Last season Drake had 31 wins, including defeating 6 seed Missouri in the NCAA Tournament. This season they got much worse, and they entered today's Missouri Valley Quarterfinal at 13-19. However, they had an easy time defeating 1 seed Belmont 100-79. It was Drake's eleventh consecutive conference tournament game win, and the first time in 50 Missouri Valley Tournaments that a 9 seed defeated a 1 seed. Belmont entered with 5 losses and a small chance at an at-large bid, but they have no chance at an at-large bid after having a margin 33 points worse than what KenPom expected. It makes it more likely that the selection committee will rank the CAA champion above the Missouri Valley champion. Among the remaining Missouri Valley and CAA teams, KenPom has Northern Iowa first, us second, Illinois State third, and UNCW fourth.
In today's two games that are over, 1 seeds Central Arkansas in the Atlantic Sun and High Point in the Big South had easy Quarterfinal wins.
The nearest team to me is Omaha, who is favored by 2.5 in their Quarterfinal against South Dakota tonight. Both teams went 8-8 in the Summit League.
The 31 conference finals are 1 on Saturday March 7, 4 on Sunday March 8, 2 on Monday March 9, 5 on Tuesday March 10, 3 on Wednesday March 11, 11 on Saturday March 14, and 5 on Sunday March 15.
2025-2026 Men's Basketball Conference Tournaments
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ecasadoSBU
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Re: 2025-2026 Men's Basketball Conference Tournaments
Devastating end to our season.
Rooting for the Pride the rest of the way. Take the whole thing and bring it back to LI.
Rooting for the Pride the rest of the way. Take the whole thing and bring it back to LI.
Re: 2025-2026 Men's Basketball Conference Tournaments
The first automatic bid goes to Long Island University of the Northeast Conference. The Final is tomorrow, but Mercyhurst is ineligible for the NCAA Tournament.
The first Final is the Ohio Valley tonight at 9:00 P.M. Tennessee State (22-9, 15-5 in the OVC) plays Morehead State (20-12, 15-5 in the OVC). They split head-to-head, and Morehead State was the 1 seed. I am guessing that the tiebreaker was record against the next best team like the CAA does.
The first Final is the Ohio Valley tonight at 9:00 P.M. Tennessee State (22-9, 15-5 in the OVC) plays Morehead State (20-12, 15-5 in the OVC). They split head-to-head, and Morehead State was the 1 seed. I am guessing that the tiebreaker was record against the next best team like the CAA does.
Re: 2025-2026 Men's Basketball Conference Tournaments
Tennessee State defeated Morehead State 93-67.
In the Big South, High Point defeated Winthrop 91-76. High Point went 15-1 in the Big South, and the joined Miami (Ohio) as the second team to 30 wins.
In the Missouri Valley, Northern Iowa defeated Illinois-Chicago 84-69. Northern Iowa went 11-9 in regular season MVC games, but winning the tournament is what matters.
Queens University (in North Carolina) and Central Arkansas are playing in the Atlantic Sun Final now.
1 seed North Dakota State plays North Dakota in the Summit League Final tonight. North Dakota State dominates FCS Football, but that is not the only sport they are good at.
When I said about the Northeast Conference "the Final is tomorrow," I assumed that the Final would be the day after the Semifinals, but the Final is on Tuesday.
In the Big South, High Point defeated Winthrop 91-76. High Point went 15-1 in the Big South, and the joined Miami (Ohio) as the second team to 30 wins.
In the Missouri Valley, Northern Iowa defeated Illinois-Chicago 84-69. Northern Iowa went 11-9 in regular season MVC games, but winning the tournament is what matters.
Queens University (in North Carolina) and Central Arkansas are playing in the Atlantic Sun Final now.
1 seed North Dakota State plays North Dakota in the Summit League Final tonight. North Dakota State dominates FCS Football, but that is not the only sport they are good at.
When I said about the Northeast Conference "the Final is tomorrow," I assumed that the Final would be the day after the Semifinals, but the Final is on Tuesday.
Re: 2025-2026 Men's Basketball Conference Tournaments
Queens University defeated Central Arkansas 98-93 in overtime to win the Atlantic Sun.
North Dakota State defeated North Dakota 70-62 to win the Summit League.
Tomorrow has the Sun Belt Final between Georgia Southern and Troy, and the Southern Final between Furman and East Tennessee State.
North Dakota State defeated North Dakota 70-62 to win the Summit League.
Tomorrow has the Sun Belt Final between Georgia Southern and Troy, and the Southern Final between Furman and East Tennessee State.
