Montana

Thursday's NCAA Tournament Games to Watch

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 01:47:35 -0700

With CHN's Greg Mengelt handling previews and predictions for every game the daily preview will look a little different for the NCAA tournament, with the focus being the game of the day in each region. Below are the games on Thursday's slate that you should make time for, and with four networks (CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV) showing every game in its entirety, there's no excuse (besides a lack of TVs or laptops) for you to not have a multiple TV/computer setup in your home. Enjoy the games.

Albuquerque: (4) Wisconsin vs. (13) Montana
2:10 PM EST; TNT

Many have gone with the Grizzlies in this one, citing the Badgers' reliance on the 3-pointer and the quality of Montana guards Will Cherry and Kareem Jamar. Those are indeed good reasons to go with Wayne Tinkle's team to win, not to metion Derek Selvig insde. However keep in mind that Bo Ryan is 9-1 at Wisconsin in opening games in the NCAA tournament, having won five straight.

They'll be prepared for what Montana looks to throw at them, and with an experienced leader in point guard Jordan Taylor Wisconsin will be tough to knock off. Cherry will draw that defensive assignment, and the Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year is capable of getting the job done. The winner gets the winner of the Vanderbilt/Harvard matchup on Saturday, with the winner of this four-team pod off to Boston for next week's East Regional.

Rest of the day in Albuquerque
(5) Vanderbilt vs. (12) Harvard; 4:40 PM EST (TNT)
(3) Baylor vs. (14) South Dakota State; 7:27 PM EST (truTV)
(6) UNLV vs. (11) Colorado; 9:57 PM EST (truTV)

Louisville: (8) Iowa State vs. (9) Connecticut
9:20 PM EST; TBS

Many have jumped to the conclusion that the Huskies will take on Kentucky on Saturday, and that's a very dangerous position to take especially if the UConn players take the same approach. At 6-9, 270 Iowa State's Royce White is the kind of player that UConn hasn't seen this season, as he runs the point and is just as good at distributing as he is at scoring himself. Roscoe Smith will iikely get the call defensively but he doesn't have the physical strength of White.

Just as important for the Huskies will be the play of their big men, led by Andre Drummond and Alex Oriakhi. Outside of White the Huskies have a clear edge in the paint, but that's only as effective as they make it. How well UConn defends the three will also be important as the Cyclones are a very good perimeter shooting team. Scott Christopherson and Chris Allen can both knock down shots, and Chris Babb will have the task of guarding Jeremy Lamb. This one's going to go down to the wire.

Rest of the day in Louisville
(6) Murray State vs. (11) Colorado State, 12:15 PM EST (CBS)
(3) Marquette vs. (14) BYU, 2:45 PM EST (CBS)
(1) Kentucky vs. (16) Western Kentucky (TBS)

Pittsburgh: (7) Gonzaga vs. (10) West Virginia
7:20 PM EST; TNT

Arguably the most overrated aspect of this game is the fact that Pittsburgh is 90 minutes away from Morgantown. Sure the Mountaineers will likely enjoy an advantage when considering the crowd but it isn't as if natives of the Steel City are lining up to cheer on WVU. Gonzaga should (and likely will) be more concerned with senior foward Kevin Jones, who led the Big East in both scoring and rebounding this season. Elias Harris and Robert Sacre' need to bring it from an effort standpoint if they're to slow Jones down.

The other key aspect of this matchup is the decision-making of West Virginia's guards, most notably Truck Bryant. If the senior's struggling in this regard then the freshmen are likely to follow suit. Kevin Pangos has been one of the best freshman guards in the country for Gonzaga, and classmate Gary Bell Jr. is also capable of breaking out. Keeping WVU off the boards is the one thing Gonzaga has to do in order to win, but that's definitely possible.

Rest of the day in Pittsburgh
(8) Kansas State vs. (9) Southern Miss, 12:40 PM EST (truTV)
(1) Syracuse vs. (16) UNC Asheville, 3:10 PM EST (truTV)
(2) Ohio State vs. (15) Loyola (MD), 9:50 PM EST (TNT)

Portland: (5) Wichita State vs. (12) VCU
7:15 PM EST; CBS

There weren't too many people thrilled with this matchup, especially if you're a fan of the mid-major. Both the Shockers and Rams have the potential to reach New Orleans, but after this battle only one of them will remain in the field. VCU is going to throw their "havoc" system at Wichita State throughout, and if the Shockers are unable to handle that pressure it could be a long night in Portland. Joe Ragland was very good this season for WSU and they've got other solid options on the perimeter as well.

There are two keys for VCU: Bradford Burgess plays well, and D.J. Haley and Juvonte Reddic can combine to perform well against All-MVC center Garrett Stutz. Gregg Marshall's Shockers have enough talent and depth to handle the VCU pressure with a minimal number of turnovers, and if they can the dynamic of the game will change. Both head coaches will be hot names on the open job market during the offseason but that's of little concern to either team at this point in the season.

Rest of the day in Portland
(4) Louisville vs. (13) Davidson, 1:40 PM EST (TBS)
(5) New Mexico vs. (12) Long Beach State, 3:10 PM EST (TBS)
(4) Indiana vs. (13) New Mexico State, 9:45 PM EST (CBS)

Wisconsin vs Montana: Prediction

Greg Mengelt — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 20:57:46 -0700

(4) Wisconsin vs. (13) Montana: East Region

Records

Wisconsin 24-9, 12-6 Big Ten (At large)

Montana 25-6, 15-1 Big Sky (Conference Tourney Champions)

Time: 2:10 p.m. Thursday

TV: TNT

Location: The Pit in Albuquerque, N.M.

Winner will face: (5) Vanderbilt or (12) Harvard, Saturday

Rankings

Wisconsin No. 14 AP; No. 13 ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll

Montana No. No. 39 ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll

RPI Ratings

Wisconsin 22

Montana 75

Line: Wisconsin -8½ (O/U 110)

Players to Watch

Wisconsin: G Jordan Taylor, 6-1 Sr. (14.7 ppg, 4 apg, 3.7 rpg); F Ryan Evans, 6-6 Jr. (10.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.6 apg); C Jared Berggren, 6-10 Jr. (10.5 ppg, 5 rpg, 45.1% FG). As the focus of opposing defenses, Taylor was inconsistent during his season year, but he was solid at the end of the season. He scored in double-figures in the Badgers’ last five games, averaging nearly 14 points and three assists in that span.

