Teams Announced For 2009 'Bracket Busters'

[EPJr]

The Bracket Busters is a series that began in 2003 and was designed to pit mid-majors in inter-conference battles late in the regular season. With ESPN tied in, it brings national TV audiences to places they may normally not go.

It helps these teams immensely by getting them exposure, pumping up their RPI numbers and answers some of those questions about the strength of these mid-major conferences.

102 teams were named to be in this year's event ... which will take place on February 20-21.

The marquee name will be Davidson College, home of Stephen Curry and a Wildcats team that were a shot away from getting to the Final Four.

Other big time mid-majors include Butler, Drake, San Diego, Nevada, St. Mary's, Bucknell and George Mason.

Matchups will be set on February 9th. After the jump are the teams that are participating.

Home teams:
Ball State, Boston, Bowling Green, Bucknell, Cal Poly, Central Michigan, Creighton, Davidson, Drake, Drexel, Eastern Kentucky, Eastern Michigan, Evansville, Fairfield, Georgia Southern, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana State, James Madison, Kent State, Long Beach State, Loyola-IL, Marist, Murray State, Nevada, New Mexico State, Niagara, Old Dominion, Portland State, Rider, San Diego, San Jose State, Siena, Southeast Missouri, St. Mary's, Tennessee State, Towsom, UC-Davis, UC-Santa Barbara, UIC, UNC-Wilmington, UT-Martin, UW-Milwaukee, Valpo, Vermont, Western Michigan, Wichita State, William & Mary, Winthrop, Wright State and Youngstown State.

Away teams:
Akron, Appalachian State, Austin Peay, Boise State, Bradley, Buffalo, Butler, Canisius, Cleveland State, CS-Fullerton, CS-Northridge, Delaware, Detroit, Eastern Illinois, Elon, FDU, Fresno State, George Mason, Hartford, Hofstra, Illinois State, Iona, Jacksonville State, Loyola-MD, Liberty, Louisiana Tech, Gardner-Webb, Manhattan, Miami-OH, Missouri State, Montana State, Morehead State, Morgan State, North Dakota State, Northeastern, Northern Illinois, Northern Iowa, Ohio, Pacific, South Dakota State, Southern Illinois, St. Peter's, Tennessee Tech, Toledo, UC-Irvine, UC-Riverside, UMBC, Utah State, UW-Green Bay and VCU

[dbackjon]

Portland State and Montana State representing the Big Sky

[AZGrizFan]

Portland State and Montana State representing the Big Sky

Me thinks PSU is going to make someone VERY unhappy come tournament time...

[dbackjon]

Portland State and Montana State representing the Big Sky

Me thinks PSU is going to make someone VERY unhappy come tournament time...

I think so too!

[EPJr]

hopefully PSU will get a TV game
one of the things I like about BB is the exposure to teams from other parts of the nation

[pantherrob82]

Drake is a big time mid major? One good year and a first round loss?

[Mvemjsunpx]

Me thinks PSU is going to make someone VERY unhappy come tournament time...

Depends on whether they play like they did against Gonzaga (top-10 upset) & Montana (27 point win), or whether they play like they did against Cal Poly (loss) & Texas Southern (narrow win over a winless team).

[EPJr]

true

[Wildcat Ryan]

Utah State is playing on the road?

Who would ever have guessed that?

[EPJr]

BRACKETBUSTER: TV GAMES

Friday, Feb. 20
Virginia Commonwealth at Nevada
Illinois State at Niagara

Saturday, Feb. 21
George Mason at Creighton
#11 Butler at Davidson
Miami (OH) at Evansville
Hofstra at Fairfield
Green Bay at Long Beach State
Liberty at Old Dominion
Boise State at Portland State
#22 Utah State at Saint Mary's
Northern Iowa at Siena
Buffalo at Vermont
Northeastern at Wright State

[Willie]

Montana State?

[SuperHornet]

Almost EVERYONE's involved with BB, including the horrible UC Riverside. No surprise that MSU has a game.

I'm just surprised that UOP's local paper "forgot" that the brother of one of their assistant coaches played for USD. The rivalry should be obvious.

[Mvemjsunpx]

Almost EVERYONE's involved with BB, including the horrible UC Riverside. No surprise that MSU has a game.

I'm just surprised that UOP's local paper "forgot" that the brother of one of their assistant coaches played for USD. The rivalry should be obvious.

Riverside can't be that bad; they went 3-0 against the Big Sky.

[SuperHornet]

Most BW fans consider this year to be an anomaly. Riverside is the BW hoops version of UNC football.

[dbackjon]

Friday Games involving FCS teams:

Niagara 70, Illinois State 56

Saturday games:

Butler 75, Davidson 63
ODU 80, Liberty 56
Northeastern 69, Wright St 57
Siena 81, UNI 75

[grizzaholic]

Glad to see that PSU beat BSU, Too bad that MSU lost to whoever it was. I saw the score on the 10 oclock news last night. It was a very close game and MSU just faltered in the last few minutes.