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Let the madness begin! Your guide to the early conference tournaments

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11 months ago

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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

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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

Link to PDF bracket

When it starts: Monday

Where: Campus sites

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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

Link to PDF bracket

When it starts: Wednesday

Where: High Point, N.C.

Title game: Sunday, March 10, Noon, ESPN2

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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

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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

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)

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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

Link to PDF bracket

When it starts: Tuesday

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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

Link to PDF bracket

When it starts: Thursday

Where: St. Louis

Title game: Sunday, March 10, 2 p.m., CBS

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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

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)

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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

Link to PDF bracket

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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.

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Patriot

Link to PDF bracket

When it starts: Tuesday

Where: Campus sites

Title game: Wednesday, March 13, 7 p.m., CBS Sports Network

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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

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)

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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)

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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

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)

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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

Link to PDF bracket

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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

Link to PDF bracket

When it starts: Thursday

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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:

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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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Lindsey Vonn crashes while on pace for podium finish at 2026 Olympic venue

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1 hour ago

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January 19, 2025

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Lindsey Vonn crashes while on pace for podium finish at 2026 Olympic venue

Lindsey Vonn crashed out of a World Cup Super-G race on Sunday while on pace for her best finish so far in her comeback to alpine skiing.

The American star was tracking toward a podium spot in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy — on the hill that will host the 2026 Olympics — when she went down onto her left side coming around a turn just over 50 seconds into her run and spun in the snow. She slammed her pole in frustration, got up on her own power, and skied down the hill, waving to the crowd at the bottom.

Vonn, one of 10 skiers who didn’t finish Sunday, had the 10th fastest split in the first sector of the race and fourth quickest in the second. She was just a half-second off the lead at that point — a pace that would’ve netted her a top-three position had she kept it up through the finish. Italy’s Federica Brignone won in 1:21.64, with the Swiss pair of Lara Gut-Behrami (1:22.22) and Corinne Suter (1:22.72) rounding out the podium.

“I definitely made some mistakes on the top, but I got a little bit behind the course and tried to pull it off,” Vonn told reporters after the race. “Then my skis kind of clicked together and I lost my balance.”


Lindsey Vonn shows her frustration as she makes her way down the mountain following her fall in Sunday’s Super-G race in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. (Julian Finney / Getty Images)

The Super-G crash was her second of the weekend after Vonn also went down during downhill training on Thursday.

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It was Vonn’s fifth race back on the World Cup circuit since announcing an unlikely return to the sport after nearly six years away. Injuries drove her to retire in 2019, but a knee replacement in 2024 left her feeling pain-free and planning a comeback. She returned in December and finished 14th in a Super-G in St. Moritz, Switzerland, then took sixth in downhill and fourth in Super-G last week in St. Anton, Austria. On Saturday in Cortina, Vonn finished 20th in downhill.

A three-time Olympic medalist, including gold in the downhill at the 2010 Vancouver Games, Vonn holds the all-time record with 12 World Cup wins at Cortina d’Ampezzo, which will host the 2026 Games on the Olympia delle Tofane track that is a regular stop on the women’s tour.

In a post on X later Sunday, Vonn didn’t seem all that deterred by the rough weekend at one of her favorite venues.

“S— happens,” she wrote. “On to the next race.”

Tracking Lindsey Vonn’s World Cup return

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Date Venue Discipline Pos. Time Behind lead

Dec. 21

St. Moritz

Super-G

14th

1:16.36

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1.18

Jan. 11

St. Anton

Downhill

6th

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1:16.66

0.58

Jan. 12

St. Anton

Super-G

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4th

1:18.75

1.24

Jan. 18

Cortina d’Ampezzo

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Downhill

20th

1:35.63

1.68

Jan. 19

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Cortina d’Ampezzo

Super-G

DNF

N/A

N/A

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Jacqueline Wiles was the top American in Saturday’s downhill, finishing seventh. Lauren Macuga, the rising 22-year-old who won the St. Anton Super-G for her first World Cup race win, was the top U.S. finisher Sunday, taking 13th.

Vonn’s fourth-place finish in St. Anton made her the oldest woman to finish that high in a World Cup race. The 34-year-old Brignone, who now has four victories this season, is the oldest to ever win a World Cup race.

The strong results have brought Vonn back into the picture at the sport’s highest level. She’s 17th in the World Cup downhill standings and 14th in Super-G. Last week, Vonn told the Associated Press that she would retire again after the 2026 Olympics, if she makes the U.S. team there. The Olympic women’s alpine skiing program is slated to begin Feb. 8, 2026.

The World Cup speed skiing circuit heads to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, next weekend, where Vonn is again scheduled to compete in the downhill and Super-G. After that, the World Cup schedule pauses for the world championships in Saalbach, Austria, which begin Feb. 4.

