It’s one of the great days in the college basketball season, as 68 teams will receive invitations to the dance. Bubble teams look to see what happens with their fate, as breaths will be held at 6 pm tonight. Four conference championship games take place, as an eventful championship week wraps up. To view every single conference tournament winner, a great page of every winner is at http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/feature/index?page=champweek2013.
The brackets will be flying off the printers tonight, as if Saint Patrick’s Day festivities aren’t enough to celebrate! Memories of the tournament fill my mind of Saint Patrick’s Day tournament games. Before going over the championship games in conference tournaments today, here is one such memory. It was the second round of the tournament in 2007, when Ohio State and Xavier squared off. Ron Lewis sent the game into overtime after hitting a triple (which made it 62-62), and the Bucks would go on to win, 78-71. What a game it was on Saint Patrick’s Day of ’07.
Video of the Day-
Ohio State Seeks Third Big Ten Tournament Title in Four Years Facing Wisconsin: Tip-off at 3:30 pm on CBS at the United Center (Chicago)
The Buckeyes appear in their fifth straight conference championship contest, as Aaron Craft (20 points in Semifinal vs. Michigan State) and Ohio State come off of a 61-58 victory over Michigan State on Saturday. The game went down-to-the-wire, but it was Aaron Craft who broke out for 18 points in the second half. With 7:22 to go, Craft hit a pair of jumpers, as the Bucks bursted to a 55-47 lead. The Spartans would not go away, as their main form of offense came in transition. Defensively, Ohio State had trouble containing Derrick Nix, who scored 17 points and racked down nine rebounds. He converted on a three-point play with 1:54 left in the Big Ten Tournament Semifinal. A key flagrant foul called on Michigan State with a minute left put Aaron Craft to the line for two free throws and gave the Bucks the ball back. Ohio State will take on Wisconsin, who knocked off the top-seed in the Big Ten Tournament, Indiana. The Badgers have won the last twelve meetings against Indiana, as they look to become the first ever team to win the Big Ten Tournament by means of beating the top two teams in field. Bo Ryan’s team is led by guard Ben Brust, who averages 11.2 points per game. When you look at the leading scorer only averaging 11 a game, you may not think much of the Badgers. This is a true team though, and they slow their pace down offensively and defend the lane extremely well. Reggie Evans scored 16 points against Indiana and freshman Sam Dekker also had 11 points. The Badgers are making their fifth Big Ten Title Game appearance. Ohio State also seeks revenge on the Badgers, who lost to Wisconsin 71-49 on February 17. It was the last fall for the Bucks, who have won seven in a row. They were slowed down offensively by the Badgers, who bodied up Deshaun Thomas and did a great job of denying Craft. Wisconsin may be one of the most underrated squads in college hoops, because they are extremely efficient. It’s a team that is content with holding the ball and broke the Buckeyes down offensively back on February 17. OSU did not have an answer on the road, but we’ll see if Thad Matta’s team can keep their winning streak going
Prediction: I think we’ll see a fantastic championship game, as Aaron Craft needs his 14-16 footer to drop for him. Not only that, but the invaluable hustle plays are huge in this game. I expect this one to go back-and-forth, but I think Bo Ryan’s Badgers will find a way to outlast Ohio State today. They are playing at a really high level.
WISCONSIN
VCU and Saint Louis Meet for the Atlantic 10 Tournament Championship: Tip-off at 1 pm on CBS at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn
Both the Rams and Billicans are in the NCAA Tournament, but neither of them have ever won an Atlantic-10 Title. It’s the inaugural season for VCU in the A-10, while Saint Louis is yet to hoist the A-10 tournament trophy. Two very defensive teams face off, as VCU forces 19.9 turnovers per game, while Saint Louis forced 20 turnovers on Butler on Saturday night. Dwayne Evans scored 24 points on Saturday and racked down 11 rebounds against Butler. Saint Louis won the regular season champs, but now they face Shaka Smart’s Rams. On February 19, when the two teams met last, VCU went ten minutes in the first half without a field goal. They fell 76-62 to the Billicans.
PREDICTION: With Dwayne Evans on a tear, I think that if the Billicans stay efficient and slow down the Rams’ attack, they win this game.
ST. LOUIS
Miami Makes First SEC Championship Game Appearance Against North Carolina: Tip-off at 1 pm on ESPN at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro
North Carolina has fallen twice to Miami this season, as the Hurricanes won 68-59 on January 10 and triumphed past UNC 87-61 on February 9. It is the 32nd championship game appearance for the Tar Heels in the title game. North Carolina is 18-4 in the series against Miami. The Hurricanes are led by sophomore guard Shane Larkin, who averages 14.2 points per game. James Michael McAdoo, the sophomore forward, leads the Tar Heels with 14.5 points per game and 7.5 boards a contest.
PREDICTION: Head coach Jim Larranaga wanted to win the regular season ACC Title. He’s done that. I see the ‘Canes celebrating their other goal today.
MIAMI
Florida Faces Off With Mississippi in the SEC Tournament Title: Tip-off at 1 pm on ABC at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
Florida looks to win its first SEC tournament in six years, while Ole Miss looks for their first tournament title victory since 1981. The Rebels have been a team on the bubble for some time, as they are looking to show the committee what they are made of one last time. It looks as if Ole Miss has done enough, but going into this tournament, there were still questions with them. Florida toppled the Rebels earlier this season on February 2nd, 78-64.
PREDICTION: Billy Donovan’s Gators are quick-paced and stout defensively. They hold off the Rebels.
FLORIDA
The brackets are released at 6 pm. Here are the latest bubble teams from Joe Lunardi
Last Four In
Boise State (21-10, Key wins over Creighton. Only lost to Michigan State, 74-70.
Middle Tennessee (28-5), Key wins over Vanderbilt, Ole Miss.
Ole Miss (25-8), Key wins over Missouri, Tennessee (7th in points per game in the country at 78.2)
La Salle (21-9), Key wins over Butler, VCU, Villanova
First Four Out
Virginia
Maryland
Tennessee
Southern Miss
Right now, tournament analysts say that the Big East will have the most schools in the Big Dance with eight. What a shame that it is to see that conference breaking up.
Get those pencils out. The brackets arrive at 6 pm!
