College Basketball–Conference Tournaments Primer

We normally kick off our NCAA Men’s Basketball coverage with a breakdown of the Bracketbuster games, but the Bracketbuster weekend is no more.  So, we have chosen today to begin putting our slant on bracketology.

 

We have tweaked our Bracketnomics’ formula, and when we get closer to Big Dance time, we will explain our changes as well as why we made changes.  There are numerous ratings’ formulas out there, including the major four factors, but those factors are not as reliable in NCAA Tournament play as they are in regular season play, so if you follow this type of rating, you will be barking up the wrong tree after March 10.

 

The first conference tournaments begin in just 20 days, so we will start by giving you a preview on each conference tournament.

 

Conference: America East

Site: SEFCU Arena, Guilderland, NY (Greater Albany)

Date: March 8-9, 15

Teams in Tournament: 8 (Massachusetts-Lowell Not Eligible)

Bracket Type: Standard (1-8/4-5/2-7/3-6)

 

Conference: American Athletic

Site: The Fed Ex Forum, Memphis, TN

Date: March 12-15

Teams in Tournament: 10

Bracket Type: Standard (7-10, 8-9, 1-7-10, 4-5 2-8-9, 3-6)

 

Conference: Atlantic 10

Site: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY

Date: March 12-16

Teams in Tournament: 13

Bracket Type: Standard (12-13, 5-12-13, 6-11, 7-10, 8-9, 1-8-9, 4-5-12-13, 2-7-10, 3-6-11)

 

Conference: Atlantic Coast

Site: Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NC

Date: March 12-16

Teams in Tournament: 15

Bracket Type: 15 to 12 to 8 (10-15, 11-14, 12-13, 5-12-13, 6-11-14, 7-10-15, 8-9, 1-8-9, 4-5-12-13, 2-7-10-15, 3-6-11-14)

 

Conference: Atlantic Sun

Site: All Games Played at home floor of higher seed

Date: March 4, 6, & 9

Teams in Tournament: 8 (Northern Kentucky Not Eligible)

Bracket Type: Standard (8@1, 7@2, 6@3, 5@4)

 

Conference: Big 12

Site: Sprint Center, Kansas City, MO

Date: March 12-15

Teams in Tournament: 10

Bracket Type: Standard (7-10, 8-9, 1-8-9, 4-5, 2-7-10, 3-6)

 

Conference: Big East

Site: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

Date: March 12-15

Teams in Tournament: 10

Bracket Type: Standard (7-10, 8-9, 1-8-9, 4-5, 2-7-10, 3-6)

 

Conference: Big Sky

Site: At Home Floor of Regular Season Champion

Date: March 14-16

Teams in Tournament: 7

Bracket Type: Re-Seeded After Each Round (2-7, 3-6, 4-5, 1-bye and plays lowest seeded 1^st round winner)

 

Conference: Big South

Site: HTC Center, Conway, SC (Coastal Carolina)

Date: March 5, 7-9

Teams in Tournament: 12

Bracket Type: Standard Divisional (3N-6S, 4N-5S, 3S-6N, 4S-5N, 1N-4S-5N, 2S-3N-6S, 1S-4N-5S, 2N-3S-6N)

 

Conference: Big Ten

Site: Banker’s Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN

Date: March 13-16

Teams in Tournament: 12

Bracket Type: Standard (5-12, 6-11, 7-10, 8-9, 1-8-9, 4-5-12, 2-7-10, 3-6-11)

 

Conference: Big West

Site: Honda Center, Anaheim, CA

Date: March 13-15

Teams in Tournament: 8

Bracket Type: Standard (1-8, 4-5, 2-7, 3-6)

 

Conference: Colonial Athletic

Site: Baltimore Arena, Baltimore, MD

Date: March 7-10

Teams in Tournament: 9

Bracket Type: Standard (8-9, 1-8-9, 4-5, 2-7, 3-6)

 

Conference: Conference USA

Site: Don Haskins Center, El Paso, TX

Date: March 11-15

Teams in Tournament: 15 (Florida Int’l Not eligible)

Bracket Type: 15 to 12 to 8 (10-15, 11-14, 12-13, 5-12-13, 6-11-14, 7-10-15, 8-9, 1-8-9, 4-5-12-13, 2-7-10-15, 3-6-11-14)

 

Conference: Horizon League

Site: First Round at Higher Seed, Quarterfinals and Semifinals at #1 Seed, Championship at Higher Seed

Date: March 4, 7, 8, & 11

Teams in Tournament: 9

Bracket Type: 9 to 6 to 4 (4-9, 5-8, 6-7, 3-6-7, 4-9-5-8, 1-4-9-5-8, 2-3-6-7)

