CTC Day Six Preview: The Sun Belt Opener

The Sun Belt is the only 11-team tournament this year, as LA-Monroe was disqualified from the tournament.  I’m not sure why, and I really hope it wasn’t due to recruiting infractions because if they’re cheating, they really need to cheat on better players.  The Warhawks (just another amazing nickname in, by far, the greatest conference of nicknames in the country) were terrible.  It’s probably good news for Yours Truly because I’m a real sucker for those last-place teams pulling upsets in the first round, so I’m saved from myself in this one.  #1 Middle Tennessee and #3 Denver have been the best two teams in the league this year, and that is shown by

Championship Picks
10 for #1 Middle Tennessee
1 for #2 AR-Little Rock (Mac)
8 for #3 Denver (Alexi, J, KA, Lohse, Lynch, RDoc, Stri, Waters)
1 for #4 LA-Lafayette (Gersh)

Biggest Upsets
R1 – #11 Troy (Bry, Dave, Doogan, J, KA, Lynch, Waters)
QF – #11 Troy (Dave, Doogan)
SF – #7 W. Kentucky (RSmith, Teddy)

Previous CTC Champions
2011 – J
2010 – Stri
2009 – Ina
2008 – Alexi

#6 S. Alabama vs. #11 Troy
The Trojans are one of the more underrated nicknames in this amazing conference.  Trojans, by itself, is a good, but not great nickname.  But, when you consider that it’s the Troy Trojans, it makes it amazing.  That’s like if American University’s nickname was the “Americans.”  Anyway, Troy finished in 11th, but it was a wide-open Sun Belt this year and they are not a doormat.  USA, on the other hand, had some rough breaks this year, losing two conference games in overtime, and four more by 5 points or fewer.  They are much better than their conference record may indicate.  #3 Denver awaits the winner of this game in the quarters tomorrow.  Troy is a live ‘dog in this one, as 7 people (Bry, Dave, Doogan, J, KA, Lynch, Waters) has this big upset.  Dave and Doogan have them winning again in the quarters.  Gersh and RSmith have USA going to the semis.

#7 W. Kentucky vs. #10 Florida-International
What a hire FIU made a couple years back!  Bringing in the great Isiah Thomas to coach their team, FIU has skyrocketed from perennial last-place team to, well, perennial last-place team.  What don’t people understand about Isiah?  He was an amazing point guard – one of the five best to ever play the game.  And, he is a dreadful, dreadful head coach…at any level!  Well, his Golden Panthers take on a Sun Belt royalty that has fallen on hard times, W. Kentucky.  The Hilltoppers (another great one) had to fire their head coach halfway through the season – that’s how bad it is.  (For the record, they were three places above FIU, who, for some reason, did not fire their coach.)  But, WKU has played better under new leadership.  The Hilltoppers are a popular pick every year in this tournament, and this year is no exception.  6 people have them in the semis (Alexi, Gross, Lohse, Lynch, RSmith, Teddy), with RSmith and Teddy having them in the finals.  FIU is also a somewhat popular upset pick, as 8 people have them winning this game (Bry, Dave, Doogan, J, KA, Lil Lohse, Primm, Waters).  Waters even has them in the semis.

#8 Florida-Atlantic vs. #9 Arkansas St.
These two teams thought they had contenders, and at least FAU looked like a contender early on before falling apart midseason.  Arkansas St. (the Red Wolves…not bad) just muddled their way through a disappointing season.  One of these teams will win tonight and get to play #1 Middle Tennessee tomorrow in the quarters.  11 people actually have the upset with Ark State here.  The other 9 (Alexi, Dave, Gersh, Lynch, Primm, RDoc, RSmith, Scott, Waters) have FL-Atlantic.