Week 18 preview (Mar. 7-13)

[Plebe]

I believe all regular season games have been completed. Eight conference tournament champions have been crowned; 24 more will be decided in the next 7 days. Please chime in with any corrections, additions and updates.

This is a pregame and postgame discussion thread. Chat is the place for "in-game" comments.

Rankings (preceding the team name) are noted according to the latest Boneyard poll. Conference tournament seedings are noted in parentheses after the team name.


Sun., Mar. 13

Northeast final​

Bryant (7) at Mount St. Mary’s (3) (12p, ESPNU)​

​

Patriot final​

Bucknell (4) at American (2) (12p, CBSSN)​

​

Colonial final​

Drexel (1) vs. Delaware (2) (1p, FloHoops)​

​

Big 12 final​

#5 Baylor (1) vs. #10 Texas (3) (2p, ESPN2)​

​

Southland final​

SE Louisiana (3) vs. Incarnate Word (5) (2p, CBSSN)​

​

Missouri Valley final:​

Northern Iowa (3) vs. Illinois State (4) (2p, ESPNU)​

Games already played:

Mon., Mar. 7

Horizon semifinals​

IUPUI (1) vs. Oakland (7) (12p, ESPN+)​

Cleveland State (3) vs. Green Bay (4) (2:30p, ESPN+)​

​

Summit League semifinals​

South Dakota State (1) vs. Oral Roberts (4) (1:30p, ESPN+)​

South Dakota (2) vs. Kansas City (3) (4p, ESPN+)​

​

Sun Belt final​

Troy (1) vs. UT Arlington (2) (2p, ESPNU)​

​

WCC semifinals​

#16 BYU (1) vs. Portland (4) (3p, BYUtv)​

Gonzaga (2) vs. San Francisco (3) (5p, BYUtv)​

​

Big East final​

#7 UConn (1) vs. Villanova (2) (8p, FS1)​

​

Quarterfinals: Patriot, Mountain West​

Earlier rounds: AAC, Big Sky​

​

Tues., Mar. 8

Horizon League final​

IUPUI (1) vs. Cleveland State (3) (12p, ESPNU)​

​

Summit League final​

South Dakota State (1) vs. South Dakota (2) (2p, ESPNU)​

​

WCC final​

BYU (1) vs. Gonzaga (2) (4p, ESPNU)​

​

AAC quarterfinals​

#23 UCF (1) vs. Tulsa (8) (1p, ESPN+)​

Temple (4) vs. SMU (5) (3p, ESPN+)​

South Florida (2) vs. Memphis (7) (7p, ESPN+)​

Tulane (3) vs. Houston (6) (9p, ESPN+)​

​

America East semifinals​

Maine (1) vs. NJIT (4) (7p, ESPN+)​

Albany (2) vs. Vermont (3) (7p, ESPN+)​

​

Mountain West semifinals​

UNLV (1) vs. Air Force (5) (8p, ESPN+)​

New Mexico (2) vs. Colorado State (6) (10:30p, ESPN+)​

Quarterfinals: Big Sky​

Earlier rounds: MAAC, WAC, Big West, C-USA​

​

​

Wed., Mar. 9

AAC semifinals​

#23 UCF (1) vs. SMU (5) (5p, ESPN+)​

South Florida (2) vs. Houston (6) (7p, ESPN+)​

​

ASUN semifinals​

Stetson (4) at #22 Florida Gulf Coast (1) (7p, ESPN+)​

Liberty (2) at Jacksonville State (3) (7p, ESPN+)​

​

Big Sky semifinals​

Northern Arizona (4) vs. Northern Colorado (8) (7:30p, ESPN+)​

Montana State (2) vs. Idaho (6) (10p, ESPN+)​

​

Mountain West final​

UNLV (1) vs. Colorado State (6) (10p, CBSSN)​

​

Quarterfinals: MAC, SWAC, MEAC, MAAC, Big West​

Earlier rounds: C-USA, WAC​

​

Thu., Mar. 10

C-USA quarterfinals​

