday 3/16 @ 1 pm - ESPN 2
- Thoughts - The MEAC conference should come down to two teams, Norfolk St and North Carolina A&T, the favorite of those two being Norfolk. The Spartans led the league for the majority of this season and the only reason why they only won by a single game was a loss in the last game of the season.
- Grant's Projected Winner: Norfolk St
- Troy's Projected Winner: Norfolk St
Mountain West
- Championship Date - Saturday 3/16 @ 6 PM - CBS
- Thoughts - The question here is can anyone besides Utah State, challenge Nevada? The Wolfpack are easily in the tournament and will probably be at worst a three seed. Utah State is a bubble team and will be looking to make the tournament by winning it or at least looking impressive.
- Grant's Projected Winner: Nevada
- Troy's Projected Winner: Nevada
Northeast
- Championship Date - Tuesday 3/12 @ 7 pm - ESPN 2
- Thoughts - The Northeast should be another competitive conference tournament. The top of the league is tightly contested and that should translate into a battle in the tournament.
- Grant's Projected Winner: Fairleigh Dickinson
- Troy's Projected Winner: St Francis
PAC 12
- Championship Date - Saturday 3/16 @ 10:30 pm - ESPN
- Thoughts - Will a Power Five school really only get one team in the tournament? The PAC 12 is just a bad league. Before their tournament starts there are only two teams that have a chance at the Big Dance. Washington should be in so currently the PAC 12 looks like the Mountain West, one team in, one on the bubble (Arizona State), and the rest only being able to get in if they win the tournament.
- Grant's Projected Winner: Arizona St
- Troy's Projected Winner: Arizona St
Patriot
- Championship Date - Wednesday 3/13 @ 7:30 pm - CBS Sports
- Thoughts - The Patriot League should be a three-legged race to the finish. Bucknell, Lehigh, and Colgate are atop the conference and I expect the winner to the tournament to come out of that trio.
- Grant's Projected Winner: Bucknell
- Troy's Projected Winner: Bucknell
Southern
- Championship Date - Monday 3/11 @ 7 pm - ESPN
- Thoughts - Let's talk about Wofford. They've been outstanding this season and have set themselves up for a real chance to make the tournament even if they don't win their tournament. If it isn't the Terriers I expect the winner to be UNC Greensboro, Furman, or East Tennessee State.
- Grant's Projected Winner: Wofford
- Troy's Projected Winner: Wofford
Southeast (SEC)
- Championship Date - Sunday 3/17 @ Noon - ESPN
- Thoughts - The SEC has three teams that will make the tournament and a handful that need to prove something in the SEC Tournament to make the Big Dance. Kentucky, LSU, and Tennessee are clearly the three best teams so you'd expect one of them to win but there are a few other teams that can challenge them.
- Grant's Projected Winner: Tennessee
- Troy's Projected Winner: Tennessee
Southland
- Championship Date - Saturday 3/16 @ 9:30 pm - ESPN 2
- Thoughts - Sam I am I going to dance? Sam Houston State is the best team in this conference and is the favorite to make the tournament. New Orleans, Abilene Christian, and SE Louisiana should have something to say about it but I expect the Bearkats to win this conference tournament.
- Grant's Projected Winner: Abilene Christian
- Troy's Projected Winner: Sam Houston State
Southwest (SWAC)
- Championship Date - Saturday 3/16 @ 4 pm - ESPN U
- Thoughts - It would be a serious upset if Prairie View didn't win this thing. The Panthers only lost one conference game and finished three games clear of second place. Texas Southern might challenge them but I fully expect it to be Prairie representing the SWAC.
- Grant's Projected Winner: Prairie View A&M
- Troy's Projected Winner: Prairie View A&M
Summit
- Championship Date - Tuesday 3/12 @ 9 pm - ESPN 2
- Thoughts - Will Mike Daum finish his fantastic college career by leading the Jack Rabbits to another tournament appearance? South Dakota State has established themselves as a top team in the Summit and if they can get past the likes of Omaha I think they could be a real upset bid in the Big Dance.
- Grant's Projected Winner: North Dakota State
- Troy's Projected Winner: Omaha
Sun Belt
- Championship Date - Sunday 3/17 @ 2 pm - ESPN 2
- Thoughts - The Sun Belt is going to be very competitive come the semi-final round. Georgia State won the regular season but only a game seperated them from fourth place. This will be a very interesting tournament to watch, particularly if the final four are Georgia State, Georgia Southern, Texas State, UT Arlington.
- Grant's Projected Winner: Georgia State
- Troy's Projected Winner: Georgia State
Western (WAC)
- Championship Date - Saturday 3/16 @ 10 pm - ESPN U
- Thoughts - New Mexico State is the favorite going into this tournament. They led the league for most of conference play and I don't think the other schools will catch them, especially not Chicago State who didn't win a single conference game and only won 3 games this year.
- Grant's Projected Winner: New Mexico State
- Troy's Projected Winner: New Mexico State
West Coast
- Championship Date - Tuesday 3/12 @ 9 pm - ESPN
- Thoughts - Will anyone be able to challenge Gonzaga in the WCC. The Zags are in line for a one seed in the NCAA tournament and haven't really been challenged in their conference this year. Can someone like Saint Mary's, San Francisco, or even BYU be able to take them down?
