Southern Conference Tournament Preview

SOUTHERN CONFERENCE (ranked 21 by kenpom)

March 4-7

Hosted by: McKenzie Arena in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Sponsored by: Don’t see one. A) I’m starting to think Im missing the sponsors. B) Maybe college athletics isn’t as corrupt as I thought. C) I’m sure I’m just missing them. As soon as I know of the sponsors from these conferences I’m missing, Ill let you know.

Tickets: $75 for all the games. $38 if you’re a student. Pretty good deal.

The Bracket:

Southern works the same way as the SEC tournament does. Two divisions of six. Top two in each get a bye. The third in the north plays six in south, vice versa. They want it to set up so that then first in north plays fourth in south. If this doesn’t make sense, hopefully what is below does:

Friday March 4: 4S. Davidson v. 5N UNC-Greensboro (1)

3N Appalachian State v 6S Georgia Southern (2)

3S Furman v. 6N Samford (3)

4N Elon v. 5S The Citadel (4)

Saturday March 5: 1N Western Carolina v. Winner of (1)

2S Wofford v. Winner of (2)

2N Chattanooga v. Winner of (3)

1S College of Charleston v. Winner of (4)

Sunday March 6: Semis

Monday March 7: Finals (ESPN2)

The Favorite: College of Charleston

Trivia: This conference has also had a successful NCAA history. We are all familiar with Davidson’s run in 2008. Last year, Wofford gave Wisconsin all they could handle. In 1996, #16 Western Carolina lost to #1 Purdue, 73-71. What we’re all thinking about, however, is 1989. Then, #16 Eastern Tennessee State lost to #1 Oklahoma 72-71. This is, of course, the slimmest margin in which a #16 seed has lost to a #1 seed (there is one other instance of this: #1 Georgetown beat #16 Princeton 50-49, and this also occurred in 1989). Oklahoma lost in the sweet sixteen that year, and Georgetown in the elite eight. Most important to the history of the conference, however, is that Owens went to, and played for Tenn-Chattanooga (oh by the way, they went to three straight NCAA tournaments in this time span).

The conference figures to place another team in the tournament capable of upsetting a higher ranked team. Charleston played a difficult non conference schedule. They lost to Maryland by 1, lost to UNC by 5, and lost to Clemson by 7. They beat Coastal Carolina and Tennessee. They were on cruise control throughout the conference, including two wins over the second best team, Wofford, before losing their last two games. This is a 13/14 seed I would not want to play.

Wofford, should they win the tournament, can provide trouble as well. They beat George Mason, and lost to Minnesota, Clemson, Georgetown, and Xavier (in 3 OTs). Any team that either Charleston or Wofford plays in the first round is on the level of competition that they have already faced this year, and have beaten.