Charlotte (1E) vs. Rice (4W) (12p. Stadium)​

North Texas (2W) vs. Old Dominion (3E) (12:30p, ESPN+)​

Louisiana Tech (1W) vs. UAB (5W) (2p, Stadium)​

Middle Tennessee (2E) vs. Southern Miss (3W) (2:30p, ESPN+)​

​

Patriot League semifinals​

Navy (8) at Bucknell (4) (6p, ESPN+)​

Boston University (3) at American (2) (6p, ESPN+)​

​

Big 12 1st round​

Texas Tech (8) vs. Oklahoma State (9) (6:30p, ESPN+)​

West Virginia (7) vs. TCU (10) (9p, ESPN+)​

​

Northeast semifinals​

Wagner (4) at Fairleigh Dickinson (1) ( (7p, ESPN+)​

Bryant (7) at Mount St. Mary's (3) (7p, ESPN+)​

​

AAC final​

#23 UCF (1) vs. South Florida (2) (9p, ESPNU)​

​

Quarterfinals: MEAC, MAAC​

Earlier rounds: Southland, Colonial, WAC, MVC​

​

Fri., Mar. 11

Mid-American semifinals​

Toledo (1) vs. Ball State (5) (10a, ESPN+)​

Buffalo (2) vs. Akron (3) (12:30p, ESPN+)​

​

Metro Atlantic semifinals​

Fairfield (1) vs. Niagara (4) (11a, ESPN+)​

Quinnipiac (2) vs. Manhattan (3) (1:30p, ESPN+)​

​

Big 12 quarterfinals​

#18 Oklahoma (4) vs. Kansas (5) (12p, ESPN+)​

#5 Baylor (1) vs. Oklahoma State (9) (2:30p, ESPN+)​

#8 Iowa State (2) vs. West Virginia (7) (6p, ESPN+)​

#10 Texas (3) vs. Kansas State (6) (8:30p, ESPN+)​

​

SWAC semifinals​

Alabama State (3) vs. Grambling (7) (12p, ESPN+)​

Jackson State (1) vs. Southern (4) (6:30p, ESPN+)​

​

MEAC semifinals​

Howard (1) vs. Maryland Eastern Shore (5) (12p, ESPN+)​

Morgan State (2) vs. Norfolk State (3) (2p, ESPN+)​

​

Missouri Valley quarterfinals​

Southern Illinois (1) vs Indiana State (8) (1p, ESPN+)​

Illinois State (4) vs. Loyola Chicago (5) (3:30p, ESPN+)​

Missouri State (2) vs. Drake (7) (7p, ESPN+)​

Northern Iowa (3) vs. Valparaiso (6) (9:30p, ESPN+)​

​

Big Sky final​

Montana State (2) vs. Northern Arizona (4) (3p, ESPN+)​

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WAC semifinals​

Stephen F. Austin (1) vs. Utah Valley (4) (3p, ESPN+)​

Grand Canyon (2) vs. Cal Baptist (3) (5:30p, ESPN+)​

​

Big West semifinals​

Hawai’i (1) vs. UC Riverside (4) (3p, ESPN+)​

UC Irvine (2) vs. UC Davis (3) (5:30p, ESPN+)​

​

Ivy League semifinals​

Princeton (1) vs. Harvard (4) (4:30p, ESPN+)​

Columbia (2) vs. Yale (3) (7:30p, ESPN+)​

​

America East final​

Maine (1) vs. Albany (2) (5p, ESPNU)​

​

C-USA semifinals​

Charlotte (1E) vs. North Texas (2W) (5:30p, Stadium)​

Louisiana Tech (1W) vs. Middle Tennessee (2E) (8p, Stadium)​

​

Quarterfinals: Colonial, Southland​

​

Sat., Mar. 12

Mid-American final
Buffalo (2) vs. Ball State (5) (11a, CBSSN)

Metro Atlantic final
Fairfield (1) vs. Manhattan (3) (11a, ESPNN)

Big 12 semifinals
#5 Baylor (1) vs. #18 Oklahoma (4) (1p, ESPN+)
#8 Iowa State (2) vs. #10 Texas (3) (3:30p, ESPN+)

Colonial semifinals
Drexel (1) vs. Charleston (5) (1p, FloHoops)
Delaware (2) vs. Towson (3) (3:30p, FloHoops)

