Here is a look at the leagues beginning conference tournaments on Friday or Saturday:
AMERICA EAST
Regular-season champ: Stony Brook is the top seed for the third time in 4 years, but the Seawolves are still looking for their first conference tournament title.
American made: A handful of Philly-area kids play for Stony Brook, located on New York's Long Island. Freshman Carson Puriefoy (Bishop Eustace) had a career-high 17 points in the final game of the regular-season as the Seawolves (23-6) set a school record for Division I wins . . . Boston U., which finished second, is banned from participating in the tournament after jumping to the Patriot League. Freshman Maurice Watson, the Boys' Latin product who is the second-leading scorer in Philadelphia high school history behind only Mansion's Maureece Rice, averaged 11.1 points for the Terriers . . . As a result of BU's banishment, Binghamton (3-26, 1-15 America East) gets to play Stony Brook in the first round . . . The championship game is March 16.
Big Dance prospects: This is a one-bid league.
METRO ATLANTIC
Regular-season champ: Niagara won its first ever outright MAAC crown. The Purple Aces are looking for their first NCAA bid since 2007.
Big MAACs: Five Niagara players are from Philadelphia high schools, including second-leading scorer Juan'ya Green (Carroll). Aces coach Joe Mihalich was an assistant at La Salle under Speedy Morris . . . The No. 1 seed has failed to win this tournament the last 2 years . . . Canisius, the No. 5 seed, won at Temple in December. The Golden Griffins (18-12) closed the season losing four of seven . . . The championship game is Monday.
Big Dance prospects: This is a one-bid league.
SOUTHERN
Regular-season champ: Davidson won its division by three games to capture the No. 1 seed. The Wildcats have won 14 in a row.
Southern comforts: Davidson's Jake Cohen (Conestoga High) was named the league player of the year. He is closing out a terrific career in which he became the school's all-time leader in games started and blocks and will finish in the top-10 in points and rebounds. Cohen had a career-high 32 points in a win over the College of Charleston in February . . . Elon (20-10) reached 20 wins for the first time since 1988. Junior guard Jack Isenbarger's father, Phil, was a reserve for Indiana in 1981 when the Hoosiers won the national title at the Spectrum . . . Georgia Southern, the No. 9 seed, was the only SoCon team to beat Davidson. If the Eagles beat Wofford in the first round, they'll get Davidson in the quarterfinals . . . The championship game is Monday.
Big Dance prospects: Davidson (23-7) has losses to Gonzaga, Duke and New Mexico, but no significant wins to merit an at-large bid. The Wildcats will have to win the tournament to get the one bid this league is likely to get.
SUN BELT
Regular-season champ: Middle Tennessee has won 16 in a row and set the Sun Belt record for most league wins by going 19-1. The Blue Raiders haven't been to the NCAA Tournament since 1989 when they upset Florida State (George McCloud) as a 13-seed.
Belt buckles: Arkansas State, the No. 2 seed, is the only Sun Belt team to beat Middle Tennessee. The Red Wolves are coached by John Brady, who took LSU to the Final Four in 2006 . . . South Alabama's Augustine Rubit was the league's MVP and is a finalist for mid-major player of the year. Rubit, which is what you do to a rabbit's foot for good luck, is second in the Sun Belt in scoring (18.9) and first in rebounding (10.8) . . . The championship game is Monday.
Big Dance prospects: Middle Tennessee is 27-4 and feels like it's in. With only one win over a top-100 (Mississippi), the Blue Raiders ought to win this tournament - or at least get to the final.
STARTING SATURDAY
COLONIAL
Regular-season champ: Northeastern won its first title since joining the CAA in 2005-06. The Huskies haven't been to the NCAA Tournament since 1991.
Colonial times: Northeastern's Joel Smith leads the Huskies in scoring at 16.5 per game and should be first-team all-conference when the league's postseason awards are announced Friday night. Smith is a distant relative of basketball Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler, though it can't be too distant given how well he's played . . . Delaware, the No. 2 seed, won at Northeastern on Feb. 13 while Smith sat out with a foot injury . . . Drexel was picked to win the championship in the preseason, but injuries and inconsistent play led to a difficult season. Drexel was 29-7 last year and was snubbed for the NCAAs. If they somehow win three games, the Dragons will be 16-17 and in the tournament . . . Four of the 11 teams in the CAA are ineligible because they either are bolting for another conference (Old Dominion, Georgia State) or being punished by the NCAA for poor academic performance (Towson, UNC-Wilmington) . . . The championship game is Monday.
Big Dance prospects: This is a one bid league.
SUMMIT
Regular-season champ: South Dakota State beat Western Illinois twice to claim the No. 1 seed on a tiebreaker. SDSU won this tournament last year in overtime against WIU.
Summit stuff: South Dakota State's best win was at New Mexico in December when point guard Nate Wolters had 28 points and seven assists. A snowstorm forced the Jackrabbits to take a 1,200-mile bus ride to Albuquerque. Wolters, who scored 53 in a game in February, is trying to become the first player to average 20 points, five rebounds and five assists in two separate seasons. Evan Turner (2009-10) is one of four other players to do it once since assists became official in 1983-84 . . . Western Illinois' best player is guard Ceola Clark III. He was granted a sixth year of eligibility because of two significant injuries. Clark already has his bachelor's degree and is pursuing a Masters in sports management . . . The championship game is Tuesday.
Big Dance prospects: This is a one-bid league.
Monday's previews: MAC, MEAC.