Montana: G Will Cherry, 6-1 Jr. (16 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 3.4 apg); F Kareem Jamar, 6-5 So. (13.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3.7 apg); F Derek Selvig, 7-0 Sr. (9.2 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 3 apg). Selvig came up huge in the Big Sky championship game win over Weber State. He was 6-for-12 from the field with 16 points, nine rebounds and three assists as the Grizzlies took the title, 85-66.

Why Each Team is Dangerous

Wisconsin: No team plays better defense than Bo Ryan’s Badgers, who held opponents to under 38 percent from the floor (eighth-best in the country), 28.9 percent from the 3-point line (seventh nationally) and the nation’s-best 52.9 points per game. Taylor is a strong floor leader and when the Badgers are hitting 3-pointers, which they do fairly effectively, they’re nearly impossible to beat at their pace.

Montana: Montana has won 14 straight and 20 of its last 21. The Grizzlies have a pair of playmakers – Cherry and Jamar – who really make them go. Behind the duo, Montana play unselfish offense with five players who average at least 9.2 points. The Grizzlies average 13.8 assists per game. They also led the Big Sky with 7.1 steals per game, led by Cherry’s league-best 2.6. The Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year will draw the assignment on Taylor and that could make things difficult for an already-deficient Badger offense.

Why Each Team is Vulnerable

Wisconsin: Wisconsin’s offense has struggled much of the season. The Badgers shoot just 42.4 percent from the floor and scored just 63.9 points per game. They scored 65 points or fewer in half of their games. Depth is also an issue, with only six players averaging more than 12 minutes per game.

Montana: The Grizzlies aren’t very big and can be beaten on the boards by a bigger, strong Badger team. Their usual pace will play right into the hands of the defensive-minded Badgers. Montana has also struggled to slow 3-point shooters, allowing opponents to shoot nearly 40 percent from deep against them. The Grizzlies didn’t play a terribly tough pre-conference schedule and a loss to North Dakota and a 25-point beating by Oregon State should give Grizzly fans pause.

The Bottom Line: Wisconsin’s lack of offense will lead to the end of its season – eventually. Montana just isn’t good enough to be the team to do it.

The Pick: Wisconsin 65, Montana 56

Greg Against the Spread This Season: 198-148-6 (Through Sunday, March 11)

Tournament Poll: Most Likely 13 vs 4 Upset?

Shawn Siegel — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 20:25:18 -0700

Eight NCAA Tournament Sleepers

Raphielle Johnson — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 09:31:40 -0700

One of the tricky aspects of filling out a bracket is figuring out which team(s) can jump up and spring a surprise or two. Last season two teams from non-Power 6 leagues (Butler and VCU) reached Houston, and throughout the history of the 64/65/68-team era there have been teams who have made runs. Below are eight teams who can make surprising runs in the bracket, some to win a game or two and a couple others capable of getting to New Orleans.

Davidson: Bob McKillop's Wildcats may not have a shooter along the lines of Stephen Curry or a distributor the caliber of Jason Richards, but that doesn't mean that Davidson won't bring some talented pieces to the Dance. Forwards Jake Cohen and De'Mon Brooks have played very well this season, and guards Nike Cochran and J.P. Kuhlman were two of the best perimeter players in the SoCon. Going eight deep with five players in double figures can be tough for opponents who aren't familiar with Davidson, who is more than capable of pulling off an upset.

Detroit: The Titans finished third in the Horizon League during the regular season, but they played very well in grabbing the conference's automatic bid. And Ray McCallum Sr. doesn't lack for talent, beginning with his point guard (and son) Ray McCallum Jr. McCallum Jr. has improved as the season's worn on, doing a better job of picking his spots when it comes to running the show. Big men Eli Holman and LaMarcus Lowe are athletic interior players you don't always see in a conference like the Horizon. Depending on the two-seed, it wouldn't be a surprise if the Titans were to give their opponent fits.

Harvard: Not sure if the Crimson count as a true sleeper given the amount of attention on Tommy Amaker's program this season, but in favor of the argument they are making Harvard's first NCAA appearance since 1944. Forwards Kyle Casey and Keith Wright are one of the best front court tandems that doesn't get enough press, and Oliver McNally and Laurent Rivard lead the way on the perimeter. Harvard certainly didn't duck anyone in the non-conference portion of their schedule, doing so with this time of the year in mind.

Lehigh: Brett Reed has one of the best players in the country in guard C.J. McCollum, who leads the Mountain Hawks in points and rebounding while ranking second on the team in assists. But it's not just McCollum that teams should be worried about, as forwards Holden Grenier and Gabe Knutson are both averaging double figures. Lehigh's problem is that their strength of schedule could land them a seed lower than anticipated. But unlike last season's Patriot League representative (Bucknell), Lehigh has a guard in McCollum who can make plays on his own. If they can stay above the 16 line, the Mountain Hawks will have a shot at getting a win.

Memphis: The Conference USA champions took some swings at big non-conference wins early in the season and missed, with the conclusion of many being that they're too immature to turn things around. Well, Josh Pastner's team is playing their best basketball of the season at the right time. Knock them due to their conference if you like, but that shouldn't erase the fact that according to Ken Pomeroy's numbers this is a team in the Top 25 in both adjusted offensive and adjusted defensive efficiency. Will Barton's played like an All-America for much of the season and the emergence of Chris Crawford has relieved some of the pressure on Joe Jackson to run the offense.

Montana: Wayne Tinkle's Grizzlies are experienced (and most everyone will be back next season) and led by a pair of guards who can cause fits in Will Cherry and Kareem Jamar. Cherry was named Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year and it one of the nation's leaders in steals, and the versatile Jamar was named Big Sky tournament MVP. Add in two quality frontcourt players in Derek Selvig and Mathias Ward and you've got a team capable of winning in the Big Dance. Montana's hot as well as they've won 14 straight games, and according to Ken Pomeroy's numbers they had the best adjusted defensive efficiency in the Big Sky (41st nationally).

Saint Louis: Rick Majerus' Billikens have been the second-best team in the Atlantic 10 this season, but to be fair they may have flown under the radar nationally thanks to the presence of Temple and Xavier. But there shouldn't be any doubt as to whether or not SLU can play, with the tough Brian Conklin being the anchor inside and Kwamain Mitchell leading the way on the perimeter. Before their loss to Xavier in the A-10 semis the Billikens won nine of ten games, and in Majerus they've got one of the best game coaches in the country.

South Dakota State: Nate Wolters didn't play his best game of the season in the Jackrabbits' win over Western Illinois to win the Summit League, but he's been enough of a constant to where what he did against WIU shouldn't matter much. Scott Nagy's got an experienced team who helped grow the program this season, their first as a full Division I member. Griffan Callahan and Jordan Dykstra are both averaging double figures, and their presence has helped to improve the performance of both Wolters and the team as the season's worn on.

