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2023 Conference USA Men’s Basketball Tournament Basics

Dates

• Wednesday, March 8 (first round)
• Thursday, March 9 (quarterfinals)
• Friday, March 10 (semifinals)
• Saturday, March 11 (championship)

Format

Traditional bracket, but with simultaneous games in the first round and quarterfinals.

Site

For the fifth straight year, the Ford Center at the Star in Frisco, Texas, AKA the Dallas Cowboys’ practice facility, will host the event. Remember that this allows C-USA to set up two courts for simultaneous games in the first three rounds.

Participants

All 11 teams will play in this season’s event. Oddly enough only seeds 4 and 7 through 10 will be back for the 2024 edition.

Downloadable Bracket

Schedule

All times are p.m. Eastern unless noted. Games marked with an asterisk (*) are the second of a doubleheader, so the tip time is approximate.

First Round (Wed., March 8)

Game 1: (9) UTEP (14-18, 7-13) 67, (8) Western Kentucky 73
Game 2: (10) Louisiana Tech 81, (7) FIU (14-18, 8-12) 76 (OT)
Game 3: (11) UTSA (10-22, 4-16) 71, (6) Rice 72

Quarterfinals (Thurs., March 9)

Game 4: (8) Western Kentucky (17-16, 8-12) 51, (1) Florida Atlantic 75
Game 5: (5) Charlotte (18-14, 9-11) 65, (4) Middle Tennessee 66
Game 6: (10) Louisiana Tech (15-18, 7-13) 46, (2) North Texas 74
Game 7: (6) Rice (18-15, 8-12) 60, (3) UAB 87

Semifinals (Fri., March 10)

Game 8: (4) Middle Tennessee (19-14, 11-9) 65, (1) Florida Atlantic 68
Game 9: (3) UAB 76, (2) North Texas (26-7, 16-4) 69

Championship (Sat., March 11)

Game 10: (3) UAB (25-9, 14-6) 56, (1) FLORIDA ATLANTIC (31-3, 18-2) 78

Mayhem Potential

Data originally posted by Bob Vetrone Jr. on Twitter in 2020 with my own additions for the seasons beyond.

Since 2011, a No. 1 or 2 seed has only won the Conference USA Tournament seven times with the No. 4 seed just as successful than the second. The last two champs, North Texas and UAB, both won as divisional seeds, not true seeds. That won’t be the case in 2023.

• 1 seed (4): 2012, 2013, 2017, 2019
• 2 seed (3): 2014, 2016, 2022 (divisional play)
• 4 seed (3): 2011. 2015, 2018
• 3 seed (1): 2021 (divisional play)

NCAA Seeding Record Since 2011

Years with an NCAA win are in bold.

• 6 seed (1): 2013
• 8 seed (1): 2012 (automatic)
• 9 seed (1): 2012 (at-large)
• 12 seed (4): 2011 (at-large), 2011 (automatic), 2017, 2022
• 13 seed (3); 2014, 2018, 2021
• 14 seed (2): 2015, 2019
• 15 seed (1): 2016

Two of the three single-digit seeds above were earned by the now-departed Memphis Tigers. Florida Atlantic is a tournament lock at this point, with the Owls likely to be a single-digit seed (7 to 9). If either North Texas or UAB ends up winning the auto bid, they’ll likely earn a 12, with any other surprise winner finishing lower.

Last NCAA Tournament Appearances

UAB: 2022 (12 seed, 1st Round)
North Texas: 2021 (13 seed, 2nd Round)
Middle Tennessee: 2017 (12 seed, 2nd Round)
Western Kentucky: 2013 (16 seed, Round of 64, Sun Belt member)
UTSA: 2011 (16 seed, Round of 64, Southland member)
UTEP: 2010 (12 seed, at-large, 1st Round)
Charlotte: 2005 (7 seed, 1st Round)
Florida Atlantic: 2002 (15 seed, 1st Round, ASUN member)
FIU: 1995 (16 seed, 1st Round, TAAC (ASUN) member)
Louisiana Tech: 1991 (12 seed, 1st Round, American South member)
Rice: 1970 (unseeded, 1st Round, SWC member)

All 11 C-USA members have made the NCAA Tournament at least once, though Rice hasn’t qualified since seeding was implemented.