The madness has arrived.
The first men’s basketball conference tournament begins this week, beginning with the first round of the Atlantic Sun Tournament on Monday. The first automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament will be awarded Saturday night in the Ohio Valley Tournament championship game. In many of these early events, the drama reaches a fever pitch as only the winner gets to hear its name called in Sunday’s judging.
Here’s a guide to the 15 conference tournament games starting now through Sunday. Brackets are included in already set leagues. We’ll add new brackets to this story as they become available, and we’ll be back next Monday for the other 17 conference tournament games.
(Conferences are listed in alphabetical order; all times are Eastern Time.)
Eastern United States
When it starts: Saturday
Where: campus site
Title game: Saturday, March 16, 11 a.m., ESPN2
Top seed: Vermont (25-6, 14-1 America East)
Thin people: The regular season ends Tuesday night with Vermont once again a No. 1 seed, which it has been in seven of the last eight AmEast tournament games. The Catamounts are seeking their tenth trip to the NCAA tournament since 2003.
atlantic sun
𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐢𝐬𝐒𝐞𝐭…👀🏆🏀
See the full bracket of 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 #𝐀𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐌𝐁𝐁 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩! ⬇️
🔗 | https://t.co/cp1j2HPYd9#ASUNBuilt pic.twitter.com/JlZYncDc8C
— #ASUNBuilt (@ASUNSports) March 2, 2024
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When it starts: on Monday
Where: campus site
Title Game: Sunday, March 10, 2 p.m., ESPN2
Top seed: Eastern Kentucky (17-13, 12-4 Atlantic Sun)
Thin people: Led by Isaiah Cozart, one of the nation’s top shot-blockers despite his 6-foot-7 frame, Eastern Kentucky hopes to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014. No. 8 seed Queen is ineligible for an automatic bid because it is still transitioning to Division I.
great south
𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗧.
The stage will be officially set up in 2024 @HerculesTires Big South Basketball Championship! 🏀
📰: https://t.co/Pc4EEzvaGD#BigSouthMBB pic.twitter.com/NZ36WjiWgs
— Big South Conference (@BigSouthSports) March 3, 2024
Link to PDF holder
When it starts: Wednesday
Where: high point, north carolina
Title game: Sunday, March 10, noon, ESPN2
Top seed: High Point (24-7, 13-3 Big South)
Thin people: High Point earned its first No. 1 seed since 2016 under first-year coach Alan Huss. The Panthers would have to defeat defending champion UNC Asheville and star big man Drew Pember, but High Point earned the right to host the tournament.
big sky
When it starts: Saturday
Where: boise idaho
Title Game: Wednesday, March 13, 11:30 p.m., ESPN2
Top seed: Eastern Washington (20-10, 14-3 Big Sky)
Thin people: The league’s regular season ends Monday night, but Eastern Washington has clinched the regular-season title for the second straight year. Weber State has one of the best mid-major players in the country in 6-foot-6 forward Dillon Jones (20.7 points, 10.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists per game).
coast sports association
🚨 We have a stand. 🚨
The competition is scheduled for 2024 @jerseymikes men #CAAHoops Washington D.C. Championship
Head to the Champions Center for more details:
🔗 https://t.co/Lb2wcB4tHv pic.twitter.com/kTjTiCil77— CAA Basketball (@CAABasketball) March 2, 2024
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When it starts: Friday
Where: Washington DC
Title game: Tuesday, March 12, 7 p.m., CBS Sports Network
Top seed: Charleston (24-7, 15-3 CAA)
Thin people: Charleston has won its final nine games to defend its regular-season title and is on track to reach its second consecutive NCAA tournament under Pat Kelsey. There will be many challengers, including fourth-seeded UNC Wilmington, which defeated Kentucky this season at Rupp Arena.
horizon
Our 2024 @BarbasolShave #HLMBB Championship brackets announced @ucklandMBB Lock in the regular season championship and No. 1 seed!
🏀: https://t.co/nnyX1aAHIi#OURHORIZON 🌇| #Marchstartsfromhere pic.twitter.com/cyniTOUERV
— Horizon League (@HorizonLeague) March 3, 2024
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When it starts: Tuesday
Where: Early Round Campus Venue; Indianapolis Championship Game
Title game: Tuesday, March 12, 7 p.m., ESPN
Top seed: Oakland (20-11, 15-5 Horizon)
Thin people: Oakland is seeking its first trip to the NCAA tournament since 2011 and fourth under Greg Kampe, who is in his 40th year at the helm. It’s been a(!) season. Want a Cinderella story? The 11th-seeded Detroit Angels are 1-30 on the season.
missouri valley
Seed, time and bracket settings #大Crazy.
🏆🏀👉 https://t.co/RqO5IXCURl pic.twitter.com/4TCuQ84L41
— MVC Basketball (@ValleyHoops) March 4, 2024
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When it starts: Thursday
Where: saint louis
Title game: Sunday, March 10, 2 p.m., CBS
Top seed: Indiana (26-5, 17-3 Missouri Valley)
Thin people: Arch Madness is always a must-see, and even more so this season with two potential NCAA tournament teams in Indiana State and Drake. The Sycamores have been a feel-good team this season under Josh Schertz, and second-seeded Drake has been a success under superstar Tucker DeVries. Led by Tucker DeVries. Bradley is good enough at stirring up trouble.
deeper
He was a tennis prodigy who dropped out of high school.Now he’s one of the hottest coaches in the country
northeast
🚨📰𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟺𝙽𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝𝙲𝚘𝚗 #𝙽𝙴𝙲𝙼𝙱𝙱 𝚃𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚊𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝𝙵𝚒𝚎𝚕𝚍𝚂𝚎𝚝@CCSU_MBB Get the top seed and home field advantage throughout the tournament https://t.co/ea2fy40hDb
– Northeast Conference (@NECsports) March 3, 2024
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When it starts: Wednesday
Where: campus site
Title game: Tuesday, March 12, 7 p.m., ESPN2
Top seed: Central Connecticut State (19-10, 13-3 Northeastern)
Thin people: Central Connecticut State defeated Merrimack on the final day of the season to earn its first No. 1 seed since 2007. Merrimack qualified for the NCAA tournament for the first time this year.
ohio valley
𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐓! 🏀
The 2024 OVC Men’s Basketball Championship is presented by @united_fidelity Already set!
