Sports
Let the madness begin! Your guide to the early conference tournaments
The madness has arrived.
The first men’s basketball conference tournaments start this week, led by the first round of the Atlantic Sun tournament on Monday. The first automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament will be awarded Saturday night in the Ohio Valley tournament title game. In many of these early events, the drama is as high as it gets, because only the winner will hear its name called on Selection Sunday.
Here’s your guide to the 15 conference tournaments that begin between now and Sunday. Brackets are included in those leagues where they’ve already been set. New brackets will be added to this story when they become available, and we’ll be back next Monday for the other 17 conference tournaments.
(Conferences are listed in alphabetical order; all times ET.)
America East
When it starts: Saturday
Where: Campus sites
Title game: Saturday, March 16, 11 a.m, ESPN2
Top seed: Vermont (25-6, 14-1 America East)
The skinny: The regular season wraps up Tuesday night, Vermont is once again the No. 1 seed, as it has been for seven of the past eight AmEast tourneys. The Catamounts are seeking their 10th NCAA Tournament appearance since 2003.
Atlantic Sun
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐭…👀🏆🏀
Check out the full bracket for the 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 #𝐀𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐌𝐁𝐁 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩! ⬇️
🔗 | https://t.co/cp1j2HPYd9#ASUNBuilt pic.twitter.com/JlZYncDc8C
— #ASUNBuilt (@ASUNSports) March 2, 2024
Link to PDF bracket
When it starts: Monday
Where: Campus sites
Title game: Sunday, March 10, 2 p.m., ESPN2
Top seed: Eastern Kentucky (17-13, 12-4 Atlantic Sun)
The skinny: Led by Isaiah Cozart, who is one of the nation’s top shot-blockers despite standing 6-foot-7, Eastern Kentucky is looking to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014. No. 8 seed Queens is ineligible for the automatic bid as it is still transitioning to Division I.
Big South
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗧.
The stage is officially set for the 2024 @HerculesTires Big South Basketball Championship! 🏀
📰: https://t.co/Pc4EEzvaGD#BigSouthMBB pic.twitter.com/NZ36WjiWgs
— Big South Conference (@BigSouthSports) March 3, 2024
Link to PDF bracket
When it starts: Wednesday
Where: High Point, N.C.
Title game: Sunday, March 10, Noon, ESPN2
Top seed: High Point (24-7, 13-3 Big South)
The skinny: High Point earned its first No. 1 seed since 2016 under first-year coach Alan Huss. The Panthers will have to hold off defending champion UNC Asheville and star big man Drew Pember, but High Point gets to host the tournament.
Big Sky
When it starts: Saturday
Where: Boise, Idaho
Title game: Wednesday, March 13, 11:30 p.m., ESPN2
Top seed: Eastern Washington (20-10, 14-3 Big Sky)
The skinny: The league finishes its regular season on Monday night, but Eastern Washington has already clinched the regular-season title for the second straight year. Weber State has one of the best mid-major players in America in 6-foot-6 forward Dillon Jones (20.7 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 5.3 apg).
Coastal Athletic Association
🚨 We have a bracket. 🚨
The matchups are set for the 2024 @jerseymikes Men’s #CAAHoops Championship in Washington, D.C.
Head to Championship Central for more details:
🔗 https://t.co/Lb2wcB4tHv pic.twitter.com/kTjTiCil77— CAA Basketball (@CAABasketball) March 2, 2024
Link to PDF bracket
When it starts: Friday
Where: Washington D.C.
Title game: Tuesday, March 12, 7 p.m., CBS Sports Network
Top seed: Charleston (24-7, 15-3 CAA)
The skinny: Charleston won its final nine games to repeat as regular-season champs and looks to make its second straight NCAA Tournament under Pat Kelsey. There will be plenty of challengers, including No. 4 seed UNC Wilmington, which beat Kentucky at Rupp Arena this season.
