Let the madness begin! Your guide to the early conference tournaments
The madness has arrived.
The first men’s basketball conference tournaments begin this week, leading up to the first round of the Atlantic Sun tournament on Monday. The first automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament will be awarded Saturday night in the Ohio Valley Tournament title game. In many of these early events, the drama is as high as it can be, as only the winner will hear their name called on Selection Sunday.
Here’s your guide to the 15 conference tournaments starting between now and Sunday. Brackets are included in the leagues where they are already set. New brackets will be added to this story as they become available, and we’ll be back next Monday for the other 17 conference tournaments.
(Conferences are listed in alphabetical order; always ET.)
America East
When it starts: Saturday
Where: Campus sites
Game title: Saturday, March 16, 11 a.m., ESPN2
Top seed: Vermont (25-6, 14-1 America East)
The skinny: The regular season comes to an end Tuesday night and Vermont is once again No. 1, as it has been at seven of the past eight AmEast tournaments. The Catamounts are seeking their 10th NCAA tournament appearance since 2003.
Atlantic sun
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐๐ญโฆ๐๐๐
View the complete bracket for the ๐๐๐๐ #๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ! โฌ๏ธ
๐ | https://t.co/cp1j2HPYd9#ASUNBuilt pic.twitter.com/JlZYncDc8C
โ #ASUNBuilt (@ASUNSports) March 2, 2024
When it starts: Monday
Where: Campus sites
Game title: Sunday, March 10, 2 p.m., ESPN2
Top seed: Eastern Kentucky (17-13, 12-4 Atlantic Sun)
The skinny: Led by Isaiah Cozart, who despite his height of 6-foot-1, is one of the best shot blockers in the country, Eastern Kentucky is looking to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014. No. 8 seed Queens is not eligible for the automatic bidding because it is still moving up to Division I.
Great South
๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ง.
The stage is officially set for 2024 @HerculesTires Big South Basketball Championship! ๐
๐ฐ: https://t.co/Pc4EEzvaGD#BigSouthMBB pic.twitter.com/NZ36WjiWgs
โ Big South Conference (@BigSouthSports) March 3, 2024
When it starts: Wednesday
Where: High point, NC
Game title: Sunday, March 10, noon, ESPN2
Top seed: Highlight (24-7, 13-3 Groot Zuid)
The skinny: High Point earned its first No. 1 seed since 2016 under first-year coach Alan Huss. The Panthers will have to hold off defending champion UNC Asheville and big man Drew Pember, but High Point gets to host the tournament.
Big sky
When it starts: Saturday
Where: Boise, Idaho
Game title: Wednesday, March 13, 11:30 PM, ESPN2
Top seed: Eastern Washington (20-10, 14-3 Big Sky)
The skinny: The league concludes the regular season on Monday night, but Eastern Washington has already captured the regular season title for the second year in a row. Weber State has one of the best mid-major players in America in 6-foot-4 forward Dillon Jones (20.7 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 5.3 apg).
Coastal Athletics Association
๐จWe have braces. ๐จ
The matchups are scheduled for 2024 @jerseymikes Men #CAAHoops Championship in Washington, DC
Visit Championship Central for more details:
๐ pic.twitter.com/kTjTiCil77โ CAA Basketball (@CAABasketball) March 2, 2024
When it starts: Friday
Where: Washington DC
Game title: Tuesday, March 12, 7 p.m., CBS Sports Network
Top seed: Charleston (24-7, 15-3 CAA)
The skinny: Charleston won its last nine games to repeat as regular-season champions and looks to make its second straight NCAA Tournament appearance under Pat Kelsey. There will be plenty of challengers, including No. 4 seed UNC Wilmington, which defeated Kentucky at Rupp Arena this season.
Horizon
Us 2024 @BarbasolShave #HLMBB Championship bracket has been revealed with @OaklandMBB securing the regular season title and No. 1 seed!
๐: https://t.co/nnyX1aAHIi#OurHorizon ๐| #Marchstarthere pic.twitter.com/cyniTOUERV
โ Horizon League (@HorizonLeague) March 3, 2024
When it starts: Tuesday
Where: Campus sites for early rounds; title game in Indianapolis
Game title: Tuesday, March 12, 7 p.m., ESPN
Top seed: Oakland (20-11, 15-5 Horizon)
The skinny: Oakland is looking for its first NCAA Tournament trip since 2011, finishing fourth under Greg Kampe, who is in his 40th (!) season at the helm. Want a Cinderella story? No. 11 seed Detroit Mercy went 1-30 this season.
Missouri Valley
Seeds, times and brackets set for #ARCHMADNESS.
๐๐๐ pic.twitter.com/4TCuQ84L41
โ MVC Basketball (@ValleyHoops) March 4, 2024
When it starts: Thursday
Where: St Louis
Game title: Sunday March 10, 2 p.m., CBS
Top seed: Indiana State (26-5, 17-3 Missouri Valley)
The skinny: Arch Madness is always a must-see, but even more so this season with a pair of potential NCAA Tournament teams in Indiana State and Drake. The Sycamores have become a feel-good story this season under Josh Schertz, while No. 2 seed Drake is led by superstar Tucker DeVries. Bradley is good enough to play spoiler.
