Southern Conference Tournament Predictions

The Southern Conference Tournament is set and now I'll predict what I think will happen. Can Appalachian and Davidson get in the race for at-large selections if they don't win the Tourney?

FIRST ROUND

#8 Chattanooga vs #9 Wofford: Wofford has one of the worst defenses in the country. That will cost them. Chattanooga 73 Wofford 70

#7 Western Carolina vs #10 Elon: Both teams are bad but Elon is worse. Western Carolina 70 Elon 68

#6 Georgia Southern vs #11 Citadel: The Citadel is clearly one of the worst teams in the country. Should be an easy win for Georgia Southern. Georgia Southern 69 Citadel 59

QUARTERFINALS

#1 Davidson vs #8 Chattanooga: Davidson has 22-1 in their last 23 games. The loss was to Appalachian. Chattanooga is not Appalachian. Davidson 79 Chattanooga 65

#4 UNC Greensboro vs #5 Furman: Greensboro was actually the preseason favorite by some in the North Division before App's great season. I think their talent propels them into the semifinals. UNC-Greensboro 69 Furman 66

#2 Appalachian State vs #7 Western Carolina: App and Davidson are clearly the two best teams in the Southern Conference. However unlike Davidson, App has lost to teams they shouldn't have. I don't think App loses to Western but if they are looking ahead to another game with Davidson it could happen. Appalachian 81 Western Carolina 66

#3 College of Charleston vs #6 Georgia Southern: Don't look past College of Charleston. They haven't gotten the publicity of Davidson or Appalachian but they are a good team and fully capable of winning this if the top two stumble. College of Charleston 68 Georgia Southern 62

SEMIFINALS

#1 Davidson vs #4 UNC- Greensboro: UNC-G is talented but Davidson smells another NCAA bid. Too much Davidson. Davidson 78 UNC-G 67

#2 Appalachian State vs #3 College of Charleston: Bobby Cremins has Charleston in a position to contend for many years to come. But App has been building to a season like this for a long time. It'll be a hard fought win but App advances to the final. Appalachian 71 College of Charleston 66

FINAL

#1 Davidson vs #2 Appalachian State: The match everyone in the Southern Conference has waited for. The two best teams with a trip to the NCAAs on the line. The loser will have to sit and hope their name is called on Selection Sunday. The only time they played this season, App won on Davidson's homecourt. This should be a good game. So who wins? I like Davidson. Both team's offenses are pretty comparable. But Appalachian doesn't have as strong a defense as Davidson. Davidson's coach McKillop also has more experience than Fancher so I think the edge goes to Davidson as well. I think App comes up just short but will get no worse than an NIT bid. However if they want the NCAAs they'll have to pull against several of the bubble teams in front of them. Davidson 76 Appalachian 74