How’s that feel?!#CatsAreWild #TCC pic.twitter.com/6xkJnTorlR
— Davidson Basketball (@DavidsonMBB) March 11, 2018
(Davidson players celebrate after knocking off Rhode Island for the Atlantic 10 championship.)
By Jerry Briggs
For thejbreplay.com
The 68-team NCAA tournament bracket is set for release Sunday at 5 p.m.
You can click on this link and fill it in as the teams are announced on national television, on TBS.
For the fourth time, San Antonio will host the Final Four.
The NCAA semifinals and finals will be held March 31 and April 2 at the Alamodome.
Sunday’s highlights
The up-and-down Kentucky Wildcats won the Southeastern Conference title Sunday, beating Tennessee 77-72.
Guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander exploded for 29 point and 7 rebounds to lead the Wildcats to the win over the SEC co-champions.
Tennessee entered the game projected as a No. 3 seed and Kentucky a No. 5 seed.
In a game that is expected to force the selection committee to drop one of its at-large selections from the field, Davidson beat Rhode Island 58-57 to win the Atlantic 10.
As a result, Davidson moves in unexpectedly to secure the conference’s automatic bid.
Rhode Island, projected as either a No. 7 or No. 8 seed, likely will make the tournament as an at large to effectively bump another team out.
In other games, Cincinnati scored a 56-55 victory over the Houston Cougars to claim the American Athletic championship.
Also, Georgia State won the Sun Belt title in New Orleans with a 74-61 victory over UT Arlington.
Sunday’s scores
(Tournament finals)
American — Cincinnati 56, Houston 55
Sun Belt — Georgia State 74, UT Arlington 61
Southeastern Conference — Kentucky 77, Tennessee 72
Atlantic 10 — Davidson 58, Rhode Island 57
Ivy League — Penn 68, Harvard 65
Saturday’s scores
(Tournament finals)
Big West — Cal State Fullerton 71, UC Irvine 55
Pac-12 — Arizona 75, USC 61
Western Athletic Conference — New Mexico State 72, Grand Canyon 58
Atlantic Coast Conference — Virginia 71, North Carolina 63
Southland Conference — Stephen F. Austin 59, Southeastern Louisiana 55
Conference USA — Marshall 67, Western Kentucky 66
Big Sky — Montana 82, Eastern Washington 65
Big East — Villanova 76, Providence 66, OT
Big 12 — Kansas 81, West Virginia 70
Mountain West — San Diego State 82, New Mexico 75
MAC — Buffalo 76, Toledo 66
America East – Maryland-Baltimore County 65, Vermont 62
MEAC — North Carolina Central 71,, Hampton 63
SWAC — Texas Southern 84, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 69
Earlier in the week, @coach_keller12 wanted his 'Jacks to create their own legacy.
We took a step in that direction Saturday night with a 59-55 win over Southeastern Louisiana to send us to @marchmadness. #AxeEm
Story | https://t.co/MXL3MfDhm8 pic.twitter.com/QB777cmhY5— SFA Basketball (@SFA_MBB) March 11, 2018
(Former UTSA assistants Jeremy Cox (left) and Kyle Keller (second from right) pose for the team picture on Saturday after Stephen F. Austin won the Southland Conference title).
Conference / NCAA automatic qualifier
Ohio Valley — Murray State (26-5)
Missouri Valley – Loyola-Chicago (28-5)
Big Ten — Michigan (28-7)
Big South — Radford (22-12)
Atlantic Sun — Lipscomb (23-9)
Southern — UNC Greensboro (27-7)
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference — Iona (20-13)
West Coast Conference — Gonzaga (30-4)
Horizon — Wright State (25-9)
Northeast — LIU Brooklyn (18-16)
Colonial Athletic Association — Charleston (26-7)
Summit — South Dakota State (28-6)
Patriot League — Bucknell (25-9)
America East — Maryland-Baltimore County (24-10)
MEAC — North Carolina Central (19-15)
SWAC — Texas Southern (15-19)
Big 12 — Kansas (27-7)
Mountain West — San Diego State (22-10)
Big East — Villanova (30-4)
MAC — Buffalo (26-8)
Conference USA — Marshall (24-10)
Southland — Stephen F. Austin (28-6)
Atlantic Coast — Virginia (31-2)
Big Sky — Montana (26-7)
Western Athletic Conference — New Mexico State (28-5)
Pac-12 — Arizona (27-7)
Big West — Cal State Fullerton (20-11)
Ivy League — Penn (24-8)
Southeastern — Kentucky (24-10)
Atlantic 10 — Davidson (21-11)
Sun Belt — Georgia State (24-10)
American — Cincinnati (30-4)
No caption needed on this one from @Iam_RawleAlkins. #APlayersProgram pic.twitter.com/wp94lz5wCG
— Arizona Basketball (@APlayersProgram) March 11, 2018
(Sophomore guard Rawle Alkins throws down a monster dunk, helping Arizona power past Southern Cal in the Pac-12 tournament).