NCAA Tournament Interviews: Montana's Will Cherry and Kareem Jamar

Jon Teitel — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 08:46:02 -0700

In the next installment in his NCAA Tournament interviews series CHN writer caught up with two players for the Montana Grizzlies, guards Will Cherry and Kareem Jamar. Cherry is one of the best defenders in the country and was named Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year this season, while Jamar was named conference tournament MVP.

Jon Teitel: In high school you lost a state title to Kareem Jamar's team. Could you ever imagine that only a few years later you two would be teammates in the NCAA tournament?

Will Cherry: Not really. I heard that we were recruiting someone from Kareem's team, but I did not know exactly who it was. Now that we are both here it is crazy. We instantly clicked off the court because we are both from the same area, and after playing together we now have a great chemistry on the court.

JT: You had eight points and three steals in a five-point opening round loss to New Mexico in the 2010 NCAA tournament. What have you told your teammates about what to expect in March?

WC: I have not told them much yet, but I did say that just to walk on the floor and tough the big logo at midcourt and wear the patches on your jersey is a dream come true. When the lights come on it is exhilarating.

JT: After losing to Weber State in January you went on school-record 14-game winning streak to close out the season, and your 25-7 record is the best at Montana in the past two decades. Do you feel like your team is one of the hottest in the country right now?

WC: I do not know about the whole country, but we are definitely hot. We do not worry about the streak: we just take it one game at a time. There is no complacency after winning the conference title. We never get too high or too low and just stay in the moment.

JT: In February you had a career-high 30 points (12-20 FG) to go along with eight steals in a win at Sacramento State. Where does that rank among the best all-around games of your career?

WC: It was probably the best. That is the 1st time in my career that I ever scored 30. I always came close but never got all the way to 30. The eight steals was also big. It was the 2nd-most I have ever had in college. To be honest, getting the win made it even better.

JT: You were recently named Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year and you rank in the Top-10 in the country in steals. What is your secret for being a great defender, and do you consider yourself one of the best defenders in the nation?

WC: I think that I am one of the best defenders in the country. A lot of players are great on offense but you have to be good on both sides of the ball. The key is that you have to take pride in locking down your defender and have a little speed as well.

JT: You had 13 points and six assists in the win over Weber State to clinch the Big Sky title. How on earth were you able to outscore them 54-30 in the second half?

WC: Kareem and Mathias Ward just caught fire and hit a lot of jump shots to get us going out of the gate after halftime. We have many weapons on offense from 1-5, so our opponents cannot just key on one guy. We were able to hold them to one shot and get a lot of defensive rebounds.

JT: Your scoring, rebounding and foul shooting have all increased during each of your three years in college. How have you been able to continue to improve from year to year?

WC: I just work hard each and every day. Players are not made on the court, they are made off the court by the work they put in during the offseason. I have tried to improve on every little aspect of my game that I can. Free throws are critical. I want to be the guy that teams do not want to put on the line late in the game. My coaches have worked hard with me from day 1 and my teammates have pushed me in practice.

JT: You have not played a Top-25 team all season. Are you worried that your schedule has not fully prepared you to face a tournament-caliber team?

WC: Not at all. Our coaches do a good job of preparing us for whoever we face; we cannot control who we play. We will not lay down for anyone: we have a lot of heart.

JT: None of your top three scorers are seniors. Do you think your team is built to win now, or do you think you can bring back the nucleus next year and make a serious run?

WC: With the team that we have now we are just going to keep riding this thing out, but next year we will be great with a bunch of veterans who have been through the war in the trenches.

JT: What seed do you think you deserve, and what kind of team would you matchup against the best?

WC: I think we deserve a 13 or 14 seed. We have cleaned up our bad losses with some good wins over the past couple of months. I do not know who we would match up against the best; maybe a fellow mid-major team.

Kareem Jamar

JT: You won two California state titles in high school, one of which was a win over Will Cherry and his high school team. Could you ever imagine that only a few years later you two would be teammates in the NCAA tournament?

Kareem Jamar: Not at all. I did not even know where Montana was back in the day, but I am glad that I came here and get to play with a super-competitive guy like Will.

JT: You had 22 points and three steals in an opening round loss to Duquesne in the 2011 CBI. What did you learn from that loss that you think can help you this time around?

KJ: The CBI is a different level of play than the NCAA tournament, so I do not know how much it will help us. The good thing is that our team morale will be very different since we are coming off of a win rather than a loss.

KJ: Definitely. I know there are some other teams with impressive winning streaks, but we are playing very well.

JT: In February you had a triple-double (21 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists) in a win over Hawai'i. Where does that rank among the best all-around games of your career?

KJ: Probably at the top, as I had never had a triple-double before in my life. I got to do it in front of my brothers for their 1st MT game.

JT: You had 23 points (9-12 FG) and seven assists and were named Big Sky tournament MVP in the win over Weber State to clinch the Big Sky title. How were you able to play your best when it mattered the most, and what was the feeling like in your locker room afterward?

KJ: I have watched the game and thought I was shooting too far out, but I was just blessed enough that they went in. It has not really hit me yet; it is kind of surreal. Everyone in the locker room was happy and dancing around.

JT: Almost every single one of your stats increased from your freshman to your sophomore year. How have you been able to improve so much from last year to this year?

KJ: Pure hard work. I had a chip on my shoulder coming into the summer because I was not named conference Rookie of the Year last year and we did not win the conference title, so I worked hard all summer.

JT: You have used the same five starters for a majority of the season. How much of a factor has that consistency been to your success?

KJ: It is probably the biggest factor because we all know each other's favorite spots on the floor. However, what people do not see is that our young bench pushes us every day in practice to become better.

JT: You have not played a Top-25 team all season. Are you worried that your schedule has not fully prepared you to face a tournament-caliber team?

KJ: Not at all. We play up to the level of our competition, be it Hawai'i, Long Beach State, etc. We are playing for a national title, so we will play our best.

JT: None of your top three scorers are seniors. Do you think your team is built to win now, or do you think you can bring back the nucleus next year and make a serious run?

KJ: We are ready to win now even though we are pretty young. It is a credit to the hard work we have all put in.

JT: What seed do you think you deserve, and what kind of team would you matchup against the best?

KJ: I would love to get a 13 seed because we have won 14 in a row, but higher would be even better! I do not know who else will make the tournament, but we will be ready to play whoever we get matched up with.

Montana Wins Big Sky Title: Wednesday's Quick Hitters

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 23:50:31 -0800

UConn and USF were the big winners on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden, while West Virginia and Seton Hall now await their NCAA tournament fate.

