March Madness is already underway. On Monday, we previewed tournaments in the Atlantic Sun, Patriot league, Sun Belt, Horizon League and Big South. Today we have advanced looks at five more leagues.
Get ready for tipoff — and blastoff.
Northeast
Dates: March 5-11
TV: NEC Front Row (streaming), ESPN+, ESPN2
Notables: Mercyhurst, which would have been the No. 3 seed, isn’t participating or eligible for postseason due to reclassification. No. 6 seed Stonehill and No. 7 seed Le Monye aren’t eligible, either.
Only six teams in this field are even eligible for the NCAA Tournament since so many are fairly new D-I programs. One who is eligible is Central Connecticut (23-6, 14-2), which owns the nation’s longest active winning streak at 12. Ranked 11th in scoring defense (63 points per game), the Blue Devils stand as the clear favorite.
One of Central Connecticut’s two league losses came at home to Long Island (16-15, 12-4), which has won six straight itself to be a genuine threat. The Sharks are another good defensive unit with a quality go-to scoring option in Malachi Davis, a 6-foot-4 senior guard from Arizona State who is averaging 19.6 points per game in the last seven outings.
Summit League
Dates: March 5-9
TV: Summit League Network (subscription), CBSSN (for semis and finals)
Notables: No 2 seed St. Thomas ineligible due to reclassification
The last time South Dakota State (20-11, 11-5) wasn’t a top-two seed in the Summit Tournament was 2017. Yet the Jackrabbits are still a clear contender to win this event, led by 6-foot-11 senior center Oscar Cluff (17.3 points and 12.2 rebounds per game). However, the underclassmen backcourt core may be what holds the Jackrabbits back.
The 1 seed here is Omaha (19-12, 13-3), with this being the best chance for it to make their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. Senior forward Marquel Sutton (18.8 points, 7.5 rebounds per game) is playing the best basketball of his career, scoring 20 plus points in six straight games, including 32 in a win over South Dakota.
Omaha may be rooting hard for St. Thomas to win its side of the bracket. If the seeds hold up and the Tommies defeat South Dakota State in the semis, whomever they’d play in the finals would automatically get the autobid to the NCAA Tournament.
Ohio Valley
Dates: March 5-8
TV: ESPN+, ESPNU, ESPN2
Notables: No. 6 seed Lindenwood is ineligible due to reclassification
Even though only the top eight teams qualify, the bracket is set up nicely for the top teams to advance. Southeast Missouri State (20-11, 15-5) had won 10 straight games before its regular season finale loss to Eastern Illinois. The Redhawks have arguably the best backcourt in the OVC, with 5-foot-10 junior guard Rob Martin and 6-foot-2 senior ball handler Tedrick Washington combining for 28.9 points and 7.1 assists per game.
There’s a chance that SEMO’s biggest threat could come in the semis if No. 4 seed Little Rock (18-13, 12-8), the preseason No. 1 team in the OVC. They’ve dealt with injuries but still have 6-foot-6 junior Johnathan Lawson, who leads the team with 15.3 points and 3.5 assists per game. But they’ll likely have to beat Morehead State (15-16, 10-10), a perennial contender in this league.
Missouri Valley
Dates: March 6-9
TV: ESPN, CBSSN, CBS (finals)
Notables: Drake (27-3, 17-3) is an at-large contender, though it may not be able to afford a loss in the MVC Tournament
All eyes will be on Drake, a team with enough talent to make noise in the Big Dance if it can get there. Likely MVC Player of the Year and 6-foot-guard Bennett Stirtz (18.9 points and 5.9 assists per game) is the key guy to watch, having scored 23 or more points in three of the last four games.
However, based on how the Bulldogs have played as of late, there are multiple teams that can potential bid thieves. No. 2 seed Bradley (24-7, 15-5) is the last team to beat Drake, while Northern Iowa (20-11, 14-6) took Drake to overtime as well. One darkhorse to watch is No. 4 seed Belmont (21-10, 13-7), a potent scoring unit led by 6-foot-9 senior wing Jonathan Pierre (14.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game).
West Coast Conference
Dates: March 6-11
TV: ESPN+, ESPN2, ESPN
Notables: Both Saint Mary’s (27-4, 17-1) and Gonzaga (23-8, 14-4) are safely in the NCAA Tournament field.
Before the Sun Belt’s big format change, the WCC was the first to create multiple byes for its top seeds. It hasn’t mattered much either way, as either the Bulldogs or Gaels have won the tournament title every year since 2008 (San Diego). After sweeping Gonzaga in the regular season, Saint Mary’s is looking for an unprecedented third win over its rivals.
That doesn’t mean those two will have easy paths to the title game. Santa Clara (20-11, 12-6) and San Francisco (23-8, 13-5) are ranked in the top 65 in Kenpom and the Broncos have a road win over Gonzaga in the regular season, while the Dons are the lone league team to beat Saint Mary’s. Still, history tells us most likley be playing on Tuesday night in Las Vegas.
