The McCallums have delivered Detroit with its first NCAA tournament berth since 1999. (AP)There was no question that former McDonald's All-American Ray McCallum Jr. took a bit of a leap of faith two years ago when he spurned powerhouse programs such as UCLA, Florida and Arizona to play for his father, Ray McCallum Sr., at Detroit.

He's grown consistently in his first two seasons on campus, and was surrounded by some quality talent. On Tuesday night, it all came together on the biggest of stages for a program that won only seven games just three years ago in McCallum Sr.'s first season at the helm, and faith was rewarded.

McCallum Jr. came alive with a sensational, emotionally-charged second-half performance in the Horizon League championship game, and led the Titans to a 70-50 upset of host Valparaiso. In turn, Detroit heads to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1999.

In the end, the Titans unseating Butler as the Horizon's rep in the field of 68 isn't all that shocking. They were picked second in the league's preseason poll. But it seems like an unlikely finish considering the odd rash of injuries and absences the program had to endure this season, which at one point left them with eight active players in late November.

[Related: Abrupt midseason coaching change lifted WKU into NCAAs]

After a 78-73 loss in their last trip to Valpo on Feb. 2, the Titans, back near full strength, went on to win six of their last seven regular season games to earn the tournament's No. 3 seed.

The Titans struggled to overcome their nerves in the first half, and despite getting out-rebounded 23-13 before the break and shooting just 29 percent from the floor, they only trailed by three heading into the second stanza.

And that's when Detroit's unquestioned star rose to the occasion.

McCallum scored 15 of his 21 points after the break, but his impact on the game went well beyond that number.

Following two epic regular season meetings, hoop fans everywhere are pulling for Kansas and Missouri to meet in Saturday's Big 12 title game. (AP)The Dagger will be previewing eight of this week's conference tournaments. Here's our look at the Big 12 Tournament

Big 12 Tournament

Dates: March 7-10

Site: Sprint Center (Kansas CIty, Mo.)

Draw: Click here

Favorite: It's got to be the league's regular season champ, Kansas. Their quarterfinal match-up will be against either Oklahoma or Texas A&M, who the Jayhawks handled without much of a sweat in their regular season meetings. It'd then be either Baylor or Kansas State in the semifinals … and it's the same story. The team that can give Kansas the most trouble in this field is, obviously, 2-seed Missouri. But those two wouldn't meet until Saturday's championship game, and given how the first two clashes played out, it's what every college hoops fan must be pulling for. The Jayhawks' lack of quality depth has been well-documented this season, but if it hasn't hindered them to this point, it shouldn't be expected to now. They have a frontrunner for National Player of the Year honors to ride in junior forward Thomas Robinson. A little consistent help from those around him, and Kansas will be tough to top.

[Related: Forecasting the NCAA field of 68 | Bubble watch]

Three others who can win it: Missouri would be the obvious second choice behind Kansas. Like the Jayhawks, the Tigers should have strong fan support in the stands, and their draw is really just as favorable. Baylor has the potential for a three-wins-in-three-days run based on length, athleticism and talent alone, but the Bears have sputtered some in terms of performing consistently down the stretch. Still, they started the season 17-0, and that doesn't just happen by accident. A dark horse for a run is 3-seed Iowa State. The Cyclones exceeded everyone's expectations this season, and really only got blown off of the floor once in league play (a 79-64 loss at Baylor on Feb. 13). Forward Royce White is a legitimate star, but the key for Iowa State will be its 3-point shooting. They shoot a ton of them. If they're hitting at a decent clip, the Cyclones can absolutely make a run.

Three players to watch:

• Tyshawn Taylor, G, Kansas — Yes, teammate Thomas Robinson is this league's brightest star. But how Taylor plays this week could have much more influence on Kansas's chances of cutting down nets. His numbers are significantly up across the board as a senior — including turnovers, as he's averaging 3.5 a game. The Jayhawks can live with a few cough-ups, but Taylor has a history of hurting his team with giveaways. He's been reliable in every way down the stretch, and needs to stay that way.

• Marcus Denmon, G, Missouri — After a mid-season shooting swoon, the Tigers' senior gunner finished the season hot. He averaged 19.9 points and shot 51.4 percent from 3-point range over the last nine games. He has to stay that way for Mizzou while playing in his hometown this week.

[Related: Baylor among college hoops teams to display odd new jerseys]

• Royce White, F, Iowa State — If you haven't seen the former McDonald's All-American play this season, make sure to check him out soon, because he might not be around for another year in Ames. At 6-foot-8 and 270 pounds, White can play — and produce — at all five positions. Just a ridiculous talent.

Despite being shorthanded, Saint Mary's proved in Monday's WCC title game that it can win with grit in March. (AP)LAS VEGAS — For much of the night, finesse and precision was what gave Saint Mary's junior point guard Matthew Dellavedova the upper hand in a crucial match-up with Gonzaga freshman star Kevin Pangos.

But when it came down to a key play in overtime of the West Coast Conference title game at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Dellavedova called upon gritty lessons learned in his childhood, when the Australian's game of choice wasn't basketball.

