On The Menu: Sunday, March 6, 2016

Game information courtesy Matt College Sports on TV Website, which has even more games listed and more specific info on coverage for regional sports networks and American Sports Network telecasts.

All times listed are Eastern, adjust accordingly.

Big Ten

Illinois Fighting Illini (13-17, 5-12) at Penn State Nittany Lions (15-15, 6-11), 12 p.m. (BTN)
Nebraska Cornhuskers (14-16, 6-11) at Northwestern Wildcats (19-11, 7-10), 2 p.m. (BTN)
No. 14 Maryland Terrapins (24-6, 12-5) at No. 12 Indiana Hoosiers (24-6, 14-3), 4:30 p.m. (CBS)
Wisconsin Badgers (20-10, 12-5) at No. 15 Purdue Boilermakers (23-7, 11-6), 7:30 p.m. (BTN)

The two late games have the most impact on the NCAA and Big Ten Tournament brackets. Maryland and Wisconsin can each clinch byes to the quarterfinals with road wins, while Purdue can get there with a win and Terrapin loss. All four teams are in position where they can improve their seeding in the big bracket, with the game in Bloomington particularly crucial for the race for a possible two seed.

American Athletic

No. 24 SMU Mustangs (25-4, 13-4) at Cincinnati Bearcats (21-9, 11-6), 12 p.m. (CBS)
UCF Knights (12-16, 6-11) at Connecticut Huskies (20-10, 10-7), 2 p.m. (ESPNU)
Temple Owls (19-10, 13-4) at Tulane Green Wave (10-20, 3-14), 2 p.m. (ASN/ESPN3)
Memphis Tigers (16-14, 7-10) at East Carolina Pirates (12-18, 4-13), 4 p.m. (CBSSN)

With road wins (or losses), the Mustangs and Owls will share the conference crown, but a split in results will result in one team claiming sole possession. Note that Temple has already claimed the top seed in the league tournament, as they're two games up on the three six-loss teams, only one of whom is in action today. That would be Cincinnati, who would love to ruin SMU's finale by grabbing a crucial quality win. The Mustangs defeated the Bearcats by just two at Moody Coliseum back on January 7th.

As for UConn, a home loss to UCF would be a bad development for their bubble chances, same goes for a Temple loss at Tulane.

Conference Tournaments

For full information on this year's conference tournaments, visit Conference Tournament Central.

MVC Championship

Game 9: No. 4 Northern Iowa Panthers (21-12, 11-7) vs. No. 2 Evansville Purple Aces (25-8, 12-6), 2 p.m. (CBS)
The Panthers swept the season series, including a 54-52 road win last Saturday.

The Panthers defeated top-seeded Wichita State yesterday afternoon, putting the Shockers in the at-large pool and creating more anxiety on the bubble. Today, they'll have a great chance to get back to the NCAAs for the second season in a row with a win over D.J. Balentine and Egidijus Mockevicius and the Purple Aces. Note that UNI has lost just once in its last 12 games.

Big South Championship

Game 10: No. 4 UNC-Asheville Bulldogs (21-11, 12-6) vs. No. 2 Winthrop Eagles (23-8, 13-5), 2:30 p.m.
The pair split their season series with each winning at home.

Depending on results elsewhere, the winner should be able to avoid the trip to Dayton. The Eagles have been the better of the two late, having lost just twice since January 6th.

Atlantic Sun Championship

Game 7: No. 7 Stetson Hatters (12-21, 4-10) at No. 4 Florida Gulf Coast Eagles (19-13, 8-6), 7 p.m.
The pair split the season series with each winning at home. Stetson won 80-73 to close the regular season.

Remember that the Eagles need to win to return to the field. A Stetson win will throw a lifeline to the regular-season champion North Florida Ospreys, thanks to the Atlantic Sun's auto bid rules.

CAA Semifinals

Both games will air on NBCSN.

Game 7: No. 5 William & Mary Tribe (20-10, 11-7) vs. No. 1 Hofstra Pride (23-8, 14-4), 1 p.m.
The Pride swept the regular season series.
Game 8: No. 6 Northeastern Huskies (18-14, 9-9) vs. No. 2 UNC Wilmington Seahawks (23-7, 14-4), approx 3:30 p.m.
The pair split their regular season series with each winning on the road.

