March Madness rooting guide

Verdad

Starter
⭐️ Donor ⭐️
I always enjoy rooting for non-villainous (or against villainous) former players and head coaches - gives me more games to watch with a rooting interest without having to lose money betting on the game. Pretty much everyone needs to win their conference tournament to go dancing, maybe a couple NIT worthy teams in there.

Former non-villainous players:
Austin Ball, Eastern Kentucky (11-20, 9th place in ASUN) - 3/4 v Stetson (Conf. Tournament starts 3/4)

Devin Dinkins, Manhattan (12-19, 10th place in MAAC) - 3/5 v Fairfield (Conf. Tournament starts 3/5)

Baraka Okojie, Mercer (19-12, 2nd place in SoCon) - 3/7 vs W Carolina (Conf. Tournament starts 3/6)

CAA tournament starts 3/6
Bryson Cokley, Elon (14-17), CAA - 11th place - 3/7 vs William and Mary
Peter Oduro, Hampton, (13-18, 10th place in CAA) - 3/7 vs Towson (barely plays)

Jeremiah Quigley, Binghamton (8-23), America East last place - did not qualify for conf. tournament :(

CUSA tournament starts 3/10
Justin Begg, Sam Houston (21-8), Conf. USA - 3/5 vs Delaware
Justyn Fernandez, Delaware (9-20), last place in Conf. USA - 3/5 @ Sam Houston

American conference tournament starts 3/11
Gio Emejuru, ECU (11-18), American - 3/5 vs Tulsa
Michael Gray, Wichita St (20-10, 2nd place in American)- 3/7 vs FAU

Villainous players:
Keyshawn "severed my ankle walking down the" Hall, Auburn (16-14, 7-10 in SEC, listed under "work to do" and 1st team out by ESPN), 3/7 @ #16 Bama, have lost 7 of 9, lets root for 8 of 10 and then 9 of 11 when SEC tournament starts on 3/11
*End of list

Former non-villainous Head Coaches:
Patriot Conf. Tournament underway

Duane Simkins, American (16-15, 5th place in Patriot) - 3/5 vs Boston
Dave Paulsen, Holy Cross (11-21, last place in Patriot) - 3/5 vs Lehigh

Eric Konkol, Tulsa (23-6, 3rd place in American - Net of 50, not listed by ESPN bracketology) - @ ECU 3/5

Former villainous Head Coaches:
Kim "have I been fired yet?" English, 14-15, 7th place in Big East - 3/4 vs Marquette and 3/7 @ Gtown
*End of list
 

Leesburg Chankenstank III

Hall of Famer
⭐️ Donor ⭐️
I always enjoy rooting for non-villainous (or against villainous) former players and head coaches - gives me more games to watch with a rooting interest without having to lose money betting on the game. Pretty much everyone needs to win their conference tournament to go dancing, maybe a couple NIT worthy teams in there.

Former non-villainous players:
Austin Ball, Eastern Kentucky (11-20, 9th place in ASUN) - 3/4 v Stetson (Conf. Tournament starts 3/4)

Devin Dinkins, Manhattan (12-19, 10th place in MAAC) - 3/5 v Fairfield (Conf. Tournament starts 3/5)

Baraka Okojie, Mercer (19-12, 2nd place in SoCon) - 3/7 vs W Carolina (Conf. Tournament starts 3/6)

CAA tournament starts 3/6
Bryson Cokley, Elon (14-17), CAA - 11th place - 3/7 vs William and Mary
Peter Oduro, Hampton, (13-18, 10th place in CAA) - 3/7 vs Towson (barely plays)

Jeremiah Quigley, Binghamton (8-23), America East last place - did not qualify for conf. tournament :(

CUSA tournament starts 3/10
Justin Begg, Sam Houston (21-8), Conf. USA - 3/5 vs Delaware
Justyn Fernandez, Delaware (9-20), last place in Conf. USA - 3/5 @ Sam Houston

American conference tournament starts 3/11
Gio Emejuru, ECU (11-18), American - 3/5 vs Tulsa
Michael Gray, Wichita St (20-10, 2nd place in American)- 3/7 vs FAU