Horizon
Our 2024 @BarbasolShave #HLMBB Championship bracket has been revealed with @OaklandMBB securing the regular season title and No. 1 seed!
🏀: https://t.co/nnyX1aAHIi#OurHorizon 🌇| #MarchStartsHere pic.twitter.com/cyniTOUERV
— Horizon League (@HorizonLeague) March 3, 2024
Link to PDF bracket
When it starts: Tuesday
Where: Campus sites for early rounds; title game in Indianapolis
Title game: Tuesday, March 12, 7 p.m., ESPN
Top seed: Oakland (20-11, 15-5 Horizon)
The skinny: Oakland is looking for its first NCAA Tournament trip since 2011 and fourth under Greg Kampe, who is in his 40th (!) season at the helm. Want a Cinderella story? No. 11 seed Detroit Mercy went 1-30 this season.
Missouri Valley
Seeds, Times, & Bracket set for #ARCHMADNESS.
🏆🏀👉 https://t.co/RqO5IXCURl pic.twitter.com/4TCuQ84L41
— MVC Basketball (@ValleyHoops) March 4, 2024
Link to PDF bracket
When it starts: Thursday
Where: St. Louis
Title game: Sunday, March 10, 2 p.m., CBS
Top seed: Indiana State (26-5, 17-3 Missouri Valley)
The skinny: Arch Madness is always a must-see but even more so this season with a pair of potential NCAA Tournament teams in Indiana State and Drake. The Sycamores have become a feel-good story this season under Josh Schertz, while No. 2 seed Drake is led by superstar Tucker DeVries. Bradley is good enough to play spoiler.
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Northeast
🚨 📰 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟺 𝙽𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝙲𝚘𝚗𝚏𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎 #𝙽𝙴𝙲𝙼𝙱𝙱 𝚃𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚊𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝙵𝚒𝚎𝚕𝚍 𝚂𝚎𝚝@CCSU_MBB Claims Top Seed & Home Court Advantage Throughout Tourneyhttps://t.co/ea2fy40hDb
— Northeast Conference (@NECsports) March 3, 2024
Link to PDF bracket
When it starts: Wednesday
Where: Campus sites
Title game: Tuesday, March 12, 7 p.m., ESPN2
Top seed: Central Connecticut State (19-10, 13-3 Northeast)
The skinny: Central Connecticut State edged Merrimack on the final day of the season to earn its first No. 1 seed since 2007. Merrimack is eligible to play in the NCAA Tournament for the first time this year.
Ohio Valley
𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐓 𝐈𝐒 𝐒𝐄𝐓! 🏀
The 2024 OVC Men’s Basketball Championship presented by @united_fidelity is set!
Complete schedule: https://t.co/eWCQKomOe3#OVCit | #OVCTourney pic.twitter.com/YgxyXoUgDR
— Ohio Valley Conference (@OVCSports) March 2, 2024
Link to PDF bracket
When it starts: Wednesday
Where: Evansville, Ind.
Title game: Saturday, March 9, 7 p.m., ESPN2
Top seed: Little Rock (20-11, 14-4 Ohio Valley)
The skinny: Little Rock, UT Martin and Morehead State finished in a three-way tie at 14-4, with Little Rock earning the tiebreaker for the No. 1 seed. No. 8 seed Southern Indiana is ineligible for the automatic bid as it is still transitioning to Division I.
Patriot
Patriot League Tournament Bracket. pic.twitter.com/NKqD4jDsNY
— Mid-Major Madness (@mid_madness) March 3, 2024
Link to PDF bracket
When it starts: Tuesday
Where: Campus sites
Title game: Wednesday, March 13, 7 p.m., CBS Sports Network
Top seed: Colgate (22-9, 16-2 Patriot)
The skinny: Colgate might be the biggest favorite in any conference tournament, as it ran away with the regular-season crown by a full six games. The Raiders are looking to represent the Patriot League in the fifth straight NCAA Tournament.
