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Before NCAA Selection Sunday, there are this weeks conference tournaments. For some schools, these tournaments act as final tune-ups before March Madness to get their teams into gear before the Big Dance actually starts. For others, the conference tournament is the last chance to prove to the selection committee that their team belongs among the field of 68. And yet for others, far on the outside looking in, winning their conference tourney is the only chance they have to enter this years tournament. Now, some of the smaller conference tournaments are either already underway or already over, but the bigger conferences tournaments dont get started until Wednesday. This will act as a primer for each of the bigger tournaments to give you an idea of whos involved, whos favoured and which Canadians to watch out for this week. Already qualifed for the NCAA tournament: Mercer (Atlantic Sun), Coastal Carolina (Big South), Delaware (Colonial), Harvard (Ivy), Manhattan (MAAC), #2 Wichita State (Missouri Valley), Eastern Kentucky (Ohio Valley), Mount St. Marys (Northeast), South Dakota State (Summit) and Gonzaga (West Coast) American Athletic Conference Top 25 teams in tournament: #5 Louisville, #13 Cincinnati, #19 Memphis, #21 Connecticut and #25 SMU Overview: Only three games separated these five times in the regular season (with the Cardinals and Bearcats sharing the regular season crown,) so there isnt a lot separating this group in a very competitive conference. All five of these teams will be headed to the tournament, but likely only this quintet. If any outliers in the conference want in, theyll likely have to win the AAC tournament to get there. Chances are, though, thats not happening. Projected winner: Cincinnati Atlantic Coast Conference Seeded teams: #5 Duke, #6 Virginia, #11 Syracuse and #15 North Carolina Overview: After the dissolution of the traditional Big East, Syracuse makes its tournament debut in the conference traditionally dominated by schools from the Carolinas. That said, Virginia is the tournaments top seed for the first time in 33 years. Teams should be on the lookout for upsets with both North Carolina State and Pittsburgh capable of grabbing a scalp, but smart money picks one of the top four seeds to take the title. Led by freshman phenom Jabari Parker, Duke is the odds-on favourite heading into this week, but, even after petering out a bit coming down the stretch, Brampton, Ontarios Tyler Ennis and the Orange are still the team to beat. Projected winner: Syracuse Atlantic 10 Conference Top 25 teams in tournament: #18 Saint Louis and #23 Virginia Commonwealth Overview: The story here isnt what happens with the top teams, but what goes on with those schools who still arent locks to make the tournament. With Saint Louis and VCU most certainly in, its up to the likes of St. Josephs, UMASS and George Washington to ensure participation in this years March Madness. Having five teams coming out of the Atlantic 10 certainly isnt outside the realm of possibility, but its not a likelihood just yet. Projected winner: VCU Big East Conference Top 25 teams in tournament: #3 Villanova and #14 Creighton Overview: Though still being held at Madison Square Garden, this years Big East tournament certainly doesnt carry the cache that it once did with traditional powers like Syracuse, UConn and Pittsburgh having moved on. Still, tournaments implications are huge here with the likes of Providence, Georgetown, Xavier and St. Johns fates for the Big Dance unknown with that quartet likely needing multiple wins for a selection. As for the final, Creighton has beaten Villanova handily in both meetings this season and should again if the top seeds end up meeting. Projected winner: Creighton Big 10 Conference Top 25 teams in tournament: #8 Michigan, #12 Wisconsin, #22 Michigan State and #24 Ohio State Overview: Like the regular season, this Big 10 tournament should be nothing short of a battle with a lot riding on the line. Nik Stauskas and the Wolverines were able to open a three-game gap on MSU when it was all said and done, but only four games separated Wisconsin in second from Indiana in ninth. Its the teams in that range that need a good tournament here. Up to seven teams could come out of the Big 10 and while the seeded teams are virtual locks, the likes of Nebraska and Minnesota need to impress to secure their positions come Sunday. Projected winner: Michigan Big 12 Conference Top 25 teams in tournament: #10 Kansas, #16 Iowa State and #17 Oklahoma Overview: This tournament