- Grant's Projected Winner: Gonzaga
- Troy's Projected Winner: Gonzaga
Schedule
Championship Games Bolded
Listed by the round of Tournament
Monday 11th:
- SOUTHERN - CHAMPIONSHIP - 7 PM - ESPN
- MAAC - CHAMPIONSHIP - 9 PM - ESPN/2
- Colonial - Semi-Finals
- Horizon - Semi-Finals - ESPN U
- Summit - Semi-Finals - ESPN +
- West Coast - Semi-Finals - ESPN/2
- MAC - First Round - ESPN +
- MEAC - First Round
Tuesday 12th:
- COLONIAL - CHAMPIONSHIP - 7 PM - CBS Sports
- HORIZON - CHAMPIONSHIP - 7 PM - ESPN
- NORTHEAST - CHAMPIONSHIP - 7 PM - ESPN 2
- SUMMIT - CHAMPIONSHIP - 9 PM - ESPN 2
- WEST COAST - CHAMPIONSHIP - 9 pm - ESPN
- American East - Semi-Finals - ESPN +
- SWAC - Quarter-Finals
- ACC - First Round - ESPN/U
- MEAC - First Round
- Sun Belt - First Round - ESPN +
Wednesday 13th:
- PATRIOT - CHAMPIONSHIP - 7:30 PM - CBS SPORTS
- MEAC - Quarter-Finals
- ACC - Second Round - ESPN/2
- Atlantic-Ten - First Round - ESPN +
- Big 12 - First Round - ESPN U
- Big East - First Round - FS1
- Big Sky - First Round
- Big Ten - First Round - BTN
- Conference USA - First Round - ESPN +
- Mountain West - First Round - Stadium
- PAC 12 - First Round - PAC 12 Network
- SEC - First Round - SEC Network
- Southland - First Round - ESPN +
Thursday 14th:
- ACC - Quarter-Finals - ESPN
- Big 12 - Quarter-Finals - ESPN 2
- Big East - Quarter-Finals - FS1
- Big Sky - Quarter-Finals
- Big West - Quarter-Finals - ESPN3
- Conference USA - Quarter-Finals - Stadium
- MAC - Quarter-Finals - ESPN +
- MEAC - Quarter-Finals
- Mountain West - Quarter-Finals - CBS Sports
- PAC 12 - Quarter-Finals - PAC 12 Network
- WAC - Quarter-Finals - ESPN +
- Atlantic-Ten - Second Round - NBC Sports
- Big Ten - Second Round - BTN
- SEC - Second Round - SEC Network
- Southland - Second Round - ESPN +
- Sun Belt - Second Round - ESPN +
- AAC - First Round - ESPN U
Friday 15th:
- ACC - Semi-Finals - ESPN
- Big 12 - Semi-Finals - ESPN 2
- Big East - Semi-Finals - FS1
- Big Sky - Semi-Finals
- Big West - Semi-Finals - ESPN3
- Conference USA - Semi-Finals - CBS Sports
- MAC - Semi-Finals - CBS Sports
- MEAC - Semi-Finals
- Mountain West - Semi-Finals - CBS Sports
- PAC 12 - Semi-Finals - PAC 12 Network/ESPN
- Southland - Semi-Finals - ESPN +
- SWAC - Semi-Finals
- WAC - Semi-Finals - ESPN +
- AAC - Quarter-Finals - ESPN 2/U
- Atlantic-Ten - Quarter-Finals - NBC Sports
- Big Ten - Quarter-Finals - BTN
- SEC - Quarter-Finals - ESPN/SEC Network
- Sun Belt - Quarter-Finals - ESPN +
Saturday 16th:
- AMERICAN EAST - CHAMPIONSHIP - 11 AM - ESPN 2
- MEAC - CHAMPIONSHIP - 1 PM - ESPN 2
- SWAC - CHAMPIONSHIP - 4 PM - ESPN U
- BIG 12 - CHAMPIONSHIP - 6 PM - ESPN
- MOUNTAIN WEST - CHAMPIONSHIP - 6 PM - CBS
- BIG EAST - CHAMPIONSHIP - 6:30 PM - FOX
- MAC - CHAMPIONSHIP - 7:30 PM - ESPN 2
- BIG SKY - CHAMPIONSHIP - 8 PM - ESPN U
- ACC - CHAMPIONSHIP - 8:30 PM - ESPN
- CONFERENCE USA - CHAMPIONSHIP - 8:30 PM - CBS SPORTS
- SOUTHLAND - CHAMPIONSHIP - 9:30 - ESPN 2
- WAC - CHAMPIONSHIP - 10 PM - ESPN U
- PAC 12 - CHAMPIONSHIP - 10:30 PM - ESPN
- BIG WEST - CHAMPIONSHIP - MIDNIGHT - ESPN 2
- AAC - Semi-Finals - ESPN 2
- Atlantic-Ten - Semi-Finals - CBS Sports
- Big Ten - Semi-Finals - CBS
- Ivy League - Semi-Finals - ESPN U
- SEC - Semi-Finals - ESPN
- Sun Belt - Semi-Finals - ESPN +
Sunday 17th:
- IVY LEAGUE - CHAMPIONSHIP - NOON - ESPN 2
- SEC - CHAMPIONSHIP - NOON - ESPN
- ATLANTIC-TEN - CHAMPIONSHIP - 1 PM - CBS
- SUN BELT - CHAMPIONSHIP - 2 PM - ESPN 2
- AAC - CHAMPIONSHIP - 3:15 PM - ESPN
- BIG TEN - CHAMPIONSHIP - 3:30 PM - CBS
To stay up to date on the newest Head in the Game articles (and general sports commentary), follow @headingameblog on Twitter. You can also find us on Twitter @T_RoyStory (Troy)
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