Full schedule: https://t.co/eWCQKomOe3#OVCit | #OVCtour pic.twitter.com/YgxyXoUgDR
— Ohio Valley Conference (@OVCSports) March 2, 2024
Link to PDF holder
When it starts: Wednesday
Where: Evansville, Indiana
Title Game: Saturday, March 9, 7 p.m., ESPN2
Top seed: Little Rock (20-11, 14-4 Ohio Valley)
Thin people: Little Rock University, University of Texas at Martin and Morehead State University tied the game 14-4, with Little Rock University winning the tiebreaker for the No. 1 seed. Eighth-seeded Southern Indiana is not eligible for the automatic bid because it is still transitioning to Division I.
patriot
Patriot League Championship Bracket. pic.twitter.com/NKqD4jDsNY
— Mid Madness (@mid_madness) March 3, 2024
Link to PDF holder
When it starts: Tuesday
Where: campus site
Title Game: Wednesday, March 13, 7 p.m., CBS Sports Network
Top seed: Colgate (22-9, 16-2 Patriots)
Thin people: Colgate is probably the biggest favorite in all of the conference tournaments, as it clinched the regular-season crown in a unanimous victory. six game. The Raiders hope to represent the Patriot League in their fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance.
south
The stage for the men’s group is ready🏀 | #SoConHoops
Click the link below for the full schedule, tickets and more information ⬇️
https://t.co/hsQDgSk8xm pic.twitter.com/dpEcJNzSIK
— Southland Conference (@SoConSports) March 3, 2024
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When it starts: Friday
Where: Asheville, North Carolina
Title game: Monday, March 11, 7 p.m., ESPN
Top seed: Sanford (26-5, 15-3 Southern)
Thin people: Samford has dominated the league and has won a school-record 26 games. The Bulldogs are seeking their first SoCon tournament title.
southern country
When it starts: Sunday
Where: lake charles louisiana
Title game: Wednesday, March 13, 5 p.m., ESPN2
Top seed: McNeese State (26-3, 15-1 Southland)
Thin people: The regular season will continue through Wednesday, when brackets will be determined. But Will Wade’s McNeese State Cowboys have locked up the top seed.
summit
𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐟𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐨…
2024 #SummitMBB Champion Stand‼ ️
Sioux Falls is going to be fun 🤩
🗞️: https://t.co/od0Pp0Djcl#arrivalsummit X #March2TheSummit pic.twitter.com/GkNTAsJbFn
— The Summit League (@TheSummitLeague) March 3, 2024
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When it starts: Friday
Where: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Title Game: Tuesday, March 12, 9:30 p.m., CBS Sports
Top seed: South Dakota State (19-12, 12-4 Summit)
Thin people: South Dakota State won the conference title by two games and the Jackrabbits are seeking their eighth tournament title since 2012. Kansas City clinched the No. 2 seed on Feb. 8 with a 10-15 record and a six-game winning streak. Tommy Bruner, the nation’s leading scorer, plays for seventh-seeded Denver.
sun belt
𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗢𝗨𝗧𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗧.
Check out the official bracket for 2024 @HerculesTires #SunBeltMBB championship. ☀️🏀
📰 » https://t.co/2BTNm8yw0G pic.twitter.com/i9y7PnFFDb
— Sun Belt (@SunBelt) March 2, 2024
Link to PDF holder
When it starts: Tuesday
Where: pensacola florida
Title game: Monday, March 11, 6 p.m., ESPN2
Top seed: Appalachian (26-5, 16-2 Sun Belt)
Thin people: James Madison caught everyone’s attention early, beating Michigan State in the first week of the season and cracking the AP Top 25. But Appalachian State defeated Auburn in December and swept Duke. Both have a chance to play in the NCAA tournament.
deeper
The inside story of James Madison’s extraordinary rise
west bank
It’s official‼ ️ Seeds locked @MyCreditUnion1 #WCChoops championship
🎟️ https://t.co/ofOZIPvLBE pic.twitter.com/A16EXL2B5N
— WCC Basketball (@WCChoops) March 3, 2024
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When it starts: Thursday
Where: las vegas
Title game: Tuesday, March 12, 9 p.m., ESPN
Top seed: Saint Mary’s College (24-7, 15-1 West Coast)
Thin people: St. Mary’s won the regular-season title, but Gonzaga came back strong in the final week with road wins over the Gaels and third-seeded San Francisco. No matter what happens in this tournament, Saint Mary’s and the Zags should be in the NCAA Tournament as they both reached the semifinals. Could a surprise winner turn this league into a triple-header league?
Conference tournaments starting next week:
American: March 13-17
Atlantic 10: March 12-17
ACC: March 12-16
Big 12: March 12-16
Dadong: March 13-16
Top ten: March 13-17
Great West: March 13-16
American Conference: March 12-16
Ivy League schools: March 16-17
Maak: March 12-16
apple: March 14-16
MEAC: March 13-16
Shanxi: March 13-16
Pac-12 Conference: March 13-16
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission: March 13-17
SWAC: March 13-16
WAC: March 13-16
(Top photo of Colgate celebrating last year’s Patriot League championship: Adrian Kraus/AP)
