Tom's Sports Blog

History: Kentucky has 32 titles. The rest of the conference has 31. The Wildcats haven’t won since 2018.

No team has pulled off the SEC Tournament/NCAA Tournament double since 2007 when Florida accomplished the feat for the second straight year.

Returning Champion: Alabama

The Crimson Tide won their eighth championship. As the #1 seed, they won three games by a combined 63 points. In the final, they mauled #2 Texas A&M, 82-63. As the #1 seed in the South Region, they continued their dominance with back-to-back slaughters of Texas A&M – Corpus Christi and Maryland. However, in the Sweet 16, they ran into upstart San Diego State, who beat them by seven.

Format:  All 14 teams make the field (yes, including 0-18 Missouri). The top four teams are automatically placed in the quarterfinals.

Favorite:  Tennessee (24-7, 14-4)

The Volunteers are in the running for the 4th #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Before losing to Kentucky in the season finale, they were on a 7-game winning streak that featured wins over Texas A&M, Auburn, Alabama, and South Carolina. 

Ranked #5 in the KenPom, Tennessee is third in adjusted defensive efficiency. On offense, they average 80.2 points, thanks to senior guard Dalton Knecht, who averages 21.4 points on 47.4% shooting (40.5% from three).

Contenders: Kentucky (23-8, 13-5), Alabama (21-10, 13-5), Auburn (24-7, 13-5), South Carolina (25-6, 13-5), Florida (21-10, 11-7)

Live Long Shot:  Arkansas (15-16, 6-12)

Preview:

Kentucky is flying. After losing a road game to LSU on 2/21, the Wildcats finished with five straight wins. Amongst those wins are conquests of Alabama, Mississippi State (road), and Tennessee (road). For most of the season, Kentucky was all about their offense. Their 89.5 average is second in the nation and their 3-point shooting percentage (41.2%) is the country’s top number. While their defense won’t be their calling card, they played better down the stretch. When you score like the Wildcats, you don’t need a top defense – you need a competent one. If they keep up their recent play, they have a competent one.

Alabama doesn’t know what defense is. The nation’s top-scoring team (90.8), their defense allows 80.4 (352nd). Despite how awful that is, their defensive efficiency is just outside the Top 100 (hardly great). The Crimson Tide is paced by senior guard Mark Sears (21.1 points (50.6% FG)/4.1 assists/4.0 rebounds). The key is to force teams to play at their frantic pace. They struggled to win against the top competition on their non-conference schedule, with a 102-80 win over Indiana State ranking as their best.

Auburn had a strange season. The Tigers, consistently a Top 10 NET squad, won only one Quad 1 game – a home conquest of Alabama. However, they went 9-0 in Quad 2. Like Kentucky and Alabama, the Tigers like to score (83.5; 13th in the country). In addition, they ranked 6th in defensive efficiency, allowing them to rank 4th in the KenPom. Essentially, Auburn is a Final Four threat that couldn’t get over the Quad 1 hump. We’ll see if they can turn that around.

South Carolina is one of the country’s most surprising teams. Their poor non-conference schedule hid how good they were early in the season. The Gamecocks were the first team to beat Tennessee on the road and they finished the season on a 4-1 run that included wins over Ole Miss (road), Texas A&M (road), Florida, and Mississippi State (road). In-conference road wins are gold, and they piled up an impressive array of them. They are likely on the second tier (the KenPom and NET aren’t fond of them), but they have proven the doubters wrong all year.

Florida finished their season with a 79-78 loss to Vanderbilt. It was their first Quad 3/4 loss, but it doesn’t damage their profile much. With a balanced offensive attack, the Gators average 84.9 points (7th) as they like to play at a high tempo. They rank first in the country in field goal attempts (65.6), shooting 45.7%. This is all made possible by being the country’s second-best offensive-rebounding squad (15.2).

Arkansas is supposed to be an NCAA Tournament team. An early-season win over Duke likely had them dreaming of Final Four possibilities. It wasn’t meant to be, as they struggled inside the conference. Maybe a “nothing to lose” attitude can catapult them to a run. If they beat Vanderbilt, their path includes upstart South Carolina and Quad 1-challenged Auburn. At the very least, you can see a path to a run.

Bottom Line:

According to the NET, the SEC has three top teams and a 4th (Kentucky) that is in the top 20. This tournament has the makings of a good one.

Winner: Kentucky

History: The SWAC is traditionally fodder in the NCAA Tournament, but their conference tournament is filled with history. Texas Southern has three straight championships and seven in the last nine years. Their streak of success has allowed them to overtake Southern for the most titles in history (11-9).

In 2013, Southern played Gonzaga within six in a 16-vs-1 contest. The last time a SWAC team won a main-bracket game (not a First Four game) was in 1993, when Southern defeated Georgia Tech in a 13-vs-4 matchup, setting up a rare 12-vs-13 second-round game. George Washington won that game.

