Sunday Bloody Sunday

IN: E Tenn St, Murray St

DEAD

Illinois St

Coastal Carolina - Winthrop does it again.  Picked to finish 8th in the Big South preseason poll, the Winthrop Eagles moved to 10-1 in conference title games and ousted heavily favored Coastal Carolina 64-53.  It's a devastating loss for Ren as the Chanticleers were hands down the best team during the regular season.  They recorded a school record 28 wins but only win #29 would have gotten them into the dance.  Coastal Carolina who had only 1 winning season in 16 years will have the consolation of competing in the NIT. 

Hofstra - One of the most dangerous teams in the CAA, lost an absolute heartbreaker in double OT to #2 seed Northeastern 74-71.  Matt Janning's 3 pointer with 45 seconds left in the 2nd OT put the Huskies ahead for good.  He ended with a season-high 26 points to go along with 9 boards and 3 assists in the win.  Hofstra held Northeastern to 40% shooting from the field and outrebounded them.  But the Pride couldn't put the ball in the basket either shooting only 36%.including a dismal 6 for 21 from beyond the arc.   

Bubbles Bursting

Cincinnati - The Bearcats were no match for Georgetown and anything less than a Big East championship means curtains for Lance Stephenson and co.

U Conn -  While losing on the road to South Florida is a common occurrence, the Huskies simply had to win this game to keep their at-large hopes alive.  At 7-11 in conference, U Conn will need to make a deep run in the Big East tournament to gain consideration again.

Rhode Island - You can't lose to the Minutemen when you are already hanging by a thread.  Rhode Island is in serious trouble now.

Sunday...There Will Be Blood

American East - Quarterfinals

5 Hartford at  1 Stonybrook

6 New Hampshire at 2 Vermont 

Colonial Athletic - Semifinals

1 Old Dominion vs 5 VCU

3 William and Mary vs 2 Northeastern

It's a nightmare scenario for Ren as 3 of the 4 survivors in the CAA don the Stimpy green.  Only a Northeastern title will prevent Stimpy from adding to his collection of teams in the tournament.  Furthermore, with the bubble as weak as it's ever been, William and Mary's recent surge might be worthy of an at-large bid if they can get to the championship game.  A win by Old Dominion on Sunday should be enough to clinch an at-large bid as well.  Thus, there is a scenario where Stimpy could get 3 bids: a) WM vs VCU final b) Old Dominion still getting an at-large bid based on a weak performance by bubble teams c) VCU wins the title outright d) WM also earning an at-large if nobody steps up.  It's a longshot but stranger things have happened.

MAAC - Semifinals

5 Rider vs 1 Siena

2 Fairfield vs 6 Niagara

Siena survived an early scare from Manhattan but managed to advance.  Rider had a surprisingly easy upset win over 4th seeded St. Peter's fueled by Ryan Thompson's 22 point effort.  Fairfield was blowing out Canisius 35-14 at halftime and then went cold and Canisius came roaring back.  It was only a 6 point game with under 13 minutes to play.  But Derek Needham poured in 29 points on the day and refused to let the Stags lose.  Siena blasted Rider twice this season with 20+ point wins each time.  Fairfield and Niagara split a pair with the home team winning each contest.  

Arch Madness - Championship 

N Iowa vs Wichita St - These 2 teams who both share the distinction of losing to lowly Evansville, have also been the top 2 teams in the conference for the year.  The Panthers are likely safely into the tournament having been a fixture in the top 25.  The Shockers certainly can't feel safe if they were to lose Sunday.  The two split a pair during the regular season.  N Iowa has looked much more formidable with the return of 7 footer Jordan Eglseder from a 3 game suspension.

Patriot League - Semifinals 

1 Lehigh vs 4 American 

3 Lafayette vs 7 Holy Cross 

So Con - Semifinals

1 Wofford vs 2 W Carolina 

1 Appalachian St vs 2 Charleston 

Will Stimpy get the double upset and a guaranteed bid or be left out in the cold if the favorites win? 

WCC Semifinals

5LMU vs 1 Gonzaga

2 St. Mary's vs 3 Portland

Ren has 3 of the 4 teams in the semifinals and best case scenario he gets 3 teams.  LMU would have to win it all against St. Mary's in the finals which could very well happen.  The Lions have already beaten mighty Gonzaga once at home and played St. Mary's tough in their last game as well.  It's the 20th anniversary of LMU's magical elite 8 run in the 1990 NCAA tournament so the stars may be aligned again for the gritty Lions.