Three more tickets to be punched tonight

With nine teams already solitifying a spot in the tournament field, three more teams will be added to that list.

The Sun Belt, The Summit League, and the Horizon League will all crown their champions tonight.

Here is a breakdown of each matchup

Sun Belt: Western Kentucky vs. South Alabama

These two teams met twice this year, with the Hilltoppers winning both games. However, WKU only won these games by a combined 11 points.

The top seeded Hilltoppers are looking to defend their title as Sun Belt Conference tournament champions, and punch their ticket to the Big Dance, hoping to pull off another cinderella run like last season.

To do so, they will have to stop South Alabama's Dominic Tilford and Brandon Davis. Tilford is averaging 16.5 points per game this season, and is an 83% free-throw shooter. Davis comes in averaging 12.5 points per game, and is a 59% shooter from the field. He also averages 7.5 rebounds a game.

The Hilltoppers will look to Sun Belt Conference MVP Orlando Mendez-Valdez. The senior guard is averaging 14.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game this season. The Hilltoppers have three more players averaging in double figures, guards A.J. Slaughter and Sergio Kerusch, and forward Steffphon Pettigrew.

Kerusch is also averaging a double-double in the conference tournament.

The problem for WKU will be their lack of depth on the bench.

This should prove to be another classic battle between these two teams, and the winner could pull off some major upsets in the Big Dance.

My pick: Western Kentucky 73, South Alabama 66

Summit League: North Dakota St. vs. Oakland

This game could be another dandy, as we will see a new champion crowned, after defending champion Oral Roberts was ousted in the first round by South Dakota St.

These two teams split their matchups this season, both winning on their home floors

Neither of these were challenged in their first two games of the conference tournament.

North Dakota St. has three players averaging in double figures. Ben Woodside is averaging 23 points per game to go along with 6.4 assists. He is complemented by Brett Winkelman and Mike Nelson, who are averaging 19 points per game and 12 points per game respectively. Winkelman is also the teams leading rebounder at 7.3 boards per game.

Oakland also has three players averaging is double figures.

Erik Hangas is averaging 18.8 a game; Keith Benson is averaging 14.1 points a game and Jonathan Jones is averaging 13.5 a game.

North Dakota St. shoots the three ball slightly better than Oakland, averaging 41% compared to Oakland's 37%.

My pick: North Dakota St. 65, Oakland 59

Horizon League: Butler vs. Cleveland St.

Butler looks to defend their title as Horizon League champions in this rematch from last years conference tournament title game, a game that Butler won 70-55 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

These two teams met only once this season, on the last game of the regular season schedule. Butler won the game 58-56 at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

Tonight's game is also at Hinkle Fieldhouse, meaning it is essentially another home game for the Bulldogs, and sets up the same scenario of last years championship game.

Butler is led by young talent. Two of their three top scorers are freshmen, and the other is a sophomore. Matt Howard leads the team in scoring at 14.6 per game. Gordon Hayward and Shelvin Mack are averaging 13.4 and 11.5 a game respectively.

Cleveland St. is a little more experienced than Butler, in that two of their top scorers are seniors.
J'Nathan Bullock leads the team at 15.4 points per game. Norris Cole and Cedric Jackson put up 13.2 and 10.3 a game respectively.

The story tonight will be Butler getting the ball down to Gordon Hayward and getting points in the paint. The Bulldogs are a better shooting team overall, so look for a wide offense to help create open three's.

My pick: Butler 77, Cleveland St. 66