Conference USA Basketball: Wild conference tournament approaches

SAN DIEGO, CA - MARCH 16: C.J. Burks #14 and Jon Elmore #33 of the Marshall Thundering Herd celebrate after defeating the Wichita State Shockers during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena on March 16, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

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NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 27: Taveion Hollingsworth #13 of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers celebrates in the first quarter against the Utah Utes during their 2018 National Invitation Tournament Championship semifinals game at Madison Square Garden on March 27, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

Quarterfinals

No. 1 Old Dominion vs. No. 8 Louisiana Tech

In the lone meeting between these two, Old Dominion won a one-point back-and-forth affair. During the last minutes of the game, neither team led by more than five points and Dajour Dickins gave the Monarchs the lead for good with 18 seconds left. Old Dominion’s offense is top heavy with B.J. Stith and Ahmad Caver averaging over half the team’s points, but Louisiana Tech has four players that average at least 9.9 points per game to offset that. ODU excels defensively; they have given up over 70 points just five times this season and 65 or less in 22 of their 31 games. That kind of defense rarely slumps, and it won’t here. Old Dominion moves on. Prediction: Old Dominion

No. 4 Texas-San Antonio vs. No. 12 Middle Tennessee State

Like in their first game, Middle Tennessee State won the only meeting in a close 89-86 victory. Unlike their game with UAB, the Blue Raiders controlled this one from start to finish, only trailing 5-3 and leading by as many as 19. This game will highlight the backcourts, for the UTSA Roadrunners Keaton Wallace and Jhivvan Jackson had 52 in that game and 43 on the season and the MTSU duo of Antonio Green and Donovan Sims had 45 against UTSA and average nearly 30 on the year. Last season, Jackson missed the tournament last season with an injury, not this year and the Roadrunners will advance. Prediction: Texas-San Antonio

No. 2 Western Kentucky vs. No. 7 Florida International

In the one meeting between these two during the season, Western Kentucky let a 16-point second-half lead slip away and Brian Beard, Jr. gave the Golden Panthers a 77-76 win with a layup with nine seconds to play. The Hilltoppers committed 18 turnovers and star freshman Charles Bassey had just eight points, one of only five times he didn’t score at least 10 and FIU had five players in double figures. I’m not sure all of that history repeats itself for the Golden Panthers. Prediction: Western Kentucky

No. 3 Southern Mississippi vs. No. 6 Marshall

Southern Mississippi won the only meeting between these two teams during the season by 50, yes 50 points! But this may be a game between the conference’s two hottest teams, Marshall ended the year on a five-game winning streak and the Golden Eagles won eight of their final 10, beginning with that win over Marshall. Despite being the No. 3 seed, Southern Mississippi hasn’t had much success in March, having made only three NCAA Tournaments. Facing a team coming off their successes of last season, and Jon Elmore and C.J. Burks will be too much. Marshall wins this one and moves on to the semifinals. Prediction: Marshall