1. Montana pulls away in the second half to beat Weber State and win the Big Sky's automatic bid.
The Big Sky title game was one of two championship game rubber matches on Wednesday night, and even though the home team won each meeting by double digits the expectation was that the Wildcats and Grizzlies would be close throughout. That was true for about 33 minutes, as from the 6:41 mark on Montana outscored Weber State 27-14 on their way to the 85-66 victory. Damian Lillard played very well for Weber State, finishing with 29 points, ten rebounds and seven assists, but on this night he likely would have needed to score in upwards of 40 points to give Randy Rahe's team a shot at winning.

Why? Because while Montana didn't receive one point from their bench all five starters reached double figures, with Kareem Jamar and Mathias Ward scored 23 points apiece to lead the way. In addition to those two the Grizzlies can also call on guard Will Cherry and Derek Selvig, which could make them a tough matchup for someone next week. Both teams will return some key pieces next season, meaning that Weber State and Montana could very well meet with another NCAA berth on the line in 2013.

2. C.J. McCollum and Gabe Knutson prove to be too much for Bucknell in the Patriot League final.
Patriot League Player of the Year McCollum did what he's done all season long in scoring 29 points to lead Lehigh offensively, but the fact that the Mountain Hawks had a second scorer while the Bison did not proved to be the difference. Gabe Knutson added 23 points and seven rebounds, five of them being offensive, in the Mountain Hawks' 82-77 win at Bucknell to take the automatic bid. Mike Muscala was outstanding for the Bison as he finished with 30 points and 14 rebounds, but the next scorer for Bucknell finished with just 11 points (Bryson Johnson, who made two of his three field goals in the final minute).

Lehigh did a better job of executing offensively as they found quality looks and shot 50% from the field, finishing with an efficiency of 113.9. According to statsheet.com a Bucknell opponent hadn't approached that number since Loyola (MD) posted a 116.1 back in December. Lehigh proved to be too much for Bucknell offensively, especially when factoring in the fact that Muscala didn't receive consistent scoring help on the other end.

3. LIU Brooklyn takes care of Robert Morris to win their second consecutive NEC tournament crown.
For the second straight season the Colonials and Blackbirds met with a trip to the NCAA tournament on the line, and just like last season it was the home team that emerged victorious. All five starters reached double figures for the Blackbirds, who pulled away in the second half to win 90-73. C.J. Garner led the way with 21 points and backcourt partner Jason Brickman added 18 and 11 assists, while forward Julian Boyd finished with 18 and ten rebounds.

Andy Toole's Colonials suffered a pair of unfortunate blows during the game as both Velton Jones and Mike McFadden suffered injuries, but the game was more about what Brickman was able to do at the point in running the LIU attack. The Blackbirds also outscored the Colonials 31-14 from the foul line, and their sheer ability to score helped make up for Robert Morris grabbing 21 offensive rebounds. Rebounding's been an issue for much of the season for LIU, and if they want to improve their chances of winning a game Boyd, Jamal Olasewere and Kenny Onyechi will need to lead the way towards improvement.

Quick Hitters

1. After winning the MEAC regular season crown in their first year as a full member of the league, Savannah State fell 59-46 to Hampton in a MEAC tournament quarterfinal. Horace Broadnax's team shot 27.1% from the field and 5-for-22 from beyond the arc, and their 20 turnovers didn't help matters either. The regular season title does guarantee the Tigers an NIT berth, but obviously they would rather not have to use that automatic bid.

2. Two disciplinary actions taken on Wednesday did a better job of summing up what this season has been like for the Pac-12 than any stat that's been thrown out there. Arizona suspended starting point guard Josiah Turner indefinitely due to a violation of team rules, and he won't be playing at all this weekend. And UCLA head coach Ben Howland sat big man Joshua Smith for the first half of their 55-40 win over USC due to his being late for the team bus to the arena.

3. Compared to how they were playing in for most of conference play, these last couple of weeks have been a bit of a struggle for Sean Woods' Mississippi Valley State team. The Delta Devils survived their SWAC quarterfinal on Wednesday, beating Jackson State 63-60 to advance to the semis. Cor-J Cox provided a spark off the bench with 12 points, six rebounds and five steals, but if MVSU is to back up their regular season title with a tournament crown they can't afford to shoot 3-for-17 from three as they did against Jackson State.

4. The top four seeds in the Southland all advanced to the semifinals, with the top seeds making short work of their respective opponents. Regular season champ UT Arlington beat Nicholls State 96-48 as Bo Ingram led four Mavericks in double figures with 21 points to go along with seven rebounds. Two-seed Stephen F. Austin beat Sam Houston State 68-46, shooting 55.6% from the field and 24-for-30 from the foul line. Also advancing were Lamar and McNeese State.

5. On a day that saw three of the four higher-seeded teams advance at the Conference USA tournament the one winner that should stand out is Marshall, who beat SMU 74-56. DeAndre Kane led the way with 18 points and Dennis Tinnon grabbed 15 rebounds for the Thundering Heard, who have the talent necessary to make a run through the tournament.

6. Chalk ruled the two matchups in the MAC on Wednesday as Western Michigan and Toledo advanced to the quarterfinals. The Rockets led Northern Illinois by 11 with just over four minutes remaining, only to see the Huskies nearly come back and grab the win. Rian Pearson led Toledo with 20 points and 15 rebounds.

7. While the CBI has taken teams with losing records in the past, Oklahoma's season may be finished thanks to their 62-53 loss to Texas A&M in the first round of the Big 12 tournament. David Lobeau and Khris Middleton led the Aggies with 15 points apiece, combing for 30 points and 16 rebounds on the night. Also advancing was Oklahoma State, who beat Texas Tech 76-60.

Wednesday Predictions: Big Sky, NEC, Patriot Finals & More

Greg Mengelt — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 08:16:51 -0800

Our g ame prediction guru Greg Mengelt has been on fire this year. He'll be picking (just about) every conference tournament game over the next week, including tonight's three key championship games. Games listed in order with later rounds on top and earlier rounds at the bottom. Read more about Championship Week at CollegeHoops.net.

BIG SKY CHAMPIONSHIP: AT MONTANA

(2) Weber State (24-5, 14-2) at (1) Montana (24-6, 15-1)

Tipoff: 9 p.m. TV: ESPN2. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 14 – Weber State 80-64; Feb. 28 – Montana 66-51. RPI: Montana 82, Weber State 69. Analysis: The Grizzlies are simply the better team. With the homecourt advantage, it should be a comfortable win for Montana. Pick: Montana 71, Weber State 61.