After blowing a five-point lead in the final 30 seconds of regulation, Saint Mary's found itself again tied in overtime with just under a minute left to play at 72-72. A long rebound off of a Pangos 3-point miss turned into a 50-50 ball in the backcourt, shooting towards the Gonzaga bench. Dellavedova simply beat Pangos to the spot, drew contact near the scorer's table, hit two ensuing free throws, and Saint Mary's never looked back.

The shorthanded Gaels downed the Bulldogs in overtime, 78-74, in their fourth consecutive meeting in the WCC title game, and they're now headed to the NCAA tournament for the second time in three years.

[NCAA tournament tracker: VCU, the 2011 darling, is back dancing]

"I saw the ball there and it just bounced off, I knew he was coming for it, so I was trying to run as hard as I could to get to it and put my body in front of his," Dellavedova said. "That probably goes back to playing Australian rules football as a kid."

He hit four free throws in overtime that capped a masterful performance that came when his team needed it the most.

Pangos had scored 30 points, including a 5-of-9 showing from long range, in Saturday night's semifinal blowout of BYU.

Monday night didn't go quite as well.

Temple guard Ramone Moore and the Owls earned the No. 1 seed in this week's A-10 tournament, which also brings a very favorable draw in Atlantic City. (AP)The Dagger will be previewing eight of this week's conference tournaments. Here's our look at the Atlantic 10 Tournament:

Atlantic 10 Tournament

Dates: March 6-11

Site: Boardwalk Hall (Atlantic City, N.J.)

Draw: Click here

Favorite: Well, not only do you have to go with Temple because the Owls are the tournament's top seed, but they also own a 3-0 record this season against the teams seeded Nos. 2-4, including wins at Saint Louis and at Saint Bonaventure. Also, it's worth factoring in that the two most dangerous threats behind Temple — Xavier and Saint Louis — are on the other side of the bracket. If the Owls don't find their way to at least Sunday's title game after earning the bye until Friday's quarterfinals, it will be quite shocking.

Three others who can win it: As mentioned above, Saint Louis and Xavier are definitely worth watching. The Billikens are the league's most battle-tested team, and after losing two of their first three league games, they won 11 of their last 13. They're a lock for the NCAA field of 68, but have quite a bit to play for in terms of seeding. As for Xavier, the Musketeers' fall from grace following an ugly mid-season brawl at the end of a blowout of rival Cincinnati never really came to an end. They've lost their last four games away from home, including blowing a 10-point halftime lead before falling to Saint Louis on the road by 11 last week. But their talent is hard to count out. If you're hunting for a sleeper, there are a couple of nice options with 4-seed St. Bonaventure and 6-seed Dayton. Beyond that, St. Joseph's also could potentially sneak into the semifinals due to a somewhat manageable draw.

Three players to watch:

• Ramone Moore, G, Temple — You could really take your pick of 'players to watch' from a three-headed, veteran Owls backcourt.

• Andrew Nicholson, F, St. Bonaventure — 6-foot-9 senior is the league's best big man, and averaged 25.3 points and 11.5 rebounds over the team's last eight games.

• Tu Holloway, G, Xavier — The ultimate wildcard, Holloway is fully capable of putting the Musketeers on his back and carrying them to the title. You can never count him out.

With the right matchup, undersized Belmont could potentially score a big upset in two weeks. (AP)

Hey, remember Belmont?

Well, they're back in the NCAA tournament's field of 68, and despite failing to capitalize on a world of preseason buzz in the non-conference portion of its schedule, the Bruins figure to be just as dangerous to a higher-seeded opponent as they were a year ago.

After getting bounced in the first round for the fourth time in six years last season as a 13-seed by Wisconsin, 72-58, this looked to be the season in which Belmont potentially became a mid-major household name.

The Bruins lost by one to Duke to open the year, then got blown away by Memphis. Both were understandable losses. But they faded from the national radar after suffering three losses in four games just before Christmas to Middle Tennessee State, Marshall and Miami (Ohio).

Now, they're officially again worth keeping tabs on.

After upsets on the other side of the Atlantic Sun bracket provided Florida Gulf Coast as an unexpected title game foe for the Bruins, they overcame a 13-point first half deficit before running away with an 83-69 win.

It gives Belmont its fifth NCAA tournament berth in seven seasons.

When the brackets are announced next Sunday, who the Bruins get matched up against might determine what kind of shot they have.

If it's a guard-heavy team that loves to play an up-and-down brand of ball — Florida? Missouri? Duke? — they have the shooters to potentially make a game of it.

Between Kerron Johnson, Ian Clark and Drew Hanlen, Belmont has a backcourt that can push the pace with just about anyone, but the key for the Bruins in the NCAAs will be senior big man Mick Hedgepeth.

Butler coach Brad Stevens should have a good shot at getting his team back to the field of 68 next season. (AP)In the last two years, Butler became America's team.

The mid-major program from the tiny private school in Indianapolis twice defied the odds, twice wiggled its way to the national championship game and twice came oh-so-close to becoming the first non-power conference team in two decades to wear the crown.

The Bulldogs won't get a third try.

