Location: Norfolk, VA
Nickname: Monarchs
Conference: Colonial Athletic Association
Last Year’s Record: 25-10
Why they’ll make it: With five starters returning, the Monarchs are ready to break the Virginia Commonwealth-George Mason stranglehold on the conference. They weren’t that far away last season; finishing only two games out of first place. What helped them to such a successful season was it’s frontcourt. Led by all-conference center, Gerald Lee, and athletic swingman Ben Finney, the Monarchs out-rebounded its opponents by over seven boards-per-game last season. That helped them win the CollegeInsider.com Tournament championship last season and looks like it’ll lead to a berth to a slightly bigger tournament this season.
Why they won’t make it: Northeastern finished in a third-place tie with ODU last season and has enough talent to throw a serious scare to ODU’s Big Dance dreams. Matt Janning, Manny Adako, and Chaisson Allen, the top-three scorers for the Huskies, all return. The Huskies are primed to move up in the standings and if the Monarchs should falter, they’ll be heading to NCAA tournament.
Bracketville USA 