Villainous players:
Keyshawn "severed my ankle walking down the" Hall, Auburn (16-14, 7-10 in SEC, listed under "work to do" and 1st team out by ESPN), 3/7 @ #16 Bama, have lost 7 of 9, lets root for 8 of 10 and then 9 of 11 when SEC tournament starts on 3/11
*End of list

Former non-villainous Head Coaches:
Patriot Conf. Tournament underway

Duane Simkins, American (16-15, 5th place in Patriot) - 3/5 vs Boston
Dave Paulsen, Holy Cross (11-21, last place in Patriot) - 3/5 vs Lehigh

Eric Konkol, Tulsa (23-6, 3rd place in American - Net of 50, not listed by ESPN bracketology) - @ ECU 3/5

Former villainous Head Coaches:
Kim "have I been fired yet?" English, 14-15, 7th place in Big East - 3/4 vs Marquette and 3/7 @ Gtown
*End of list
Great list!
 
OP
V

Verdad

Starter
⭐️ Donor ⭐️
3/5 update and games:
Tonights slate is highlight by 2 games featuring former Patriots going head to head, though none crossed paths at Mason.

Duane Simkins, #5 American (16-15, 5th place in Patriot) - 3/5 @ 7pm @ #4 Boston in Patriot League quarterfinals

Dave Paulsen, #10 Holy Cross (11-21, last place in Patriot) - 3/5 @ 7pm @ #2 Lehigh in Patriot League quarterfinals

Justin Begg, Sam Houston (21-8), Conf. USA - 3/5 @ 7pm vs Delaware
Justyn Fernandez, Delaware (9-20), last place in Conf. USA - 3/5 @ 7pm @ Sam Houston

Eric Konkol, Tulsa (23-6, 3rd place in American - Net of 50, not listed by ESPN bracketology) - 3/5 @ 7:00pm @ ECU
Gio Emejuru, ECU (11-18), American - 3/5 @ 7:00pm vs Tulsa

Devin Dinkins, Manhattan (12-19, 10th place in MAAC) - 3/5 @ 8:30pm v Fairfield in 1st round of conf. tournament

3/6 games (conference tournament games TBD):
Miami (OH) @ Ohio, 3/6 @ 9pm
*Anyone not rooting for Miami (OH) should be banned from these boards. Debate is starting of Auburn vs Miami (OH) if Miami loses, could possibly end up stealing a bid that knocks Auburn out of tournament.

3/7 games:
Michael Gray, Wichita St (20-10, 2nd place in American)- 3/7 vs FAU

Baraka Okojie, #4 Mercer (19-12, 2nd place in SoCon) - 3/7 @ 8:30pm vs #5 W Carolina in SoCon quarterfinals

Bryson Cokley, #11 Elon (14-17), CAA - 11th place - 3/7 @ 8:30pm vs #6 William and Mary in CAA 2nd round

Peter Oduro, #10 Hampton, (13-18, 10th place in CAA) - 3/7 @ 6pm vs #7 Towson in CAA 2nd round

Keyshawn "severed my ankle walking down the" Hall, Auburn (16-14, 7-10 in SEC, listed under "work to do" and 1st team out by ESPN), 3/7 @ #16 Bama

Kim "have I been fired yet? Oh, looks like I have" English, 14-15, 7th place in Big East - 3/7 @ Gtown

CUSA tournament starts 3/10 (Begg with SH and Fernandez with Delaware)

American conference tournament starts 3/11 (Gray with Wich. St and Emejuru with ECU)

SEC tournament starts on 3/11 (Hall, Auburn)
Season over:

Austin Ball, Eastern Kentucky (11-20, 9th place in ASUN) blown out by Stetson in Conf. Tournament

Jeremiah Quigley, Binghamton (8-23), America East last place - did not qualify for conf. tournament :(

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OP
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Verdad

Starter
⭐️ Donor ⭐️
3/6 update and games:
*DP and Simkins lost two extremely close games in Patriot qtr's to higher seeds :(
*Fernandez was best player on court for Delaware's upset over Sam Houston (without Begg).

