2009 Conference Tourney Dates and Picks to win them and LOCKS for the BIG DANCE

2009 Conference Tourney Dates and Picks to win them and LOCKS for the BIG DANCE

With the fun about to begin, here’s a brief look at the six major conference tournaments, including which teams are locks to make the NCAA tournament and which teams need a few wins:

Atlantic Coast Conference
March 12-15, Georgia Dome, Atlanta

Favorite: North Carolina
Sleeper: Florida State
Who’s In: North Carolina, Duke, Wake Forest, Clemson, Florida State, Boston College
Work To Do: Virginia Tech, Maryland
Game We Want to See: Florida State vs. Wake Forest, just for all the athleticism.
Our pick: Wake Forest

Big East
March 10-14, Madison Square Garden, New York

Favorite: Pittsburgh
Sleeper: Villanova
Who’s In: Pittsburgh, Louisville, UConn, Villanova, West Virginia, Syracuse, Marquette
Work To Do: Providence
Game We Want to See: Pitt vs. Louisville, to see if Louisville deserves a No. 1 seed.

Our pick: Pittsburgh

Big Ten
March 12-15, Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis

Favorite: Michigan State
Sleeper: Michigan
Who’s In: Michigan State, Illinois, Purdue, Wisconsin, Michigan
Work To Do: Minnesota, Ohio State, Penn State, Northwestern
Game We Want to See: Michigan State vs. Michigan, because John Beilein is so tough in March.

Our pick: Michigan State

Big 12
March 11-14, Ford Center, Oklahoma City

Favorite: Oklahoma
Sleeper: Texas A&M
Who’s In: Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas, Texas A&M
Work To Do: Oklahoma State
Game We Want to See: Kansas vs. Oklahoma, this time with Blake Griffin taking on Cole Aldrich

Our pick: Oklahoma

SEC
March 12-15, St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, Fla.

Favorite: LSU
Sleeper: South Carolina
Who’s In: Tennessee, LSU
Work To Do: South Carolina, Florida
Game We Want to See: LSU vs. Florida, just to see who can handle the pressure.

Our pick: Florida

Pac-10
March 11-14, Staples Center, Los Angeles

Favorite: Washington
Sleeper: Arizona State
Who’s In: Washington, UCLA, Arizona State
Work To Do: California, Arizona
Game We Want to See: UCLA vs. Arizona State, to see if James Harden can get it done.

Our pick: UCLA