College Hoops Viewing Guide For March 6, 2017

Visit Conference Tournament Central for a full lineup of matchups, tip times, and TV info for this week.

TV info courtesy Matt’s College Sports on TV Website.

If you’re only able to listen today, check out TuneIn’s college basketball lineup.

All times are Eastern, adjust accordingly.

SoCon Championship

No. 3 ETSU Buccaneers (26-7, 14-4) vs. No. 1 UNC Greensboro Spartans (25-8, 14-4), 7 p.m. (ESPN)
The Spartans swept the season series.

These two met not all that long ago, as they wrapped up the regular season, with the Spartans picking up a 72-66 home win. ETSU last danced in 2010, when it represented the Atlantic Sun and lost to Kentuckyas a 16 seed. UNCG, meanwhile, last made it in 2001, when Fran McCaffery(!!) coached the Spartans to a 16 seed and a first round loss to Stanford.

In yesterday’s semifinals, the Spartans struggled to get by Wofford, winning 77-73, while ETSU largely cruised to an 81-72 victory over Samford

CAA Championship

No. 2 College of Charleston Cougars (25-8, 14-4) vs. No. 1 UNCW Seahawks (28-5, 15-3), 7 p.m. (CBSSN)
The pair split their regular season series with each winning on the road.

On Sunday, the Seahawks scored 105 in keeping William & Mary from breaking its 0-fer in terms of NCAA appearances, while the Cougars largely struggled against Towson before pulling away very late. Tonight, the two will meet for a rubber match that will determine whether UNCW reaches the field for the second straight season or Charleston qualifies for the first time since it repped the SoCon in 1999.

Based on the two regular season meetings, a 65-59 Seahawk road win and 67-66 thriller in Wilmington, you’ll want to pay attention to this one.

MAAC Championship

No. 4 Siena Saints (16-16, 12-8) vs. No. 3 Iona Gaels (21-12, 12-8), 9 p.m. (ESPN2)
The pair split their regular season series with each winning on the road.

With a victory, the Gaels will reach their second straight NCAA Tournament and third in five years. But they’ll have to do something top-seeded Monmouth could not — beat Siena in its home arena (though the floor is different). The Saints last qualified in 2010 under (drumroll) Fran McCaffery, and current coach Steve Patsos, who took Loyola (Md.) to the 2012 tourney, can take his second school to the field.

Of course, Iona last lost to Siena in Albany back in 2012. Don’t expect Tim Cluess’s squad to be intimidated.

Horizon League Semifinals

ESPNU will air both games.

No. 9 Youngstown State Penguins (13-20, 5-13) vs. No. 4 Northern Kentucky Norse (22-10, 12-6), 7 p.m.
The pair split their regular season series with each winning at home.
No. 10 Milwaukee Panthers (10-23, 4-14) vs. No. 6 UIC Flames (15-17, 7-11), approx. 9:30 p.m.
The Flames swept the season series.

If the Norse, in their first season of tournament eligibility, mind you, don’t win tonight and tomorrow, it’s likely the Horizon rep will play in Dayton. Of course, the nine and 10 seeds earned a Sunday off after knocking off the top two seeds in Saturday’s quarterfinal doubleheader.

Summit League Semifinals

MidCo SN and ESPN3 will air both games.

No. 4 South Dakota State Jackrabbits (16-16, 8-8) vs. No. 1 South Dakota Coyotes (22-10, 12-4), 7 p.m.
The pair split their regular season series with each winning at home.
No. 7 IUPUI Jaguars (14-17, 7-9) vs. No. 3 Omaha Mavericks (17-13, 9-7), approx. 9:30 p.m.
The pair split their regular season series with each winning on the road.

With their four-point win over Fort Wayne last night, the Mavericks robbed us of a potential semifinal doubleheader of rivals. Still, this lineup should be entertaining, given how even the two series were during the regular season. Note that the top two remaining seeds are both relative Division I newcomers and looking to earn their first-ever tournament bids.

America East Semifinals

ESPN3 will stream both games.

No. 4 New Hampshire Wildcats (20-11, 10-6) at No. 1 Vermont Catamounts (27-5, 16-0), 7 p.m.
The Catamounts swept the regular season series.
No. 3 Albany Great Danes (20-12, 10-6) at No. 2 Stony Brook Seawolves (18-12, 12-4), 7:30 p.m.
The Seawolves swept the regular season series.

Tonight’s matchup feature neighboring states and a pair of SUNY system rivals. While the Catamounts didn’t struggle all that much in defeating the Wildcats twice, the Seawolves only defeated the Great Danes by a bucket on Long Island back on January 8th.

WCC Semifinals

No. 4 Santa Clara Broncos (17-15, 10-8) vs. No. 1 Gonzaga Bulldogs (30-1, 17-1), 9 p.m. (ESPN)
The Bulldogs swept the season series.
No. 3 BYU Cougars (22-10, 12-6) vs. No. 2 Saint Mary's Gaels (27-3, 16-2), approx. 11:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
The Gaels swept the season series.

If the Bulldogs and Gaels play like they did in the second halves of their respective quarterfinal games, there won’t be much drama at the Orleans Arena. But you know the Cougars would love to pull the upset, particularly if the Zags survive Santa Clara.

MAC First Round

ESPN3 will stream three of the four games.

Game 1: No. 9 Northern Illinois Huskies (15-16, 7-11) at No. 8 Eastern Michigan Eagles (15-16, 7-11), 7 p.m.
The pair split their regular season series with each winning at home.
Game 2: No. 12 Miami (Ohio) RedHawks (11-20, 4-14) at No. 5 Western Michigan Broncos (15-15, 11-7), 7:30 p.m.
The Broncos defeated the RedHawks 72-55 on February 7th in Oxford.
Game 3: No. 10 Bowling Green Falcons (13-18, 7-11) at No. 7 Toledo Rockets (16-15, 9-9), 8 p.m.
The pair split their regular season series with each winning at home.
Game 4: No. 11 Central Michigan Chippewas (16-15, 6-12) at No. 6 Kent State Golden Flashes (18-13, 10-8), 7 p.m. (Kent State video)
The Chippewas defeated the Golden Flashes 105-98 (OT) on January 28th in Mount Pleasant.

Tonight’s four winners will advance to Thursday’s quarterfinal quadrupleheader in Cleveland. Given how balanced and wacky the MAC has been this season, expect some “upsets.”

MEAC First Round, Day 1

ESPN3 will stream both games.

No. 12 N.C. A&T Aggies (3-28, 1-15) vs. No. 5 Maryland Eastern Shore Fighting Hawks (12-19, 9-7), 5 p.m.
The Hawks swept the season series, including a 106-95 3OT home win on February 20th.
No. 11 Howard Bison (8-23, 5-11) vs. No. 6 Coppin State Eagles (8-23, 7-9), approx. 7:30 p.m.
The Eagles defeated the Bison 81-72 on January 16th in Washington D.C.

The MEAC is another conference that’s set its bracket up to give the higher seeds the advantage of more rest. So today’s winners won’t play again until Thursday, the second day of the split quarterfinals — when the three and four seeds join the action.

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