Re: 2025-2026 Men's Basketball Conference Tournaments
The Big Sky labels their tournament wrong. The Men and Women play at the same site, so each gender cannot have more than two games in a day. There are 10 teams, and the First Round has 7 vs. 10, and 8 vs. 9. The Quarterfinals are done over two days. The first day has 1 vs. 8 or 9, and 2 vs. 7 or 10, and that is labeled Round 2. The second day has 3 vs. 6, and 4 vs. 5, and that is labeled Round 3. They should say Day 2 and Day 3 instead of Round 2 and Round 3. Round 2 and Round 3 should be called the same round because the winners make the Semifinals.
Re: 2025-2026 Men's Basketball Conference Tournaments
Monday had the Sun Belt and Southern Finals. The Sun Belt has 14 teams, and played seven consecutive days. The 9 and 10 seeds started in Round 2, and they included Georgia Southern, who won five days in a row before losing 77-61 to Troy in the Final. Furman won a 76-61 upset over East Tennessee State in the Southern.
Yesterday had five Finals. We know about the CAA. In the Northeast, Long Island defeated Mercyhurst 79-70. As I previously posted, Long Island won the automatic bid on Saturday because Mercyhurst is ineligible. In the West Coast, Gonzaga trailed early before beating Santa Clara 79-68. Gonzaga was a lock. ESPN thinks that Santa Clara's Semifinal win over Saint Mary's will be enough to get Santa Clara in, and get three bids from the West Coast. Wright State defeated Detroit Mercy 66-63 to win the Horizon League. Siena defeated Merrimack 64-54 to win the Metro Atlantic Athletic.
Today's finals are Stephen F. Austin vs. McNeese in the Southland, Boston University at Lehigh in the Patriot League (which has the better seed host every game), and Montana vs. Idaho in the Big Sky. The Southland Tournament is in Lake Charles, Louisiana where 2 seed McNeese is. I do not know if it is McNeese's home court, but it is in their city. Last night had what could be the best doubleheader in any conference tournament or NCAA Tournament. First 1 seed Stephen F. Austin defeated 4 seed Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 60-58. It was tied until SFA made the winning shot with 12 seconds left. With 4 seconds left, SFA fouled. TA&M-CC missed both free throws, and I am assuming that the second miss was intentional. They got the offensive rebound, attempted a three to win, and missed. Then McNeese defeated Texas-Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) 84-80 in the Southland Tournament's first triple overtime game. UTRGV had chances to win that missed. They had a shot hit the backboard and then the rim twice. UTRGV started 6-11, but entered yesterday 13-2 in their last 15 games. McNeese only gets a little over 16 hours between the end of their triple overtime win and the start of their Final. McNeese's 19-3 was the third best conference record by a team that did not get a 1 seed. They split with Stephen F. Austin, who went 20-2 in the Southland.
There are no finals on Thursday and Friday. Those days are for tournaments that end on Saturday or Sunday.
Yesterday had five Finals. We know about the CAA. In the Northeast, Long Island defeated Mercyhurst 79-70. As I previously posted, Long Island won the automatic bid on Saturday because Mercyhurst is ineligible. In the West Coast, Gonzaga trailed early before beating Santa Clara 79-68. Gonzaga was a lock. ESPN thinks that Santa Clara's Semifinal win over Saint Mary's will be enough to get Santa Clara in, and get three bids from the West Coast. Wright State defeated Detroit Mercy 66-63 to win the Horizon League. Siena defeated Merrimack 64-54 to win the Metro Atlantic Athletic.
Today's finals are Stephen F. Austin vs. McNeese in the Southland, Boston University at Lehigh in the Patriot League (which has the better seed host every game), and Montana vs. Idaho in the Big Sky. The Southland Tournament is in Lake Charles, Louisiana where 2 seed McNeese is. I do not know if it is McNeese's home court, but it is in their city. Last night had what could be the best doubleheader in any conference tournament or NCAA Tournament. First 1 seed Stephen F. Austin defeated 4 seed Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 60-58. It was tied until SFA made the winning shot with 12 seconds left. With 4 seconds left, SFA fouled. TA&M-CC missed both free throws, and I am assuming that the second miss was intentional. They got the offensive rebound, attempted a three to win, and missed. Then McNeese defeated Texas-Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) 84-80 in the Southland Tournament's first triple overtime game. UTRGV had chances to win that missed. They had a shot hit the backboard and then the rim twice. UTRGV started 6-11, but entered yesterday 13-2 in their last 15 games. McNeese only gets a little over 16 hours between the end of their triple overtime win and the start of their Final. McNeese's 19-3 was the third best conference record by a team that did not get a 1 seed. They split with Stephen F. Austin, who went 20-2 in the Southland.