 

Conference: Ivy League

Site: No Tournament—Regular Season Champion Receives Automatic Bid

Date: If Two Teams Are Tied, the Playoff would be held March 10 or 11

Teams in Tournament: N/A

Bracket Type: N/A

 

Conference: Metro Atlantic Athletic

Site: Mass Mutual Center, Springfield, MA

Date: March 6, 8-10

Teams in Tournament: 11

Bracket Type: Standard (6-11, 7-10, 8-9, 1-8-9, 4-5, 2-7-10, 3-6-11)

 

Conference: Mid-American

Site: First Round at Higher Seed, Rest at Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH)

Date: March 10, 12-15

Teams in Tournament: 12 (teams seeded 1-12 regardless of which division they are in)

Bracket Type: Standard (5-12, 6-11, 7-10, 8-9, 1-8-9, 4-5-12, 2-7-10, 3-6-11)

 

Conference: Mid-Eastern Athletic

Site: Norfolk Scope, Norfolk, VA

Date: March 10-13

Teams in Tournament: 13

Bracket Type: Standard (4-13, 5-12, 6-11, 7-10, 8-9, 1-8-9, 4-13-5-12, 2-7-10, 3-6-11)

 

Conference: Missouri Valley (Arch Madness)

Site: Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MO

Date: March 6-9

Teams in Tournament: 10

Bracket Type: Standard (7-10, 8-9, 1-8-9, 4-5, 2-7-10, 3-6)

 

Conference: Mountain West

Site: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV

Date: March 12-15

Teams in Tournament: 11

Bracket Type: Standard (6-11, 7-10, 8-9, 1-8-9, 4-5, 2-7-10, 3-6-11)

 

Conference: Northeast

Site: All Games Played at Higher Seed

Date: March 5, 8, & 11

Teams in Tournament: 8

Bracket Type: Standard (8@1, 5@4, 7@2, 6@3)

 

Conference: Ohio Valley

Site: Municipal Auditorium (Nashville, TN)

Date: March 5-8

Teams in Tournament: 8

Bracket Type: 8 to 6 to 4 (5-8, 6-7, 4-5-8, 3-6-7, 1-4-5-8, 2-3-6-7)

 

Conference: Pac-12

Site: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, NV

Date: March 12-15

Teams in Tournament: 12

Bracket Type: Standard (5-12, 6-11, 7-10, 8-9, 1-8-9, 4-5-12, 2-7-10, 3-6-11)

 

Conference: Patriot League

Site: All Games Played at Higher Seed

Date: March 3, 5, 8, & 12

Teams in Tournament: 10

Bracket Type: Standard (10@7, 9@8, 8-9@1, 5@4 7-10@2, 6@3)

 

Conference: Southeastern

Site: Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA

Date: March 12-16

Teams in Tournament: 14

Bracket Type: 14 to 12 to 8 (11-14, 12-13, 5-12-13, 6-11-14, 7-10, 8-9, 1-8-9, 4-5-12-13, 2-7-10, 3-6-11-14)

 

Conference: Southern

Site: U.S. Cellular Center, Asheville, NC

Date: March 7-10

Teams in Tournament: 11

Bracket Type: Standard (6-11, 7-10, 8-9, 1-8-9, 4-5, 2-7-10, 3-6-11)

 

Conference: Southland

Site: Leonard E. Merrell Center, Katy, TX (Greater Houston)

Date: March 12, 14-16

Teams in Tournament: 8 (Abilene Christian, Incarnate Word, & New Orleans Not Eligible)

Bracket Type: 8 to 6 to 4 (5-8, 6-7, 4-5-8, 3-6-7, 1-4-5-8, 2-3-6-7)

 

Conference: Southwestern Athletic

Site: Toyota Center, Houston, TX

Date: March 13-16

Teams in Tournament: 7 (UA-Pine Bluff, Grambling, & Mississippi Valley St. are ineligible)

Bracket Type: Standard (2-7, 3-6, 4-5, 1-4-5, 2-7-3-6)

 

Conference: Summit League

Site: Sioux Falls Arena, Sioux Falls, SD

Date: March 8-11

Teams in Tournament: 7 (Omaha Not Eligible)

Bracket Type: Standard (2-7, 3-6, 4-5, 1-4-5, 2-7-3-6)

 

Conference: Sun Belt

Site: Lakefront Arena (New Orleans, LA)

Date: March 13-16

Teams in Tournament: 8

Bracket Type: 8 to 6 to 4 (5-8, 6-7, 4-5-8, 3-6-7, 1-4-5-8, 2-3-6-7)

 

