The Rabbi's Conference Tournament Preview- Part 2

I am The Rabbi, Video Editor of "On The Sportslines". This is the greatest week of the college basketball year for a lot of people, and for me the greatest week on the sports calendar. No week has as much intrigue and action as the week before the NCAA tournament in college basketball. Over the next two days, all of the big conference tourneys kick off around the country. Here are nine big conference tournaments to get you ready for the big week in Part 2 of our championship week preview. I will be providing the brackets on each of these tournaments so click the link to play along.

Big East Tournament (Tuesday-Saturday, New York City)

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/tournaments/conference/BIGE/big-east-tournament-bracket

At-Large Locks: Pittsburgh, Notre Dame, Louisville, Syracuse, St. John's, West Virginia, Cincinnati, Georgetown, UCONN, Villanova

Looking Good, needs a win: Marquette

Game to watch: Wed, UCONN vs. Georgetown/DePaul

Unless the DePaul Blue Demons pull off the upset they did last year as a #16 seed, the opener on Wednesday will see two of the better teams in the country who have fallen on hard times lately. Both lost 4 out of their last 5 to end the season but are too talented to lose more momentum here. The loser here could be as low as a #7 seed in the NCAA tournament.

Honorable Mention: Thursday, Syracuse vs. St. John's/Seton Hall/Rutgers

Madison Square Garden loves a local match up, and anyway you slice it, they'll get one here. The match up we are all shooting for is Syracuse vs. St. John's. The only loss the Red Storm have at Madison Square Garden this season is against the Orange, and it wasn't even close. If Lavin's boys can get payback, they are looking at a top 4 seeding at come Selection Sunday.

Prediction: Notre Dame

The Fighting Irish have never actually made the tournament finals of the Big East. I think they'll get there for the first time, and beat Pitt in the finals, maybe making both teams #1 seeds when the brackets come out Sunday.

Atlantic 10 Tournament (Tuesday-Sunday, Atlantic City (Fri.-Sun.),

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/tournaments/conference/ATL10/atlantic-10--tournament-bracket

At-Large Locks: Xavier, Temple

Needs Work to get in: Richmond

Game To Watch: Friday, Rhode Island/St. Louis vs. Richmond

Richmond has played on the edge most of the season and each of their four losses in 2011 have put them closer and closer to losing out on an at-large. A win here on Friday should vault the Spiders into the field of 68 and probably keep them out of that First Four round in Dayton. Rhode Island is dangerous though, they beat Richmond in their only meeting this year 78-74.

Honorable Mention: Semifinal #1, March 12 1pm

Bubble teams all across the country will watch this game closely, because if #1 seed Xavier doesn't come out victorious in it, Sunday's final will have a lot of those "last team in" schools on pins and needles. If any of the other nine teams win this tourney outside of the ones mentioned here, the A-10 is most likely getting a 4th bid that they never would have gotten before.

Prediction: Xavier

Outside of a fluke loss against #11 seed Charlotte in February, the Musketeers are unblemished in the A-10. It stays that way after this week. They'll beat Temple in the finals.

Pac 10 Tournament (Wendesday- Saturday, Los Angeles)

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/tournaments/conference/PAC10/pac-10-tournament-bracket

At-Large Locks: Arizona, UCLA

Looking Good, Needs a win: Washington

Needs work to get in: USC, Washington State

Game To Watch: Washington vs. Washington State

The Apple Cup's third meeting takes place on Thursday, and it's an important one. A lot of people believe the Huskies are still an at-large lock, but I do not. The Cougars have beaten the Huskies in BOTH of their regular season meetings, and a 3rd win would give both teams at least 20 wins. There's no major difference in my opinion in the non-conference schedules, so why should Wazzou be put in a lesser standard if they sweep their rivals?

Honorable Mention: USC vs. Cal

USC has sneaked up on some people lately. A win here in the 2nd quarterfinal on Thursday, along with a win versus what would most likely be Arizona on Friday, could give the Trojans a resume with enough wins (20) and victories (2) over likely Top 5 seeds in the NCAA tourney. That could be enough to sneak USC into the field of 68.

Prediction: UCLA

Since December, the Bruins have only lost once inside the state of California. I believe they beat USC in the final, and that BOTH teams make the tournament at the end of it all.