11am
Womens A10 quarterfinal - #1URI vs #8 LoChi

12pm
MAC wrestling championships start

5pm
GEORGE MASON WOMEN v. Dayton

7pm
Dayton v vcu 7pm

7:30pm
Womens A10 quarterfinal - #3 Richmond vs #6 LaSalle

9pm
Miami (OH) @ Ohio

3/7 games:
11:30am
MAC wrestling championships continue

12pm
Justyn Fernandez, Delaware (10-20), last place in Conf. USA - vs LaTech

1:30pm
GEORGE MASON WOMEN A10 semifinal (if they win Friday)

4pm
Mason v #25 SLU
Michael Gray, Wichita St (20-10, 2nd place in American)- vs FAU

6pm
Peter Oduro, #10 Hampton, (13-18, 10th place in CAA) - vs #7 Towson in CAA 2nd round

8pm
Kim "have I been fired yet? Oh, looks like I have" English, 14-15, 7th place in Big East @ Gtown

8:30pm
Baraka Okojie, #4 Mercer (19-12, 2nd place in SoCon) vs #5 W Carolina in SoCon quarterfinals
Bryson Cokley, #11 Elon (14-17), CAA - 11th place - vs #6 William and Mary in CAA 2nd round
Keyshawn "severed my ankle walking down the" Hall, Auburn (16-14, 7-10 in SEC, listed under "work to do" and 1st team out by ESPN), 3/7 @ #16 Bama

3/8 games:
3pm
Gio Emejuru, ECU (11-19), American - @ UAB
Eric Konkol, Tulsa (24-6, 2nd place in American - Net of 47, not listed by ESPN bracketology) vs Temple

4pm
WOMENS A10 CHAMPIONSHIP

CUSA tournament starts 3/10 (Fernandez/Delaware)

American conference tournament starts 3/11 (Gray/Wich. St, Emejuru/ECU, Konkol/Tulsa)

SEC tournament starts on 3/11 (Hall, Auburn)

Season over:

Austin Ball, Eastern Kentucky (11-20, 9th place in ASUN) blown out by Stetson in Conf. Tournament

Jeremiah Quigley, Binghamton (8-23), America East last place - did not qualify for conf. tournament :(

Duane Simkins, #5 American (16-15, 5th place in Patriot)

Dave Paulsen, #10 Holy Cross (11-21, last place in Patriot)

Justin Begg, Sam Houston - team still has CUSA tournament, but Begg is out for the season after an injury at beginning of February

Devin Dinkins, Manhattan (12-19, 10th place in MAAC)
 
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Pablo

Hall of Famer

"BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The #10 seeded Holy Cross men's basketball team's 2026 Patriot League Tournament run came to an end in the quarterfinals as #2 Lehigh shocked the Crusaders with a miracle beyond half-court buzzer beater to win 69-66 Thursday evening at Stabler Arena."
 
OP
V

Verdad

Starter
⭐️ Donor ⭐️

"BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The #10 seeded Holy Cross men's basketball team's 2026 Patriot League Tournament run came to an end in the quarterfinals as #2 Lehigh shocked the Crusaders with a miracle beyond half-court buzzer beater to win 69-66 Thursday evening at Stabler Arena."
Ugh, that's brutal. I was following but didn't stay up late enough to catch the ending. Maybe basketball karma for DP after all of the Otis and Ian Boyd buzzer beaters?
 

Pablo

Hall of Famer

"ATLANTIC CITY, NJ – The Manhattan Jaspers Men's Basketball team (12-20, 8-12 MAAC) concluded their season after falling to the Stags of #7 Fairfield University (20-12, 11-9 MAAC) by a score of 71-60 inside Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall on Thursday evening."

"Redshirt junior guard Devin Dinkins logged 11 points on five-of-11 shooting, while grabbing two rebounds, one assist, and one steal in 31 minutes."
 

Pablo

Hall of Famer

convert


Assistant coach and former Patriot Corey Edwards is going back to the NCAA tournament.
 
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