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REPOSTED IN COLLEGE SPORTS
Previews & Picks for tonight's College Hoops action (All times Eastern).
7pm Games:
Central Michigan Chippewas vs. Bowling Green State Falcons
MAC Tournament (1st Round); Bowling Green, Ohio
--The Chippewas (10-20, 5-11) may be coming in off a win, but those have been scarce this season, even in MACtion. BGSU (16-14, 9-7) has had a better go, and just dropped their season finale in Buffalo. The last time these two teams matched up ended in a 71-58 advantage for the Falcons in Bowling Green. Don't see much changing this time. BGSU wins big.
Western Illinois Leathernecks vs. Oral Roberts Golden Eagles
Summit League Tournament (Semifinal); Sioux Falls, SD
--ORU (27-5, 17-1) has rolled through conference play only dropping one game at South Dakota State, their main competition in this tournament. They've also came up winners at home against Akron in their Bracket Buster game. WIU (17-13, 9-9) is coming in knowing they can play this team close, taking them to double overtime back in January at home, but came up short in Tulsa 61-51. The Leathernecks will be a problem if ORU let's them hang around and get confident. I'll take ORU in a close one down the stretch.
Arkansas State Red Wolves vs. North Texas Mean Green
Sun Belt Tournament (Semifinal); Hot Springs, AR (ESPN3)
--Arkansas State (14-19, 6-10) comes in hot off an upset of top seed Middle Tennessee. Momentum may carry them here, they traded games with the Mean Green in their two conference meetings this season. North Texas (17-13, 9-7) took care of Louisiana-Lafayette last night 65-62. Should be another good one, well worth tuning in for. Advantage: Red Wolves. Never bet against momentum this time of the year.
VCU Rams vs. Drexel Dragons
CAA Tournament Championship; Richmond, VA (ESPN)
--One of four tickets to the dance that will be punched today. The VCU (27-6, 15-3) Fightin' Shaka Smart's will look to return to the NCAAs after their improbable run to the Final Four last year. In the way is top seed Drexel (27-5, 16-2) who probably needs this game more in order to move on to the tournament, even after making short work of Old Dominion last night. Likewise, the Rams jumped on George Mason last night and never looked back as they took care of business and are firmly on the bubble with a decent shot of getting in. Obviously, winning this game will quell the nail biting for one fan base going into next Sunday. I'll take VCU, they just know how to win in these situations.
Northern Illinois Huskies vs. Eastern Michigan Eagles
MAC Tournament (1st Round); Ypsilanti, Michigan
--I'll keep this short and sweet. NIU (4-25, 3-13) is awful at basketball. The last two times these teams have played, it's been close, but the Huskies are just that bad. I'll take EMU (14-17, 9-7), closer than I'd like to see it.
Fairfield Stags vs. Loyola (MD) Greyhounds
MAAC Tournament Championship; Springfield, MA (ESPN2)
--Our second ticket will be punched out of Massachusetts in a game that promises to be epic. Fairfield (19-13, 12-6), playing without it's star PG has made the run through the MAAC Tournment, taking down top seed Iona last night in fairly convincing fashion. Loyola (23-8, 13-5) put down Siena's dancing dreams last night as well. These two teams traded wins on each other's home courts in their previous two meetings. Fairfield's last visit to the NCAAs was 1997, Loyola's was 1994. One of these streaks comes to an end. I like Fairfield this year.
Miami (OH) Red Hawks vs. Toledo Rockets
MAC Tournament (First Round); Toledo, OH
--A lot of hot MACtion tonight. In these first round games, literally anything can happen. Toledo (16-15, 7-9) won the last matchup in Oxford... can the Red Hawks (9-20, 5-11) return the favor in Toledo? Doubtful. Miami's on a 3 game losing streak and hasn't found traction for most of the season. Advantage Toledo.
Ball State Cardinals vs. Western Michigan Broncos
MAC Tournament (First Round); Kalamazoo, MI
--These teams are very evenly matched, so much so they've split the season series. This game may be a tale of streaks. Western Michigan (12-19, 6-10) is on a 3 game slide, while Ball State (15-14, 6-10) has been winners in their last 2. Can WMU defend their home court? Or will Jarrod Jones and the Cardinals live to see another game? I see you, Jarrod. Ball State in a ridiculously close game.
9pm Games:
Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. #21 Saint Mary's Gaels
WCC Tournament Championship; Las Vegas, NV (ESPN)
--If you think you have any idea what's going to happen tonight in the desert, you are kidding yourself. Both teams should be dancing this year, so this game is purely for the conference title. That's no small thing to these two schools who will undoubtedly leave it all on the court tonight. Last night, the Gaels (26-5, 14-2) took care of San Francisco while the Zags (25-5, 13-3) made a statement against WCC newcomer BYU. They've split the season series and tonight promises to be an instant classic. I'm taking Gonzaga for no reason other than a hunch.
Western Carolina Catamounts vs. Davidson Wildcats
Southern Conference Championship; Asheville, NC (ESPN2)
--I literally couldn't tell you how the Catamounts (17-17, 8-10) made it to tonight's game. I don't really care either. The last of the tickets that'll be punched tonight is almost assuredly Davidson's (24-7, 16-2). I don't see how this will go any other way. Their previous meeting didn't go too well for Western Carolina, but maybe things have changed? We'll see if can make it back to the Tournament for the first time since 1996. Davidson big.
9:30pm Games:
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs. Denver Pioneers
Sun Belt Tournament (Semifinal); Hot Springs, AR (ESPN3)
--Western Kentucky (13-18, 7-9) took down the 3 seed last night in Arkansas-Little Rock to continue their now 4 game win streak. Denver (22-8, 11-5) comes in with their own streak - 5 straight, last losing in Boca Raton on February 9th. The Hilltoppers are peaking at the right time, and since everything's hotter in the Sun Belt, you know this one will be good. Taking the Hilltoppers, their mascot is fucking creepy.
Southern Utah Thunderbirds vs. South Dakota State Jackrabbits
Summit League TournamENT (Semifinal); Sioux Falls, SD
--JACKS ON JACKS ON JACKS. Seriously, I don't know anything about the Summit League. I know UMKC is in it and they suck. Southern Utah (14-16, 8-10) took down Oakland last night in what appears to be a good omen for them. I also know I want to see SDSU (25-7, 15-3) take down ORU. Is it ethical for me to write these previews with a vested interest? It's biased, yes, and I don't give a fuck. Plus, I want them in the NCAA Tournament for the first time and please let them draw kU first round. JACKS ON JACKS ON JACKS (I'm picking them to win, regardless of bias.)
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