For the first time ever, the CAA semifinals are a rematch of the previous season's, even though the seed numbers are different. This time, the Huskies are looking to return to final as an underdog, while the Tribe continues its quest for its first NCAA bid in the same position. Northeastern knocked out Towson in Saturday's quarterfinals, while William & Mary held off a rally from Virginia rival James Madison to advance.

MAAC Semifinals

Both games will stream on ESPN3.

Game 8: No. 5 Fairfield Stags (19-12, 12-8) vs. No. 1 Monmouth Hawks (26-6, 17-3), 4:30 p.m.
The Hawks swept the season series.
Game 9: No. 3 Siena Saints (21-11, 13-7) vs. No. 2 Iona Gaels (20-10, 16-4), approx. 7 p.m.
The pair split their regular season series with each winning on the road.

After taking Saturday off, the top two seeds return to the floor, with each facing a different challenge tonight. The Hawks need to reach the final to keep their at-large dreams afloat. They'll look to defeat the Stags for the third time this season. As for the Gaels, they'll be playing a road game, though they did win in Albany by an 87-81 score on February 22nd.

Patriot League Semifinals

Both games will air on CBSSN.

Game 7: No. 9 Holy Cross Crusaders (12-19, 5-13) at No. 4 Army Cadets (19-12, 9-9), 12 p.m.
The pair split the season series with each winning at home.
Game 8: No. 6 American University Eagles (12-18, 9-9) at No. 2 Lehigh Mountain Hawks (16-14, 13-5), 2 p.m.
The Mountain Hawks swept the season series.

Army, like William & Mary, is one of the five original Division I members that have never made the NCAAs, and they'll be favored to get one game closer this afternoon. Lehigh, winner of 11 of its last 12, is the new favorite with Bucknell's departure, and a matchup with an American squad they've handled twice shouldn't change that.

SoCon Semifinals

Both games will stream on ESPN3.

Game 7: No. 5 Western Carolina Catamounts (16-16, 10-8) vs. No. 1 Chattanooga Mocs (27-5, 15-3), 5 p.m.
The pair split the season series with each winning at home.
Game 8: No. 3 Furman Paladins (18-14, 11-7) vs. No. 2 East Tennessee State Buccaneers (22-10, 14-4), approx. 7:30 p.m.
The pair split the season series with each winning at home.

On Saturday, the regular season champs got a game from Samford, winning an ugly affair 59-54 score. They might get another today, as the Catamounts defeated them by six back on February 11th. However, WCU needed OT to defeat fourth-seeded Wofford Terriers yesterday afternoon.

The combatants in game two each won rather easily yesterday, with the Paladins win over UNC Greensboro snapping a three-game skid. ETSU topped Furman by five on February 25th.

Horizon League Quarterfinals

Both games will stream on ESPN3.

Game 5: No. 5 Milwaukee Panthers (20-12, 10-8) vs. No. 4 Green Bay Phoenix (20-12, 11-7), 1 p.m.
The pair split the season series with each winning at home.
Game 6: No. 6 Detroit-Mercy Titans (16-14, 9-9) vs. No. 3 Wright State Raiders (20-12, 13-5), approx. 3:30 p.m.
The pair split the season series with each winning at home.

Saturday's game were all chalk—and not particularly close—and today the three seed joins the fun. Game one is an underrated in-state rivalry, while game two features the team that has the best shot at knocking off top seed Valparaiso. Of course, that Raider team lost by seven to the Titans at Calihan Hall on January 31st, and UDM isn't playing that far from home.

Summit League Quarterfinals, Night Two

Both games will air on Midco SN and stream on ESPN3.

Game 3: No. 5 North Dakota State Bison (18-12, 8-8) vs. No. 4 IUPUI Jaguars (13-18, 9-7), 7 p.m.
The pair split the season series with each winning at home.
Game 4: No. 6 Denver Pioneers (15-14, 7-9) vs. No. 3 Nebraska Omaha Mavericks (18-12, 10-6), approx. 9:30 p.m.
The pair split the season series with each winning on the road.

The top two seeds, Fort Wayne and South Dakota State, will await tonight's winners in tomorrow's semifinals, though the Jackrabbits got a major scare (in front of 10,000-plus fans in their backyard) from Oral Roberts last night. The Bison are aiming to make the tournament for the third time in a row, while Omaha is in its first season of NCAA Tournament eligibility.

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