MORE FEBRUARY FRENZY

Well it's Day Two of the College Basketball tournaments, so here's some more predictions for you the reader:

SUN BELT CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT:
The Jaguars of South Alabama and the Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky are the favorites to end up in the finals of this one. The Jags are led by Demetric Bennett (15.3 PPPG) and Ernest Little, whose presence is anything but little, averaging nearly 13 points per game and 8.9 rebounds. Menawhile the Hilltoppers have a Mascot that looks a little like the monster from Bugs Bunny cartoons, Gossamer:










or perhaps a red Grimace:



Point Hilltopppers. I dunno. Anyways, the tournament. Look for a 1st round upset from the 12th seeded Rajin Cajuns of Lousiana-Lafayette. We've long been a fan of the Cajuns, since they were SW Louisiana State University and we feel they can take down, not only the North Texas Mean Green (another name we love!) but also the number four team the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks. Now the Cajuns have only won 9 games all season, but they're Rajin for cryin out loud! Led by David Dees and Ross Mouton, they're poised for an upset. Everything in the semis should go according to seeding with South Alabama and the Hilltoppers reaching the finals. Now we think the Hilltoppers will take it, and we're not just saying it because Daniel Emerson is on the roster, although I wouldn't mind having his jersey. But be careful not to sleep on the conference's leading scorer, Bo McCalebb and the New Orleans Privateers or the conference's second leading scorer, Adrian Banks and the Arkansas State Indians. You're conference tidbit, the Denver Pioneers roster has a Myke Lattimore and a Mykhael Lattimore. Both are listed as #13. Both hail from Morristown, NJ. But one is a junior and one is a senior and their stats are just slightly different. Are they actually the same person? Who knows in that crazy Sun Belt?

THE GENERAL SHALE BRICK ATLANTIC SUN CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT:
What a conference this is! It is home to one of the greatest college hoops rivalries there is, Belmont- Lipscomb as well as the Fightin' Camels of Campbell and a team that is in the running for the worst team in Division I, the North Florida Osprey (they only won one game against a Division-I opponent. The run and gun Camels are feisty, with Johnathan Rodriguez (17.2 PPG, 8.8 RPG, and 3.1 APG) and Leadell Eackles (#2 in the conference in assists and the leader in steals per game) leading the way. And yes he is the son of former Washington Bullett Ledell Eackles. While it was a down season for the Bisons of Lipscomb, but this is where they shine. Eddie Ard leads the Bison and although they're the four seed I feel they can buck Eastern Tennessee State in the quarters. But it won't be easy, with Brad Nuckles manning the middle for the Buccaneers. Brad Nuckles? Sounds like a made up boxer name. Actually Brad's dad Benny Nuckles was a boxer, winning his last fight against Soda Popinski, before heading into retirement. But, just like last year this'll comedown to the Bruins and Bison, and it looks likes it should be another General Shale Brick Atlantic Sun Conference Championship for Belmont.


THE PATRIOT LEAGUE TOURNAMENT
This one doesn't look to have a lot of upsets. We like all four top seeds to advance to the semifinals. In fact the biggest upset you'll see in this tournament, will be two seeded Bison of Bucknell beating the top seeded Holy Cross Crusaders in the finale. A player to watch out for is Lehigh's Kyle Neptune. The coolest name that'll be a non-factor, Army's John Moonshower (1.1 PPG, 1.1 RPG, 0.5 APG). The reason I like Bison is because of their balance. There top three scorers average 11.8, 11.5 and 10.7 PPG. There's no one peron you can lock down on and the Crusaders will have trouble, even with Patriot League Player of the Year, Keith Simmons and Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year, Torey Thomas. So, much like in the Atlantic Sun, this one'll go to the Bison.

SOUTHERN CONFERENCE MOUNTAIN DEW BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP:
This one is gonna come down to the Mountaineers of Appalachian State and the Davidson Wildcats. Now the Cats are the #1 seed and only lost one conference game....to the Mountaineers. Now College of Charleston (or the CoC) is #3, but we expect them to be upset in the quarters by Louis Graham and Jimmy Tobias (who may or may not be a never nude) and the Eagles of Georgia Southern. But when you get right down to the nitty gritty of it all, Davidson and Appalachian State are in a class by themselves. But the Mountaineers big three of DJ Thompson, Jeremy Clayton and Donte Minter could be too much for the Wildcats and Stephen Curry and Jason Richards. Other player's to watch for are UNC-Greensboro's Kyle Hines and 3-pt sharpshooter, Kendall Toney. Also watch for the league leader in fouls per game, Arnold Gore of Western Carolina. So it's the Mountaineers who are gonna be your 2007 Southern Conference Mountain Dew Basketball Championship Champions.

NORTH EAST CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT SPONSORED BY ESURANCE:
The wild card team in this tourney is the five seeded Mount Saint Mary's Mountaineers who will ride Mykal Kearse to the finals. But it's in the finals, where the "Mount" will come to the Blue Devils of Central Connecticut State and Oba Nwadike who can be a monster on the boards. You can also expect a quarterfinal upset from Fairleigh Dickinson and Andre Harris. But when it comes down to it, expect the top seeded Blue Devils to roll through the field and win the North East Conference Champions sponsored be eSurance.

THE STATE FARM MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE ARCH MADNESS:
The Valley has been the crown jewel of the mid-majors for a couple of seasons. It seems the Valley has lost a little luster and is a bit passe, but they still have a lot of talent and gusto. Now, it's still up in arms as to how many Valley teams are going to the Big Dance. Now anything can happen at Arch madness, we believe it'll come down to Nate Funk and the Creighton Blue Jays against Jamal Tatum and the Salukis of Southern Illinois. Now of course we are big fans of the Missouri State Bears, mostly because of the best free-throw shooter in all the land, Blake Ahearn, but the Bears will not be able to match up with Creighton in the semis. Now don't discount last year's surprise, Bradley or this year's early darling the Shockers of Wichita State. It seems like the Salukis should win this tourney, but I really feel the Blue Jays are gonna take it. Call it a hunch, but I think the Jays and nate Funk will break out of their conference tourney,well, funk.