NORTHEAST CHAMPIONSHIP: AT LIU

(3) Robert Morris (24-9, 13-5) at (1) Long Island (24-8, 16-2)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. TV: ESPN2. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 26 – Robert Morris 75-66. RPI: Long Island 91, Robert Morris 109. Analysis: Velton Jones is one of the hottest players in the country and should help the Colonials punch their ticket. Line: Long Island -1. Pick: Robert Morris 69, Long Island 65.

PATRIOT LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP: AT BUCKNELL

(2) Lehigh (25-7) at (1) Bucknell (11-3)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. TV: CBS Sports Network. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 18 – Bucknell 68-61*; Feb. 16 – Lehigh 56-53*. RPI: Bucknell 89, Lehigh 113. Analysis: Lehigh’s C.J. McCollum is a superstar, but beating the Bison on the road twice may be too much to ask. Line: Bucknell -5. Pick: Bucknell 66, Lehigh 59.

BIG EAST SECOND ROUND: AT NEW YORK CITY

(8) West Virginia (19-12, 9-9) vs. (9) Connecticut (19-12, 8-10)

Tipoff: Noon. TV: ESPN. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 9 – Connecticut 64-57. RPI: Connecticut 33, West Virginia 42. Analysis: Two good performances in a row may be too much to ask of this UConn team. Line: UConn -2. Pick: West Virginia 68, Connecticut 62.

(5) Georgetown (22-7, 12-6) vs. (13) Pittsburgh (17-15, 5-13)

Tipoff: 2 p.m. TV: ESPN. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 28 – Pitt 72-60. RPI: Georgetown 9, Pittsburgh 90. Analysis: Pitt may not win the game, but the Panthers should cover in a low-scoring game. Line: Georgetown -6. Pick: Georgetown 57, Pittsburgh 53.

(7) Louisville (22-9, 10-8) vs. (10) Seton Hall (20-11, 8-10)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. TV: ESPN. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 28 – Louisville 60-51*. RPI: Louisville 28, Seton Hall 60. Analysis: Great matchup for Louisville. The Cardinals defense will lead them to a big win. Pick: Louisville 59, Seton Hall 47.

(6) South Florida (19-12, 12-6) vs. (14) Villanova (13-18, 5-13)

Tipoff: 9 p.m. TV: ESPN. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 5 – South Florida 74-57*; Feb. 15 – South Florida 65-51. RPI: South Florida 43, Villanova 105. Analysis: Love the Wildcats for the upset. Pick: Villanova 55, South Florida 52.

PAC-12 FIRST ROUND: AT LOS ANGELES

(8) Washington State (15-15, 7-11) vs. (9) Oregon State (17-13, 7-11)

Tipoff: 3:10 p.m. TV: FSN. Regular-season meetings: Dec. 31 – Washington State 81-76; Feb. 9 – Washington State 83-73. RPI: Washington State 170, Oregon State 151. Analysis: Close game. The Beavers will at least cover. Line: Oregon State -3½. Pick: Oregon State 78, Washington State 76.

(5) UCLA (18-13, 11-7) vs. (12) USC (6-25, 1-17)

Tipoff: 5:40 p.m. TV: FSN. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 15 – UCLA 66-47*; Feb. 15 – UCLA 64-54. RPI: UCLA 103, USC 259. Analysis: UCLA is playing its best basketball, rallying around Coach Ben Howland. The Bruins may make a run in this tourney. Line: UCLA -12½. Pick: UCLA 73, USC 51.

(7) Stanford (20-10, 10-8) vs. (10) Arizona State (10-20, 6-12)

Tipoff: 9:10 p.m. TV: FSN. Regular-season meetings: Feb. 2 – Stanford 68-44. RPI: Stanford 96, Arizona State 248. Analysis: The Cardinal will blow out Arizona State for the second time this season. Line: Stanford -10. Pick: Stanford 71, Arizona State 54.

(6) Colorado (19-11, 11-7) vs. (11) Utah (6-24, 3-15)

Tipoff: 11:40 p.m. TV: FSN. Regular-season meetings: Dec. 31 – Colorado 73-33; Feb. 18 – Colorado 55-48. RPI: Colorado 81, Utah 265. Analysis: The Buffaloes are really pretty good, and Utah … isn’t. Line: Colorado -11½. Pick: Colorado 66, Utah 51.

*Road win

Greg Against the Spread This Season: 137-103-3

Wednesday's Conference Tournament Primer

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 07:13:22 -0800

Day two of the Big East Championship features four teams looking to improve their chances of reaching the NCAA tournament, with the biggest game of the day being the first. Nine-seed Connecticut, who opener their tournament with an 81-67 win over DePaul on Tuesday, takes on eight-seed West Virginia with the winner likely locking up a tournament berth. These two teams met once during the regular season, a 64-57 UConn victory at the XL Center on January 9th, and with so much change over the nearly two months since that game there may not be a whole lot to take from it.

But there is rebounding, something the Mountaineers did extremely well in defeat and had they not gone cold in the second half Bob Huggins' team likely wins the game. WVU grabbed 20 offensive rebounds in the Januar meeting...twenty. The Mountaineers have been a very good team at hitting the offensive glass for most of Huggins' tenure at his alma mater, with the big men expected to give maximum effort in that department. This season West Virginia averages 14.7 offensive rebounds per game, which works out to the Mountaineers grabbing 40.7% of their misses per statsheet.com.

Kevin Jones, who led the Big East in both scoring and rebounding this season, has led the way and maybe he uses the slight of not being a unanimous All-Big East selection as motivation (this is the injustice Mountaineer fans should be upset about as opposed to the Player of the Year award). UConn clearly will try to account for Jones with their stable of big men, but if Deniz Kilicli brings the effort as well it will be tough for the Husky big men from a toughness standpoint. Roscoe Smith has played well of late and at this point is a key figure in the rotation, while getting the likes of Andre Drummond and Alex Oriakhi to play well on a consistent basis has remained an issue.

Guard play will be critical as well, especially with the Mountaineers calling on freshman guards Gary Browne and Jabarie Hinds in addition to senior Truck Bryant. Bryant needs to consistently make sound decisions if WVU is to be successful, and the same can be said for UConn's Jeremy Lamb and Shabazz Napier. The guards who play smarter will lead the winning team in this one.

Also on the bubble "stage" are Seton Hall and USF, with both teams likely needing wins albeit for different reasons. The Pirates looked to be a safe bet for the Field of 68 before dropping games to Rutgers and DePaul, so a win over Louisville would do a great deal for their hopes. USF simply needs to keep playing, as their unbalanced league slate has devalued their 12 league wins in the eyes of many.

