Well basketball fans, the month we have all been waiting for is finally here. March Madness is in full swing with teams trying to jostle for position in the Big Dance. Just one week from today, the bracket will be announced and players, coaches and fans all over the country will be filled with either excitement or disappointment. Of course, the tournament is one of the best events in sports that gets all basketball fans excited, hoping that they picked the perfect bracket. However, this week, the week before the madness is the best week in college basketball. Why you may ask? Well, let me explain.
At this point in the season there are about eight teams fighting for the four #1 seeds. Just a couple weeks ago there were eleven teams that I believed had an opportunity to make a #1 seed. Now, its down to just about eight. Those teams will need to have success in this upcoming week in their conference tournaments in order to get a top spot. There are three teams in the Big 10 alone that could earn a #1 seed, but most likely only one will get a top spot, the winner of their conference tournament.
Then there are the "bubble" teams. Every day ESPN's Joe Lunardi has a group of about 12 teams shifting from his First Four Out, to First Four In. It is now or never for several teams that are hoping to squeeze their way into the tournament. They must make a run in their tournaments in order to at least earn consideration from the tournament committee. Teams such as Kentucky and Tennessee have played well this weekend and may just be one conference tournament win away from securing a spot in the Dance. Then there are teams such as Minnesota, who have plummeted as of late, that must make a serious run in their conference tournament to even be considered.
But folks, my favorite part of all has to be the small conference tournament championships. These teams are full of undersized and overlooked players that simply have more fight in them than anyone else. These teams have one shot to reach the NCAA tournament: win the conference tournament. Pretty simple: if they win, they go to the NCAA tournament. If they lose, their season is over. Florida Gulf Coast this weekend did something that had never been done before. They reached the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history. At the end of the game, you would have thought they won the national championship because they were so ecstatic. Let's look at the Ohio Valley Conference Championship. Belmont knocked off Murray State by just 2 points in overtime. As a result, Belmont will be playing in the Dance while Murray State's season is over. The amount of heart, hustle, and respect for the game of basketball that the kids in the smaller conferences have is so refreshing to see as a basketball fan. It reminds us of why college basketball is a breath of fresh air in a time when professionals are signing contracts nearing 100 million dollars. It is teams like Belmont that make this month so exciting, and it is teams like Belmont that can surprise many, and have success in the NCAA tournament because they are used to the "win or go home" situations.