Southern
The men’s stage is set 🏀 | #SoConHoops
Click the link below for the full schedule, tickets and more⬇️
https://t.co/hsQDgSk8xm pic.twitter.com/dpEcJNzSIK
— The Southern Conference (@SoConSports) March 3, 2024
Link to PDF bracket
When it starts: Friday
Where: Asheville, N.C.
Title game: Monday, March 11, 7 p.m., ESPN
Top seed: Samford (26-5, 15-3 Southern)
The skinny: Samford dominated the league and has won a school-record 26 games already. The Bulldogs are seeking their first SoCon tournament title.
Southland
When it starts: Sunday
Where: Lake Charles, La.
Title game: Wednesday, March 13, 5 p.m., ESPN2
Top seed: McNeese State (26-3, 15-1 Southland)
The skinny: The regular season continues until Wednesday when a bracket will be set. But Will Wade’s McNeese State Cowboys have already clinched the No. 1 seed.
Summit
𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐝𝐨 …
The 2024 #SummitMBB Championship Bracket‼️
Sioux Falls is going to be fun 🤩
🗞️: https://t.co/od0Pp0Djcl#ReachTheSummit x #March2TheSummit pic.twitter.com/GkNTAsJbFn
— The Summit League (@TheSummitLeague) March 3, 2024
Link to PDF bracket
When it starts: Friday
Where: Sioux Falls, S.D.
Title game: Tuesday, March 12, 9:30 p.m., CBS Sports
Top seed: South Dakota State (19-12, 12-4 Summit)
The skinny: South Dakota State won the league by two games, and the Jackrabbits are looking for their eighth tournament title since 2012. Kansas City, which was 10-15 on Feb. 8, closed out with six straight wins to take the No. 2 seed. The nation’s leading scorer, Tommy Bruner, plays for No. 7 seed Denver.
Sun Belt
𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞 𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗧.
Have a look at the official bracket for the 2024 @HerculesTires #SunBeltMBB Championship. ☀️🏀
📰 » https://t.co/2BTNm8yw0G pic.twitter.com/i9y7PnFFDb
— Sun Belt (@SunBelt) March 2, 2024
Link to PDF bracket
When it starts: Tuesday
Where: Pensacola, Fla.
Title game: Monday, March 11, 6 p.m., ESPN2
Top seed: Appalachian State (26-5, 16-2 Sun Belt)
The skinny: James Madison got all the attention early, winning at Michigan State in the first week of the season and cracking the AP Top 25. But Appalachian State — which beat Auburn in December — swept the Dukes. There’s an outside chance both could make the NCAA Tournament.
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West Coast
It’s official‼️ The seeds are locked in for the @MyCreditUnion1 #WCChoops Championship
🎟️ https://t.co/ofOZIPvLBE pic.twitter.com/A16EXL2B5N
— WCC Basketball (@WCChoops) March 3, 2024
Link to PDF bracket
When it starts: Thursday
Where: Las Vegas
Title game: Tuesday, March 12, 9 p.m., ESPN
Top seed: Saint Mary’s (24-7, 15-1 West Coast)
The skinny: Saint Mary’s claimed the regular-season title, but Gonzaga finished strong by winning on the road against the Gaels and No. 3 seed San Francisco in the final week. Saint Mary’s and the Zags should both make the NCAA Tournament no matter what happens in this event since both got byes to the semifinals. Could a surprise winner make this a three-bid league?
Conference tournaments starting next week:
American: March 13-17
Atlantic 10: March 12-17
ACC: March 12-16
Big 12: March 12-16
Big East: March 13-16
Big Ten: March 13-17
Big West: March 13-16
Conference USA: March 12-16
Ivy League: March 16-17
MAAC: March 12-16
MAC: March 14-16
MEAC: March 13-16
Mountain West: March 13-16
Pac-12: March 13-16
SEC: March 13-17
SWAC: March 13-16
WAC: March 13-16
(Top photo of Colgate celebrating last year’s Patriot League tournament title: Adrian Kraus / AP)
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LAS VEGAS – Danhausen’s curse may be real after all – just ask Stephen A. Smith and the New York Mets.
