2011 CAA, WCC Championship Games Highlight Monday College Hoops Action

Monday’s conference tournament action is highlighted by two conference championships, with the winner of the West Coast and the Colonial conferences guaranteed a spot in the tournament. Out west, Saint Mary’s will battle Gonzaga, while back east, Old Dominion and Virginia Commonwealth will battle for supremacy.

For the nation’s top teams, conference tournament week is just a chance to fine tune theirresumes and add to the school trophy case. For many other tournament-bound teams, it is a chance to make a case for a higher seed. For bubble teams, though, it’s their last chance to steal an invitation to college basketball’s Big Dance. For current betting odds, matchup reports, and more previews, head over to Odds Shark.

Without further ado, the previews of Monday Night’s games...
West Coast Championship: Saint Mary’s Gaels vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs
Matchup Report
St. Mary’s (24-7) and Gonzaga (22-9) are both tied with a conference-best 11-3 record, and the West Coast’s two best teams have made their way into the Conference Championship.
Both times these two teams met during the regular season were thrilling games, with Saint Mary’s edging out Gonzaga in Gonzaga 73-71, and then Gonzaga returning the favor on the road in an 89-85 overtime win.
“Not everyone feels the Zags even deserve to make the tournament and they will be taking a chance by losing here,” said Mark Presley. “The Gaels have slumped and are just 3-6 against the spread in their past 9 games against Gonzaga as well.”
Both teams are projected to make the tournament regardless of the outcome of this game, but seeding will definitely be affected. Gonzaga is looking to end the season on a nine-game winning streak, while St. Mary’s wants to leave a positive impression after losing three straight in late February.
Colonial Championship: Virginia Commonwealth vs. Old Dominion
Matchup Report
Virginia Commonwealth’s stunning blowout 79-63 win over George Mason yesterday not only ended George Mason’s 16-game winning streak, but also gave the Rams this chance to sneak into the tournament with another upset.
In order to get in, they’ll have to top Old Dominion (26-6), who will likely make the tournament either way but would love to stay hot. If defense wins championships, you have to like ODU here as they rank in the Top 25 nationally in several defensive stats and second overall in fewest rebounds allowed.
It will be a tough game for Virginia Commonwealth (23-10), but they should have some confidence as they have already upset Old Dominion once this season, 59-50 back in late January. Senior forward Jamie Skeen had a double-double (14 points, 10 rebounds) in that one.
While Old Dominion is the better team and should win this one if they are at their best, it should be an exciting game. At the very least, Virginia Commonwealth has shown that they won’t go down without a fight.