MARCH MADNESS BAD BEATS BLOG: Selection Sunday time

After two years, it’s time again for Selection Sunday.

The NCAA Tournament bracket will be revealed today, and Las Vegas sportsbooks will post betting lines on the opening games soon afterward.

But first, there are five more conference tournaments to be decided, and at least one potential “bid thief” lurking. If Cincinnati wins the American Athletic final, then it will earn a bid that would have gone to a bubble team. Of course, the Bearcats will have to get through No. 7-ranked Houston, which is a heavy favorite.

The Atlantic 10 finalists, St. Bonaventure and Virginia Commonwealth, are projected to make the NCAA field, but they’ll feel a lot better if they can secure an automatic bid.

Refresh this blog throughout the day. We’ll be here for all of the conference tournament games, along with the release of the NCAA Tournament field and the opening betting lines.

UPDATES

9:59 a.m.: Second-half line: Colgate -5½, total 79½.

9:57 a.m.: HALFTIME: Colgate 38, Loyola (Maryland) 33. First-half winners: Loyola +6, over 69½. Loyola made three free throws after two fouls in the final minute to cover the first-half spread and push the total over.

9:56 a.m.: The next games are about to tip off:

— St. Bonaventure (-3, 128½, -160) vs. Virginia Commonwealth (+140), 10 a.m.

— Alabama (-6, 157, -260) vs. LSU (+220), 10 a.m.

9:40 a.m.: The first game is already underway. Colgate holds a 27-21 lead with 5:13 left in the first half of the Patriot League final, played on Colgate’s home court in Hamilton, New York.

Four more games are coming today, followed by the reveal of the NCAA Tournament bracket and the opening betting lines.

9:30 a.m.: Here’s today’s scheduled, listed by conference:

AMERICAN ATHLETIC FINAL (at Fort Worth, Texas)

— Houston (-13½, 135, -1,000) vs. Cincinnati (+650), 12:15 p.m.

ATLANTIC 10 FINAL (at Dayton, Ohio)

— St. Bonaventure (-3, 128½, -160) vs. Virginia Commonwealth (+140), 10 a.m.

BIG TEN FINAL (at Indianapolis)

— Illinois (-6, 148, -260) vs. Ohio State (+220), 12:30 p.m.

PATRIOT LEAGUE FINAL (at home site)

— Loyola (Maryland) (+450) at Colgate (-10½, 148½, -600), 9 a.m.

SEC FINAL (at Nashville, Tennessee)

— Alabama (-6, 157, -260) vs. LSU (+220), 10 a.m.