NCAA Tournament Preview and Quick Analysis--Part 1 (Women)

NOTE: Teams in conferences covered by D-II South Sports are marked in BOLD type.

The selections have been made, the pairings have been set, and all of the time in the world has been taken for everyone to catch their breath. Now, it's time to talk "bracketology", the "bracketology" that's the NCAA Division II basketball tournament in the South and Southeast regions. So, without further ado, let's get started. First up are the women. All games will played Friday, Saturday, and Monday.

South Region (at Cleveland, Miss.)

Tournament Website

Bracket

Delta State vs. Valdosta State: The 1-8 game features a re-match of a Gulf South Conference tournament semifinal game between the Lady Statesmen and Lady Blazers. DSU won a hard-fought 55-52 thriller over VSU to advance to last Sunday's final,and eventually claim a well-deserved conference tournament title. Come Friday, these two perennial GSC powerhouses will hook up once again, only this time with the winner moving on, the loser going home.

Rollins vs. Arkansas-Monticello: The Cotton Blossoms come into this contest as the No. 5 seed in the South bracket. UAM gave Delta State all it could handle before losing in the GSC tournament finals, 53-51. The Tars look to re-group after being stomped by Tampa 55-29, in last weekend's Sunshine State Conference tournament final.

Tampa vs. Clark Atlanta: The No. 6 seeded Lady Panthers do battle against the No. 3 seeded Spartans in a battle of 20-plus win teams. CAU (23-4) is coming off a 79-69 loss to Fort Valley State in the SIAC tournament title game, while Tampa (24-5) to build on its momentum after the Spartans routed Rollins by 26 points en route to winning the SSC autobid.

Ouachita Baptist vs. Fort Valley State: The No. 2 seed Wildcats enter the NCAA tournament not having a lost a game since the calendar changed from 2008 to 2009. They'll try to extend their winning streak to 23 straight games against the Tigers, who are seeded seventh going into the South Regional.

Southeast Regional--at Hickory, N.C.

Tournament Website

Bracket

Lenoir-Rhyne vs. Anderson (S.C.): The top seeded Bears advance to the NCAA tournament for only the second time in program history, with their only other trip coming in 2003. They'll face an Trojans squad that earned its way into the Southeast Regional by winning the automatic bid from Conference Carolinas. It finished the regular season fourth in that league.

Francis Marion vs. USC Aiken: The Patriot women and Lady Pacers are two of four teams from the Peach Belt Conference to earn bids to the Southeast Regional. It's too bad only one of them will get to play against the winner of the Lenoir-Rhyne/Anderson contest. Both squads, though, have one thing in common. They both lost to eventual PBC tournament champion Lander. Again, one of them will have a chance at redemption come Friday.

Clayton State vs. Carson-Newman: It's the Lakers taking on the Eagles in the 3-6 contest. Clayton State enters the contest as the third seed after losing to USC Aiken in the semifinals of the PBC tournament, while C-N comes seeded sixth after losing to Tusculum in the semifinals of the South Atlantic Conference tournament.

Lander vs. Tusculum: The Lady Bearcats are coming off their second straight Peach Belt Conference Tournament title after coming into that tourney as the No. 5 seed. They'll face a Pioneers squad that'll enter the NCAA tournament with an overall record of 25-5. The Pioneers fell to Lenoir-Rhyne in the SAC tournament title game last Sunday.