In the Big Ten, the newest team is the fastest team and last week Wisconsin found out just how good it was. The Maryland Terrapins are blazing a trail along the midwest guns blazing.
Leading the Terps is their backcourt, specifically their freshman phenom Melo Trimble. He’s been outstanding for Maryland averaging over 16 points and 3 assists per game. Joining Trimble is senior Dez Wells who has been having an outstanding season himself scoring over 15 points per game himself.
Coach Mark Turgeon was on the hot seat before the season started, but he’s squelched any thoughts about his lack of job security. He has his backcourt to thank for that. It’s one that could take Maryland to the Final Four
Conference Tournaments start this week so here are some previews.
ATLANTIC SUN: The Atlantic Sun has gone in a different direction and is holding the entire tournament at campus sites. North Florida won the regular season title and the only team to beat the Ospreys on their homecourt is the South Carolina-Upstate Spartans. The good news for the Ospreys is the Spartans are on the other side of the bracket. I expect North Florida to ride homecourt to the NCAA tournament.
HORIZON LEAGUE: Last year, Milwaukee shocked everyone and made a run to the Big Dance. This year it doesn’t seem to be in the cards. Valparaiso, Green Bay and Detroit are all capable of winning this tournament. Given the fact that the tournament will be played on Valpo’s homecourt and the format protects the higher seeds and I think we’ll see Green Bay and Valpo in the final. In that scenario I expect the Green Bay Phoenix to go dancing.
PATRIOT LEAGUE: This has been a disappointing year overall for the Patriot League. In the past, this has been a league that provided upsets in the tournament. There’s little chance of that happen as the champion will most likely have to play in the First Four. Bucknell is the best program in the league and routinely navigates this tournament. That’ll happen again and the Bison will go dancing.
OHIO VALLEY: Murray St has been the class of the OVC for decades. This year the Racers have been special. They blew through the conference finishing 16-0 in league-play. The next closest teams, Belmont and Eastern Kentucky, have five losses. That means there was no one even close. I don’t expect there to be anyone close to Murray St this week in Nashville. The Racers are going dancing.
BIG SOUTH: This should be one of the better tournaments of the early part of championship week. Charleston Southern and High Point finished atop the league with 13-5 records while Coastal Carolina, Radford and Winthrop all had 12-6 records. In total, seven teams had winning conference records. The tournament will be played at the home of defending champion Coastal Carolina so expect the South Carolina teams to have a strong presence. It will be a Coastal vs. Charleston Southern final with CSU heading back to the tournament.
NORTHEAST: If there has been any truth here its that the homecourt in this tournament has never really mattered. Teams have gone on the road and won in this tournament on a consistent basis. St. Francis (NY) won the regular season title, but I’m willing to bet the Terriers don’t want to see Mount St. Mary’s. The Mountaineers beat the Terriers at home and took them to overtime on the road. I expect the Mountaineers go dancing.
On to the bracket.
Last Four In: UCLA, Texas A&M, Michigan St, Purdue
Last Four Out: BYU, Colorado St, Texas, Stanford
Good for games through 3/1.
MIDWEST
1.Kentucky16.North Florida/Bucknell Louisville
8.Ohio St9.Xavier
5.Northern Iowa12.Stephen F. Austin Columbus
4.Louisville13.Harvard
6.Georgetown11.Tulsa Seattle
3.Gonzaga14.New Mexico St
7.Iowa10.NC State Omaha
2.Kansas15.William & Mary
WEST
1.Arizona16.Sacramento St Portland
8.VCU9.Oklahoma St
5.Butler12.Michigan St/Texas A&M Jacksonville
4.North Carolina13.Bowling Green
6.SMU11.Purdue/UCLA Seattle
3.Oklahoma14.UC Davis
7.Georgia10.Indiana Pittsburgh
2.Villanova15.Georgia Southern
SOUTH
1.Virginia16.Charleston Southern Charlotte
8.St. John’s9.Temple
5.Arkansas12.Wofford Louisville
4.Iowa St13.Valparaiso
6.West Virginia11.Illinois Portland
3.Utah14.North Carolina Central
7.San Diego St10.Oregon Omaha
2.Wisconsin15.Albany
EAST
1.Duke16.St. Francis(NY)/Texas Southern Charlotte
8.LSU9.Dayton
5.Notre Dame12.Louisiana Tech Columbus
4.Wichita St13.Murray St
6.Providence11.Mississippi Jacksonville
3.Baylor14.Iona
7.Cincinnati10.Boise St Pittsburgh
2.Maryland15.South Dakota St
Bracketville USA 