Lillard Time and other Assorted Fun

Three more tournaments kicked off this weekend:

BIG SKY TOURNAMENT (QF Saturdaay at higher seed, SF/Finals Tues/Wed at Montana)

*TV: The title game will be on ESPN2 at 9PM on Wed.

*Format: The top 6 teams advance with the Northerns (Arizona and Colorado) as well as Sacramento State staying home.

*At-Large Potential: Montana and Weber State have a chance to make noise once they win the tournament, but otherwise they'll settle for one of the consolation tournaments.

*Who to Watch: Montana and Weber State got the byes and are clearly the class of the league so it would be a major upset if they don't meet Wednesday night. The Grizzles have home court as the top seed, but Weber has Damian Lillard, one of the nation's best scorers, who could be this year's version of Harold "the Show" Arceneaux who helped Weber upset UNC back in the late 90s.

SUMMIT LEAGUE TOURNAMENT (Sat-Tues in Sioux Falls)

*TV: Finals are 9PM Tuesday on the duece.

*Format: Eight of the league's teams play. South Dakota was ineligible and IPFW and UMKC weren't QUITE good enough.

*At-Large Potential: None. Their last at-large was back in '91 when Green Bay made it with a shooter named Tony Bennett leading the way. Ugh.

*Who to Watch: Oral Roberts won the league by two games, but second seeded SD State is playing its home state and kenpom has them as the better team. They're the heavy favorites to be playing on national TV on Tuesday.

SUN BELT TOURNAMENT (Sat-Tues in Hot Springs):

*TV: The finals are Tuesday at 7 on ESPN2.

*Format: UL-Monroe was ineligible because of their APR, but otherwise all 11 teams go to Hot Springs.

*At-Large Potential: The Sun Belt is always one of those conferences teetering on the edge of getting more than one bid, especially with strong teams from Western Kentucky and South Alabama recently, but it's unusual that they break through. Middle Tennessee is a really good team which probably would have a chance if it had pulled off a win at Vandy last month, but as it is, it's win or go to the NIT for the Blue Raiders.

*Who to Watch: Denver would be the heavy favorite if MTSU gets knocked off and has an honest shot in the finals. UALR is actually the second seed with a nominal home court advantage in their home state, but they'd be hard pressed to pull off the upsets.