Conference: West Coast

Site: Orleans Arena, Las Vegas, NV

Date: March 6, 8, 10-11

Teams in Tournament: 10

Bracket Type: Standard (7-10, 8-9, 1-8-9, 4-5, 2-7-10, 3-6)

 

Conference: Western Athletic

Site: Orleans Arena, Las Vegas, NV

Date: March 13-15

Teams in Tournament: 8 (Grand Canyon not eligible)

Bracket Type: Standard (1-8, 4-5, 2-7, 3-6)

 

NCAA Basketball Conference Tournament Schedules

NCAA Basketball Conference Tournament Schedules

A PiRate Primer

With winter’s grip still holding strong throughout the nation, the end of the regular season crept up on us here at the PiRate Palace.  The first games of conference tournament play begin one week from today, when the Big South, Horizon, and Ohio Valley Conference tourneys begin.

We’ve looked all over the ‘net and have yet to find one site listing the dates, locations, and method of brackets for each of the conferences.  You’ll get that information here, as we kick up our look at the NCAA Road To The Final Four.

Following the tournament preview, on Friday we’ll take a look at the conferences, some of which you may not be following all that closely.

When you see numbers listed, such as 1 vs. 4, that is the number of the seed for each team.  When you see 1-4 vs. 2-3, this indicates the winner of the #1 and #4 seed game playing the winner of the #2 and #3 seed game.

