ASUN Tournament Highlights and March Madness Preview
The ASUN Tournament continues to deliver exciting basketball as it moves into the semifinals. In the second round, the higher-seeded teams showcased their power, with the No. 2 seed North Alabama defeating the No. 7 seed Austin Peay decisively with a score of 90-64. In another notable match, top-seeded Lipscomb triumphed over No. 10 seed Central Arkansas, finishing the game at 84-66.
However, the tournament’s surprises keep coming as No. 3 seed Florida Gulf Coast fell to the No. 6 seed Queens in a closely contested game, ending at 71-65. The No. 4 seed Jacksonville managed to hold off the No. 5 seed Eastern Kentucky, winning 78-67. These results set the stage for crucial semifinal matchups: Lipscomb will take on Jacksonville, while North Alabama will go head-to-head with Queens.
Upcoming Conference Tournaments
As the playoffs continue, several other conferences will kick off their tournaments on Tuesday, adding to the excitement as college basketball gears up for Selection Sunday on March 16. The Horizon League, Patriot League, and Sun Belt will all join the action, highlighting the start of the postseason frenzy.
A particularly intriguing matchup in the Horizon League Tournament will feature No. 6 seed Oakland facing No. 11 seed Green Bay. Oakland was a standout during last year’s March Madness, famously overcoming No. 3 seed Kentucky in the opening round. Under the guidance of coach Greg Kampe, the team is poised to begin its 2025 playoff journey against Green Bay, currently coached by Doug Gottlieb. Meanwhile, Gottlieb’s first season leading the Phoenix has been challenging, marked by a 4-27 record, though a close, overtime game against Oakland in their regular season finale might offer some encouragement.
Sun Belt Tournament Format
The Sun Belt Conference will implement a new tournament format, commencing with two games featuring the lowest seeds (Nos. 11-14). The top two seeds will receive byes into the semifinals, a setup designed to heighten the stakes for the teams competing in the initial rounds.
MARCH MADNESS ON THE HORIZON
As the week progresses, the anticipation for the NCAA Tournament continues to build, with various conference tournaments leading to Selection Sunday. We will closely monitor and provide updates on the outcomes of these pivotal matchups as teams seek to secure their spots in the prestigious NCAA Tournament.
Conference Tournament Schedule
| Conference | Location | Dates | Championship Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACC | Charlotte, North Carolina | March 11-15 | Sat., Mar. 15, 8:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| America East | Campus sites | March 8, 11, 15 | Sat., Mar. 15, 11 a.m. | ESPN2 |
| American | Fort Worth, Texas | March 12-16 | Sun., Mar. 16, 3:15 p.m. | ESPN |
| ASUN | Campus sites | March 2, 3, 6, 9 | Sun., Mar. 9, 2 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Atlantic 10 | Washington D.C. | March 12-16 | Sun., Mar. 16, 1 p.m. | CBS |
| Horizon League | Campus sites | March 4, 6, 10, 11 | Tue., Mar. 11, 7 p.m. | ESPN |
| Sun Belt | Pensacola, Florida | March 4-10 | Mon., Mar. 10, 7 p.m. | ESPN2 |
Fans can look forward to a thrilling month of basketball as conference tournament results unfold, ultimately leading to the NCAA Tournament’s selections.