"The Stack" 3-8-17
Dirk Nowtizki of the Dallas Mavericks became the sixth NBA player to reach 30 thousand career points Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
The Stack is back on this Wednesday and we have plenty of college basketball conference tournament action to talk about. More champions have been crowned. Congratulations to Mount St, Mary's, Northern Kentucky, South Dakota State and Gonzaga for punching their tickets last night. More will be dancing soon. Prefer we get to anything else, congratulations is also in order for Dirk Nowitzki for becoming the sixth player in NBA history to reach 30 thousand career points. That is quite the accomplishment. Let’s get to it all and see what’s in “the stack” for today, Wednesday, March 8th:
Atlantic 10 Tournament preview (March 8-12th, Pittsburgh, PA)
The A-10 gets going with their tournament starting today in Pittsburgh and this is a critical tournament for the Rhode Island Rams. They have to win at least one game if not two to have a realistic shot at getting in the tournament. They are certainly capable of going on a run and winning this thing as are VCU and Dayton. In the end, as much as I’d like to pick the Rams, I’m going with the other Rams.
Predicted winner: VCU
Big East Tournament preview (March 8-11th, New York City, NY)
The world’s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden, is sight of the Big East Tournament tipping off today. Villanova is the heavy favorite and will be a one seed in the NCAA Tournament even if they don’t win it all. Xavier has to beat DePaul to keep their tourney hopes alive. If they lose they are done. Butler can go on a run and win this tournament. I see the top two seeds meeting and if they do, third time will be the charm for Villanova.
Predicted winner: Villanova
Big Ten Tournament preview (March 8-12th, Washington D.C.)
The Big Ten is not holding their tournament in Indianapolis or Chicago, the two places where they normally are, and instead are in our nation’s capital tipping off the tournament today. Purdue is looking really good. Minnesota and Northwestern have been great surprises and there is a slim chance you could see Iowa or Illinois make a run at the NCAA Tournament if they get a couple of wins. Is Wisconsin back to form after beating Minnesota in the regular season finale? We are about to find out.
Predicted winner: Purdue
Big 12 Tournament preview (March 8-11th, Kansas City, MO)
Death, taxes and Kansas winning the Big 12 regular season. They don’t always win the Big 12 Tournament though and as it tips off in Kansas City, the top three seeds (Kansas, West Virginia and Baylor) all could win it. West Virginia may be the best bet to dethrone Kansas, but I’ll go with the heavy favorites to win and be the number one overall seed in the tournament.
Predicted winner: Kansas
Conference USA Tournament preview (March 8-11th, Birmingham, AL)
The one question I have with this tournament as it tips off today is if Middle Tennessee State doesn’t win, will they get an at-large bid? I believe they would. UAB as a seven seed is more than capable of coming through with a win in the tournament, but it’s tough to go against MTSU, especially after last year’s win over Michigan State in the NCAA Tournament.
Predicted winner: MTSU
Mountain West Tournament preview (March 8-11th, Las Vegas, NV)
Another one of the four conference tournaments in Las Vegas gets going today and in the Mountain West, San Diego State is not even a threat. It’s a little weird. It’s Nevada and Boise State. If Boise State wins, would Nevada get an at-large bid? They may just miss out and be like last year’s Monmouth squad. They don’t want that to happen. These two teams will meet in the championship game I feel.
Predicted winner: Nevada
Pac-12 Tournament preview (March 8-11th, Las Vegas, NV)
Here’s another tournament tipping off today in Sin City. The Pac-12 arguably, and maybe without question boasts the top three teams out of any conference in the country. Oregon, Arizona and UCLA are all capable of winning this tournament. UCLA is the hottest team possibly. Oregon is right there as well. Those two teams will meet in the championship game and it will be a tremendous championship game and a virtual toss-up.
Predicted winner: Oregon
SEC Tournament preview (March 8-12th, Nashville, TN)
Nashville is a wonderful city and the SEC gets set to tip off their tournament today from the Music City. Kentucky is a little shaky. Florida has had a few issues down the stretch, but after that there is no real threat from the likes of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama or Arkansas. The top two teams will meet and the Gators will be victorious.
Predicted winner: Florida
Southland Tournament preview (March 8-11th, Katy, TX)
Coming into the season, Sam Houston State was the conference favorite. My how things have changed. It may be not be beneficial to New Orleans or Texas A&M Corpus Christi having a double bye as the tournament tips off today, but wouldn’t it be a cool story to see New Orleans win? I think it would anyway.
Predicted winner: New Orleans
Sun Belt Tournament preview (March 8-12th, New Orleans, LA)
Speaking of New Orleans, that is the site of the Sun Belt Tournament tipping off today. UT-Arlington was the pick by many to win this conference and in the non-conference schedule they have done nothing to disappoint beating the likes of Texas and others. The conference season saw them lose a couple of games they probably shouldn’t have, but they’re the best team in the conference and they will win this tournament.
Predicted winner: UT-Arlington
Patriot League championship game
#3 Lehigh vs. #1 Bucknell 7:30 PM ET CBSSN
Bucknell has been the dominant team in the Patriot League for much of the season. That will not change tonight. Lehigh will give them a game, but Bucknell will pull away in the second half and win the championship.
Pick: Bucknell
Coming up Thursday: Conference tournament previews plus other top headlines in sports
