Big West, Sun Belt, & WAC Crappy Conference Championship Preview

Editor note: This is our last day in a series of conference tournament previews for the worst conferences in college basketball. Today we have the Big West, the Sun Belt, and the WAC. Want to see the American Athletic Preview? You’re on the wrong site for previews of good basketball, might we suggest ESPN?  And now, for the last time, with our apologies to the former USSR, here is the final AMSTS CCCP (Crappy Conference Championship Preview)

Conference: Big West

Rough Geographic Area: California and Hawaii

School you’ve probably heard of: Hawaii. Because it’s in Hawaii.  Maybe Long Beach State if you remember basketball from the 1970s, when the 49ers had two Elite Eight appearances (both ended by UCLA in its prime)

School you may not have heard of: UC-Irvine. Basically this conference is all UC-?? and Cal State – ???s so Irvine seems to be the one to go with. 0-1 in the NCAA Tournament with the Anteaters’ only appearance having been last year.

Favorite: Hawaii 23-4 (12-2), #58 in the AMSTS Computer Rankings.

Dark Horse: UC Irvine 22-8 (11-3), #94 in the AMSTS Computer Rankings.

Game that might be closer than it should be: Another conference that looks like it will be the top two teams, but unlike other conferences, there are no byes in the tournament, though a reseeding happens after the first round. I would expect some decent Semifinals, but probably save my Big West watching for the Championship.

Likely seed with Massey Conference Ratings: 13, ranked 15th of 32 conferences by the Massey Ratings Compiler.

How to watch the games: FS Prime, Semifinals on ESPNU and ESPN3, Championship on ESPN2.

Conference: Sun Belt

Rough Geographic Area: From North Carolina through Texas.

School you’ve probably heard of: Georgia State. With two NCAA appearances since 2000, and having advanced both times, the Panthers are the pride of the Sun Belt, only because Louisiana-Lafayette had to vacate pretty much every season with an NCAA appearance. 

School you may not have heard of: Texas-Arlington.  They’ve played in the NCAA Tournament exactly once, a loss to Memphis in 2008.

Favorite: Arkansas-Little Rock 26-3 (16-2), #48 in the AMSTS Computer Rankings

Dark Horse: UT-Arlington 19-9 (10-7), #105 in the AMSTS Computer Rankings

Game that might be closer than it should be: With yet another bracket that favors the high seeds, this may take away some interest and is likely to give Arkansas-Little Rock the title, but if UT-Arlington faces them head to head in the semi-finals, the game might be worth a watch.

Likely seed with Massey Conference Ratings: 12, ranked 18th of 32 conferences by the Massey Ratings Compiler.

How to watch the games: ESPN3, Championship on ESPN2.

Conference: Western Athletic

Rough Geographic Area: Literally anywhere from Chicago westward.

School you’ve probably heard of: New Mexico State. They made the Final Four in 1970, and have a current streak of four straight appearances in the Tournament dating back to 2012.

School you may not have heard of: Grand Canyon.  A for-profit Christian university, they are the second most renowned for-profit university in the Phoenix area, which means something. On the basketball front, they have had no post season presence due to the transition to Division 1 that began 2013. However, the Antelopes are coached by Dan Majerle, and hopes are high for the future.

Favorite: New Mexico State 21-9 (12-1), #119 in the AMSTS Computer Rankings

Dark Horse: Cal State-Bakersfield 20-8 (10-3), #148 in the AMSTS Computer Rankings

Game that might be closer than it should be: Since Grand Canyon is ineligible to participate, this tournament is all New Mexico State. The Aggies should run away with this, especially since they’re given a bye to the Semifinals.

Likely seed with Massey Conference Ratings: 15, ranked 24th of 32 conferences by the Massey Ratings Compiler.

How to watch the games: Championship on ESPNU.