Big East - Second Round
#8 West Virginia vs. #9 Connecticut, Noon (ESPN)
#5 Georgetown vs. #13 Pittsburgh, 2:00 p.m. (ESPN)
#7 Louisville vs. #10 Seton Hall, 7:00 p.m. (ESPN)
#6 USF vs. #14 Villanova, 9:00 p.m. (ESPN)

Big 12 - First Round
#8 Oklahoma vs. #9 Texas A&M, 7:00 p.m. (Big 12 Network)
#7 Oklahoma State vs. #10 Texas Tech, 9:30 p.m. (Big 12 Network)

Not a whole lot to see here, other than the fact that the two winners will move on to face Kansas and Missouri on Thursday. Oklahoma likely has the most to gain from today's action, as a win would guarantee a .500 (or better) finish and put them in line for a postseason berth in Lon Kruger's first season. The extra game and practice action can do a great deal for the Sooners, almost akin to what bowl practices can do for college football teams. The other three will need to win the conference tournament to either guarantee a .500 finish (Oklahoma State) or go to the postseason.

Big Sky - Title Game
#2 Weber State at #1 Montana, 9:00 p.m. (ESPN2)

The two best teams in the Big Sky all season long meet in Missoula with the winner getting the NCAA berth and the loser headed to the NIT. Weber State and Montana split the regular season series, with the home team winning both by double digits. The backcourt battle could be the best in the country on today's schedule, with Weber State's Damian Lillard and Scott Bamforth battling Montana's Will Cherry and Kareem Jamar. One area to watch tonight will be offensive rebounding, something the Wildcats have done well in both meetings. If Darin Mahoney and Kyle Tresnak can control the boards once again they can win in Missoula, and with the Grizzlies not being the best rebounding team that's definitely possible. Unlike the first two meetings, look for the rubber match to go right down to the wire.

Conference USA - First Round
#7 Rice vs. #10 East Carolina, 1:00 p.m. (CSS)
#6 Marshall vs. #11 SMU, 3:30 p.m. (CSS)
#8 UTEP vs. #9 Houston, 7:30 p.m. (CSS)
#5 UAB vs. #12 Tulane, 10:00 p.m. (CSS)

Similar to the Big 12's first round there's not much to see in Memphis in regards to who will make the NCAA tournament out of Conference USA (Memphis, who will reach the Sweet 16, is a lock. Who joins them?). UAB, Marshall, Rice and Houston are all playing for postseason berths, with the Thundering Herd having the best shot at finding somewhere to play next week. The other three all need multiple wins to ensure finishing .500 or better, and outside of the Herd (led by DeAndre Kane and Damier Pitts) and UAB (Cameron Moore is a player) it's tough to find any team capable of making a run to either Friday or Saturday.

MAC - Second Round
#12 Northern Illinois vs. #8 Western Michigan, 7:00 p.m. (STO)
#7 Toledo vs. #11 Central Michigan, 9:30 p.m. (STO)

The winners of tonight's action in Cleveland move on to battle Ohio and Kent State on Thursday night in the newly recorfigured MAC tournament, and for the Huskies and Chippewas to reach this point is a surprise in itself. NIU takes on a Western Michigan team that swept the regular season series, with the game in Kalamazoo being the closer of the two. CMU looks to be in better shape from a competitive standpoint in their matchup with Toledo, as the Chips lost to the Rockets by just five in their second meeting. Rian Pearson leads the way for the Rockets, and if CMU finds away to neutralize him they've got a shot at the win.

MEAC - Opening Round/Quarterfinals
# 1 Savannah State vs. #8 Hampton, 6:00 p.m.
# 2 Norfolk State vs. #10 Howard, 8:00 p.m.

The top two seeds begin their march towards the MEAC's automatic bid, and both Savannah State and Norfolk State will be favored to get to the semifinals. Horace Broadnax's Tigers won the regular season title outright, quite the achievement for a team not only picked to finish 11th in the preseason poll but also in its first season as a full Division I (and MEAC) member. NSU, who many expected to win the league, finished a game out of first and has the MEAC's best player in forward Kyle O'Quinn. Hampton may be able to give Savannah State some trouble and the same goes for Howard, but both favorites should move on.

NEC - Title Game
#3 Robert Morris at #1 LIU Brooklyn, 7:00 p.m. (ESPN2)

The NEC delivers a rematch of last season's title game, a battle that went right down to the wire with the home team (LIU Brooklyn) winning by a basket. The rematch should be just as close, with Velton Jones leading the Colonials and forwards Julian Boyd and Jamal Olasewere pacing the Blackbirds. LIU has to rebound, something they haven't always done consistently this season, if they're to defend their home floor and make a return trip to the Big Dance. RMU has done a solid job defensively of late, and that will be the ticket for them if they're to win an NEC title on the road for the second time in three seasons.

Pac-12 - First Round
#8 Washington State vs. # 9 Oregon State, 3:10 p.m. (FSN)
# 5 UCLA vs. # 12 USC, 5:40 p.m. (FSN)
# 7 Stanford vs. # 10 Arizona State, 9:10 p.m. (FSN)
# 6 Colorado vs. # 11 Utah, 11:40 p.m. (FSN)

The Pac-12 is essentially a tournament where one could toss two NCAA bids in the middle of the Staples Center and let all 12 teams fight to the death for them. The resumes are that bad, and without any true separation there isn't a clear favorite either. Colorado and Utah kick off their first Pac-12 tournament experiences and the Buffs will be favored to beat the Utes in the final game of the day. But a sleeper to grab the automatic berth may lie in the second game, as UCLA is coming off of a home sweep of the Washington schools as they brushed off the Sports Illustrated article that painted the program in a negative light. If Joshua Smith can stay on the floor and be a factor, there's no reason why the Bruins can't win the tournament. Oregon State and Stanford could also make a run, with the Cardinal likely being the better choice despite the presence of OSU's Jared Cunningham.

Patriot - Title Game
#2 Lehigh at #1 Bucknell, 7:00 p.m. (CBS SN)

The road team won both meetings during the regular season, with a C.J. McCollum dagger giving the Mountain Hawks the win in the second meeting. McCollum and Bucknell's Mike Muscala were the two best players in the Patriot League this season, with McCollum winning Player of the Year. But the key for the Mountain Hawks may be to make sure that Joe Willman doesn't have a big night alongside Muscala. Willman averaged 10.8 points per game and was a Second Team All-Patriot League selection, as was guard Cameron Ayers. Inside for Lehigh Gabe Knutson and Holden Grenier have both played well this season, providing good frontcourt scoring to balance out what McCollum brings to the table.