has the potential to be the best of the bunch and a very deep conference means its ripe for upsets. Its conceivable that any team that finds itself in the quarterfinals has a shot to win the tournament. Oh, and theres a ton of Canadian content here with Kenny Chery and Brady Heslip of Baylor, Iowa States Melvin Ejim and some kid named Wiggins on Kansas. The Big 12 prides itself as the best conference in the nation in 2014 and having the most tournament bids would go a long way to prove that. Having eight teams in the tournament is not a stretch. This will be a dogfight and not having Joel Embiid will really hurt the Jayhawks. Projected winner: Oklahoma Top 25 teams in tournament: #4 Arizona Overview: Oregon came out of nowhere to win this tournament last year, so the Pac-12 tournament is far from a foregone conclusion as a Wildcats triumph. Still, theyre the overwhelming favourite. Arizona is among a handful of teams here secure in its place in the tournament and, barring a quarterfinal blowout loss, the Wildcats are on course for a #1 seed on Sunday night. With UCLA, Colorado and the Ducks seemingly set for a tournament spot, Arizona State is the team with the most to prove here. Without a strong tournament, dont look for the Sun Devils name to be called on Sunday night. Projected winner: UCLA Southeastern Conference Top 25 teams in tournament: #1 Florida Overview: Outside of the Gators, who will look at this tournament as an opportunity to solidify their claim for the top overall seed in the tournament, this hasnt exactly been a banner season for the SEC with the nations preseason #1 Kentucky falling well short of expectations. John Caliparis Wildcats are in no danger of missing the tournament, but will view the SEC tourney as a means to get some positive momentum going into it. Mizzou, Tennessee and Arkansas are all likely bubble teams right now and could certainly use a positive showing to prove their credentials. This is Floridas tournament, though. They were undefeated in the conference during regular season play and shouldnt look back now. Projected winner: Florida Nike Shoes Black Friday Discount . The Toronto Argonauts signed the veteran linebacker to a three-year deal Tuesday, hours after the start of CFL free agency. Nike Shoes Black Friday China . The three goals bring Messis career tally for Barcelona to 371 in all games -- including friendlies -- breaking the club record of 369 held by Paulino Alcantara since 1927. The 26-year-old Messi was already the clubs all-time leading scorer in official games. Messi assured Barcelonas fans they will enjoy his goals for years to come, saying "as long as people want me, I will stay here. http://www.nikeshoesblackfriday.com/ ., climbed from seventh to fifth spot in womens competition Sunday at the ISU world junior figure skating championships. Nike Shoes Black Friday Online . -- Sonny Grays fastball wasnt as sharp as it usually is, and the Oakland Athletics young pitcher even had a quirky replay go against him. Wholesale Nike Shoes Black Friday . - Tiger Woods only made it through 10 holes Thursday — this time because of the weather, not his back.The immaculate deflection, the Auburn miracle, the prayer at Jordan-Hare. No matter how fans refer to Auburns last-minute touchdown against Georgia, they will remember it for years to come. Last Saturday in the Deep Souths oldest rivalry - a series tied 54-54-8 coming in - Auburn found themselves facing fourth and 18 on their own 27-yard line. Trailing by a single point with 36 seconds left on the clock, their 9-1 season was hanging in the balance. What happened next has been called a miracle. Nick Marshall heaved a desperation pass into triple coverage, a pass that bounced off Bulldogs safety Josh Harvey-Clemons and landed directly in the hands of receiver Ricardo Louis. By the time Louis had gone 73 yards to the end zone, Georgias SEC hopes were done, Auburns season was intact, and the college football world was stunned. A jaw-dropping moment, maybe the play of the year, in what has been one of the most stunning turnarounds in college football history. A year ago, Auburn was still basking in the glory of Cam Newton, still basking in the glory of the Tigers first Heisman winner since Bo Jackson, and basking in the glory of the 2010 National Championship. The Tigers finished the 2012 season at 3-9, their first three-win season since 1998. Auburn was 0-8 in the Southeastern Conference, the first team ever to go winless in conference play two years after a national title. Perhaps worst of all, they lost 49-0 to in-state rivals