COUNTDOWN TO MARCH MADNESS--MEN--WEEK OF 02/26/2005

NOTE: The final weekend of the regular season is here, and so is the speculation regarding how the NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament bracket will look. D-II South Sports has your look on how the South and South Atlantic regions. But first, let's take a look at the rankings for both regions. As always, all teams in conferences covered by D-II South Sports are marked in BOLD type.

SOUTH REGION

1. West Georgia

2. Lynn

3. Florida Gulf Coast

4. Montevallo

5. Arkansas-Monticello

6. Eckerd

7. Barry

8. Valdosta State

9. Harding

10. Central Arkansas

ANALYSIS: Projected number of bids for each conference are marked in parentheses.

GULF SOUTH (3): This league has always been one of the toughest conferences in all of Division II. But this season may have been one of the most competitive in recent seasons, as six teams (West Georgia, Montevallo, Arkansas-Monticello, Valdosta State, Harding, and Central Arkansas) are ranked in this week's South region poll. It's a shame that a few good teams might find themselves sitting at home come Selection Sunday.

SIAC (1): Once again, the SIAC was shut out of the regional poll this week, as Benedict and Morehouse, the two finalists in last year's conference tournament, have been the only teams regionally ranked this season. But it probably won't matter, since the SIAC will likely get only one bid, which will go to the winner of next week's SIAC tournament in Albany, Ga.

Sunshine State/Independents (4): Lynn, Eckerd, and Barry appear to be the likely candidates to represent the SSC in the NCAA's. Meanwhile, independent Florida Gulf Coast is 22-6, and could very well make its first-ever trip to the NCAA tournament in its first full season of eligibility. Not bad for a school that didn't open its doors until 1997.

SOUTH ATLANTIC REGION

1. Kennesaw State

2. Bowie State

3. USC Upstate

4. Virginia Union

5. Winston-Salem State

6. Columbus State

7. North Carolina Central

8. Catawba

9. Lander

10. Augusta State

CIAA (4): Bowie State maybe #1 in the nation, but the CIAA boasts several other strong teams such as Virginia Union, Winston-Salem State, and North Carolina Central.

PEACH BELT (3): Kennesaw State and USC Upstate have been the class of the league all season, with Columbus State also playing solid for much of the season, although Lander and Augusta State have made late charges to earn a spot in this week's regional poll. The PBC could get four or five bids, but that would depend upon the results from other conference tournaments.

South Atlantic (1): With 20-plus wins, and a regular season title, Catawba seems to be the favorite to win the South Atlantic Conference tournament.