Southland - Quarterfinals
# 2 Stephen F. Austin vs. # 7 Sam Houston St, 1:00 p.m.
# 3 Lamar vs. # 6 Northwestern St., 3:30 p.m.
# 1 UT Arlington vs. # 8 Nicholls St., 6:00 p.m.
# 4 McNeese St. vs. # 5 UTSA, 8:30 p.m.

The Southland tournament gets going today (there's an off day between the semifinals and title game), and regular season champ UT-Arlington enters as the favorite. LaMarcus Reed III was one of the leaders for a team that lost just one game in conference play, but they won't go unchallenged in Katy either. Reigning tournament champion UTSA returned a number of key players from last season's team, most notable Melvin Johnson III and reserve Kannor Burrage leading the way. Pat Knight's Lamar Cardinals are another possible winner, provided seniors like Mike James take the reins from a leadership standpoint. Look for there to be an upset or two on our way to the championship.

SWAC -Quarterfinals
#2 Texas Southern vs. #7 Alabama A&M, 1:30 p.m. (SWAC TV)
#1 Mississippi Valley State vs. #8 Jackson State, 9:00 p.m. (SWAC TV)

MIssissippi Valley State begins tournament play with Jackson State, and while they ran through the SWAC without much fuss, the Delta Devils' overall record will make them a 16-seed should they get the automatic bid. Paul Crosby, Terrence Joyner and company have taken nearly a third of their shots from beyond the arc this season, and if those shots are falling MVSU is a tough team to beat. Jackson State played them close in both meetings, so the question for tonight is whether or not they have enough to get over the hump. Texas Southern gets the two-seed due to Southern's ineligibility, and they swept Alabama A&M during the regular season with both wins by double digits.

Detroit Grabs First Bid Since 1999: Tuesday's Quick Hitters

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 23:09:23 -0800

When Western Kentucky fired Ken McDonald on January 6th few envisioned the young Hilltoppers earning a bid to the NCAA tournament. But they did just that, beating North Texas 74-70 in the Sun Belt title game.

1. Another team playing their best basketball at the right time is Detroit, who pulled away to beat top-seed Valparaiso on the Horizon League title game.
Ray McCallum Sr.'s Titans struggled offensively in the first half of thir contest with top seed Valparaiso, shooting just 29% from the field. But they trailed by just three points thanks to their effort on the defensive end, forcing the Crusaders into 11 first half turnovers. Things would change for Detroit in the second half, as Ray McCallum Jr. took control of the contest and as a team the Titans shot 57.7% while limiting Valpo to 31.8% from the field. The end result was a 70-50 win for Detroit, who has now won ten of their last eleven games heading into the Big Dance.

McCallum Jr. finished with a team-high 21 points to go along with six rebounds, four steals and three assists. Jason Calliste added 17 points and LaMarcus Lowe 14 and ten rebounds, and three of Valparaiso's four best players were kept in check. Will Bogan, Ben Boggs and Erik Buggs combined to score just five points, shooting a poor 1-for-12 on the night. Depending on their seed Detroit is more than capable of throwing a scare into a high seed, and with the amount of talent at McCallum Sr.'s disposal it likely wouldn't be a stunner if they were to pick up a win next week.

2. South Dakota State caps the five-year trek with an NCAA bid, beating Western Illinois in overtime to win the Summit League.
To become a full-fledged Division I member schools have to go through a five-year provisional period, meaning that while they can compete in conferences and win regular season titles they're ineligible to compete in NCAA championship events. That five-year wait for the South Dakota State Jackrabbits was likely a rough one in that regard, but they were able to make up for Nate Wolters' off night to beat Western Illinois 54-52 in overtime.

Wolters shot 5-for-22 from the field, 4-for-17 from beyond the arc due in part to WIU's play defensively. But others stepped up, most notably Griffin Callahan, as he scored ten points and grabbed six rebounds to help lead the charge. If the Jackrabbits are to have any shot at a tournament win next week Wolters will need to have one of his best games of the season, but it will help matters if his teammates take advantage of their opportunities as well.

3. Princeton knocks off rival Penn, which gives Harvard their first NCAA tournament bid since 1946.
Rivalry games with a title on the line can be tricky affairs, especially if one team no longer has a shot at the title. That's exactly what Penn had to deal with on Tuesday night, as they visited rival Princeton looking for the win that would result in sharing the regular season title with Harvard and setting up a one-game playoff. Penn came out of the gatest slow, scoring just 17 points in the first half of what would become a 62-52 Princeton win. Zack Rosen scored 19 points to lead the Quakers, but he also had seven turnovers. Shooting would be the bigger issue for Jerome Allen's team as they shot 38.6% from inside of the arc, squandering an opportunity to take advantage of 20 Princeton turnovers. Add in a nearly unstoppable Ian Hummer and it becomes rather simple to figure out why the Crimson were able to wrap up an outright Ivy League title despite not playing. .

Quick Hitters

1. Day one at the Big East Championship didn't provide much in the way of drama as all four games were decided by at least 14 points. But most importantly both Connecticut and Seton Hall advanced, and they'll both have good opportunities for quality wins on Wednesday. UConn, who beat DePaul 81-64, takes on eight seed West Virginia in the first game of the day. Seton Hall will look to follow their 79-47 win over Providence with a win over seven-seed Louisville, and it's safe to say that both the Huskies and Pirates need to do the bare minimum and keep winning.

2. The home teams held serve in the first round of the Atlantic 10 tournament, with all four winning to advance to Atlantic City. This development also set up what will be a huge quarterfinal between four-seed Xavier and five-seed Dayton, as both teams are in serious need of wins at this point. The Flyers beat 12-seed George Washington 67-50, limiting the Colonials to 17 first-half points.

3. The fans will get what they wanted to see in the Big Sky: round three between regular season champion Montana and runner-up Weber State, as both won their semifinal matchups on Tuesday night. Mathias Ward scored 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the Grizzlies' 74-66 win over Eastern Washington but it was Kareem Jamar who left his fingerprints all over the game, accounting for 18 points, 13 rebounds and two steals. Damian Lillard put up 22 points, four assists and four steals to lead Weber State to a 69-63 win over Portland State. The home team won both meetings during the regular season, but that tends to go out of the window in tournament finals.

4. Back to the Big East for a second, as it is important to point out how critical the offseason will be for Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights ended their season with a 70-49 loss to Villanova on Tuesday, and while the addition of Kansas State transfer Wally Judge will help those youngers who were thrown into the fire this season need to improve if Mike Rice's team is to make a move in the Big East.