Conference USA (Wed.-Sat., El Paso, Tex,)

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/tournaments/conference/USA/conference-usa-tournament-bracket

Needs Work to get in: Memphis

Game To Watch: Friday, UAB-East Carolina/UCF vs. Memphis- Southern Miss/Tulane

Boy, that's a mouthful. If all holds form, UAB and Memphis will play in this C-USA semifinal on Friday, and it could be a highly competitive game. UAB won 7 out of their last 8 games to end the season. The only loss? Memphis, who boasts the only at-large chances for the conference, due to a strong non-conference schedule, despite losing most of their important non-conference games.

Honorable Mention: Thursday, Tulsa vs. SMU/Rice

Tulsa is a team who could be a problem on their side of the bracket, and this is their first chance to shine. An easy win here puts them into a possible match up in the semifinals with UTEP, who's on their home court for this tourney.

Prediction: UTEP

UTEP's only lost once at home in-conference this season. I believe the home court advantage of the Don Haskins Center will lead the Miners to a victory over Memphis in the finals, although it won't be as dominating as their 27-point victory less than two weeks ago over the Tigers.

Big 12 Tournament (Wed.- Sat., Kansas City, MO)

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/tournaments/conference/BIG12/big-12-tournament-bracket

At-Large Locks: Kansas, Texas, Texas A&M, Missouri, Kansas State

Needs Work: Colorado, Baylor, Nebraska

Game To Watch: Thur, Texas vs. Baylor/Oklahoma

As mentioned many times in this column, the Baylor Bears have totally underachieved this year and need to get a big time victory this week in Kansas City. If they get by the Sooners, will go up against Texas. Baylor has faced the Longhorns twice this season and been disappointed both times in the final minutes. A win here though could give the Bears what very few bubble teams can get this late in the season: a win over a top 10 team. Baylor may not even need to win their next game to make the tourney.

Honorable Mention: Thur, Kansas St. vs. Iowa St./Colorado

Out of the three teams that needs work to secure their spot in the field of 68, the team in the best shape is Colorado. That doesn't mean the margin for error isn't small for the Buffaloes. They definitely need a win this Wednesday against Iowa State, who they lost to just a week ago. Then, they'll need to beat Kansas State to make the Big 12 semifinals. While the Colorado swept K-State this season, both wins were before K-State destroyed Kansas in Manhattan on Valentine's Day. Kansas State has been a whole different animal since then, looking more like the preseason Top 5 team that a lot of people expected.

Prediction: Kansas

The Jayhawks have been a force in the Big 12 all year. In fact, I think the bigger challenge for Kansas will be in the semifinals, when Kansas State or Colorado should be waiting for them. The winner of that game will have a lot of momentum and give Kansas a great fight. However, I think Kansas prevails there and over Missouri in the Big 12 final, securing a #1 seed.

Mountain West Tournament (Wendesday-Saturday, Las Vegas)

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/tournaments/conference/MWC/mountain-west-tournament-bracket

At-Large Locks: UNLV, BYU, San Diego State

Needs Work: Colorado State

Game To Watch: Colorado St. vs. New Mexico

Colorado State struggled at the end of the season, but if the right games break their way, they could make it into the tourney with two wins. Unfortunately, momentum is certainly going against the Rams. They've lost 4 out of their last 5 and will certainly have to beat BYU and San Diego State to get a definite tourney spot. CSU is 0-4 against the MWC's big 2 this season.

Honorable mention: Wyoming/TCU-BYU vs. Colorado St./New Mexico

Assuming that BYU gets past their quarterfinal, which is very likely but certainly not a given with the indefinite suspension of F Brandon Davies, this is a great semifinal. On one hand if Colorado State wins, they may be playing for a tournament spot against the class of the MWC. If New Mexico wins, BYU will look for payback as the Cougars will face a team they've lost to twice this year, both games weren't even close.

Prediction: San Diego State

The combination of Brandon Davies not being there and the Aztecs wanting revenge for their two losses, I predict the boys from Cali beat BYU in the finals, assuring them of a #2 seed in the NCAA's, knocking down BYU to a #3 seed (cue the mid-major groaning).

Big 10 Tournament (Thursday-Sunday, Indianapolis)

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/tournaments/conference/BIG10/big-10-tournament-bracket

At-Large Locks: Ohio State, Purdue, Wisconsin, Illinois

Looking Good, Needs A Win: Michigan

Needs Work: Michigan State

Game To Watch: Michigan vs. Illinois

The fortunes of both of these teams have changed over the last few weeks. There is no team that has zoomed their way onto the bubble like Michigan. Even in my College Basketball Primer, they were an afterthought. Now, they are the only thought that teams have in the Big 10. The Wolverines won 6 out of their last 8, with the two losses in that streak coming by a combined three points. The Illini are one of the two teams to beat the Wolverines in that stretch. The winner of this Big 10 quarterfinal is in the tournament. While the loser may be in as well, they will be doing a lot of sweating till Sunday.