Returning Champion: Texas Southern

Despite their dominance in recent conference tournaments, the 2023 squad was seeded 8th (last). They knocked off #1 Alcorn State, #5 Alabama A&M, and #2 Grambling State to punch their NCAA Tournament ticket. As a 20-loss team, they went to the First Four, where they lost to the FDU squad that went on to beat Purdue.

Format:  Eight of the 12 schools make the field. Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Prairie View A&M, Florida A&M, and Mississippi Valley State missed the cut.

Favorite:  Grambling State (17-14, 14-4)

Many teams in this conference have less-than-inspiring W-L records. The reason is they tend to play tough non-conference slates. In the case of Grambling State, they lost to Colorado, Iowa State, Dayton, Washington State, Florida, and Drake.  Their world improved when they got to conference play, where they finished the season on a 6-1 run to catapult themselves to an outright championship. The offense is not their thing, but they are decent defensively. They are shooting for their first NCAA Tournament appearance.

Contenders: Alcorn State (14-17, 13-5), Texas Southern (14-15, 12-6), Southern (18-13, 12-6)

Live Long Shot:  Alabama A&M (10-21, 9-9)

Preview:

I limit the number of contenders, but any of these eight teams should feel as if they can win this.

Alcorn State enters the tournament on a 9-game winning streak, though they did lose their only matchup with Grambling State. Their last NCAA appearance was in 2002. While Grambling is about defense, the Braves are better offensively. They average 72.2 points, with senior forward Jeremiah Kendall contributing 16 points and 6.7 rebounds.

Texas Southern will never be counted out. The Tigers’ top four scorers are seniors, with PJ Henry averaging 15.3 points. Most of their non-conference losses were by colossal margins, but they did play Drake within six on the road. They picked up the pace late, going 5-1 in their last six games.

Southern earned some credibility in the non-conference, defeating UNLV and Mississippi State on the road. Perhaps seen as a favorite to win the title after those wins, the Jaguars slipped late. They went 2-4 in their last six games. That slump followed a 7-game winning streak. Part of their slump was due to the loss of guard Tai’reon Joseph, who averaged 20.5 points in 19 games. Suffice it to say, a mid-major losing this level of a star will struggle.

Alabama A&M will play Alcorn State in the 7-vs-2 matchup. They played once this season, a 74-71 win for Alcorn State.

Bottom Line:

This tournament can go in any direction. Southern would be my team with Joseph, but they won’t have him. I think a team earning their first NCAA Tournament bid is fun.

Winner: Grambling State

History: Several teams have left the Mountain West through the years, but San Diego State is a constant and the all-time leader in titles (7) and title-game appearances (15). They have been in the championship game for six straight years.

Returning Champion: San Diego State 

It wasn’t easy, but the Aztecs (as the #1 seed) defeated Colorado State, San Jose State, and Utah State to take the crown. They used their title to make a run to the NCAA Tournament championship game, where they succumbed to UConn. Given the recent poor performance of this multi-bid league, their run to the championship was a welcome sight for the league’s defenders.

Format:  All 11 schools make the field. Teams seeded 1-5 automatically advance to the second round.

Favorite:  Utah State (26-5, 14-4)

There are a lot of possibilities for the “favorite” spot. I am choosing the one who won the regular-season title outright.

The Aggies closed the season with five straight wins. A Top 50 squad in offensive and defensive efficiency, they average 79.9 points while allowing 69.6. Junior forward Great Osobor is a beast, averaging 17.6 points/9.0 rebounds/1.5 blocks. Overall, they are one of the sharpest shooting schools in the country (49.8%; 6th). They were not projected to have a great season, but here they are.

Contenders: Nevada (26-6, 13-5), Boise State (22-9, 13-5), UNLV (19-11, 12-6), San Diego State (22-9, 11-7), New Mexico (22-9, 10-8), Colorado State (22-9, 10-8)

Live Long Shot:  Wyoming (15-16, 8-10)

Preview:

I try to pare down the number of contenders, but how can one differentiate one from the other? Every contender above (other than UNLV) is at least on the bubble (all six are likely getting into the tournament).

Nevada won seven Quad 1 games and finished the season on a 9-1 run that included road wins against Utah State and Colorado State. Senior guard Jarod Lucas averages 17.8 points and shoots 40.1% from beyond the arc. It took a few years but Steve Alford has the program on the right track. This will be their second consecutive NCAA Tournament bid.

Boise State secured six Quad 1 wins and finished the season on a 6-1 run, including a bid-stamping road win over San Diego State in the finale. The Broncos played a tough non-conference slate, including a neutral-court win over St. Mary’s. They lost by five to Washington State. Balance is a good way to describe this squad, as four players average between 12.5 and 16.8 points.

UNLV finished fourth in a league that is looking at six bids. However, they aren’t projected to be one of them, thanks to three Quadrant 4 losses. Their advantage here is that the tournament is played on their home floor. Far removed from the days of high-scoring, must-see entertainment, the Rebels run one of the slowest offenses in the country (312th in adjusted tempo). They finished the year on an impressive 9-2 run and will play San Diego State in the quarterfinal.

