Missouri Valley, Horizon showcase BracketBusters weekend

The Missouri Valley Conference and the Horizon League will take center stage in late February on ESPN's sixth annual BracketBusters weekend, the network announced Monday.

Both conferences will have five teams represented, including the marquee matchup of current Horizon League leader Butler (No. 11 ESPN/USA Today, No. 10 AP) taking on the Valley's top team, No. 15 Drake, on Feb. 23.

Among the other big games that weekend, all three current Mid-American co-leaders are in action including Akron hosting CAA leader Virginia Commonwealth, Kent State traveling to face Saint Mary's (No. 23 ESPN/USA Today, No. 25 AP) and Ohio entertaining the CAA's 2006 Final Four participant, George Mason.

In other games, Winthrop hosts Davidson, the Southern Conference's top team, while Rider (10-2 in the MAAC) takes on Cal State Northridge (7-1 in the Big West).

In total, 28 teams will square off on ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN360.com and ESPN Classic on Feb. 22-24.

With the Valley and Horizon leading the way with five schools playing in BracketBuster weekend, the Mid-American has four participants while the MAAC and WAC have three schools each. The CAA and Big West have two teams apiece while the Southern, Big South, Summitt and West Coast conferences have one school represented.

The times and networks for each game will be unveiled on Monday, Feb. 11.

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