­America East Conference

Dates: March 4, 6, 7, and 13

Number of Teams: 9

Site: Hartford, CT with final game played on higher seed’s home floor

Opening Round: 8 vs. 9

Quarterfinals: 1 vs. 8-9, 2 vs. 7, 3 vs. 6, 4 vs. 5

Semifinals: 1-8-9 vs. 4-5, 2-7 vs. 3-6

Atlantic 10 Conference

Dates: March 9 & 12-14

Number of Teams: Top 12 only

Site: 1^st Round at higher seed, All others at Atlantic City, NJ

Opening Round: 5 vs. 12, 6 vs. 11, 7 vs. 10, 8 vs. 9

Quarterfinals: 1 vs. 8-9, 2 vs. 7-10, 3 vs. 6-11, 4 vs. 5-12

Semifinals: 1-8-9 vs. 4-5-12, 2-7-10 vs. 3-6-11

Atlantic Coast Conference

Dates: March 11-14

Number of Teams: 12

Site: Greensboro, NC

Opening Round: 5 vs. 12, 6 vs. 11, 7 vs. 10, 8 vs. 9

Quarterfinals: 1 vs. 8-9, 2 vs. 7-10, 3 vs. 6-11, 4 vs. 5-12

Semifinals: 1-8-9 vs. 4-5-12, 2-7-10 vs. 3-6-11

Atlantic Sun Conference

Dates: March 3-6

Number of Teams: Top 8

Site: Macon, GA

Quarterfinals: 1 vs. 8, 2 vs. 7, 3 vs. 6, 4 vs. 5

Semifinals: 1-8 vs. 4-5, 2-7 vs. 3-6

Big 12 Conference

Dates: March 10-13

Number of Teams: 12

Site: Kansas City

Opening Round: 5 vs. 12, 6 vs. 11, 7 vs. 10, 8 vs. 9

Quarterfinals: 1 vs. 8-9, 2 vs. 7-10, 3 vs. 6-11, 4 vs. 5-12

Semifinals: 1-8-9 vs. 4-5-12, 2-7-10 vs. 3-6-11

Big East Conference

Dates: March 9-13

Number of Teams: 16

Site: New York City

Opening Round: 9 vs. 16, 10 vs. 15, 11 vs. 14, 12 vs. 13

2^nd Round: 5 vs. 12-13, 6 vs. 11-14, 7 vs. 10-15, 8 vs. 9-16

Quarterfinals: 1 vs. 8-9-16, 2 vs. 7-10-15, 3 vs. 6-11-14, 4 vs. 5-12-13

Semifinals 1-8-9-16 vs. 4-5-12-13, 2-7-10-15 vs. 3-6-11-14

Seeds 5-8 receive byes in the first round

Top 4 receive byes in the first two rounds

Big Sky Conference

Dates: March 6-9-10

Number of Teams: Top 6

Site: On Campus, all games at higher seed

Quarterfinals: 6 at 3, 5 at 4

Semifinals: Lower Remaining Seed at 1, Higher Remaining Seed at 2

Big South Conference

Dates: March 2-4-5

Number of Teams: Top 8

Site: Quarterfinals and Finals at Higher Seed; Semifinals at #1 Seed

Quarterfinals: 8 at 1, 7 at 2, 6 at 3, 5 at 4

Semifinals: 1-8 vs. 4-5, 2-7 vs. 3-6

Big Ten Conference

Dates: March 11-14

Number of Teams: 11

Site: Indianapolis

Opening Round: 6 vs. 11, 7 vs. 10, 8 vs. 9

Quarterfinals: 1 vs. 8-9, 2 vs. 7-10, 3 vs. 6-11, 4 vs. 5

Semifinals: 1-8-9 vs. 4-5, 2-7-10 vs. 3-6-11

Big West Conference

Dates: March 10-13

Number of Teams: 8

Site: Anaheim, CA

Opening Round: 5 vs. 8, 6 vs. 7

Quarterfinals: 3 vs. lower seed M.10 winner, 4 vs. higher seed M.10 winner

Semifinals: 1 vs. lower remaining seed, 2 vs. higher remaining seed

Seeds 3 and 4 receive first round byes

Seeds 1 and 2 receive first and second round byes

Colonial Athletic Association

Dates: March 5-8

Number of Teams: 12

Site: Richmond, VA

Opening Round: 5 vs. 12, 6 vs. 11, 7 vs. 10, 8 vs. 9

Quarterfinals: 1 vs. 8-9, 2 vs. 7-10, 3 vs. 6-11, 4 vs. 5-12

Semifinals: 1-8-9 vs. 4-5-12, 2-7-10 vs. 3-6-11

Conference USA

Dates: March 10-13

Number of Teams: 12

Site: Tulsa, OK

Opening Round: 5 vs. 12, 6 vs. 11, 7 vs. 10, 8 vs. 9

Quarterfinals: 1 vs. 8-9, 2 vs. 7-10, 3 vs. 6-11, 4 vs. 5-12

Semifinals: 1-8-9 vs. 4-5-12, 2-7-10 vs. 3-6-11

Great West Conference

Dates: March 10-13

Number of Teams: 7

Site: Orem, UT

Quarterfinals: 2 vs. 7, 3 vs. 6, 4 vs. 5

Semifinals: 1 vs. 4-5, 2-7 vs. 3-6

Note: The GWC does not receive an automatic bid to the Big Dance, but the champion is guaranteed a spot in the College Insider Tournament.

Horizon League

Dates: March 2-5-6-9

Number of Teams: 10

Site: 1^st Round at higher seed, all others at Indianapolis

Opening Round: 10 at 3, 9 at 4, 8 at 5, 7 at 6

Quarterfinals: 3-10 vs. 6-7, 4-9 vs. 5-8

Semifinals: 1 vs. 4-5-8-9, 2 vs. 3-6-7-10

Seeds 1 and 2 receiver byes in first two rounds

Independents: No tournament and no automatic bid.  No Independent has been invited to the NCAA Tournament since Notre Dame in 1990.

Ivy League

No Tournament.  Regular Season Champion gets automatic bid

Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference

Dates: March 5-8

Number of Teams: 10

Site: Albany, NY

Opening Round: 7 vs. 10, 8 vs. 9

Quarterfinals: 1 vs. 8-9, 2 vs. 7-10, 3 vs. 6, 4 vs. 5

Semifinals: 1-8-9 vs. 4-5, 2-7-10 vs. 3-6

Mid-American Conference

Dates: March 7 & 11-13

Number of Teams: 12

Site: 1^st Round at higher seed, all others at Cleveland

Opening Round: 12 at 5, 11 at 6, 10 at 7, 9 at 8

Quarterfinals: 1 vs. 8-9, 2 vs. 7-10, 3 vs. 6-11, 4 vs. 5-12

Semifinals: 1-8-9 vs. 4-5-12, 2-7-10 vs. 3-6-11

Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference

Dates: March 9-13

Number of Teams: 11

Site: Winston-Salem, NC

Opening Round: 6 vs. 11, 7 vs. 10, 8 vs. 9

Quarterfinals: 1 vs. 8-9, 2 vs. 7-10, 3 vs. 6-11, 4 vs. 5

Semifinals: 1-8-9 vs. 4-5, 2-7-10 vs. 3-6-11

Missouri Valley Conference (Arch Madness)

Dates: March 4-7

Number of Teams: 10

Site: St. Louis

Opening Round: 7 vs. 10, 8 vs. 9

Quarterfinals: 1 vs. 8-9, 2 vs. 7-10, 3 vs. 6, 4 vs. 5

Semifinals: 1-8-9 vs. 4-5, 2-7-10 vs. 3-6

Mountain West Conference

Dates: March 10-13

Number of Teams: 9

Site: Las Vegas

Opening Round: 8 vs. 9

Quarterfinals: 1 vs. 8-9, 2 vs. 7, 3 vs. 6, 4 vs. 5

Semifinals: 1-8-9 vs. 4-5, 2-7 vs. 3-6

Northeast Conference

Dates: March 4-7-10

Number of Teams: Top 8 (Bryant not eligible)