While Utah State is my favorite, San Diego State may be the best team. The Aztecs defeated St. Mary’s on a neutral court and Gonzaga on the road in the non-conference (they played one of the toughest non-conference slates). Forward Jaedon Ledee paces the offense with 20.5 points (best in the conference) on 55.7% shooting. His offense supports the defense, which ranks 8th in defensive efficiency. As good as they are, playing UNLV on their home court is not a fun opening matchup.

New Mexico slipped onto the bubble late in the season, thanks to a 4-6 finish that included a horrible loss to Air Force. A top-40 team in offensive and defensive efficiency, the Lobos average 82.6 points. Three players average 15+ points, including Jamal Mashburn Jr., the son of former NBA player Jamal Mashburn. Donovan Dent adds 5.5 assists to his 15.0 scoring average. This team is high-tempo, averaging 45.4 two-point attempts (#1 in the country).

Colorado State knocked off Creighton (neutral), Washington (neutral), and Colorado (home) in the non-conference. The Rams struggled down the stretch and haven’t defeated a top team since their February 17th conquest of Utah State.  They are safely in the tournament unless they lose to San Jose State in the first round. They are a senior-laden team (five top scorers) that will be dangerous once March Madness begins.

Wyoming did something hard to do: The Cowboys went 0-10 in Quadrant 1 games. I am not declaring them as a legitimate threat, because nobody beyond the top seven are legitimate threats. They shoot 36.8% from three (34th in the country), so an upset is possible if they get hot.

Bottom Line:

Your guess is as good as mine. This is a deep and talented field with no obvious favorite. I want to pick Nevada, but they have a potential quarterfinal battle with Colorado State. I would easily go with San Diego State, but they are playing a road game against UNLV. 

Winner: Boise State

History: The Big Ten has produced five straight different conference champions. In the 25 years this tournament has been played, the #1 seed has won ten times.

Michigan State has the most titles, with six. Minnesota, Penn State, Indiana (wow), Rutgers, Nebraska, Maryland, and Northwestern have never cut down the nets. The only team to ever win this tournament and the NCAA Tournament in the same year was Michigan State in 2000. That is the last time a Big Ten school won the championship.

Returning Champion: Purdue. As the #1 seed, the Boilermakers struggled, beating Rutgers by five in the quarterfinals and Penn State by two in the championship. I don’t think anyone thought their performance would foreshadow a loss to FDU in a 16-vs-1 game, but that happened.

Format:  All 14 schools make the field. The top four squads automatically advance to the quarterfinals.

Favorite:  Purdue (28-3, 17-3)

Three schools are in contention for the #1 overall seed: UConn, Houston, and Purdue. Some would argue that the #1 overall seed isn’t too important in 2024, since the three contenders are all locked into their regions anyway. However, your path to the Final Four should be slightly easier.

The Boilermakers are having a big season. Their various rankings:  NET: 2, RPI: 1, SOR: 1, SOS: 2, Non-conference SOS: 1. They are 11-3 in Quadrant 1 with non-conference wins over Gonzaga, Tennessee, Marquette, Alabama, Arizona, and Xavier.

Zach Edey is one of the best players in the country, averaging 24.2 points and 11.7 rebounds.

Contenders: Illinois (23-8, 14-6), Nebraska (22-9, 12-8), Northwestern (21-10, 12-8), Wisconsin (19-12, 11-9)

Live Long Shot:  Indiana (18-13, 10-10)

Preview:

Are there contenders to win this title? If Purdue is playing anywhere in the vicinity of their best, doubtful. But nothing is impossible.

Illinois went 0-2 against Purdue this season, but both games were played within single digits. Ranked #15 in the NET and 10th in the KenPom, the Fighting Illini is a legitimate (and under-the-radar) Final Four caliber team. They are an offensive juggernaut that ranks #4 in offensive efficiency and 12th in points (83.9). Senior guard Terrence Shannon Jr. has 15 20+ point efforts in 24 games, averaging 21.6 points. Four seniors average double digits and are one of the top rebounding teams in the country. They are vulnerable on the defensive side, so that is a storyline.

Nebraska finished the season on a 6-1 run and own the most impressive win over Purdue (88-72). The Cornhuskers are a three-point-heavy offense, averaging 26.2 attempts (33rd). After an impressive road win over Kansas State on December 17th, they didn’t win another road game until their February 21st win over Indiana. This is a good team on the opposite side of the bracket from Purdue so one can see them in the championship.

Northwestern is Purdue’s nemesis. The two squads split their season series, with both games going to overtime. Their methodical pace is efficient, and the Wildcats are a top 3-point shooting squad (39.6%; 7th). Their status on the bubble is due to a bad non-conference schedule, though they did defeat Dayton. As the #4 seed, the chalk would put them in the semi-finals against Purdue.

The chalk would place Wisconsin in that quarterfinal game with Northwestern. The Badgers defeated Virginia by 24 and Marquette by 11 in the non-conference and looked like one of the top teams in the nation when they started 13-3. The second half of the season didn’t go quite as well, as they compiled a 6-9 mark down the stretch. They defeated Northwestern in their only matchup this year. The question is: Can they bounce back in time to make noise here?

Indiana went 4-0 down the stretch, including wins over Michigan State and Wisconsin. 7’0″ sophomore center Kel’el Ware averages 16.1 points and 9.8 rebounds. The Hoosiers are a terrible shooting team from the perimeter, but their size can cause issues. After playing the winner of Penn State-Michigan, they should find themselves in the quarterfinals against Nebraska, a team that beat them twice by double digits.

Bottom Line:

I want to find a team that can shock the world, but it isn’t easy. A semi-finals matchup between Purdue and Northwestern will at least make Boilermakers’ fans sweat. But will the result be in serious doubt?

Winner: Purdue

History: The remaining league members are happy New Mexico State has moved on. From 2010-2023, the Aggies won this tournament nine times, including stretches where they won four and three in a row. The new king of the hill is Grand Canyon, who has won the crown in two of the last three years. The Antelopes are the only current league member who has ever won this title.

Returning Champion: Grand Canyon, the #5 seed, defeated top-seeded Sam Houston and #3 Southern Utah to take the title. They played Gonzaga tough in a 14-vs-3 matchup, losing 82-70.

Format:  Eight of the 11 schools make the field. Utah Tech, Southern Utah, and UT Rio Grande Valley didn’t make it. Given that they are in their last year of transitioning to Division I, Utah Tech wouldn’t have been eligible for the NCAA Tournament. Also ineligible is the #2 seed Tarleton State. The tournament is played stepladder style, with the top two seeds automatically placed into the semi-finals.

Favorite:  Grand Canyon (27-4, 17-3)

At one point this season, Grand Canyon was an NCAA Tournament bubble team that received Top 25 votes in the AP poll. Back-to-back road losses to Tarleton State and Abilene Christian ended their at-large dreams, but they are still the heavy favorites to win the tournament. They own a Quad 1 win (home over San Diego State) and lost to South Carolina by only seven points. After their 2-game stumble, they finished the season with three wins by 82 points.

Ranked 55th in the KenPom, they are 63rd in offensive efficiency and 56th in defensive efficiency. They average 79.5 points (allow 66.5). The no-doubt leader is senior guard Tyon Grant-Foster, who averages 19.4 points and 5.9 rebounds.

Contenders: Tarleton State (23-8, 16-4), UT Arlington (18-13, 13-7), Seattle (18-13, 11-9)

Live Long Shot:  Abilene Christian (15-16, 10-10)

Preview:

Grand Canyon is in the driver’s seat, as the second-best team in the conference isn’t eligible to go to the NCAA Tournament. Given the tournament structure, they may only need one win to earn the automatic bid (if Tarleton State wins their semi-final game, they will be playing for bragging rights in the title game).

Speaking of Tarleton, they own that win over Grand Canyon and are 11-1 in their last 12 games. In the non-conference, there isn’t usually anything to brag about when you lose by 19. However, they did that at Tennessee, which qualifies as a confidence builder. Their balanced attack includes four players who average between 12.2 and 15.8 points. This is their first winning season in four years of Division I play. They can be a threat for years to come.

UT Arlington lost by only two on the road against New Mexico and 11 to Texas Tech in the non-conference. Like Tarleton, the Mavericks are rolling as of late, winning their final six games. By challenging themselves in the non-conference, they built up their confidence to the point where they are a threat to spoil the party.

Seattle was the first team to beat Grand Canyon in conference play. An 0-3 finish left them with the #4 seed, meaning they could see Grand Canyon again in the semifinals. The Redhawks rely on a solid defense (70th according to the KenPom). In the non-conference, they held VCU to 60 points and San Francisco to 62. Additionally, in a home game, they lost to Washington by a 100-99 margin in two overtimes. They have not reached the NCAA Tournament since 1969, spending several seasons (1981-2008) outside of Division I.

Abilene Christian gets the nod as a longshot due to that win over Grand Canyon. In the season opener, they announced their presence when they defeated Oklahoma State by five on the road. Also enhancing their resume is a 7-1 finish to the season, including a win over their first-round opponent (Stephen F. Austin).

Bottom Line:

Grand Canyon is the favorite, but other teams finished the season on high notes. The stepladder format and Tarleton State‘s ineligibility make their job much easier.

Winner: Grand Canyon

History: The last ten tournaments have been won by Kansas (4), Iowa State (4), and Texas (2). Only six schools have won this tournament, which started in 1997. One of those schools (Missouri) has since moved on to the SEC. Historically, Kansas is the team everyone else chases. They own a 47-12 record in Big 12 Tournament games, including a 12-4 mark in the title game.

