Breaking down the PSAC basketball playoffs

The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference basketball playoffs will tip off today as teams built toward a trip to the NCAA Division II Tournament.

Here are the tournament schedules and a breakdown of each bracket:

Men

First round

West

1-IUP (25-2) — Bye

2-Mercyhurst (19-7) — Bye

5-Gannon (14-12) at 4-Cal U (18-10), 7 p.m.

6-Slippery Rock (15-13) at 3-Pitt-Johnstown (21-8), 7 p.m.

The favorite: IUP. The Crimson Hawks are ranked No. 7 in NCAA Division II and average 84.7 ppg.

Contenders: Mercyhurst reached the Elite Eight last season after winning the Atlantic Regional. The Lakers beat IUP this year, 68-62. … UPJ is led by Kromka, who shoots 60 percent from the field. Coach Bob Rukavina has more than 500 wins. … Cal U features freshman sharpshooter Luke House.

Players to watch: Armoni Foster, IUP (19.1 ppg); John Paul Kromka, UPJ (15.1); Malik Miller (18.7), Brent Pegram, Cal U (20.3); Will Robinson Jr. SRU (17.1).

East

1-Shippensburg (22-6) — Bye

2-East Stroudsburg (19-8) — Bye

6-Lock Haven (12-14) at 3-West Chester (19-9), 7 p.m.

5-Shepherd (14-14) at 4-Millersville (14-14), 7 p.m.

The favorite: Shippensburg is one of the top inside-outside teams in the tournament and allows less than 70 points per game.

Contenders: East Stroudsburg is one of the hottest teams in the tournament with nine straight wins. … At 85.2 points, West Chester leads the PSAC in scoring. Freshman Robbie Heath averages 24.4 ppg.

Players to watch: Jake Biss, Shippensburg (16.5 ppg); John Castello, Shippensburg (15.0); Malik Jackson, West Chester (17.7); Christian Kelly, Lock Haven (20.8); Robbie Heath, West Chester (24.4 ppg).

…

Women

First round

West

1-IUP (26-2) — Bye

2-Gannon (22-6) — Bye

5-Pitt-Johnstown (16-12) at 4-Cal U (20-8), 5:30 p.m.

6-Seton Hill (14-14) at 3-Edinboro (16-10), 5:30 p.m.

The favorite: IUP, a Final Four team the last two years, is ranked ninth nationally and allows just 52.9 points.

Contenders: Gannon is powered by star sophomore Tori Obenrader, who was the PSAC Freshman of the Year last season. … Edinboro is the top scoring team in the league (74.5 ppg). … Cal U could be a factor if senior Monica Burns is healthy. She has been out with a concussion.

Players to watch: Michaela Barnes, Edinboro (26.3 ppg); Justina Mascaro, IUP (14.3); Tori Obenrader, Gannon (16.8 ppg); Gabrielle Smith, Pitt-Johnstown (16.6); Cheyenne Trest, Seton Hill (13.3).

East

1-Shippensburg (20-8) — Bye

2-East Stroudsburg (19-9) — Bye

5-Lock Haven (15-12) at 4-Shepherd (20-8), 6 p.m.

6-Bloomsburg (13-13) at 3-Kutztown (18-10), 7 p.m.

The favorite: Shippensburg, which had not won a division title since 2016-17, averages 74.1 points.

Contenders: East Stroudsburg relies on a defense that allows 57.1 points. …Kutztown also could be a factor with its defensive play. … Shepherd is in its first year of competition.

Players to watch: Abby Beeman, Shepherd (20.o ppg); Rylee Derr, Kutztown (15.8); Ariel Jones, Shippensburg (22.3); Marena Lonardi, Lock Haven (13.1); Tiffany Lapotsky, East Stroudsburg (18.7).