5. A lack of familiarity can spark some interesting (and unexpected) happenings, which was the case in Florida A&M's 74-72 win over Coppin State in the first round of the MEAC tournament. FAMU trailed 43-28 at the half and by six with 4:38 to go, but an 11-3 run put the Rattlers in the driver's seat. The only other lower-seeded team to win in Winston-Salem was Howard, who beat North Carolina A&T 51-50 on a Calvin Thompson layup with 46 seconds remaining

Tuesday Conferene Tournament Predictions:

Greg Mengelt — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 08:11:41 -0800

Our g ame prediction guru Greg Mengelt has been on fire this year. He'll be picking every conference tournament game over the next week, including tonight's four key championship games. Games listed in order with later rounds on top and earlier rounds at the bottom. Read more about Championship Week at CollegeHoops.net.

HORIZON LEAGUE FINALS: AT VALPARAISO

(1) Valparaiso (22-10, 14-4) vs. (3) Detroit (21-13, 11-7)

Tipoff: 9 p.m. TV: ESPN. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 6 – Valparaiso 73-71*; Feb. 2 – Valparaiso 78-73. RPI: Valparaiso 89, Detroit 135. Analysis: Detroit is playing like it was expected to all season, but the Crusaders may be playing even better. Line: Valparaiso -2. Pick: Valparaiso 69, Detroit 64.

SUMMIT LEAGUE FINALS: AT SIOUX FALLS, S.D.

(2) South Dakota State (26-7, 15-3) vs. (4) Western Illinois (18-13, 9-9)

Tipoff: 9 p.m. TV: ESPN2. Regular-season meetings: Dec. 3 – South Dakota State 67-66*; Feb. 23 – South Dakota State 74-57. RPI: South Dakota State 59, Western Illinois 159. Analysis: Nate Wolters will lead the Jackrabbits to their first NCAA Tournament. Pick: South Dakota State 83, Western Illinois 74.

SUN BELT FINALS: AT HOT SPRINGS, ARK.

(5) North Texas (18-13, 9-7) vs. (7) Western Kentucky (14-18, 7-9)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. TV: ESPN2. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 12 – North Texas 84-67. RPI: North Texas 193, Western Kentucky 214. Analysis: North Texas should win. Of course, in the Sun Belt Tournament, that means Western Kentucky probably will. Pick: North Texas 77, Western Kentucky 69.

BIG SKY SEMINFINALS: AT CAMPUS SITES

(3) Portland State (17-13, 10-6) at (2) Weber State (23-5, 14-2)

Tipoff: 7:30 p.m. TV: Altitude. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 7 – Weber State 88-81*; Feb. 2 – Weber State 92-79. RPI: Weber State 73, Portland State 170. Analysis: Despite being the 2 and 3 seeds, there’s a wide gap between the Wildcats and the Vikings. Line: Weber State -5½. Pick: Weber State 87, Portland State 73.

(4) Eastern Washington (15-16, 8-8) at (1) Montana (23-6, 15-1)

Tipoff: 10 p.m. TV: Altitude. Regular-season meetings: Dec. 30 – Montana 79-71; Jan. 26 – Montana 74-60*. RPI: Montana 88, Eastern Washington 210. Analysis: Montana is the class of the Big Sky. Line: Montana -10½. Pick: Montana 80, Eastern Washington 67.

ATLANTIC 10 FIRST ROUND: AT ATLANTIC CITY, N.J.

(12) Charlotte (13-16, 5-11) at (5) Saint Joseph’s (19-12, 9-7)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 7 – Charlotte 57-52*. RPI: Saint Joseph’s 50, Charlotte 164. Analysis: The Hawks avenge their worst loss of the season in a big way. Line: Saint Joseph’s -9. Pick: Saint Joseph’s 79, Charlotte 51.

(11) George Washington (10-20, 5-11) at (6) Dayton (19-11, 9-7)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. Regular-season meetings: March 3 – Dayton 75-59. RPI: Dayton 71, George Washington 172. Analysis: The Flyers beat GW by 16 points at home on Saturday. So why’s the line only 9? Line: Dayton -9. Pick: Dayton 73, George Washington 61.

(10) Richmond (16-15, 7-9) at (7) LaSalle (20-11, 9-7)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. Regular-season meetings: Feb. 8 – Richmond 78-76. RPI: LaSalle 77, Richmond 119. Analysis: Richmond played really well down the stretch and could be a factor in the A-10 tourney. Line: LaSalle -6½. Pick: Richmond 75, LaSalle 70.

(9) Duquesne (16-14, 7-9) at (8) Massachusetts (20-10, 9-7)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 18 – Duquesne 80-69. RPI: UMass 82, Duquesne 98. Analysis: B.J. Monteiro’s work in the paint will keep the Dukes in the game. Line: UMass -6½. Pick: Massachusetts 73, Duquesne 70.

BIG EAST FIRST ROUND: AT NEW YORK CITY

(9) Connecticut (18-12, 8-10) vs. (16) DePaul (12-18, 3-15)

Tipoff: Noon. TV: ESPN2. Regular-season meetings: Feb. 15 – UConn 80-54. RPI: UConn 32, DePaul 196. Analysis: A double-digit spread is way too much for a team that comes to play as little as UConn does. Line: Connecticut -10½. Pick: Connecticut 67, DePaul 59.

(12) St. John’s (13-18, 6-12) vs. (13) Pittsburgh (16-15, 5-13)

Tipoff: 2 p.m. TV: ESPN2. Regular-season meetings: Feb. 29 – Pitt 89, St. John’s 69. RPI: St. John’s 134, Pitt 95. Analysis: Pitt has enough talent to be the surprise of this tournament. Line: Pitt -4. Pick: Pittsburgh 76, St. John’s 67.

(10) Seton Hall (19-11, 8-10) vs. (15) Providence (15-16, 4-14)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. TV: ESPNU. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 7 – Seton Hall 67-56*. RPI: Seton Hall 60, Providence 146. Analysis: There are a lot of different ways this one could go. Leaning Seton Hall in a high-scoring game. Line: Seton Hall -4. Pick: Seton Hall 86, Providence 78.

(11) Rutgers (14-17, 6-12) vs. (14) Villanova (12-18, 5-13)

Tipoff: 9 p.m. TV: ESPNU. Regular-season meetings: March 1 – Villanova 77-71*. RPI: Rutgers 150, Villanova 115. Analysis: Malik Wayns can carry the Wildcats to at least one Big East win. Line: Villanova -1. Pick: Villanova 69, Rutgers 65.

Greg Against the Spread This Season: 128-94-3