Selection Sunday drama doesn't take place on the court

One of the days I look forward to most in the entire college basketball season -- it's definitely on my short list -- is here, and it doesn't even involve a game.

I'm referring to Selection Sunday, when the 65-team NCAA tournament bracket is announced.

By late this afternoon, various squads across the country are either going to be celebrating or commiserating, depending on whether they see their school listed on the TV screen.

The automatic qualifiers and highly ranked perennial powers don't have much to sweat over -- except for where they might be seeded -- because they know they have secured spots in the Big Dance. Still, those teams are eager to find out who, when and where they're going to play.

But as for all those so-called bubble squads -- and there are always plenty of them -- I imagine their players and coaches probably haven't gotten much sleep the past few nights.

One prediction before the tournament even begins: No matter which at-large teams are announced today, there will be plenty of controversy as the squads who felt deserving but were left out will be screaming about it.

Being on the NCAA tournament selection committee has got to be one of the most thankless jobs in the world. Committee members are basically in a no-win situation, because no matter how fair they try to be, they're bound to get blasted from various corners, since they can only take a certain number of at-large selections.

But once all the moaning and groaning subsides -- which usually only lasts a day or two -- we college hoops junkies can settle into what I regard as the best three weeks of the entire sports year.

As far as I'm concerned, Thursday -- the first day of games -- can't get here quick enough.

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Although I enjoy following the NCAA women's tournament, I generally don't go too wild over the announcement of the selections and pairings.

But I'll have more interest than normal this year.

That's because, for the first time since Southeast Missouri State moved up to Division I, the Redhawks are part of the Big Dance, female style.

The women's bracket will be revealed Monday night, and I'll be at the Show Me Center -- along with Southeast supporters -- waiting to learn who, where and when the Redhawks play.

Southeast fans are invited to join the team -- along with the university's band and spirit groups -- Monday. Doors to the Show Me Center open at 5 p.m., with the selection show set for 6 p.m..

Popcorn and soda will be provided, and there will be a slide show and video chronicling the Redhawks' run to the Ohio Valley Conference tournament championship.

After the entire bracket is revealed, Southeast coach B.J. Smith will address the gathering at about 7 p.m.

It should be quite a party.

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The NIT and WNIT -- the so-called consolation tournaments for teams that don't make the NCAA men's and women's fields -- have added a nice twist this year.

Both the NIT and WNIT have increased their fields by eight teams in order to allow automatic entry for regular-season conference champions that don't win their league tournaments and don't receive at-large NCAA berths.

In the event of regular-season ties, the NIT and WNIT recognize the No. 1 seed for conference tournaments as the automatic qualifiers (Southeast's women may have been left out if they had not won the OVC tournament, since they were seeded second behind Tennessee Tech after those squads tied for the title).

If more than eight regular-season champions don't win their tournaments, then the NIT and WNIT will use their normal criteria for selecting teams.

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Web site blogs and chat boards have had plenty to say regarding potential candidates for the Southeast men's basketball head coaching position.

Many of the names I've come across appear to be legitimate candidates, but many also don't stand a chance of getting the job.

For instance, area high school coaching legend Lennies McFerren -- who played basketball at Southeast -- has drawn plenty of support on various chat boards, and I've even heard that he's thrown his hat in the ring.

As much respect as I have for McFerren -- I'd put his credentials up against any high school coach in the country -- I can tell you right now Southeast is not going to hire somebody with no college coaching experience to run its Division I program.

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Area soccer fans have less than a week to receive the discounted ticket price for an attractive tripleheader that will feature Southeast.

The Redhawks will play Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville in an indoor exhibition game at 5:30 p.m. on April 1 at the Savvis Center in St. Louis. Also that day, a Southeast alumni team will play an SIUE alumni squad (4:30 p.m.), and the professional St. Louis Steamers will face the Milwaukee Wave (7:05 p.m.).

Tickets, for all three games, are $12, but must be purchased at the Southeast ticket office by Friday. For information, call 651-2113.

Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian.