Conference Tournament Championship Predictions
By Michael Schneid
Here are our predictions for the championship matchups for some of this week's top conference tournaments, as well as some general analysis as to how the brackets and tournaments will shake out.
AAC
Cincy over Louisville in finals
Analysis: A rematch from the 2012 Big East championship game. Cincy knocks off Memphis (who beats Uconn) and Louisville beats SMU. Both teams get third wins over respective semifinal opponents. Cincy and Louisville beat each other on the road, splitting the season series. Cincy is the top seed because they won a coin flip Saturday afternoon.
ACC
UNC over Duke in finals
Analysis: Lots of upsets...Notre Dame over Pittsburgh, NC State over Syracuse, UNC over Virginia. Duke vs UNC round 3 in the championship
Atlantic 10
George Washington over Saint Louis
Analysis: We considered picking Lasalle over Saint Louis in the quarters, but the Bilikens are too tough. Dayton beats Saint Joe's in what is almost an elimination game for both teams. GW knocks off VCU in the semis before upsetting SLU, behind senior guard Maurice Creek.
Big East
St. John's over Creighton
Analysis: The "home" team wins the tourney. St John's upsets Villanova in the semifinals. Creighton over Marquette. St. John's upsets Dougy Buckets.
Big Ten
Michigan State over Ohio State
Analysis: The Buckeyes beat Nebraska in the quarters and than upset #1 Michigan in the semis, before losing to the Spartans, who beat Wisconsin in the semis to get to finals.
Big 12
Oklahoma State over Baylor
Analysis: Oklahoma State beats Texas Tech, than upsets #1 Kansas. The winner of Okl St/Iowa State semifinals game will win tournament... Baylor and West Virginia both pull off upsets too. Baylor knocks off Oklahoma and West Virginia takes out Texas.
Pac-12
Arizona over Oregon
Analysis: Oregon upsets UCLA in the Quarterfinals and Stanford upsets Arizona State. Arizona avenges earlier loss against Cal in semis than avenges recent loss to Oregon in championship game.
SEC
Florida over LSU
Analysis: It was hard not to pick Ole Miss to make another remarkable run to the finals, but we have Vanderbilt upsetting Ole Miss in the quarterfinals. Georgia beats Vandy and LSU upsets Kentucky. Florida beats Tennessee in the other semifinal matchup, after Tennessee beats Arkansas in a must-win game for both
Other Champions:
Big Sky: Weber State
Big West: UCSB
Conference USA: Southern Miss
Mountain West: New Mexico
MAC: Toledo
Sun Belt: Louisiana-Lafayette
WAC: New Mexico State
Here are our predictions for the championship matchups for some of this week's top conference tournaments, as well as some general analysis as to how the brackets and tournaments will shake out.
AAC
Cincy over Louisville in finals
Analysis: A rematch from the 2012 Big East championship game. Cincy knocks off Memphis (who beats Uconn) and Louisville beats SMU. Both teams get third wins over respective semifinal opponents. Cincy and Louisville beat each other on the road, splitting the season series. Cincy is the top seed because they won a coin flip Saturday afternoon.
ACC
UNC over Duke in finals
Analysis: Lots of upsets...Notre Dame over Pittsburgh, NC State over Syracuse, UNC over Virginia. Duke vs UNC round 3 in the championship
Atlantic 10
George Washington over Saint Louis
Analysis: We considered picking Lasalle over Saint Louis in the quarters, but the Bilikens are too tough. Dayton beats Saint Joe's in what is almost an elimination game for both teams. GW knocks off VCU in the semis before upsetting SLU, behind senior guard Maurice Creek.
Big East
St. John's over Creighton
Analysis: The "home" team wins the tourney. St John's upsets Villanova in the semifinals. Creighton over Marquette. St. John's upsets Dougy Buckets.
Big Ten
Michigan State over Ohio State
Analysis: The Buckeyes beat Nebraska in the quarters and than upset #1 Michigan in the semis, before losing to the Spartans, who beat Wisconsin in the semis to get to finals.
Big 12
Oklahoma State over Baylor
Analysis: Oklahoma State beats Texas Tech, than upsets #1 Kansas. The winner of Okl St/Iowa State semifinals game will win tournament... Baylor and West Virginia both pull off upsets too. Baylor knocks off Oklahoma and West Virginia takes out Texas.
Pac-12
Arizona over Oregon
Analysis: Oregon upsets UCLA in the Quarterfinals and Stanford upsets Arizona State. Arizona avenges earlier loss against Cal in semis than avenges recent loss to Oregon in championship game.
SEC
Florida over LSU
Analysis: It was hard not to pick Ole Miss to make another remarkable run to the finals, but we have Vanderbilt upsetting Ole Miss in the quarterfinals. Georgia beats Vandy and LSU upsets Kentucky. Florida beats Tennessee in the other semifinal matchup, after Tennessee beats Arkansas in a must-win game for both
Other Champions:
Big Sky: Weber State
Big West: UCSB
Conference USA: Southern Miss
Mountain West: New Mexico
MAC: Toledo
Sun Belt: Louisiana-Lafayette
WAC: New Mexico State
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