It's finally here! After an exciting and somewhat surprising NEC regular season, the NEC tournament will officially begin tomorrow evening. This season has been a wild one, as the two teams that finished atop the NEC standings (Wagner and FDU) were projected to finish in the lower half of the conference. Robert Morris, an NEC perennial powerhouse, finished eighth in the standings, catching other NEC teams a little off guard. Let's take a look at the quarterfinal match-ups:

#8 Robert Morris at #1 Wagner: The Seahawks swept the season series of the Colonials. Wagner pulled out a three point win early in conference play and then defeated Robert Morris by ten in the final matchup of the regular season. Bashir Mason has done an incredible job getting his guys to play some high-level basketball this season, and to be honest, there's no player on that team that makes you say, "wow." Dwuan Anderson is athletic and a playmaker, but you don't get the "Rodney Pryor or Cane Broome" effect when you look at the Wagner scouting report. They have a lot of really good players that gel together and play as one. Coach Andy Toole has been stressing teamwork and selfless basketball all year, and Wagner is the epitome of that. If Rodney Pryor really wants to play at the next level (NBA), now is the time to go out there and show everyone how good you really are. I'm not saying play selfish, but Pryor needs to put the team on his back and do whatever he has to do in order for the Colonials to win. I'll talk more in depth about what the Colonials need to do in tomorrow's article, but in addition to Pryor, Kavon Stewart has to step up. Stewart has been really good down the stretch and he needs to continue to play smart basketball. He's played in two NEC championship games, he has experience. He just needs to show it. I have a feeling he'll respond and come out with a lot of confidence. Stewart has something to prove and he's always responded when questions have been raised. I don't think this time is any different. Prediction: Robert Morris 82, Wagner 78.

#7 Saint Francis (PA) at #2 FDU: Yes, those numbers are correct. The FDU Knights surpassed all expectations this season. Everyone was just waiting for them to collapse all year long and it just never happened. They really take pride on playing both ends of the floor and their defense has been what's most impressive to me. Earl Potts won the MIP award, and Stephan Jiggets and freshman Mike Holloway have completely revamped the Knights' offense. This is a young team, which is definitely a good thing, but looking at the matchup vs SFPA, it's a bit concerning. The Red Flash are somewhat of a veteran team. Junior PG Malik Harmon runs the show and seniors Ronnie Drinnon and Ben Millaud-Meunier have had fantastics seasons. Although the Red Flash have struggled down the stretch, you know Drinnon and Millaud-Meunier don't want to go out quietly. Saint Francis is a three-point shooting team, but Drinnon knows how to work the ball in the low-post. This is a team that has been on the verge, as they've lost in the semi-finals in the previous two seasons. Prediction: Millaud-Menuier drops 25, Red Flash defeat FDU, 72- 64.

#6 LIU Brooklyn at #3 Sacred Heart: This is a really intriguing matchup. I wouldn't be surprised if either team won, quite frankly. LIU Brooklyn had somewhat of an inconsistent regular season. They have talented players, but things never really clicked the way they wanted it to. Martin Hermannsson is one of my favorite players in the NEC. He is a pure PG who has a high basketball IQ. Hermannsson knows how to score the ball, but won't force anything because he lets the game come to him. The duo of him and Jerome Frink are as lethal as anybody in the NEC. Frink has 10 double-doubles this season, and him and Hermannsson both earned themselves first-team all NEC accolades. Joel Hernandez has also had himself a nice season and his presence down low is going to be key if the Blackbirds want to win this game. If Hermannsson and the Blackbirds want to advance to the semi-finals, they will have to go through NEC player of the year, Cane Broome. Broome, at this point, is a superstar. He (besides Rodney Pryor) is the most feared person in the NEC. Broome can win a game by himself. He doesn’t have to, however. Quincy McKnight had himself an impressive freshman season, and if he can put the ball in the basket, I like Sacred Heart’s chances. The matchup between Hernandez and SHU big man Tevin Falzon will be a fun one to watch. Falzon has improved each and every season and really gives the Pioneers a big and strong presence in the low-post. Can LIU pull off the upset? LIU is good, but the lack of consistency all season scares me. Prediction: Broome goes for 35 and 10, Sacred Heart wins 69-58.

#5 Mount. St. Mary's at #4 St.Francis Brooklyn: Mount St. Mary's is tough. Like really, really.....really tough. I don’t care what seed they are, the Mountaineers are capable of beating any team in this conference by 20. They probably have the most talented team in the NEC. When Junior Robinson and BK Ashe are both on their games, this team is almost impossible to beat. Will Miller’s ability to shoot the three will also be key when pushing the ball in transition. When Miller is hitting his shots, that spaces and opens up the floor for the other four guys on the court. It makes the game easier and keeps the defense honest. It can potentially open up the middle for some easier shots and buckets inside the paint. The combo of Robinson and Ashe is going to be a GREAT battle with Yunus Hopkinson and Tyreek Jewell. They are both (Hopkinson and Jewell) above average shooters who know how to play their game within SFBK's offense. Chris Hooper and Amdy Fall are also an intimidating duo when you look at the front-court. For the second consecutive season, Fall won NEC defensive player of the year. This team can beat anybody and you know they are hungry after falling to the Colonials in the title game a season ago. The 4-5 matchup is always a good one and this one will be no different. The Mount have a knack for giving teams a tough time in the tournament and I think their experience will be the difference maker. Prediction: This one goes to OT, and Mount St. Mary's eventually prevails. Mount defeat SFBK, 77- 74.