Think you're ready for the madness? Think again. NaismithLives.com writer Jon Phelps takes you inside some of the mid-major conference tournaments that you need to know about before you fill out your bracket...

This is, without a doubt, the best time of year.

College basketball is on during the morning, afternoon and evening as conference tournaments are conducted, and I sink deeper into my couch cushions. Most of the attention goes to the higher profile tournaments like the SEC, the ACC, and the Big East, but who cares about them right now? Most of those teams are either in the tournament by this point, or don't deserve to be there yet are vehemently defended by Jim Boeheim, Dick Vitale, or Billy Packer. The select few who are on the dreaded "Bubble" are fun to follow and watch, but if you're intrigued by the bubble, you need to start watching the smaller conferences compete.

The real emotion of college basketball is realized when you flip on a smaller conference tournament, and see kids who are fighting for their seasons, or in the case of the seniors out there, for their respective careers. In many of these tournaments, the entire league is on the bubble, each team fighting to stay alive, with the hope that a few wins can result in the dream of making The Big Dance. Tomorrow is not guaranteed for any of these teams, and so conference tournaments boil down to one single, common mantra... Survive and Advance.

MAAC

Team to beat: Siena

Siena and Rider finished at the top of the league at 13-5, but Siena won the regular season title thanks to a tiebreaker. Consider this conference to be the “NFC East” of college basketball in terms of competitiveness. Playing on their home floor makes the Saints the team to beat in this tournament. Keep an eye out for Rider though, led by senior center Jason Thompson, a 6’11” player who has caught the eye of numerous NBA scouts.

Team to watch: Marist

The Red Foxes are 12-5 with leading scorer Louie McCroskey in the lineup and just 5-8 when he does not play. The good news for Poughkeepsie area fans: McCroskey now seems healthy. The senior transfer from Syracuse played in Marist’s last two regular season games, both victories, including a statement win over Loyola on the last day of the season. That makes the #6 seeded Red Foxes very dangerous going into the tournament.

Players to remember: Thompson (Rider), Charron Fisher (Niagara)

With a strong finish to his senior season, Thompson should be a first round NBA draft pick this June. The senior has some unfinished business this weekend and would put a stamp onto his stellar career by cutting down the nets in Albany. He is 2nd in the country in rebounding, averaging 11.8 per game, and has three games of at least 20 points and 20 rebounds (twice against Siena).

At 27.8 point per game, Fisher is tied with VMI’s Reggie Williams as the leading scorer in the nation. The 6’3” senior will shoot from anywhere and everywhere: His 613 attempts on the season translate to over 22 shots per game. Fisher has scored at least 20 points in all but two games so far this season, and has topped the 30 point mark 11 times, including a season high 45 points against Loyola in February. If he gets hot, he could carry Niagara deep into the weekend.

AMERICA EAST

Team to beat: UMBC

The Retrievers have been the class of the America East so far this season, behind Cavell Johnson and Ray Barbosa. Barbosa leads the team in scoring, averaging over 16 points per game, and Johnson averages 13 points and 7 rebound per contest. The real secret behind UMBC’s success? Diminutive point guard Jay Greene, generously listed at 5’8”, is the engine that makes the Retrievers go. He leads the conference with 7.2 assists per game, and boasts a spectacular 3.4/1 assist to turnover ratio. UMBC is 6-0 when he collects at least 10 assists this year.

Team to watch: Boston University

The sixth seeded Terriers have been a different team since the return of guard, Corey Lowe. After Lowe missed three straight games in late January, BU looked like they were in a lot of trouble, but in the 10 games since his return the Terriers have gone 8-2 and Lowe (over 18 ppg) has been the difference. This is a team no one wants to play this weekend.

Player to remember: Martin Blakely (Vermont)

Blakely, a sophomore forward for the Catamounts, leads the America East in scoring (19.4 ppg) and rebounding (11.0). Blakely is an undersized forward at 6’5”, buts he makes up for that size with incredible athleticism and strength. The fourth seeded Catamounts will only go as far as Blakely can carry them, but his presence will help Vermont match up with UMBC in a potential semifinal showdown

COLONIAL

Team to beat: VCU

2nd year coach Anthony Grant has the Rams playing their best basketball of the season at the perfect time. With wins in 10 of their last 12 games, VCU brings an impressive 23-6 record, and the #1 seed, into one of the toughest mid major tournaments in the country. With an RPI of 45, the Rams should be considered for an at large bid if they stumble, but behind the stellar play of junior point guard Eric Maynor, VCU has their sights set on another championship.

Team to watch: George Mason

Remember the darlings of the 2006 NCAA tournament? Will Thomas and Folarin Campbell played big roles in the Patriots’ run to the Final Four as sophomores. The two seniors would now like nothing more than to lead George Mason into the Madness of March once again. Thomas has been sensational (16.0 ppg, 10.4 rpg) on the inside, and Campbell has been a consistent perimeter threat (15.7 ppg, 39% 3FG) so far this year for George Mason. As the #3 seed in this year’s CAA tournament, it will be fun to see if Jim Larranaga, Thomas, and Campbell have one more run left in them.

Player to remember: Maynor (VCU)

It’s hard to hide after you put up 22 points as a sophomore in an NCAA tournament victory over Duke. Who can forget Maynor’s "dagger"with 1.5 seconds left to seal VCU’s 79-77 victory over the Blue Devils a year ago? Maynor has picked up right where he left off last year, averaging over 17ppg, 5 apg, and 4rpg this season, all while playing stifling defense for the Rams. Expect big things from Maynor, not only this weekend, but in a few weeks when the NCAA Tournament begins.