GO DEEPER
He was a tennis prodigy and high school dropout. Now he is one of the most popular coaches in the country
Northeast
๐จ ๐ฐ ๐ธ๐ถ๐ธ๐บ ๐ฝ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฒ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ #๐ฝ๐ด๐ฒ๐ผ๐ฑ๐ฑ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ต๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐@CCSU_MBB Claims the largest seed and home field advantage throughout the tournament
โ Northeast Conference (@NECsports) March 3, 2024
When it starts: Wednesday
Where: Campus sites
Game title: Tuesday, March 12, 7 p.m., ESPN2
Top seed: Central Connecticut State (19-10, 13-3 Northeast)
The skinny: Central Connecticut State defeated Merrimack on the final day of the season to earn its first No. 1 seed since 2007. Merrimack is eligible to play in the NCAA tournament for the first time this year.
Ohio Valley
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐! ๐
The 2024 OVC Men’s Basketball Championship presented by @united_fidelity is set!
Complete schedule: https://t.co/eWCQKomOe3#OVCit | #OVCTournament pic.twitter.com/YgxyXoUgDR
โ Ohio Valley Conference (@OVCSports) March 2, 2024
When it starts: Wednesday
Where: Evansville, Ind.
Game title: Saturday, March 9, 7 p.m., ESPN2
Top seed: Little Rock (20-11, 14-4 Ohio Valley)
The skinny: Little Rock, UT Martin and Morehead State finished in a three-way tie at 14-4, with Little Rock earning the tiebreaker for the No. 1 seed. No. 8 seed Southern Indiana is not eligible for the automatic bid because it is still moving up to Division I.
Patriot
Patriot League Tournament Bracket. pic.twitter.com/NKqD4jDsNY
โ Mid-Major Madness (@mid_madness) March 3, 2024
When it starts: Tuesday
Where: Campus sites
Game title: Wednesday, March 13, 7 p.m., CBS Sports Network
Top seed: Colgate (22-9, 16-2 Patriot)
The skinny: Colgate could be the biggest favorite in any conference tournament as it walked away with the regular season title by a full margin six games. The Raiders are looking to represent the Patriot League in their fifth straight NCAA tournament.
Southern
The men’s podium has been set ๐ | #SoConHoops
Click on the link below for the full program, tickets and more โฌ๏ธ
โ The Southern Conference (@SoConSports) March 3, 2024
When it starts: Friday
Where: Asheville, NC
Game title: Monday, March 11, 7 p.m., ESPN
Top seed: Samford (26-5, 15-3 Southern)
The skinny: Samford has dominated the competition and has already won a school-record 26 games. The Bulldogs are looking for their first SoCon tournament title.
Southland
When it starts: Sunday
Where: Lake Charles, La.
Game title: Wednesday, March 13, 5 p.m., ESPN2
Top seed: McNeese State (26-3, 15-1 Southland)
The skinny: The regular season continues through Wednesday, after which a bracket will be determined. But Will Wade’s McNeese State Cowboys have already secured the No. 1 spot.
Meeting
๐๐ข๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ โฆ
The 2024 #TopMBB Championship bracketโผ๏ธ
Sioux Falls is going to be fun ๐คฉ
๐๏ธ: https://t.co/od0Pp0Djcl#ReachTheTop X #March2TheSummit pic.twitter.com/GkNTAsJbFn
โ The Summit League (@TheSummitLeague) March 3, 2024
When it starts: Friday
Where: Sioux Falls, S.D
Game title: Tuesday, March 12, 9:30 PM, CBS Sports
Top seed: South Dakota State (top 19-12, 12-4)
The skinny: South Dakota State won the competition by two games, and the Jackrabbits are looking for their eighth tournament title since 2012. Kansas City, which was 10-15 on Feb. 8, closed with six straight wins to take second place. The nation’s leading scorer, Tommy Bruner, plays for No. 7 seed Denver.
Sun belt
๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ง.
Check out the official bracket for the 2024 @HerculesTires #SunBeltMBB Championship. โ๏ธ๐
๐ฐ ยป pic.twitter.com/i9y7PnFFDb
โ Sun Belt (@SunBelt) March 2, 2024
When it starts: Tuesday
Where: Pensacola, Florida.
Game title: Monday, March 11, 6 p.m., ESPN2
Top seed: Appalachian State (26-5, 16-2 Sun Belt)
The skinny: James Madison got all the attention early, beating Michigan State in the first week of the season and cracking the AP Top 25. But Appalachian State โ which defeated Auburn in December โ beat the Dukes. There is an outside chance that both could make the NCAA tournament.
GO DEEPER
A look at the remarkable rise of James Madison
west coast
It’s officialโผ๏ธThe seeds are enclosed for the @MyCreditUnion1 #WCChoops Championship
๐๏ธ pic.twitter.com/A16EXL2B5N
โ WCC Basketball (@WCChoops) March 3, 2024
When it starts: Thursday
Where: Vegas
Game title: Tuesday, March 12, 9 p.m., ESPN
Top seed: Saint Mary’s (24-7, 15-1 West Coast)
The skinny: Saint Mary’s claimed the regular season title, but Gonzaga finished strong with wins on the road in the final week against the Gaels and No. 3 seed San Francisco. Saint Mary’s and the Zags should both make the NCAA tournament no matter what happens in this event, as both have byes to the semifinals. Could a surprise winner turn it into a three-bid competition?
Conference tournaments starting next week:
American: March 13-17
Atlantic Ocean 10: March 12-17
ACC: March 12-16
Big 12: March 12-16
Big East: March 13-16
Big Ten: March 13-17
Big West: March 13-16
US Conference: March 12-16
Ivy League: March 16-17
MAAC: March 12-16
MAC: March 14-16
MEAC: March 13-16
Mountain West: March 13-16
Pac 12: March 13-16
SEC: March 13-17
SWAC: March 13-16
WAC: March 13-16
(Top photo of Colgate celebrating last year’s Patriot League tournament title: Adrian Kraus/AP)