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Lindsey Vonn, at historic stop for women’s alpine, kicks off her World Cup return

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(Photo of Lindsey Vonn during Sunday’s Super-G: Mattia Ozbot / Getty Images)

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Josh Allen scores 2 touchdowns, Bills force 3 turnovers in divisional round win over Ravens

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2 hours ago

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January 19, 2025

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Josh Allen scores 2 touchdowns, Bills force 3 turnovers in divisional round win over Ravens

NFL fans usually use the phrase “frozen tundra” to describe the conditions at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. But on Sunday night, it could have been used to describe the field at Highmark Stadium for the playoff game between the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens.

Temperatures in Orchard Park, New York, fell to around 16 degrees as light snow fell onto the field. It made the ball slippery and tougher to catch as well as made the tackles hurt just a little bit more.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen passes against the Baltimore Ravens during the second quarter of the divisional playoff game, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

The Bills held the lead in the fourth quarter with two Tyler Bass field goals and won the game, 27-25.

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It was the Ravens who felt the brunt of the conditions late in the game.

Lamar Jackson found tight end Mark Andrews for a 16-yard completion with 8:50 left in the game. But Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard punched the ball out of Andrews’ hands and Buffalo recovered the fumble. It was one of three turnovers Baltimore committed.

It was far from over.

Jackson and the Ravens could still tie the game up. He led the team on an eight-play, 88-yard drive that ended with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Isiah Likely. The Ravens were down two points.

SAQUON BARKLEY CARVES UP RAMS DEFENSE IN SNOW, EAGLES MOVE TO NFC TITLE GAME

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Derrick Henry takes the handoff

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) hands off the ball to running back Derrick Henry during the first quarter Sunday night. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Baltimore got set for the 2-point conversion attempt. Jackson broke out to his right and had Andrews open. The ball went into the veteran tight end’s hands, but he could not come up with the catch. The Bills breathed a sigh of relief and closed the game out.

Josh Allen finished with two rushing touchdowns in the game. He was 16-of-22 passing with 127 yards.

For the Ravens, their magical season came to an end.

Jackson was 18-of-25 with 254 passing yards, two touchdown passes and an interception. The Bills’ defense held Derrick Henry to 84 rushing yards. It was the fewest yards he had since Dec. 15 against the New York Giants.

The Bills next meet the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship with a trip to Super Bowl LIX on the line. Buffalo beat Kansas City on Nov. 17, 30-21.

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Bills players celebrate

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir (10) celebrates with quarterback Josh Allen (17) and tight end Dawson Knox after a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens during the second quarter on Sunday. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Buffalo hasn’t made a Super Bowl since the 1993 season. They have never won a Super Bowl. It will be their first conference championship game since the 2020 season. They lost to the Chiefs in that game.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

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Rams' Jared Verse wasn't just talk in Philadelphia, but his impactful day wasn't enough

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2 hours ago

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January 19, 2025

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Rams' Jared Verse wasn't just talk in Philadelphia, but his impactful day wasn't enough

PHILADELPHIA —  Jared Verse was the talk of the town before Sunday’s NFC divisional-round game between the Rams and the Philadelphia Eagles.

After the Rams rookie edge rusher told The Times last week that he hated Eagles fans and found them annoying, he became the target of heated fan discussion on local sports radio. A billboard even featured his quote.

Verse, however, embraced the role of the villain and had two of the Rams’ seven sacks in a 28-22 defeat at Lincoln Financial Field.

“It’s not like, ‘Oh, I’m going to shy away or get nervous’ or anything like that,” Verse said. “Nah, that turns me up. That hypes me up.”

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About 90 minutes before kickoff on a cold day that would later feature snow, Verse slowly toured the entire perimeter of the field in a sleeveless black shirt, gray sweat pants and a blue beanie.

As he left the field with teammate Byron Young, he put his hand to his ear, inviting fans to increase the volume of their comments. When the Rams emerged from their locker room in uniform for pregame warmups, Verse was the last player out of the tunnel.

After the Eagles’ first possession, which ended with a long touchdown run by quarterback Jalen Hurts, the stadium video board featured a shot of Verse, who was loudly booed.

When Verse sacked Hurts in the second quarter, he lifted his arms, skipped off the field and jawed with fans behind the Rams bench.

Verse, a front-runner for NFL defensive rookie of the year, said he thought he played well but could have done more for a Rams defense that allowed Saquon Barkley to rush for 205 yards and two long touchdowns.

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“I could have been better,” Verse said. “There’s more I could have done.”

As with coach Sean McVay and teammates, Verse lamented the way the season ended.

“It sucks how much adversity we had to overcome,” he said, “and in these final moments we weren’t able to overcome any more.”

Verse, the No. 19 pick in the draft, said he learned a lot during his rookie season.

“There’s like some dawgs out there,” he said, “You’re going to play every team that somebody is going to really test you.”

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Verse said he would use what happened Sunday as motivation going into the offseason.

“Never want to feel like this again,” he said. “I don’t want my teammates to feel like this again.

“I don’t want to look in their eyes and see anything but pure bliss and pure happiness. And I’m going to do everything in my power to makes sure that doesn’t happen again.”

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