There are no finals on Thursday and Friday. Those days are for tournaments that end on Saturday or Sunday.
Re: 2025-2026 Men's Basketball Conference Tournaments
McNeese was not tired after a triple overtime Semifinal. They defeated 1 seed Stephen F. Austin 76-59. McNeese led by 17 at halftime, and won by 17.
Lehigh won 74-60 hosting Boston University to win the Patriot League. Lehigh was the 2 seed. They were 6 games behind Navy, who went 17-1 before losing to Boston U 73-72 in the Semifinals.
Idaho defeated Montana 77-66 to win the Big Sky. Idaho was seventh of ten at 9-9, and Montana was 10-8, so neither team expected to make the Final.
In alphabetical order, the 15 automatic bids in alphabetical order are Furman, Gonzaga, High Point, Hofstra, Idaho, Lehigh, Long Island University, McNeese, North Dakota State, Northern Iowa, Queens University (North Carolina), Siena, Tennessee State, Troy, and Wright State. The next Final is Vermont at Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC) in the America East on Saturday at 11:00 A.M.
Lehigh won 74-60 hosting Boston University to win the Patriot League. Lehigh was the 2 seed. They were 6 games behind Navy, who went 17-1 before losing to Boston U 73-72 in the Semifinals.
Idaho defeated Montana 77-66 to win the Big Sky. Idaho was seventh of ten at 9-9, and Montana was 10-8, so neither team expected to make the Final.
In alphabetical order, the 15 automatic bids in alphabetical order are Furman, Gonzaga, High Point, Hofstra, Idaho, Lehigh, Long Island University, McNeese, North Dakota State, Northern Iowa, Queens University (North Carolina), Siena, Tennessee State, Troy, and Wright State. The next Final is Vermont at Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC) in the America East on Saturday at 11:00 A.M.
Re: 2025-2026 Men's Basketball Conference Tournaments
Today's first game had a shock. In the Mid-American Conference Quarterfinals, undefeated Miami (Ohio) lost 87-83 to Massachusetts, who was in their first MAC Tournament game. They went from the Atlantic 10 to a worse Men's Basketball conference to get in a Football conference, and they went winless in Football. In Men's Basketball, they were 16-15 and 7-11 in the MAC before today. Akron is now the favorite. The MAC's last at-large bid was in 1998-1999, and Miami (Ohio) went to the Sweet 16. I wonder what conference had the largest gap between seasons with at-large bids only including conferences that have gotten at-large bids in at least two seasons.
The Mountain West has gotten at least four bids in the last four tournaments, including six bids two years ago. With Miami (Ohio) probably getting an at-large bid, bubble teams including San Diego State and New Mexico will have a harder team getting in. If Utah State wins the Mountain West Tournament, it is possible that the Mountain West will only get one bid. Utah State plays UNLV today, and the tournament is in Las Vegas. Utah State is favored by 8.5. I am guessing that a conference has never gotten at least six bids, and then one bid in one of the next two seasons. The Mountain West is sixth in the Conference NET. I am also guessing that since there used to be six conferences including the Pac-12 at the top level, the sixth best conference has always gotten an at-large bid, unless you go back to when there were much fewer NCAA Tournament teams. Going back farther, there was the now-defunct Southwest Conference (unrelated to the Southwestern Athletic) and the Big 8. They merged, with some of the Southwest Conference teams making the Big 8 become the Big 12. I am assuming that there used to be the ACC, Big 8, Big 10, SEC, Pac-10, Big East, and Southwest as seven conferences at the top level.
Iowa State is ranked Number 7, but they were not even in the Big 12's top four to get a double bye. I am assuming that is the highest poll ranking for a team that did not start its conference tournament in the latest possible round. They went 12-6 in the Big 12, and they were the bottom team in a three-way tie for third. They are playing like they deserved a double bye. They played consecutive games against Arizona State. They won 86-65 at home to end the regular season. Yesterday they won 91-42 to break the Big 12 Tournament record for margin of victory. Today they played Number 16 Texas Tech in the Quarterfinals, and Texas Tech was one of the teams that won the tiebreaker over Iowa State thanks to an 82-73 win at Iowa State. Iowa State led 36-33 at halftime and dominated the second half to win 75-53.
ESPN has Missouri in the First Four. They lost to Kentucky 78-72 in the SEC Second Round. While it was not a bad loss, the loss combined with Miami (Ohio) probably getting an at-large bid made it a bad afternoon for Missouri.