Knowing they had to win the Horizon League tournament heading in following a brutally up-and-down regular season, Butler looked strong in blowouts of Wright State and UW-Milwaukee. Not so much against host Valparaiso, as the Crusaders advanced to Tuesday's title game against Detroit with a 65-46 blowout of the Bulldogs.

Butler shot just 33.3 percent from the floor and was killed on the glass by Valpo, 37-20.

It was expected to be somewhat of a transition year for the Bulldogs after losing a pair of key pieces from those Final Four runs in big man Matt Howard and star guard Shelvin Mack.

Brad Stevens was simply forced to do more with less this season. Senior point guard Ronald Nored remained, but the Bulldogs were young and lacking quality depth in the front court.

Just how tough of a climb it would be just to get back into the tournament was apparent early on, as Butler was blown off of the floor by double-digits by Louisville, Indiana, Gonzaga and Xavier.

They went 11-7 in a somewhat weak Horizon League.

It was a fitting exit from the league tournament for a season that never really took off. The Bulldogs will likely end up in the NIT, but have a brighter future to look forward to.

Former New Mexico point guard Dairese Gary, left, is close to returning from an ill-timed season-ending injury suffered last March, with Lobos coach Steve Alford having helped him along the way. (AP)

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — One of the forgotten footnotes of Jimmer Fredette's memorable 52-point explosion in the semifinals of last year's Mountain West tournament involved a guy whose body wouldn't let him finish the game.

That guy was New Mexico senior point guard Dairese Gary, who was one of Fredette's most worthy adversaries in league play over four years and a perennial all-conference performer.

Almost a full year after that fateful night in Las Vegas, Fredette is now a millionaire and learning the professional ropes with the NBA's Sacramento Kings.

Gary is still on the bench for New Mexico, but, for the time being, he's traded a uniform for a polo and some slacks — standard get-up for a graduate assistant — while waiting patiently for his opportunity to play pro ball to come around.

"He's healed, he's doing well, now it's just a matter of waiting on the phone call and getting the chance," Lobos coach Steve Alford said. "It's a hard time of the year. Not a lot of people are getting called up or getting jobs overseas this time of the year.

"He might have to go a complete year here, but he'll get a fight."

In the 130th consecutive start of his college career, Gary was leading a desperate team.

Just a year after winning 30 games and earning a No. 3-seed in the NCAA tournament, New Mexico entered the 2011 Mountain West tourney at 20-11 and likely needed to win the whole thing to make a return trip to the field of 68.

After taking care of Colorado State in Thursday's quarterfinals with relative ease, the next hurdle was taking down No. 8 BYU and the red-hot star guard simply known as The Jimmer.

As Fredette pieced together the memorable 52-point flurry that saw him hit 22 of 37 shots and attempt only one free throw, Gary was keeping his team in the fight, with nine points, seven assists and only one turnover before he went down early in the second half.

The official diagnosis — a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee — didn't come for another day or two, but when he crumpled to the floor and was helped to the locker room, it was apparent to all watching right then that Gary likely wasn't coming back.

Without him, New Mexico couldn't keep up all the way until the end and fell, 87-76, punching its ticket to the NIT. Gary watched the final minutes from the bench with a blank stare in his eyes, having suffered the most ill-timed season-ending injury one could ever imagine. After the game, he struggled to convey his thoughts to reporters while choking back tears.

"I just wished I was in there for the battle," Gary recalled. "It was always fun to go against Fredette, just taking that chance to try to guard him. Him scoring 50-plus points, it was kind of a stinger."

When the stinger subsided, Gary and Alford sat down back in Albuquerque to hammer out a game plan.

Kendall Williams has been the driving force behind New Mexico's six-game tear. (AP)On the surface, entering Wednesday night's crucial clash with 13th-ranked San Diego State, New Mexico looked like a strong candidate for an at-large NCAA tournament bid.

By coming away with a much-needed 77-67 win on the road against No. 13 San Diego State, the Lobos locked the Mountain West in as a three-bid league (… and with Colorado State losing at Boise State two hours after Wyoming fell at home to Air Force on Wednesday, the MWC will likely be just that — a three-bid league.)

More important for the time being, though, is that the Lobos, the preseason pick to win the league, is all alone atop the MWC standings until at least Saturday.

The Lobos currently stand at 21-4 overall and 7-2 in the Mountain West. Behind them by a game now are SDSU and 11th-ranked UNLV, each at 6-3.

The Rebels travel to Albuquerque for a Saturday morning showdown. If New Mexico successfully avenges an 80-63 loss in Las Vegas from back on Jan. 21, it will hold a commanding two-game edge on UNLV. A loss would likely mean the league's top three teams are again locked into a first-place tie.

But no matter where it finishes in the Mountain West race, New Mexico can take solace in the fact that it is finally playing like the team everyone it expected it to be.

Given their underwhelming non-conference schedule, the Lobos had little margin for error before league play. Instead, they dropped a home game to New Mexico State and a neutral site contest to Santa Clara. Combined with a home loss to San Diego State and the lopsided defeat in Vegas, New Mexico headed to Viejas Arena on Wednesday with a shiny 20-4 record without much substance behind it in terms of quality wins.

That is no longer an issue.