While the latter dropped their 10th game in a row, Smith got his share of the curse on Saturday night during Night 1 of WrestleMania 42. Smith was in attendance for WWE’s premier event of the year and heard massive boos from the crowd.
Stephen A. Smith attends WrestleMania 42: Night 1 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 18, 2026. (Andrew Timms/WWE)
Smith was sitting ringside to watch the action. The ESPN star appeared on the videoboard above the ring at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. He appeared to embrace the reaction and smiled through it.
The boos came after Danhausen appeared on “First Take” on Friday – much to the chagrin of the sports pundit. Smith appeared perplexed by Danhausen’s appearance. Smith said he heard about Danhausen and called him a “bad luck charm.”
Danhausen said Smith had been “rude” to him and put the dreaded “curse” on the commentator.
WWE STAR DANHAUSEN SAYS METS ‘CURSE’ ISN’T EXACTLY LIFTED AS TEAM DROPS NINTH STRAIGHT GAME
Stephen A. Smith attends WrestleMania 42: Night 1 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 18, 2026. (Andrew Timms/WWE)
Smith is far from the only one dealing with the effects of the “curse.”
Danhausen agreed to “un-curse” the Mets during their losing streak. However, he told Fox News Digital earlier this week that there was a reason why the curse’s removal didn’t take full effect.
“I did un-curse the Mets. But it didn’t work because, I believe it was Brian Gewirtz who did not pay Danhausen. He did not send me my money so it did not take full effect,” Danhausen said. “Once I have the money, perhaps it will actually work because right now it’s probably about a half of an un-cursing. It’s like a layaway situation.”
Danhausen enters the arena before his match against Kit Wilson during SmackDown at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on April 10, 2026. (Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
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On “Friday Night SmackDown,” WWE stars like The Miz and Kit Wilson were also targets of Danhausen’s curse.
It’s time to reveal memories, laughs and crazy times from Randy Rosenbloom’s 55 years as a TV/radio broadcaster in Los Angeles. He’s hopping in a car next Sunday with his wife, saying goodbye to a North Hollywood house that’s been in his family since 1952 and driving 3,300 miles to his new home in Greenville, S.C.
“When I walk out, I’ll probably break down,” he said.
He graduated from North Hollywood High in 1969. He got his first paid job in 1971 calling Hart basketball games for NBC Cable Newhall for $10 a game. It began an adventure of a lifetime.
“I never knew if I overachieved or underachieved. I just did what I loved,” he said.
Randy Rosenbloom (left) used to work with former UCLA coach John Wooden for TV games.
(Randy Rosenbloom)
John Wooden, Jerry Tarkanian and Jim Harrick were among his expert commentators when he did play by play for college basketball games. He called volleyball at the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games for NBC and rowing in 2004. He’s worked more than 100 championship high school events. He did play by play for the first and only Reebok Bowl at Angel Stadium in 1994 won by Bishop Amat over Sylmar, 35-14.
“There were about 5,000, 6,000 people there and I remember thinking nobody watched the game. We ended up with a 5.7 TV rating on Channel 13 in Los Angeles, which is higher than most Lakers games.”
He conducted interviews with NFL Hall of Famers Gale Sayers and Johnny Unitas and boxing greats Robert Duran, Thomas Hearn and Sugar Ray Leonard. He’s worked with baseball greats Steve Garvey and Doug DeCinces. He called games with former USC coach Rod Dedeaux. He was in the radio booth for Bret Saberhagen’s 1982 no-hitter in the City Section championship game at Dodger Stadium. He was a nightly sportscaster for KADY in Ventura.
Randy Rosenbloom, left, with his volleyball broadcast partners, Kirk Kilgour and Bill Walton.