ESPN moved Seton Hall from having no chance at an-large bid to having a small chance. They need to beat Creighton in the Quarterfinals this afternoon.
We opened with a close loss at Central Florida (UCF). ESPN has them getting a 10 seed, and they will certainly be in if they beat Arizona, who is 29-2.
Ohio State defeated Iowa, which makes Ohio State play rival 1 seed Michigan in the Big Ten Quarterfinals.
Edit: St. Bonaventure upset George Mason in the Atlantic 10 Second Round. George Mason went 12-1 nonconference, and 11-8 after that.
In the Southwestern Athletic (SWAC) Quarterfinals, Alabama A&M and Texas Southern are going to overtime. KenPom expected Alabama A&M to win 75-74, and he could be right.
Edit: Seton Hall won to remain alive. Arizona beat Central Florida 81-59. Tennessee came back from down 7 at halftime to defeat Auburn 72-62. Auburn could get in at 17-16, which I am assuming would be the worst winning percentage by a team that got an at-large bid. Utah State had an easy 80-60 win over UNLV. Akron had a 73-70 win over Buffalo, and Akron is the best remaining seed in the Mid-American. Of today's 44 games, 17 are over, 3 are in progress, and 24 have not started.
The Mountain West has gotten at least four bids in the last four tournaments, including six bids two years ago. With Miami (Ohio) probably getting an at-large bid, bubble teams including San Diego State and New Mexico will have a harder team getting in. If Utah State wins the Mountain West Tournament, it is possible that the Mountain West will only get one bid. Utah State plays UNLV today, and the tournament is in Las Vegas. Utah State is favored by 8.5. I am guessing that a conference has never gotten at least six bids, and then one bid in one of the next two seasons. The Mountain West is sixth in the Conference NET. I am also guessing that since there used to be six conferences including the Pac-12 at the top level, the sixth best conference has always gotten an at-large bid, unless you go back to when there were much fewer NCAA Tournament teams. Going back farther, there was the now-defunct Southwest Conference (unrelated to the Southwestern Athletic) and the Big 8. They merged, with some of the Southwest Conference teams making the Big 8 become the Big 12. I am assuming that there used to be the ACC, Big 8, Big 10, SEC, Pac-10, Big East, and Southwest as seven conferences at the top level.
Iowa State is ranked Number 7, but they were not even in the Big 12's top four to get a double bye. I am assuming that is the highest poll ranking for a team that did not start its conference tournament in the latest possible round. They went 12-6 in the Big 12, and they were the bottom team in a three-way tie for third. They are playing like they deserved a double bye. They played consecutive games against Arizona State. They won 86-65 at home to end the regular season. Yesterday they won 91-42 to break the Big 12 Tournament record for margin of victory. Today they played Number 16 Texas Tech in the Quarterfinals, and Texas Tech was one of the teams that won the tiebreaker over Iowa State thanks to an 82-73 win at Iowa State. Iowa State led 36-33 at halftime and dominated the second half to win 75-53.
ESPN has Missouri in the First Four. They lost to Kentucky 78-72 in the SEC Second Round. While it was not a bad loss, the loss combined with Miami (Ohio) probably getting an at-large bid made it a bad afternoon for Missouri.
ESPN moved Seton Hall from having no chance at an-large bid to having a small chance. They need to beat Creighton in the Quarterfinals this afternoon.
We opened with a close loss at Central Florida (UCF). ESPN has them getting a 10 seed, and they will certainly be in if they beat Arizona, who is 29-2.
Ohio State defeated Iowa, which makes Ohio State play rival 1 seed Michigan in the Big Ten Quarterfinals.
Edit: St. Bonaventure upset George Mason in the Atlantic 10 Second Round. George Mason went 12-1 nonconference, and 11-8 after that.
In the Southwestern Athletic (SWAC) Quarterfinals, Alabama A&M and Texas Southern are going to overtime. KenPom expected Alabama A&M to win 75-74, and he could be right.
Edit: Seton Hall won to remain alive. Arizona beat Central Florida 81-59. Tennessee came back from down 7 at halftime to defeat Auburn 72-62. Auburn could get in at 17-16, which I am assuming would be the worst winning percentage by a team that got an at-large bid. Utah State had an easy 80-60 win over UNLV. Akron had a 73-70 win over Buffalo, and Akron is the best remaining seed in the Mid-American. Of today's 44 games, 17 are over, 3 are in progress, and 24 have not started.