Conference Tournaments Tip Offs: SoCon, CAA, Southland, Big Sky and America East

Notable: First-place East Tennessee State (21-10, 13-5) has lost games to each of the teams seeded Nos. 2 through 4

ETSU was the dominant team in the SoCon for 80 percent of the regular season, until taking losses to the other top teams in the league. But they’re still the favorite by default, considering that the No. 2 seed has seven losses in league play and Nos. 2 through 9 are separated by just four games in the standings.

As mentioned, Wofford (19-12, 11-7), Samford (18-13, 11-7) and Mercer (19-12, 11-7) all have recent wins over East Tennessee State, so they’re more than capable of doing it again in this tournament. Samford could be the best bet to break through, led by the SoCon Player of the Year, 6-foot-2 senior guard Jadin Booth (21.2 points per game). 

CAA

Dates: March 6-10

TV: FloHoops, CBSSN

Notable: Preseason favorite Towson is the No. 7 seed in the CAA Tournament

UNC Wilmington (26-5, 15-3) is the top seed but coming off a loss to No. 2 seed Charleston (21-10, 14-4), who are fully equipped after dealing with various injuries and eligibility issues throughout the season. No. 3 seed Hofstra (21-10, 12-6) is another contender, led by the CAA’s leading scorer, 6-foot-3 junior guard Cruz Davis (20.3 points, 4.6 assists).

While they aren’t likely to win the entire tournament, there are a couple of teams who can pull off at least one upset. Towson (17-14, 9-9) may have been a disappointment overall but they still have last year’s CAA Player of the Year, 6-foot-8 junior forward Tyler Tejada (16.3 points). There’s also William & Mary (19-11, 10-8), a balanced offensive squad that did manage to sweep UNCW in the regular season. 

Southland 

Dates: March 8-11

TV: ESPN+, ESPNU, ESPN2

Notable: Incarnate Word, Lamar (who has since fired Coach Alvin Brooks), East Texas A&M, and Southeastern Louisiana all failed to qualify for the Southland Tournament

In its second year back in the Southland, Stephen F. Austin (27-4, 20-2) has won the regular season title, barely beating out the other contender, McNeese State (26-5, 19-3). Both teams have a star leading them in 6-foot senior guard Keon Thompson (18.1 points and 4.4 assists per game for Stephen F. Austin) and Larry Johnson, a 6-foot-4 freshman guard who tops McNeese with 17.2 points per game.

Both teams are big favorites to meet again, but they did lose to other teams, including No. 3 seed Texas-Rio Grande Valley (18-13, 14-8) and New Orleans (14-17, 12-10), which is led by a pair of all-league senior guards in 6-foot-1 Coleton Benson (16.2 points) and 6-foot Jakevion Buckley (14.2 points, 5.7 assists). Assuming they make it to the semis, these two could make things interesting for the top seeds.

America East

Dates: March 7, 10, 14

TV: ESPN+, ESPN2

Notable: Last-place Binghamton did not qualify for the tournament; higher seeds host games throughout AEC Tournament

For the first time since the Ryan Odom era, UMBC (21-8, 14-2) is the No. 1 seed in this tournament, boasting the top scoring offense and defense in the conference. The Retrievers enter the event on a nine-game win streak, with the last loss coming against No. 2 seed and perennial AEC juggernaut Vermont (20-11, 12-4). The Catamounts are led by 6-foot-9 sophomore forward Gus Yalden (16.8 points, 5.9 rebounds).

It would’ve been viewed as a three-team battle at the top including NJIT (15-16, 10-6) but the Highlanders are coming into the tournament on a four-game losing skid, including a 39-point home loss to UMBC. And UMass Lowell (14-17, 9-7) went 0-6 against the top three seeds. It’ll be a surprise if it’s not UMBC vs. Vermont in the title game.

Big Sky

Dates: March 7-11

TV: ESPN+, ESPNU, ESPN2

Notable: One of six conferences whose regular season champion and No. 1 seed has at least five losses

After dominating the Big Sky in the first half of league play, Portland State (19-10, 13-5) enters the tournament having lost four of the last six games. They still have one of the top players in the conference in 6-foot-8 senior forward Terry Miller Jr., who ranks second in the league with 18.9 points per game.

The man who leads the Big Sky in scoring is Montana’s Money Williams (19.6 points, 5.0 assists), who combined to score 51 points in two wins against Portland State. That makes the Grizzlies (16-15, 10-8) a darkhorse No. 4 seed, while Montana State (18-13, 12-6) also has a recent win over the Vikings and has a three-game win streak entering the tournament.