Returning Champion: Texas. The #2 seed mauled top-seeded Kansas in the title game by 20. They used the win to catapult them to the Elite Eight, where they lost to Miami by seven.

Format:  With four new schools, the tournament has expanded to include all 14 teams. The top four seeds automatically advance to the quarterfinals.

Favorite:  Houston (28-3, 15-3)

“Yes, they dominated the AAC – but how will they fare in the Big 12?” The answer? Quite well, as the Cougars won the regular-season conference title and are a favorite to be the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. No team in the country is in the top ten in offensive and defensive efficiency, but Houston is close. They are 11th in offense and 1st in defense. Despite playing in the toughest conference and a non-conference slate that included Dayton, Utah, Xavier, and Texas A&M, the Cougars allowed only 56.9 points. It takes a special commitment for top college players to be this tenacious on defense.

While they score enough and are efficient offensively, they are prone to shooting slumps. That is likely the only way for 95% of the country to beat them – on a cold shooting day.

Contenders: Iowa State (24-7, 13-5), Baylor (22-9, 11-7), Texas Tech (22-9, 11-7), BYU (22-9, 10-8), Texas (20-11, 9-9)

Live Long Shot:  UCF (17-14, 7-11)

Preview:

The nation’s toughest league has a tournament where one team shines well above the rest. If you are wondering where Kansas is, they lost Kevin McCullar Jr. and Hunter Dickinson for the duration of the Big 12 Tournament. It is hard to list them as a contender without them.

Iowa State was a hidden power early in the season. The Cyclones didn’t play a great non-conference schedule and lost games to Virginia Tech and Texas A&M. After losing their conference opener to Oklahoma, they shocked the basketball world with a win over Houston. Now they are sitting on eight Quad 1 wins and a 9-2 finish to the year. They rank second in the nation (to Houston) in defensive efficiency and they allowed only 62.1 points. Their offense can get in the way of their success, and that is a storyline to follow.

Baylor jumped out to a 9-0 start that included wins over Auburn, Florida, and Seton Hall. The winner of nine Quad 1 games, they predictably weren’t as solid inside the conference as they were outside it. While Houston and Iowa State like to smother you on defense, the Bears want to beat you with their offense. They are 5th in offensive efficiency, shoot 39.8% from three (5th), and score 81.5 points (24th). Six players average double-digits per game.

Texas Tech played two good teams in the non-conference and lost both of them (Villanova and Butler). That left them in the danger zone entering conference play, but they hung tough with wins over Texas (road), Kansas State, BYU, Kansas, and Baylor. Offensively, sophomore guard Pop Isaacs is tough to contain, averaging 16 points and 3.6 assists.

Like Houston, BYU is a newcomer to the league. Like Houston, the Cougars proved that they can win games in tougher surroundings. This is an offense-first team that plays at a quicker tempo than most in the Big 12. They average 82.2 points, hitting on 11.3 three-pointers (2nd in the nation). This team likes to shoot and distribute, as evidenced by their 18.7 assists (3rd). They own ten Quad 1/2 wins, including a non-conference victory over San Diego State. That was a big win, as their non-conference schedule was not strong.

Texas wasn’t on my original contenders list, but I figured the best conference deserves an extra team. A senior guard/forward combo (Max Abmas and Dylan Disu) are the team leaders. If Abmas’ name sounds familiar, he wowed us in the NCAA Tournament in 2021, when he scored 80 points in three NCAA Tournament games for Oral Roberts. His move to a larger school predictably lowered his scoring average, but he still averages 16.8 points and 4.3 assists.

UCF was on the tournament bubble for a while this year. They finished the season with a victory on the road over TCU, and they played a pair of tough games against BYU, their potential 2nd round opponent (they first need to get past Oklahoma State). I picked them as the sleeper because I think BYU and Texas Tech are beatable. This is a good team that got swallowed up in a crazy-good conference.

Bottom Line:

Kansas is decimated, but I am not sure if they would be a massive threat to Houston either way. I like to find ways to beat the favorite, but the Cougars are too good right now.

Winner: Houston

History: Over the last seven years, seven different teams have won the Atlantic-10 Tournament (the tournament wasn’t played in 2020. If it was played, Dayton likely makes it eight different teams in eight years). Temple, who left the league years ago, leads the way with nine tournament wins. Amongst teams still in the conference, UMass leads the way with five. Those five were won consecutively between 1992-1996.

The A-10 has produced multiple bids in the past, but it is unlikely in 2024 unless Dayton loses in the tournament.

Returning Champion: VCU. Hardly anyone challenged the Rams, who won their three games by a combined 42 points. They played an ugly game against St. Mary’s in the NCAA Tournament. St. Mary’s won the game, 63-51.

Format:  All 15 schools make it. The top four schools automatically advance to the quarterfinals.

