By Mark Schmetzer
Enquirer contributor

TOURNAMENT TIME

• Bearcats, Wildcats pad resumes • Huggins miffed by No.3 seed • UK marches into SEC play on roll TOURNAMENT PREVIEWS & BRACKETS • C-USA: A favorite? Try any of the five champs • A-10: Road to title goes through Saint Joseph's • SEC: UK, Miss. State fight for top seed • MAC: Western Michigan should take lone bid

Team to beat

Western Michigan. The top seed's loss at Toledo last weekend might have been just the eye-opener it needed to shake off any overconfidence.

Dark horse

Buffalo. The youthful Bulls' season-ending seven-game win streak is a sign that they've grown up.

Most to prove

Kent State. The Golden Flashes need to win the tournament to receive an NCAA bid after ending the regular-season with a four-game losing streak.

Toughest draw

Toledo. The Rockets open with lowest-seeded Central Michigan, but then they're likely to face the red-hot Bulls, and top-seeded Western Michigan lurks in the semifinals.

Weakest draw

WMU. The Broncos are 8-2 against the teams in their half of the bracket, including a win at Buffalo.

Most likely MVP

WMU's Mike Williams. The 6-foot-8 senior forward is ready for the spotlight after leading the Broncos in scoring and rebounding.

Player on the spot

Miami's Chet Mason. The 6-4 junior guard erupted for 11 second-half points on Saturday, but he went a combined 6-for-25 (24 percent) from the field in the RedHawks' last three games.

Ticket information

At Gund Arena. Call (800) 332-2287.