Conference #23 - Southern (SoCon)

Conference Winner:  Furman

The days of Davidson running this conference are gone as they went and dominated the A-10 instead last year.  This year it's very wide open with at least 3 or 4 teams within shouting distance of first place.  Ultimately I think it's going to come down to either the Paladins of Furman or Chattanooga.  Chattanooga has the top player in the conference but Furman returns their top 8 players.  I'll take quantity over quality in this one.

Conference #24 - Big Sky

Conference Winner - Weber St.

Last Year Eastern Washington came out of the Big Sky and guaranteed a first round upset over Georgetown and that didn't happen.   This year Weber State is back to claim what is usually theirs.  There is no stud like The Show Harold Arceneaux but all the components are there for tournament run with potential 14 seed upset"ness".

Conference #25 - Atlantic Sun

Conference Winner: North Florida

North Florida made it last year but lost in the play in game.  They return a lot of what they had last year and the conference is all around weak.  I don't know if the committee would put them in the play in game two years in a row but I'm saying there's a chance!

Conference #25.5 - Ivy

Conference Winner:  Yale

Yes, it says 25.5.  A mistake on my part had the numbering order wrong and I started at 31 instead of 32.  Technically, the Ivy is conference 26 but this will get us back in order.  Harvard has been the prolific favorite going into the past couple years but it looks like talent-wise Yale has taken the lead.  I don’t expect them to make much noise in the tournament but I have them as the slight favorite going in.

Conference #26 - America East

Conference Winner – Stony Brook

Stony Brook has been so close so many times including last year when they lost on a last second shot by Albany.  This year they are once again the favorite as they return all 5 starters from last year’s team.  I think they are good enough to be a 15 seed if not a 14 seed.  I don’t see them losing more than 1 or 2 conference games.

Conference #27 - Northeast

Conference Winner – Robert Morris

Ah yes, good old Bob Morris.  Bob returns 4 starters from last year’s team that won a play in game.  To expect the same thing this year would be par for the course but I’m thinking they get ahead of the play in game and settle in as just a normal 16 seed.

Conference #28 - Patriot

Conference Winner:  Lehigh

Stop me if you've heard this before....the class of the league is either Bucknell or Lehigh.  Seems like almost every year it comes down to these two teams.  The nice part is each has pulled some major upsets in the tournament.  Not as much star power this year though.  15/16 seed upside.