COUNTDOWN TO MARCH MADNESS--MEN--WEEK ENDING 02/05/2005

NOTE: This is the final installment of "Countdown To March Madness" for the 2004-05 basketball season, as Selection Sunday gets closer and closer. As always, the teams and conferences covered by D-II South Sports are listed in BOLD type.

SOUTH REGION

1. Lynn

2. Florida Gulf Coast

3. West Georgia

4. Montevallo

5. Central Arkansas

6. Benedict

7. Arkansas-Monticello

8. Eckerd

9. Barry

10. Ouachita Baptist

ANALYSIS: Projected number of bids to the NCAA tournament are marked in parentheses. Conferences covered by D-II South Sports are in BOLD type and ALL CAPS.

GULF SOUTH (4): West Georgia, Montevallo, and Central Arkansas appear to be serious locks for the NCAA tournament. UAM is going the wrong way entering the GSC tournament, as the Boll Weevils have lost five straight games.

SIAC (1): Only the winner of the SIAC tournament in Albany, Ga. will be invited to the NCAA tournament. Albany State, Benedict, and Paine are favored to get that one bid.

Sunshine State/Independents (3): Lynn and Florida Gulf Coast, ranked first and second respectively in this week's South region poll, should get bids regardless of what happens this weekend. Ninth ranked Barry may need to win SSC tournament to earn a ticket to the NCAA tourney.

SOUTH ATLANTIC REGION

1. Bowie State

2. USC Upstate

3. Kennesaw State

4. Virginia Union

5. Winston-Salem State

6. Columbus State

7. Catawba

8. Augusta State

9. North Carolina Central

10. Clayton State

ANALYSIS:

CIAA (3): This always competitive conference could get as many as four bids to the NCAA tournament, with Bowie State, Virginia Union, and Winston-Salem State being definite locks.

PEACH BELT (4): Regular season co-champs Kennesaw State and USC Upstate appear to be NCAA bound regardless of the eventual outcome of the PBC tournament, as is Columbus State. The winner of the Augusta State-Clayton State game in Friday night's quarterfinals could decide if the PBC gets a fourth bid.

South Atlantic (1): Catawba is the serious favorite to win the SAC tournament. If a second team wants to join the Indians at the dance, they'll need to win the conference tournament. That means somebody would have to upset Catawba eventually.

For a complete round-up of the rankings in all eight NCAA Division II regions, visit http://www.ncaasports.com.