Site: All games played at higher seed

Quarterfinals: 8 at 1, 7 at 2, 6 at 3, 5 at 4

Semifinals 1-8 vs. 4-5 at higher seed, 2-7 vs. 3-6 at higher seed

Ohio Valley Conference

Dates: March 2-5-6

Number of Teams: Top 8

Site: 1^st Round at higher seed, all others at Nashville

Quarterfinals: 8 at 1, 7 at 2, 6 at 3, 5 at 4

Semifinals 1-8 vs. 4-5, 2-7 vs. 3-6

Pac-10 Conference

Dates: March 10-13

Number of Teams: 9 (Southern Cal is ineligible)

Site: Los Angeles

Opening Round: 8 vs. 9

Quarterfinals: 1 vs. 8-9, 2 vs. 7, 3 vs. 6, 4 vs. 5

Semifinals: 1-8-9 vs. 4-5, 2-7 vs. 3-6

Patriot League

Dates: March 3-7-12

Number of Teams: 8

Site: All games played on the higher seed’s home court

Quarterfinals: 8 at 1, 7 at 2, 6 at 3, 5 at 4

Semifinals: 1-8 vs. 4-5 at higher seed, 2-7 vs. 3-6 at higher seed

Southeastern Conference

Dates: March 11-14

Number of Teams: 12

Site: Nashville

Opening Round: 3E vs. 6W, 3W vs. 6E, 4E vs. 5W, 4W vs. 5E

Quarterfinals: 1E vs. 4W-5E, 1W vs. 4E-5W, 2E vs. 3W-6E, 2W vs. 3E-6W

Semifinals: 1E-4W-5E vs. 2W-3E-6W, 1W-4E-5W vs. 2E-3W-6E

Southern Conference

Dates: March 5-8

Number of Teams: 12

Site: Charlotte

Opening Round: 3N vs. 6S, 3S vs. 6N, 4N vs. 5S, 4S vs. 5N

Quarterfinals: 1N vs. 4S-5N, 1S vs. 4N-5S, 2N vs. 3S-6N, 2S vs. 3N-6S

Semifinals: 1N-4S-5N vs. 2S-3N-6S, 1S-4N-5S vs. 2N-3S-6N

Southland Conference

Dates: March 10-11 & 13

Number of Teams: Top 8 (regardless of division)

Site: Katy, TX

Quarterfinals: 1 vs. 8, 2 vs. 7, 3 vs. 6, 4 vs. 5

Semifinals: 1-8 vs. 4-5, 2-7 vs. 3-6

Southwestern Athletic Conference

Dates: March 10-13

Number of Teams: Top 8

Site: Shreveport, LA

Quarterfinals: 1 vs. 8, 2 vs. 7, 3 vs. 6, 4 vs. 5

Semifinals: 1-8 vs. 4-5, 2-7 vs. 3-6

Summit League

Dates: March 6-9

Number of Teams: Top 8

Site: Sioux Falls, SD

Quarterfinals: 1 vs. 8, 2 vs. 7, 3 vs. 6, 4 vs. 5

Semifinals: 1-8 vs. 4-5, 2-7 vs. 3-6

Sunbelt Conference

Dates: March 6-9

Number of Teams: 13

Site: Hot Springs, AR

Opening Round: 4 vs. 13, 5 vs. 12, 6 vs. 11, 7 vs. 10, 8 vs. 9

Quarterfinals: 1 vs. 8-9, 2 vs. 7-10, 3 vs. 6-11, 4-13 vs. 5-12

Semifinals: 1-8-9 vs. 4-5-12-13, 2-7-10 vs. 3-6-11

West Coast Conference

Dates: March 5-8

Number of Teams: 8

Site: Las Vegas

Opening Round: 5 vs. 8, 6 vs. 7

Quarterfinals: 3 vs. 6-7, 4 vs. 5-8

Semifinals: 1 vs. 4-5-8, 2 vs. 3-6-7

Seeds 3 and 4 receive opening round byes

Seeds 1 and 2 receive opening and quarterfinal round byes

Western Athletic Conference

Dates: March 11-13

Number of Teams: Top 8

Site: Reno

Quarterfinals: 1 vs. 8, 2 vs. 7, 3 vs. 6, 4 vs. 5

Semifinals 1-8 vs. 4-5, 2-7 vs. 3-6

Selection Sunday—March 14