(Randy Rosenbloom)
He was the voice of Fresno State football and basketball. He also did Nevada Las Vegas football and basketball games. He called bowl games and Little League games. He was a public address announcer for basketball at the 1984 Olympic Games with Michael Jordan the star and did the P.A. for Toluca Little League.
Nothing was too small or too big for him.
“I loved everything,” he said.
He called at least 10 East L.A. Classic football games between Garfield and Roosevelt. He was there when Narbonne and San Pedro tied 21-21 in the 2008 City championship game at the Coliseum on a San Pedro touchdown with one second left.
Probably his most notable tale came when he was doing radio play-by-play at a 1998 college bowl game in Montgomery, Ala.
“I look down and a giant tarantula is crawling up my pants,” he said. “My color man took all the press notes, wadded them up and hit the tarantula like swinging a bat.”
Did Rosenbloom tell the audience what was happening?
“I stayed calm,” he said.
Then there was the time he was in the press box at Sam Boyd Stadium and a bat flew in and attached itself to the wooden press box right next to him before flying away after he said, “UNLV wins.”
Recently, he’s been putting together high school TV packages for LA36 and calling travel ball basketball games. He’ll still keep doing a radio gambling show from his new home, but he’s cutting ties to Los Angeles to move closer to grandchildren.
“I’m retiring from Los Angeles. I’m leaving the market,” he said.
Hopefully he’ll continue via Zoom to do a weekly podcast with me for The Times.
He’s a true professional who’s versatility and work ethic made him a reliable hire from the age of 18 through his current age of 74.
He’s a member of the City Section Hall of Fame and the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. He once threw the shot put 51 feet, 7 1/2 inches, which is his claim to fame at North Hollywood High.
One time an ESPN graphic before a show spelled his name “Rosenbloom” then changed it to “Rosenblum” for postgame. It was worth a good laugh.
He always adjusts, improvises and ad-libs. He expects to enjoy his time in South Carolina, but he better watch out for tarantulas. They seem to like him.
Sports
Becky Lynch enters exclusive WWE club with Women’s Intercontinental Championship win at WrestleMania 42
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LAS VEGAS – Becky Lynch entered an atmosphere no other WWE women’s superstar has ever reached as she won the Women’s Intercontinental Championship over AJ Lee on Saturday night at WrestleMania 42.
Lynch became the first person to hold the Women’s Intercontinental Championship three times after she pinned Lee. She first won the title against Lyra Valkyria in June 2025 and then again against Maxxine Dupri in November.
Becky Lynch celebrates with the belt after defeating AJ Lee during their women’s Intercontinental Championship match at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 18, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
She dropped the belt to Lee at the Elimination Chamber, sparking a monthslong feud with her.
Lee gave Lynch the chance at the title in the weeks prior to WrestleMania 42. But it appeared Lee played right into Lynch’s plans. Despite arguing with referee Jessica Carr for most of the match, Lynch was able to tactfully tear down a rope buckle and use it to her advantage.
Lynch hit Lee with a Manhandle Slam and pinned her for the win.
WWE STARS REVEAL WHAT MAKES WRESTLEMANIA SO SPECIAL: ‘IT’S THE SUPER BOWL OF PRO WRESTLING’
AJ Lee reacts after losing to Becky Lynch in their Women’s Intercontinental Championship match at WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on April 18, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
It’s the second straight year Lynch will leave Las Vegas as champion. She returned to WWE at WrestleMania 41, teaming with Valkyria, to win the women’s tag titles. She will now leave Allegiant Stadium as the women’s intercontinental champion.
Lynch is now a seven-time women’s champion, three-time women’s intercontinental champion and two-time tag team champion.
Becky Lynch withstands AJ Lee during their Women’s Intercontinental Championship match on night one of WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 18, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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Lee’s reign as champion ended really before it could really begin. WrestleMania 42 was her first appearance at the event in 11 years. It’s unclear where Lee will go from here.
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