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The brackets from the conference tournaments we previewed in previous posts will be updated daily.

Introduction to March Madness

Unit #1 – Atlantic Sun, Big South

Unit #2 – Patriot League, Ohio Valley, Northeast, America East

Missouri Valley

Missouri Valley Tournament Bracket

Conference Champion: Wichita State

Start of Tourney: March 2

Predicted Winner: Wichita State

Expected number of NCAA Tournament Bids: 1 – 2

Overview: Wichita State is tied with Illinois State for the Missouri Valley Conference lead with a record of 17-1 in conference play. Wichita State has made the NCAA Tournament for the last five seasons, while Illinois State is looking to punch their first ticket to the dance since 1998. If they meet in the finals, both teams should still feel good about their chances to make the Big Dance, but the loser will be at the whim of the committee. An early round upset would ramp up the Selection Sunday drama instantly.

Players to Watch

1) Paris Lee (Illinois State)

Lee has been a regular contributor for the Redbirds since he was a freshman, missing just one game in his four year career. The senior point guard capped off his career at Illinois State with a Player-of-the-Year campaign, leading the conference in both assists and steals while also scoring 13 point per game. Also selected to the conference’s All-Defensive team, he was one of the main reasons Illinois State finished the regular season ranked sixth in the country in points allowed per game (60.7).

2) Markis McDuffie (Wichita State)

The Shockers graduated two of their senior leaders in Fred VanVleet and Ron Baker last season, which has forced them to find leadership among their underclassmen this season. McDuffie, a 6-8 sophomore forward from Paterson, NJ, jumped into a leadership role and has the team on the verge of their sixth straight NCAA tournament appearance. He led the team’s balanced offensive attack with 11.7 points per game.

3) Alize Johnson (Missouri State)

Johnson has averaged a double-double this season with 14.4 points per game and 10.5 rebounds per game. Johnson has also shot 40% from beyond the arc this year, which is very important in single-elimination situations. The Bears have played Illinois State close in both their meeting this year, losing by a combined four points. Johnson and co. are on Wichita State’s side of the conference tournament bracket and the Bears have lost to them by a less hopeful 37 points combined.

MAAC

MAAC Tournament Bracket

Conference Champion: Iona

Start of Tourney: March 2

Predicted Winner: Monmouth

Expected number of NCAA Tournament Bids: 1

Overview: Most college basketball fans remember Monmouth for their over-the-top bench celebrations from last season. An upset in the MAAC conference tournament kept them out of the NCAAs, but they have put themselves back in great position to dance this season after compiling an 18-2 conference record. St. Peter’s could play spoiler this year, though, having already beaten Monmouth and taken them to overtime in their two matchups this year.

Players to Watch

1) Justin Robinson (Monmouth)

Despite just standing at just 5-8, Robinson led the MAAC in scoring the season with 19.8 points per game. The reigning MAAC Player of the Year continued being the key distributor for the Hawks as well, averaging a team-high 4.8 assists per game. He has blown the school scoring record out of the water; he needs only 66 more points to become the ninth MAAC player to reach 2,000 career points. Three of Monmouth’s five losses came when Robinson scored less than 15 points, so expect to see the ball in his hands often.

Oh, and he has a young fan touting his talents to get him drafted by an NBA team.

2) Tyler Nelson (Fairfield)

Nelson finished behind Robinson in scoring with 18.9 points per game, which helped him get onto the conference’s first team despite Fairfield finishing fifth in the MAAC. Coach Sydney Johnson needed his junior guard to play often and Nelson ended up averaging the most minutes played per game in the conference. The Stags dropped both of their games to Siena, their first round opponent, so they will need to get over that hurdle before getting a third crack at Monmouth.

3) Jordan Washington (Iona)

Washington has been exceptional for the Gaels this season, averaging a cool 17.7 points per game and 7.5 rebounds per game despite playing just 21 minutes per game. His minutes were so low largely due to foul trouble; in more than half their games, Washington finished the game with four or five fouls. If they can keep him on the floor, the junior’s 56% shooting percentage will be key to getting Iona back to the NCAA tournament for the second straight year and fourth time in the seven years of coach Tim Cluess’s tenure.