College basketball madness begins

The conference tourneys are in full gear and it's time to check on all the local teams I follow from Virginia, New Jersey, and the northwest.

New Jersey:
Seton Hall (18-10) is playing tomorrow night in the first round of the Big East tourney. The 18 wins should get the Pirates into one of the 4 postseason tourneys regardless, but it's a tough road to win the conference tourney to make the NCAAs. They face 12-18 Providence in the first game.

Rutgers (15-16) is also playing tomorrow night, against the 16-14 Cincinnati Bearcats. The Scarlet Knights need probably 2 wins at least to even get a bid to the CBI or collegeinsider.com tourney.

Princeton (19-8) has finished its' season, the 19 wins MAY get an NIT bid most years, but Harvard has over 20 wins and will likely snag an NIT spot.

N.J.I.T. (9-20) after losing every game for about 2 years, the Highlanders winning 9 this year is a good accomplishment. They are now in the Great West Conference, for unknown reasons, but they are playing in the first round of the GWC Tourney Wednesday against 8-22 North Dakota. The GWC, as a new conference, does NOT have an automatic bid to the NCAAs, but they will send their champion to the collegeinsider.com tourney.

Rider (17-16) the Broncos won their first game in the MAAC tourney over in-state rival St. Peter's 72-65, but fell to eventual MAAC champion Siena 72-62 in the semifinals. Hopes for a bid to a postseason tourney are dim.

St. Peter's (16-14) the season ended for the Peacocks with that 7 point loss to Rider in the MAAC quarterfinals. They had a winning season, but will again miss out on the postseason, as they have every year since 1995.

Monmouth (12-19) lost in the first round of the Northeast Conference Tournament to top seeded Quinnipiac 84-75. The season is over for the Hawks.

Fairleigh Dickinson (11-21) nearly upset Long Island in the first round of the Northeast Conference Tournament, falling just 2 points short. The season is over for the Knights.

Virginia:
Virginia (14-15) is set for the ACC Tournament, they will meet Boston College (15-15) in an opening round game. Should they win, their reward is a game against Duke.

Virginia Tech. (23-7) is headed for at least an NIT berth, but can pad its' resume for an NCAA bid should they get a couple of wins in the ACC Tourney. Their journey begins in the quarterfinals on Friday against the winner of the Wake Forest/Miami game.

Richmond (24-7) has possibly already made its' claim for an NCAA berth, and can help themselves in the A-10 Tourney Friday when they face the winner of the Charlotte/UMass game.

Liberty (15-16) had their season come to an end in the first round of the Big South Tourney when they fell to eventual champion Winthrop 80-72.

Radford (19-12) lost in the Big South semifinals to Winthrop 61-46, but the Highlanders still have some hope for a bid to either the CBI or the collegeinsider.com tournament.

VMI (10-19) lost in the first round of the Big South Tourney to Coastal Carolina 82-73. The season is over for the Keydets.

VCU (22-9) fell to ODU in the semifinals of the CAA Tournament 73-69, but with 22 wins, the Rams will surely be playing in a postseason tournament.

ODU (25-8) won the CAA Tournament over William & Mary 60-53 and earned the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

William & Mary (22-9) fell to ODU in the CAA final by 7, but still should earn a postseason trip somewhere.

JMU (13-20) lost in the CAA quarterfinals to William & Mary 70-65, the season is over for the Dukes.

George Mason (17-14) lost in the CAA quarters for VCU 75-60, the Patriots hold out some hope for a postseason bid to one of the tournaments.

Longwood (12-19) completed it's season and as an independent the Lancers have no postseason tournament.

Hampton (13-17) is set for the MEAC Tournament, they meet Norfolk State in the quarterfinals.

Norfolk State (11-18) will play in the MEAC quarters against arch-rival Hampton.

Washington:
Washington (21-9) is set for the Pac 10 Tournament and will face Oregon State (14-16) in the quarterfinals. They should have a good shot at an NCAA bid.

Washington State (16-14) has to play the opening round game of the Pac 10 Tournament against Oregon (15-15) on Wednesday. The Cougars likely need a couple wins to earn their way into a postseason tourney.

Seattle U. (17-14) has concluded its' season as an independent. The Redhawks' season is over.

Gonzaga (26-6) was upset by St. Mary's in the WCC Championship game. The Bulldogs will surely still make the NCAA Tournament.

Oregon:
Portland (21-10) Pilots lost in the WCC semifinals to eventual champion St. Mary's 69-55. While an NCAA bid isn't in the cards, UP can hope for an NIT bid or one of the other two tournaments to come calling.

Oregon (15-15) faces Washington State (16-14) in the opening round game of the Pac 10 Tournament. The Ducks need several wins to earn a postseason berth.

Oregon State (14-16) takes on Washington in the quarterfinals of the Pac 10 Tourney. The Beavers need several wins for any hope of playing in the postseason.

Portland State (13-18) is the bottom seed in the Big Sky Tournament and, having defeated Montana State in the first round, faces top seed Weber State (19-9) in the semifinals tomorrow night. The Vikings need to win the tournament to play in the postseason.