Views from 400’s Guide to College Basketball Championship Week, Mid-Majors Part 4

If you read last week’s blog you are well aware by now how much I truly love the prelude to March Madness. With that, I figured I’d share my love and offer some insight into when you should be turning your televisions (or computers/phones) onto ESPN+, Big 10+, (or maybe even Mountcock+) as we approach Selection Sunday.

Since we are a brand that loves giving out some spicy futures I’ll throw some of my favorites in as we go along too.

With major conference championships starting today, this will be the final installment of our mid-major guide. We are getting close to Selection Sunday!

Ivy League Championship

When/Where: March 17 at 12:00 PM EST ESPN 2

The Contenders: Princeton (1 seed), Yale (2 seed), Cornell (3 seed), Brown (4 seed)

As much as Andy Bernard may hope his Cornell Big Red makes a run at the automatic bid, this thing is coming down to Princeton and Yale. Only the 1-seed or 2-seed have won the Ivy League Tournament since its adoption in 2017.

Interestingly enough, the 2-seed has actually received the automatic bid in each of the last three tournaments. Still, Princeton is the most talented team in the field and should be able to get by Brown and Yale/Cornell in the 2-round event.

If the Tigers can return to the dance they’ll be a 12-seed. Guards Xaivian Lee (17.7 ppg) and Matt Allocco (12.6 ppg) pair beautifully with likely Ivy League Player of the Year Caden Pierce (16.3 ppg, 9.6 rpg) to create a trio no 5-seed wants to see in March

Conference Tournament Winner: Princeton (+100)

MAAC Championship

When/Where: March 16, 7:30 PM EST, ESPN U/ESPN +

Contenders: Quinnipiac (1 seed), Fairfield (2 seed), Marist (3 seed), Rider (4 seed), St. Peters (5 seed)

Unlike the Ivy League, the MAAC allows every team in the conference to participate in the tournament. Like the Ivy League, the champion is almost certain to come down to the top 2 seeds.

Quinnipiac and Fairfield have been far and away the best programs this season. Both teams should have no issues making it to the Championship on Saturday. The Bobcats are the 1-seed and have the best player in the conference in Matt Balanc, but don’t sleep on Fairfield’s Jalen Leach and Caleb Fields, who are both averaging over 16 points per contest.

Either of these squads can give a 2-seed a slight scare come the NCAA Tournament. If anyone else manages a cinderella run through the MAAC they are headed to the First Four.

Conference Tournament Winner: Quinnipiac (+380)

MAC Championship

When/Where: March 16, 7:30 PM EST ESPN 2

Contenders: Toledo (1 seed), Akron (2 seed), Ohio (3 seed), Kent State (8 seed)

Before you get all twisted in a knot about it, I have the 8-seed Kent State as a contender simply because the Golden Flashes average over 76 points per game. If they get hot from beyond the arc they can make some noise.

Most likely the 2-seed Akron Zips are winning this thing though. We’ve had Akron as a 13-seed in our bracketology pretty much all season. I don’t see a reason to stray from the course now.

Akron fell by one possession to Mountain West opponents Utah State and UNLV earlier this year. Forward Enrique Freeman is the best player in the MAC while guard Ali Ali isn’t far behind. The Zips aren’t a team I want Auburn to see in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Tournament Winner: Akron (+155)

Conference USA Championship

When/Where: March 16, 7:30 PM, CBS Sports Network

Contenders: Sam Houston State (1 seed), Louisiana Tech (2 seed), Western Kentucky (3 seed), Liberty (4 seed), UTEP (5 seed)

The reign of Jelly Walker and UAB in the Conference USA came to an end last year when the electric guard opted to join the NBA and UAB left C-USA behind for the AAC. Now the conference is in a transitional state, with newcomer Sam Houston State leading the way.

The Bearkats have been far and away the best team in the conference all season, but Louisiana Tech could spoil their fun. Either way, the winner of this tournament is probably going to be handed a first-round loss from a 2-seed in the tournament.

You can sit this one out.

Conference Winner: Sam Houston State (+400)

Big West Championship

When/Where: March 16, 6:30 PM ESPN 2

Contenders: UC Irvine (1 seed), UC Davis (2 seed)

The Big West Tournament is extremely important for the conference and the first round of March Madness. UC Irvine is clearly the best team and can pull off a first-round upset, while anybody else has virtually no chance.

Coach Russell Turner’s Anteaters have wins over USC and Toledo this season as well as a one-point loss to San Diego State on their resume, as well as a much easier path in the conference tournament thanks to the second-best team in the conference, UC San Diego, being in the final season of its reclassification process.

Conference Winner: UC Irvine (-200)

SWAC Championship

When/Where: March 16, 8:30 PM EST TBD

Contenders: Grambling State (1 seed), Alcorn State (2 seed), Southern (3 seed), Texas Southern (4 seed), Bethune-Cookman (5 seed), Jackson State (6 seed), Alabama A&M (7 seed), Alabama State (8 seed)

You can safely skip the SWAC Tournament. The winner of this thing is in for a date in Dayton for the First Four. If you do want to watch and root for something, Alcorn State is in the midst of its longest winning streak since 2005 so there you go. That being said, the Braves are only 14-17 overall despite nine straight “Ws”.

Conference Tournament Winner: Alcorn State (+275) *stay away

MEAC Championship

When/Where: March 16, 1 PM EST ESPN 2

Contenders: Norfolk State (1 seed)

It’s Norfolk State. It’s always Norfolk State. The Spartans may have lost Joe Bryant Jr. to graduation but they are still the best team in the MEAC. They’ll win the conference and then win in the “First Four”.

It happens every March.

Conference Winner: Norfolk State (+180)

WAC Championship

When/Where: March 16, 8 PM EST, ESPN 2

Contenders: Grand Canyon (1 seed), Tarleton State (2 seed)

The Grand Canyon Lopes are an extremely well-balanced basketball team. They have wins over San Francisco and San Diego State on their resume but still need a WAC title to punch a bid into the dance.

2-seed Tarleton was able to beat the Lopes when they came to town, but it remains to be seen if they have enough to win in a tournament setting.

Conference Winner: Grand Canyon (-150)

That’ll do it for the mid-major tournaments! Our guides to the Big 10, Big 12, Big East, SEC, and other major conferences start tomorrow!

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