Southland semifinals
Houston Baptist (1) vs. Incarnate Word (5) (2p, ESPN+)
Texas A&M Corpus Christi (2) vs. Southeast Louisiana (4:30p, ESPN+)

SWAC final
Jackson State (1) vs. Alabama State (3) (2:30p, ESPN+)

Missouri Valley semifinals
Southern Illinois (1) vs. Illinois State (4) (2:30p, ESPN+)
Missouri State (2) vs. Northern Iowa (3) (5p, ESPN+)

MEAC final
Howard (1) vs. Norfolk State (3) (4p, ESPN+)

Ivy League final
Princeton (1) vs. Columbia (2) (5p, ESPNN)

WAC final
Stephen F. Austin (1) vs. Grand Canyon (2) (5p, ESPN+)

C-USA final
Charlotte (1E) vs. Louisiana Tech (1W) (5:30p, CBSSN)

ASUN final
Jacksonville State (3) at #22 Florida Gulf Coast (7p, ESPN+)

Big West final
Hawai’i (1) vs. UC Irvine (2) (8p, ESPN+)

 

[azfan]

Tomorrow NAU Lumberjacks as the four seed square off against Montana the 5th seed in what will be the most competitive quarter-final game in the Big Sky tournament.

The teams split the regular season series, each winning at home. This will be a classic offense versus defense. In their last two games NAU gave up 40 points in the first half as coach Payne was unable to motivate the high scoring Lumberjacks to play any defense.

That'll be fatal tomorrow. The Jacks will have to come out playing defense against Montana as the Griz defense will prevent any huge comebacks.

NAU remains a top 10 three-point percentage shooting team in the NCAA and is really stroking the ball with confidence over the last two weeks.

Idle speculation. Loree Payne has done a magnificent job in Flagstaff and has a great pedigree. I wonder if ASU might go to the NAU well again in selecting a woman's head basketball coach?

Tip off at 2:30pm.

Get a preview of the Montana Lady Griz vs. Northern Arizona Lumberjacks basketball game. Montana vs. Northern Arizona - Game Preview - March 8, 2022 - ESPN
via @ESPN App http://espn.com/app

 

[azfan]

BYU/Portland State...very entertaining and physical game. Pilots coach Michael Meeks rocking the sweater vest. It's a block party.

 

[nwhoopfan]

BYU/Portland State

The Pilots are Univ. of Portland. Maybe a bit of slip since you are such a fan of the Big Sky, where the PSU Vikings reside?

 

[azfan]

Gilbert, Arizona native, and 2x WCC player of the year Shaylee Gonzales leads Cougs to a gutsy victory over U of Portland. Payback for the Pilot's win earlier in the season.

40 seconds left and a clock malfunction interrupted the flow of play impacting both teams. Meeks upset because time was running out for the Cougs to get the ball across court. Judkins agitated because stoppage in play allows Pilots to set up their defense.

This was a really hard fought game and both teams played with exceptional energy.

 

[Plebe]

Gilbert, Arizona native, and 2x WCC player of the year Shaylee Gonzales leads Cougs to a gutsy victory over U of Portland. Payback for the Pilot's win earlier in the season.

40 seconds left and a clock malfunction interrupted the flow of play impacting both teams. Meeks upset because time was running out for the Cougs to get the ball across court. Judkins agitated because stoppage in play allows Pilots to set up their defense.

This was a really hard fought game and both teams played with exceptional energy.

Some bubble teams are breathing a sigh of relief. That outcome was very much in doubt until the final minute or so.

Portland led by 4 with less than 6:00 to play but BYU responded with a 10-0 run to retake control. Portland's game gives BYU trouble. They have size in Cochrane, and Fowler and Burnham are very solid. BYU clearly struggles a bit against an effective press.

 

[azfan]

Some bubble teams are breathing a sigh of relief. That outcome was very much in doubt until the final minute or so.

Portland led by 4 with less than 6:00 to play but BYU responded with a 10-0 run to retake control. Portland's game gives BYU trouble. They have size in Cochrane, and Fowler and Burnham are very solid. BYU clearly struggles a bit against an effective press.

