SoCon Basketball: 2021 Conference Tournament preview and predictions

LEXINGTON, VA - JANUARY 10: The Southern Conference logo on the floor before a college basketball game between the Furman Paladins and the Virginia Military Keydets at Cameron Hall on January 10, 2019 in Lexington, Virginia. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

6 of 6

SoCon Basketball East Tennessee State Buccaneers Ledarrius Brewer Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /

Semifinals

Sunday, March 7th GAME 7: #1 UNCG vs. #5 ETSU

UNCG could face off against last year’s champion in Eastern Tennessee State University. Early in the season, ETSU got the best of UNCG with a 71-61 win. However, in the regular-season finale for both teams, UNCG came out on top with an 85-74 overtime win.

UNCG has been inconsistent during the last month of the season with a 5-3 record. Like most teams, when UNCG shoots well they win. However, when they go cold as a team, they do not have a stopgap measure in place. They do not have a player able to take over the game or force a bucket.

It was evidenced in UNCG’s loss over Furman in early February when the team shot 29% from the field and lost by 19 points; only scoring 48 as a team. Two nights later, UNCG shot 45.8% from the field and turned the tables for a six-point win against Furman. It’s hit or miss with UNCG. This game, they miss.

ETSU 75, UNCG 68

Sunday, March 7th GAME 8: #6 VMI vs. #2 Wofford

A top contender faces off against the dark horse in the Southern Conference Tournament. These teams split the season series with VMI losing to Wofford in January but came back with an overtime win, about a month later. VMI’s high-powered offense has consistently been good since January.

In 13 games, they’ve scored an average of 81 points per game on 46.9% shooting from the field including a 40% success rate from 3-point range. VMI continues their high-powered ways to earn a championship game appearance.

VMI 85, Wofford 80

Championship Game

Monday, March 8th CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: #5 ETSU vs. #6 VMI

The Southern Conference has been a wild one this year but the wildness is not confined to one conference. Across the NCAA 2020-21 season, we have seen teams come back from a COVID-pause and never return to form. We’ve seen other teams come back from pauses and they look like a different, successful team. All of this is to say nothing is predictable but you almost have to ride the hot hand this year.

Next. Predicting winners for all 2021 conference tournaments. dark

ETSU and VMI represent the hot hand on a small sample size scale. VMI’s offense is one of the best in the league and, more importantly, they have more than one offensive star. Most teams in the Southern Conference are living and dying with their offensive star. VMI can spread the ball around and score. ETSU won by 11 in the teams’ only matchup this year. ETSU’s strength happens to be defense so this will be an interesting game; strength against strength.

VMI 79, ETSU 78 – OVERTIME