Honorable Mention: Michigan State-Iowa vs. Purdue

Michigan State HAS to beat Iowa. If not, there should be no logical reason why a 14 loss team like the Spartans - who will have lost twice to Iowa - should be in the field of 68. If MSU makes it to the quarters, this matchup is just as pivotal to their tourney hopes. Both of Purdue's victories over Michigan State have been by double digits, including a 20-point victory at East Lansing less than two weeks ago. Michigan State may have more to play for, but Purdue may be pissed after losing to Iowa this past Saturday.

Prediction: Ohio State

On a neutral court, no team in the country is better than the Buckeyes. They have veteran leadership that's been in the tourney before, they have a super freshman in Jared Sullinger who can dominate games just like Evan Turner and Greg Oden before him, and they have a team who is battle tested in big tourney games as well. I believe Ohio State beats Wisconsin in the finals of the Big 10 to secure the #1 overall seed.

SEC Tournament (Thursday-Sunday, Atlanta)

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/tournaments/conference/SEC/sec-tournament-bracket

At-Large Locks: Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Vanderbilt

Needs Work: Alabama, Georgia

Game To Watch: Alabama vs. Auburn-Georgia

Just like last year in the SEC, the SEC West champion is most certainly not guaranteed an SEC Tournament bid. The 4th seed in the SEC East, Georgia has had a nice year, but their lack of big victories is catching up to them. So, what's the only way to get a big victory? Beat your opponent on Friday. Alabama is guaranteed to be here, Georgia's gonna need to beat SEC West bottom resident Auburn. Whether it be for Alabama or Georgia, Friday is desperation day in this Quarterfinal opener.

Honorable Mention: Tennessee-Arkansas vs. Florida

Florida has a huge resume, that coupled with an SEC title, could seriously give them consideration for a #2 seed. Arkansas will be a decent challenge for Tennessee, and has actually win against them in their only match back in February. The winner of that game should be a good opener for Florida, despite Florida winning all three meetings against both the Vols and Razorbacks this year. If Florida gets upset here, watch out because that opens up the SEC tourney big time.

Prediction: Florida

Florida has won 8 out of their last 9 and only lost three games in SEC play. All three losses were by single digits. Florida is showing a bit of the magic that they showed in their back-to-back national title seasons. Remember, the Gators were a #3 seed when they won the tourney for the very first time. This could be the start of something special for Florida.

ACC Tournament (Thursday-Sunday, Greensboro)

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/tournaments/conference/ACC/acc-tournament-bracket

At-Large Locks: Duke, North Carolina, Florida State

Looking Good, but needs a win: Clemson

Needs Work: Boston College, Virginia Tech

Game To Watch: Clemson vs. Boston College-Wake Forest

The ACC has been a very weak conference this year outside of the Top Three, but if BC continues on to this quarterfinal, a very well defined 4th bid from the conference will be handed out right here. Clemson has a good resume, enhanced by the very thin bubble. Despite losses to both Yale AND Harvard, the Eagles have done better during the latter portion of conference season, winning 4 out of their last 6 and having a very close game at regular season champion North Carolina. Despite the youth of both sides this year, one rookie head coach: either BC's Steve Donohue or Clemson's Brad Brownell will be going dancing with a win here.

Honorable Mention: Virginia Tech/Georgia Tech vs. Florida State

The Hokies will need to win twice: their quarterfinal on Thursday and this possible game on Friday. Over the last two years, Virginia Tech has been the ultimate bubble team and this year is no different. After what could have been a season and program defining win against Duke, the Hokies lost twice in the last week in the regular season against Clemson and BC. If Seth Greenberg EVER wants to make a second tourney appearance, his boys will definitely have to win two and possibly three ACC tourney games.

Prediction: Virginia Tech

Going out on a HUGE limb here. The Hokies are gonna recognize the talent that made them a Top 25 team at season's beginning. They'll beat both Duke and UNC in consecutive days to put them off the bubble and very much IN the NCAA tourney.

So, happy watching to all this Conference Tournament Week. Selection Sunday is just days away so I urge you all to enjoy all the madness this week. Every moment you get this week as a fan to watch a conference tournament game, do it. This is truly the most wonderful time of the year, perhaps in all of sports. I am The Rabbi, and I am out.