Cochrane had 8 blocks. Number 2 in NCAA to Vols Key.

 

[nwhoopfan]

I feel bad for UP, were the AQ for the cancelled '20 Tourney. Unlikely to find themselves Dancing again any time soon.

 

[Plebe]

Cochrane had 8 blocks. Number 2 in NCAA to Vols Key.

Actually, per NCAA's stats site, Cochrane is sightly ahead of Key:

NCAA College Women's Basketball DI current individual Stats | NCAA.com

Discover the current NCAA Division I Women's Basketball leaders in every stats category, as well as historic leaders.

www.ncaa.com

 

[Plebe]

I feel bad for UP, were the AQ for the cancelled '20 Tourney. Unlikely to find themselves Dancing again any time soon.

They can dance in the WNIT this year.

For future years, they can look forward to BYU's departure. Still gotta deal with Gonzaga, of course.

 

[Plebe]

Death, taxes and the South Dakota teams meeting in the Summit League final.

Elsewhere, #2 seed UTA Arlington beats #1 seed Troy for the Sun Belt title. It's UTA's last year in the Sun Belt (they're headed to the WAC) and Shereka Wright's 2nd year as HC.

 

[nwhoopfan]

IUPUI and Cleveland St. advance to Horizon championship game, both won by blow outs.

 

[Lorcan]

IUPUI and Cleveland St. advance to Horizon championship game, both won by blow outs.

I'm still sad that we won't get to see the Penguins go marching in the Big Dance after Youngstown State was upset by #7 Oakland in the quarters.

 

[triaddukefan]

Death, taxes and the South Dakota teams meeting in the Summit League final.

Elsewhere, #2 seed UTA Arlington beats #1 seed Troy for the Sun Belt title. It's UTA's last year in the Sun Belt (they're headed to the WAC) and Shereka Wright's 2nd year as HC.

Dag.... wanted Troy to win just like I wanted Dayton to win yesterday. I was gonna complain about UT-A winning in its last season, but did some quick research and looks like they were kinda forced out by the Sun Belt as they don't have a football program. Shereka Wright name sounds familiar

 

[Plebe]

Shereka Wright name sounds familiar

She was an All-American at Purdue in the early 2000s, played some pro ball; most recently an assistant to Steph White at Vandy.

Also she's a native of Copperas Cove TX near Fort Hood, kinda between Waco and Austin.

 

[nwhoopfan]

We get Gonzaga vs. BYU Part III for the WCC title.

 

[triaddukefan]

In men's action.. the SoCon final almost always delivers a great game in a great venue. . This year is no exception... last second shot to force OT.

 

[Bigboote]

I have the DVR set up to record the Summit final tomorrow. The Yotes and Jacks split the season. I haven't seen either of them this year since they're on ESPN+ now.

 

[triaddukefan]

Sorry to talk about MBB in here, but Unbelievable game in the SoCon... Incredible moment... best men's game I've seen all year. UT-Chattanooga just ripped out Furman's heart

 

[triaddukefan]

Basically the last few minutes in regulation and the entire overtime was back and forth Furman hadn't won the Championship in over 40 years.

 

[triaddukefan]

My last MBB post of the day... just the last 30 seconds of OT

 

[Iluvacc2]

She was an All-American at Purdue in the early 2000s, played some pro ball; most recently an assistant to Steph White at Vandy.

Also she's a native of Copperas Cove TX near Fort Hood, kinda between Waco and Austin.

A great player at Purdue. Somewhat overshadowed on the Big Ten stage by Kelly Mazzante and Lindsay Whalen and on the national stage by Alana Beard, Nicole Powell, and oh some kid named Taurasi

 

[undersized]

8-seed Navy takes down 1-seed Holy Cross with a buzzer beater in the Patriot League quarterfinals.

 

[BRS24]

8-seed Navy takes down 1-seed Holy Cross with a buzzer beater in the Patriot League quarterfinals.

Go Navy! Beat Army! Or so my husband says. Now I gotta figure out how to watch the game.

 

[Plebe]

IUPUI won the Horizon tournament on March 10, 2020, only to see the NCAAT canceled two days later.

Hopefully it doesn't get canceled this year.