HUNTSVILLE — Though the “Big Dance,” also known as the NCAA men’s basketball championship tournament, routinely ends in April these days, March Madness is still the appropriate sobriquet.
This month is when the madness begins starting with conference tournaments, and it will come to Huntsville this week at the Von Braun Center’s Propst Arena.
The Conference USA Basketball Championships for men and women tip off Tuesday and the nets are cut Saturday.
After a perfect 16-0 regular season, MTSU will be the No. 1. The Lady Raiders finished the regular season with a 26-4 mark and became the fourth team in CUSA history to run the table.
On the men’s side, Sam Houston earned the top seed after ending the year with a 20-11 overall record and a 13-3 mark in league play.
The championships mark the first time CUSA has brought its postseason tournaments to the Rocket City. The City of Huntsville, Huntsville Sports Commission, and the Huntsville-Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau are hosting the event.
For more information, visit www.ConferenceUSA.com/RocketCityHoops
Single-session tickets are available through the VBC ticket office and Ticketmaster.
- TUESDAY First Round (Broadcast: ESPN+)
5:30 p.m. Women’s: No. 8 UTEP vs No. 9 Sam Houston State
8 p.m. Men’s: No. 8 Jacksonville State vs No. 9 Florida International - WEDNESDAY Quarterfinals (Broadcast: ESPN+)
11:30 a.m. – Women’s: No. 1 Middle Tennessee vs. UTEP/Sam Houston State winner
2 p.m. – Women’s:No. 2 Liberty vs. No. 7 Western Kentucky
5:30 p.m. – Men’s: No. 1 Sam Houston State vs. Jacksonville State/Florida International winner
8 p.m. – Men’s: No. 2 Louisiana Tech vs. No. 7 Middle Tennessee - THURSDAY Quarterfinals (Broadcast: ESPN+)
11:30 a.m. – Women’s: No. 4 Louisiana Tech vs. No. 5 Jacksonville State
2 p.m. – Women’s: No. 3 Florida International vs. No. 6 New Mexico State
5:30 p.m. – Men’s: No. 4 Liberty vs. No. 5 UTEP
8 p.m. – Men’s: No. 3 Western Kentucky vs. No. 6 New Mexico State
8 p.m. – Concert at Mars Music Hall: King’s Haze - FRIDAY
Semifinals
Men’s (Broadcast: CBS SPORTS NETWORK)
11:30 a.m., 2 p.m.
Women’s (Broadcast: ESPN+)
5:30, 8 p.m.
8 p.m. Concert at Mars Music Hall: Brandon Elder - SATURDAY
Championships (Broadcast: CBS SPORTS NETWORK)
4:30 p.m. – Women’s Championship game
7:30 p.m. – Men’s Championship game
8 p.m. Concert at Mars Music Hall: Quantaphonics
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