Week of 3/11 Games Thread
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Chad Fleck
- Eureka, IL
This week is awesome, in my opinion. Just below the first weekend of the tourney, but it's close. Only because there are more high level games earlier in the week is this week even close to next week's fun.
danielb927
Orange Krush Class of 2013
- Rochester, MN
I love champ week too. So much hoops. Someday I'll be able to take the whole week off and just bask in the glory.
Monday, March 11
Big Ten Games
None
AP Top 25 Games (all times EDT)
No. 17 Gonzaga (24-6) vs. San Francisco (23-9), West Coast Semifinal 2 at Las Vegas, 11:30 p.m.
No. 21 Saint Mary’s (Cal.) (24-7) vs. Santa Clara (20-12), West Coast Semifinal 1 at Las Vegas, 9 p.m.
Big Ten Games
None
AP Top 25 Games (all times EDT)
No. 17 Gonzaga (24-6) vs. San Francisco (23-9), West Coast Semifinal 2 at Las Vegas, 11:30 p.m.
No. 21 Saint Mary’s (Cal.) (24-7) vs. Santa Clara (20-12), West Coast Semifinal 1 at Las Vegas, 9 p.m.
May I recommend adding Championship games for conference tournaments?
SunBelt-Arkansas St v James Madison 6 PM CST
SoCon-ETSU v Samford 6 PM CST
I seem to remember, way back in the pre-dawn mists of time, that USF was pretty good for a number of years. Five sweet sixteen appearances in the 70s and 2 elite eights also in that time frame. Fun fact, USF was the only (and I mean only) major college to show interest in Bill Russell, who did end up playing for them in the 50s (before my time). Russell led USF to NCAA championships in 1955 and 1956
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
The next time the BTT is in Chicago, I am just going to take Thursday, Friday and probably the next Monday off work and go. I probably would have last year if the 2023 Illini were the 2024 Illini... The BTT and conference tournaments in general are so underrated. I am really going to try to enjoy as many games as possible this week!
It’s wild they haven’t announced where the 2025 tournament will be yet.
I suspect it may be in Los Angeles. Or maybe Las Vegas. But that just a (reasonably educated) guess.
My first reaction was you’re insane.
But honestly, the PAC12 teams might heavily influence where the BTT is in the future and that makes me incredibly sad.
I guess I’m fine with a tight rotation: Chicago, Indy, and a west coast location. Seems fair enough. Though living in Chicago I’m obviously bias, just like traditionally locations.
I suspect you are right, and that would absolutely suck for true B10 fans. Yeah, I know, it's a new college basketball world; but that doesn't make it better.
If the goal of holding the tournament out west is to get better fan engagement with the Big10 for the new schools, I don't think holding the tournament in Vegas will help. Vegas is a five hour drive from LA, *without* traffic. Holding the tournament in LA might help. I seriously doubt the gains are worth the costs. An LA tournament would significantly inconvenience ~14 teams and their fans, be a roughly a wash for two (WA/OR) vs. Chi, and help two teams. I'd be shocked if the stands were even 1/2 full. Yeah, that is what we want to show on TV.
Indy and Chi seem to work well. They are both central. Stick with them IMO. The west coast teams joined the Big10 for the money knowing the travel issues. It is time to start paying the the piper.
Anyone know where Samford is projected? Pressing team that is 29-5 now. Gives me Penn State vibes. Would hate to draw them in a 4-13.
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#1 seeds that lost yesterday:
-Sun Belt: 4 seed Arkansas State defeated 1 seed Appalachian State in the semifinals 67-65.
-Big Sky: 10 seed Sacramento State (who finished 4-14 in the conference this season) defeated 1 seed Eastern Washington 74-69.
-Sun Belt: 4 seed Arkansas State defeated 1 seed Appalachian State in the semifinals 67-65.
-Big Sky: 10 seed Sacramento State (who finished 4-14 in the conference this season) defeated 1 seed Eastern Washington 74-69.
James Madison defeats Arkansas State 91-71 to win the Sun Belt Conference tournament. It is the Dukes' 6th NCAA Tournament appearance, their first since 2013.
Samford defeats East Tennessee State 76-69 to win the Southern Conference tournament title. It is the Bulldogs' 3rd NCAA tournament appearance, their first since 2000 when they won the then Trans America Athletic Conference (now known as the ASUN) tournament. Had East Tennessee State been able to pull off the win tonight, they would have been the first school since Clemson in 1939 to win the SoCon Tournament by winning 4 games in 4 days.
Samford defeats East Tennessee State 76-69 to win the Southern Conference tournament title. It is the Bulldogs' 3rd NCAA tournament appearance, their first since 2000 when they won the then Trans America Athletic Conference (now known as the ASUN) tournament. Had East Tennessee State been able to pull off the win tonight, they would have been the first school since Clemson in 1939 to win the SoCon Tournament by winning 4 games in 4 days.
Bracket Matrix has them as the #2 13 seed. In today's update, Lunardi has them playing 4 seed Auburn in the first round in SLC. Palm has them playing the 4 seed Illini in the first round in Spokane.
It should be in Chicago every year. Just like the Big East is always in NYC. This moving it around diminishes its appeal.
Chicago is central, the location of the home office, BTN, and it is the easiest to get to the for the majority of schools.
*Maybe* once every 5 years it’s in an alternate location.
Samford would be a tough draw. Their top 2 scorers are post players, which we have had trouble defending this season.
I feel like we'd score 90+ easy.
Definitely rooting for Cincinnati today against WV. They are a solid team and have a chance to go on a run and upset KU and Baylor. Can't have them getting upset by a bad WV team in the first round.
I mean, yeah, I would hope so. But upsets happen, and IMO Samford is the most dangerous of the 13 seeds.
MoCoMdIllini
- Montgomery County, Maryland
Samford did drop 134 on VMI earlier this year. (Also over 100 in their other game against them.)
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