Prediction Record: 483-244
Oral Roberts vs. Chicago State (7:00 PM, ESPN)- The Mid-Continent Conference championship game features nearly an exact replica of last season's title game. Last year, Oral Roberts was a heavy favorite going into the championship was knocked off by Oakland, one of the lower seeds in the Mid-Con tourney. This season, ORU will be a favorite going up against Chicago State, the #6 seed and a team that went 11-18 during the season. The Golden Eagles own the league's best inside-outside combo in Caleb Green, the most dominant player in the league, and Ken Tutt, a very good perimeter scorer. Larry Owens is an excellent rebounder down low, while Jonathan Bluitt is a solid point guard. Chicago State is led by the diminutive backcourt of 5-9 Royce Parran, an excellent scorer and all-around player, and 5-6 David Holston, a very good defender and shooter. Michael Henderson is the main man up front. Prediction: Oral Roberts 73, Chicago State 64
Wisconsin-Milwaukee vs. Butler (9:00 PM, ESPN)- The Horizon League Championship game will be an excellent contest between the top two teams in the league. UW-Milwaukee lost four of seven to end the season, but comes into the game as the favorite. Butler also struggled down the stretch, but is coming off of a 22-point win in the semi-finals. UWM is led by Joah Tucker, one of the top players in the league. Guard Boo Davis is an excellent complement to him on the perimeter. Adrian Tigert missed the final two games of the season due to injury. When healthy, he is a load to handle down low. Chris Hill is a solid point guard. The Panthers are the highest-scoring team in the league and they like to get up and down, pressuring the ball and scoring in transition. Butler is more of a defensive-oriented team. The Bulldogs have one of the best players in the conference in Brandon Polk. They also have an excellent three-guard backcourt in A.J. Graves, Bruce Horan, and Avery Sheets. All three are solid long-range shooters. Prediction: Wisconsin-Milwaukee 71, Butler 67
Western Kentucky vs. South Alabama (9:30 PM, ESPN2)- The Sun Belt Conference title game will feature the matchup everyone wanted to see--Western Kentucky, the winner of the East division, and South Alabama, the West division champ. WKU won the overall league championship by a half-game over the Jaguars due to the conference's unbalanced schedule. The Hilltoppers own the league's best offense and are atop the conference in many categories. They also have one of the best backcourt duos in the country in Anthony Winchester and Courtney Lee. Winchester is an excellent scorer and perimeter shooter, while Lee is an outstanding all-around player who can score, play defense, rebound, and shoot the ball. Benson Callier and Ty Rogers also produce on the perimeter, while Elgrace Wilborn is the main man down low. South Alabama ranks near the top of several statistical categories and own one of the conference's best defenses. South Alabama is a deep and balanced team with only two double-figure scorers. Mario Jointer is an excellent all-around player, while Richard Law is a solid forward that can stroke the three with efficiency. Guards Demetric and Chey Christie are two more consistent contributors. Prediction: Western Kentucky 74, South Alabama 70
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