This is going to be a massive preview of the remaining 11 conference tournament championship games, but we still have plenty of other basketball to be played in semifinals games, and finally the Ivy League tipped off this morning. In total, we have 13 conference tournament championship games today. I'll preview these championship games in order of tip off. and we will have significant changes in the pool standings after today is over. It will be clear who the contenders are going to be into Selection Sunday. 🏀
SWAC
At 4:30 PM CST the SWAC championship game will tip off with (2) Grambling State vs. (8) Texas Southern. 57% of our pool picks are on Grambling State, but we do have 3 people with Texas Southern. A Grambling State win helps the top half of the standings while a Texas Southern win will help some mid pack people move towards the top. Grambling State is favored by 3.5 points, this should be a close game that has significant impacts to our pool. 😓
Big 12
At 5:00 PM CST the chalky Big 12 matchup tips off with (1) Kansas vs. (2) Texas. Almost 32% of our pool is on Kansas, however we do have a few scattered people on Texas. A Kansas win is bad for Tim and Heffron as it gives the middle class an opportunity to get back into the running. Kansas is only favored by 2.5, which indicates we should have another close conference tournament championship game.
Mountain West
In an early start for Mountain West conference standards, we have (1) San Diego State vs. (3) Utah State in yet another important championship game for our pool. This is becoming a theme. Sure, over 50% of our picks are backing San Diego State, San Diego State was the huge favorite coming into the tournament, however they are only favored by 2 points tonight. A Utah State win would be monumental for Team TNT, DD and Sohler. This is a game to keep a close eye on that can muck up the top of the standings or create separation. 🌄
Big East
Finally, we have a conference tournament championship game that is not critical to our pool! At 5:30 PM CST we get the chalk matchup of (1) Marquette vs. (2) Xavier in the Big East and much of the pool was eliminated trying to get some bonus points. This game is important to DD and Novak, but without bonus points being awarded it doesn't become super critical. 🤷
MAC
That didn't take long. We're back to a super critical important game with (1) Toledo vs. (2) Kent State in the MAC. More chalk. Of the remaining people in this conference the picks are split evenly between these 2 teams, with the top 13 people all alive and hoping for a win. I love the line on this game, EVEN!
MAAC
Also, at 6:30 PM CST, we have an odd matchup in the MAAC. The perennial Pitino led favorite (1) Iona is facing "Cinderella" (11) Marist. Yes, an eleven seed. Marist got half its seasons conference wins over the last 3 days, that is an insane stat. Obviously nobody has Marist, which means 69% of us are going to get a win here or 100% of us get nothing. Looking at the top of our standings, an Iona win is going to hurt DD and Jenn, hopefully they have a good day up until this game to keep up. 🤞
ACC
This is an awesome matchup for the ACC championship! (2) Virginia will face (4) Duke at 7:30 PM CST. Half the pool is still in this one and the picks alternate between Virginia and Duke. I've definitely used this phrase too much, but this game is HUGE for our pool standings, and I can't wait for this one. 😂
Conference USA
I am fatigued at this point writing all these summaries, but I signed up for this, let's keep going. Also, at 7:30 PM CST, (1) Florida Atlantic will face (3) UAB for the Conference USA championship. 43% of our picks are on Florida Atlantic, but UAB is not that far behind. As good as Florida Atlantic is, UAB is favored by 1.5 points and if UAB wins the top half of the pool is going to start to separate themselves from the pack.
Big West
Getting later into the night, at 8:30 PM CST the Big West conference tournament championship will tip off as (2) UC Santa Barbara plays (4) CS Fullerton. The people at the top of the standings are on UC Santa Barbara, but as you scroll down the standings you will see many people with CS Fullerton. This could be a nice late-night win for some mid pack people if things break the right way. UC Santa Barbara is favored by 2.5 points, it's reasonable to think CS Fullerton could win this game.
PAC 12
We are getting close to the finish line with today's preview. In the PAC 12 we'll have a chalk matchup with (1) UCLA taking on (2) Arizona, no bonus points will be available for this 9:30 PM CST game. All but 2 people are in this one and we're evenly spread across UCLA and Arizona. This should be a super fun late-night matchup with almost all of us involved from a pool perspective. I love that again we have a line on this game that is EVEN!
WAC
We made it to the end! Our night ends with a 10:30 PM CST tip off time in the WAC with (3) Southern Utah vs. (5) Grand Canyon. This game is all about Tim Husted and only Tim Husted. While most of the pool is eliminated, Tim has Grand Canyon, and a win here could clinch a pool victory for him, or at least put him in a great position for Selection Sunday. Southern Utah is a 1-point favorite, so it's not out of the question for Grand Canyon to win.
That was a ton to go over, now it's time to sit back and watch the games! I will be posting shorer blog entries throughout today so we can keep up with the every changing standings. The current standings are located here for those that don't yet have the linked saved. Enjoy the games! 😃
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