Favorite:  Dayton (24-6, 14-4)

The Flyers are guaranteed an NCAA Tournament spot, despite being the #3 seed in the tournament. A strong non-conference strength of schedule that featured wins over St. John’s (neutral), SMU (road), and Cincinnati (neutral) helped their resume immensely, as did playing Northwestern (5-point loss) and Houston (14-point loss). They are 7-6 in Quad 1/2 games and have zero bad losses.

While their 66.3 points against would suggest they are a defense-first team, the facts seem to point to them being better on the offensive side of the ball. They shoot 48.2% from the field (27th) and 40.7% from three (3rd). DaRon Holmes is a legitimate college basketball star, averaging 20.2 points and 8.3 rebounds. The 6’10” forward improved his three-point shooting this season, hitting 38.7% of his long-range jumpers.

Contenders: Richmond (23-8, 15-3), Loyola-Chicago (23-8, 15-3), UMass (20-10, 11-7), VCU (19-12, 11-7)

Live Long Shot:  La Salle (15-16, 6-12)

Preview:

I have a limit on the number of “Contenders” to list, otherwise, these previews can go on forever. However, this conference has a lot of contenders I did not list. It wouldn’t surprise me if George Mason (20 wins), St. Bonaventure, St. Joseph’s, or Duquesne (20 wins) won this tournament. St. Joseph’s defeated Villanova on their way to winning the Big 5 Classic and lost by eight to Kentucky in overtime. George Mason has a win over Dayton and beat Richmond by 18 in the season finale. If they can win the 8-9 game over St. Joseph’s, they would play Richmond in the quarterfinals. Duquesne went 0-3 in Quadrant 1 but won six games in Quadrant 2. They enter the tournament on a 4-game winning streak. St. Bonaventure is a 7 seed who could match up with Loyola-Chicago in the quarterfinals. The Bonnies defeated the Ramblers in their only meeting this year.

I am open to picking any of those teams to win, but let’s take a closer look at the contenders I chose:

Richmond is the surprise #1 seed. The Spiders destroyed UNLV on a neutral court and ended the season on a 6-1 run that clinched them a piece of the conference title. The senior-laden squad received a big season out of guard Jordan King (18.5 points) and has a top 30 defensive squad in the nation (KenPom). They allow only 66.1 points.

Loyola-Chicago went 10-21 in their first year in the Atlantic-10, perhaps leading to whispers that they will never be the same team they were in the Missouri Valley. They silenced any critics this season. Like Richmond, defense is their strength (24th in defensive efficiency) and they enter the tournament on a 10-1 run that includes a win over Dayton. Unlike Richmond, they don’t have a big star who can take over games. However, their balanced attack averages 73.4 points, mid-pack in the country.

UMass has been dormant forever. Other than their 8-7 record during the COVID-shortened 2020-2021 season, they hadn’t put together a winning season since 2014-2015, when they went 17-15. They have had one NCAA Tournament appearance since 1998. Frank Martin, who turned around the South Carolina program (including a Final Four appearance in 2017), is taking his third team (he also coached at Kansas State) on a magic carpet ride. They defeated South Florida in the non-conference and knocked off VCU (their potential quarterfinals opponent) in their only meeting this season.

VCU shouldn’t be ignored. The Rams had trouble getting over the hump in the non-conference but they had several close calls. They lost to Iowa State by four, Boise State by four, and Memphis by five in overtime. They lost their final three games, including road losses to Richmond (by three) and Dayton (overtime). In other words, if some of these coin flips went their way, we would have a bubble conversation. Now, they need to prove they are better than a team that keeps coming up short.

If La Salle survives this gauntlet, it would be a miracle. The Explorers went 4-2 down the stretch, including wins over UMass and Duquesne. They were chosen as the sleeper because they play in a 10-vs-15 game that feeds into #7 seed St. Bonaventure. One can see a faint path for them to make some noise.

Bottom Line:

You can make a case for most of the teams in this conference. Like the Mountain West, this league is deep and unpredictable. While the Mountain West could get six teams in the tournament, the A-10 is looking at two at the most. I feel as if taking a team at random is as good as any analysis.

Winner: Loyola-Chicago

History: A conference loaded with history has three teams with 10+ tournament titles (Duke (22), North Carolina (18), and North Carolina State (10)). North Carolina State hasn’t won since 1987, however. It might surprise some that Syracuse and Louisville haven’t won a title since joining the league. Clemson, a league member since 1953, is also without a title.

The last team to pull off the ACC Tournament/NCAA Tournament double was Duke in 2010.

Returning Champion: Duke. The Blue Devils, as the #4 seed, took out top-seeded Miami in the semi-finals and second-seeded Virginia in the title game. In the NCAA Tournament, as a #5 seed, they lost to #4 seed Tennessee in the Round of 32.

Format:  All 15 schools make the tournament. Teams seeded 1-4 automatically go through to the quarterfinals. In the first round, #12 takes on #13, #10 takes on #15, and #11 takes on #14.