Alabama, the most lopsided Iron Bowl in 64 years. This at a program that is seven-time SEC champs and has a pair of AP national titles, and boasts a .628 winning percentage in 111 years of major college football. Enter Gus Malzahn. Auburn fired head coach Gene Chizik following the disastrous 2012 campaign, only to replace him with the man that led the Tigers offence in 2010. Fresh off what amounted to a learning-on-the-job head coaching gig at Arkansas State - where he led the Red Wolves to a 9-3 record and a Sun Belt title – Auburns former offensive coordinator returned to Jordan-Hare. The unassuming coach immediately cleaned house, remaking the Tigers coaching staff. He handpicked Marshall to handle the offence, a former Georgia defensive back turned junior college transfer. And he changed the attitude in the locker room, telling the Tigers at their first practice together that they would have the biggest turnaround in college football. Now the Tigers lead the SEC in rushing and rank third nationally with more than 320 yards per game. Despite Marshall completing less than 15 passes in seven of his 10 starts, they score almost 40 points per game, ranking 16th in the FBS. They staged a fourth-quarter comeback against then No. 7 Texas A&M, and now the latest miracle against Georgia. A year ago, Auburn was 3-9, last in the SEC West, and scored just 24 touchdowns in 12 games. Fifty weeks later, they have scored 56 touchdowns, sport a 10-1 record, and sit sixth in the BCS standings. Two weeks from now, Auburn will renew their blood feud with Alabama. In a gamme that dates to 1902, its maybe the biggest Iron Bowl of all time.ddddddddddddWin and the Tigers will earn a berth in the SEC championship, and with some luck, maybe even another national title shot. Marshalls Hail Mary against Georgia may have been a miracle. But it was just another miracle in a season full of them down on the plains. Some other notes from around the NCAA: UCLAs Myles Jack rushed for 59 yards and four touchdowns in the Bruins 41-31 win over Washington last Friday. Hes the 13th player in school history to rush for four scores in a game, and first since Maurice Jones-Drew in 2004. This just the week after Jack ran for 120 yards - including a game-winning 66-yard TD – against Arizona. Thing is, the true freshman is a linebacker. He had eight tackles and a forced fumble against the Wildcats, and five tackles against the Huskies. The Washington state native played both ways in high school, and was forced into action as a tailback because of mounting injuries in the UCLA backfield. But his emergence could mean head coach Jim Mora will continue to use him sparingly on offence. Playing both ways next season, Jack has a chance to become the first primarily defensive player to win the Heisman since Charles Woodson in 1997. Despite a vote of confidence last week from both Floridas athletic director and school president, Gators head coach Will Muschamp should be worried about his job. Florida has lost five straight games, their longest skid since 1979. At 4-6, they should miss a bowl game for the first time since 1990. The 2012 SEC coach of the year has four years and $12 million remaining on his contract. Michigan State is surging just in time for a potential date with Ohio State. The Spartans forced five turnovers in a 41-28 win over Nebraska last week. It was MSUs first win ever against the Cornhuskers. Already blessed with one of the best defences statistically in the country, Michigan State has now scored over 40 points in three of their last five games. A win this week against Northwestern – losers of six straight – and the Spartans will clinch a berth in in the Big Ten Championship. It looks like Mack Browns job may not be safe after all. The Longhorns lost 38-13 to No. 12 Oklahoma State last week. The loss snapped UTs six-game win streak and was the worst home loss in Browns 16-year tenure in Austin. The Longhorns have lost nine straight home games versus ranked opponents, a streak dating back to 2008. Duke beat then No. 23 Miami last week to improve to 8-2, their best record since 1994. The Blue Devils hold a one-game lead in the ACC Coastal Division, and should go to back-to-back bowl games for the first time ever. With games remaining against Wake Forest and North Carolina, Duke could finish with the best record in school history. In the last two seasons, head coach David Cutcliffes teams have won 14 games, one more than the program won in eight seasons combined prior to his arrival. Cutcliffe shouldnt be overlooked in coach of the year discussions. ' ' '