Favorite:  North Carolina (25-6, 17-3)

A 2-3 stretch from late January into early February left the Tar Heels vulnerable to losing the conference title. They followed that up with six straight wins to end the season.

While a #1 seed is unlikely, they can point to a head-to-head win over Tennessee in the ACC/SEC Challenge (the game was at home) as a reason they should be considered if they were to win the ACC Tournament.

One of the things that differentiates this North Carolina squad from past ones is their ability to play defense. They rank 5th in the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency. Offensively, they average 81.6 points (23rd in the nation).

Contenders: Duke (24-7, 15-5), Virginia (22-9, 13-7, Clemson (21-10, 11-9)

Live Long Shot:  Miami (15-16, 6-14)

Preview:

Duke struggled against North Carolina this season. However, it would be a mistake to discount a team that went 11-1 in games not played against the Tar Heels down the stretch. Their side of the bracket includes Virginia, Clemson, Syracuse, North Carolina State, Boston College, Miami, and Louisville. The Blue Devils went 8-0 against those teams this season, with only one game (Clemson) in doubt. In the non-conference, they lost to Arizona by five but defeated Baylor by eight. Despite being swept by North Carolina, they are one spot higher than them in the KenPom and their offense remains elite (7th in the KenPom; 80.2 points per game).

Virginia can’t score. This isn’t a case of an efficient team. They are 189th in offense (KenPom) and average only 63.5 points. In their final three losses, they scored 41 points against Virginia Tech, 44 points against North Carolina, and 48 points against Duke. Their saving grace is a 36.7% three-point percentage, though they don’t attempt many three-pointers per game. Defensively, they are one of the best in the nation in both defensive efficiency and points allowed (59.1). This keeps them in many games, but elite teams have mostly clobbered them.

Clemson made their presence known early in the season when they started 9-0 with wins over Boise State, Alabama, South Carolina, and TCU. Conference play wasn’t as friendly to them, though they did earn a win at North Carolina and a 1-point loss at Duke. Though they lost to Virginia at home, that is their path to the semifinals, where another date with Duke could await. Senior guard/forward trio Joseph Girard (15.7 points/2.9 assists), Chase Hunter (12.6 points/2.9 assists), and PJ Hall (18.8 points/6.6 rebounds) are what makes this team dangerous.

Miami was a preseason Top 25 team that fell apart. After a 5-0 start that included a win over Kansas State to take the Bahamas Championship, things started going haywire after blowout losses to Kentucky (22 points) and Colorado (27). The Hurricanes were still in the at-large conversation until they finished the season with nine straight losses. The Hurricanes can hit three-pointers (36.6%; 45th in the nation) and have the experience and star player (Norchard Omier) to surprise a few teams. Their path does not include Duke or North Carolina, so a minor run doesn’t seem impossible.

While I don’t see Wake Forest or Pittsburgh as major threats to win the tournament, their potential quarterfinal matchup could be an elimination game for the NCAA Tournament Bubble picture.

Bottom Line:

Duke and North Carolina have the upper hand. However, maybe it is time for a long drought to end.

Winner: Clemson cuts down the nets.

The conference tournaments are in full swing, and there are a few storylines to follow – notably, bid stealers.

All of the power conferences have the potential for bid stealing. If Rutgers gets hot and wins the Big Ten Tournament, someone loses their bid. As for the smaller conferences, there is potential for some bid-stealers. Teams on the tournament bubble want to pay attention to the Atlantic-10 (Dayton is in), AAC (Florida Atlantic is likely in), WCC (Gonzaga and St. Mary’s are safely in), and Mountain West (several teams are in, but the team to watch is UNLV).

One potential bid stealer won on Sunday when Drake knocked off Indiana State in the MVC final. Indiana State is on the bubble.

ACC

In:
North Carolina [25-6 (17-3), Quad 1: 7-4; NET: 7]
Duke [24-7 (15-5), Quad 1: 5-4; NET: 10]
Clemson [21-10 (11-9); Quad 1: 5-5; NET: 26]

Bubble:
Wake Forest [19-12 (11-9); Quad 1: 2-5; NET: 38]
Pittsburgh [21-10 (12-8); Quad 1: 2-6; NET: 44]
Virginia [22-9 (13-7); Quad 1: 2-6; NET: 51]
Virginia Tech [18-13 (10-10); Quad 1: 3-8; NET: 56]

Wake Forest did their job when they knocked off Clemson in the finale. In their final six games, they defeated Duke, Pittsburgh, and Clemson while losing to Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, and Georgia Tech. If anything sums up a middling bubble team, that should do it.

Essentially, North Carolina will be a #2 seed while Duke is likely a #3 with the potential to move up to a #2. Clemson is in, while the four bubble teams all need to do something in the ACC Tournament. If everything goes by the chalk, Wake Forest will take on Pittsburgh in the quarterfinals, while Virginia could be looking at a date with Clemson. Virginia Tech will need to get by Georgia Tech to get a shot at North Carolina.  I think one of the four teams will do enough to earn a bid, with the Pitt-Wake Forest game essentially an elimination game.

Yes, it speaks to the state of the ACC when Virginia, as a #3 seed, needs help to get to the NCAA Tournament. I can’t think of a weaker #3 seed in the history of the tournament.

American Athletic

In:

Florida Atlantic [24-7 (14-4); Quad 1: 2-2; NET: 34]

Bubble:
Memphis [22-9 (11-7); Quad 1: 2-3; NET: 69]
South Florida [23-6 (16-2); Quad 1: 1-0; NET: 78]

Florida Atlantic defeated Memphis in the season finale, and that should be enough.

As for the rest, I have taken SMU off the list. Their NET is solid (55), but they didn’t win a Quad 1 game. Memphis would have a better case if they had completed the sweep of Florida Atlantic, but they failed. South Florida was relying on a major winning streak that was snapped in the season finale.

Essentially, this is a one-bid league that bubble teams have to watch carefully. If Florida Atlantic doesn’t win the crown, a bid will be stolen.

Atlantic 10

In:
Dayton [24-6 (14-4), Quad 1: 3-3; NET: 21]

Bubble:
None

Like Florida Atlantic, Dayton is not the top seed despite being the best team. The Flyers are in, but the tournament is one of the most wide-open in the country. Eight teams are in the NET Top 100, and nine teams have at least one Quadrant 1 victory. While I would give Florida Atlantic a 60% or so chance of winning the AAC, the strength and balance of the A-10 places Dayton under the 50% barrier – I would give them a 40% shot at cutting down the nets. As I stated last week, the only saving grace for bubble teams is that there is no chance for three bids here. Richmond, Loyola-Chicago, and VCU didn’t do enough to get into the at-large conversation.

Big 12

In:
Houston [28-3 (15-3), Quad 1: 13-3; NET: 1]
Iowa State [24-7 (13-5); Quad 1: 8-6; NET: 9]
BYU [22-9 (10-8), Quad 1: 6-7; NET: 12]
Baylor [22-9 (11-7); Quad 1: 9-8; NET: 14]
Kansas [22-9 (10-8); Quad 1: 7-8; NET: 18]
Texas [20-11 (9-9); Quad 1: 5-9; NET: 24]
Texas Tech [22-9 (11-7); Quad 1: 5-8; NET: 30]

Bubble
TCU [20-11 (9-9); Quad 1: 4-10; NET: 40]
Cincinnati [18-13 (7-11); Quad 1: 3-10; NET: 41]
Oklahoma [20-11 (8-10); Quad 1: 4-11; NET: 43]
Kansas State [18-13 (8-10); Quad 1: 4-7; NET: 70]

Texas Tech is the 7th team from the Big 12 to earn a lock status.

This conference will not receive 11 bids. The most likely scenario puts them at nine, with TCU and Oklahoma the most likely other two squads. However, the two squads match up in the 8-vs-9 matchup in the second round, with the winner going on to face Houston. Their matchup may be an elimination matchup. Both teams didn’t play strong non-conference schedules, and their combined 8-21 mark in Quad 1 is hardly convincing. Both rely more on the lack of bad losses (Oklahoma didn’t lose outside of Quad 1, while TCU has a Quad 2 loss) than they do high-quality wins.

At the very least, Cincinnati would need to defeat Kansas in the second round while Kansas State may just need to beat both Texas and Iowa State to re-enter the conversation.

Big East

In:
UConn [28-3 (18-2); Quad 1: 11-3; NET: 3]
Creighton [23-8 (14-6); Quad 1: 8-5; NET: 11]
Marquette [23-8 (14-6); Quad 1: 8-7; NET: 13]

Bubble:
Villanova [17-14 (10-10); Quad 1: 4-10; NET: 33]
St. John’s [19-12 (11-9); Quad 1: 3-9; NET: 39]
Seton Hall [20-11 (13-7); Quad 1: 5-7; NET: 62]
Providence [19-12 (10-10); Quad 1: 5-8; NET: 64]
Butler [18-13 (9-11); Quad 1: 4-11; NET: 66]

It took a while to get some clarity, but we are getting closer to having this conference sort itself out. The first-round game between St. John’s and Seton Hall is fascinating, and probably more important for St. John’s. The Red Storm lost two Quad 1 wins when their victories over Villanova and Utah slipped back down to Quad 2. They are teetering on the Last Four In/First Four Out line, so beating Seton Hall is their way of feeling safer on Selection Sunday. The teams that need to do something significant are Villanova and Providence. Providence beating Georgetown and Villanova beating DePaul will do nothing to enhance their chances (lose those games, and they are done). It’s those juicy second-round matchups that will make or break them: Villanova would play Marquette while Providence would take on Creighton. When you look at all the big conference tournaments, those two games could have the most significant impact on where the bubble tilts. As for Butler, when you are in desperation mode, you want to play the best (UConn). That is what will happen if they can first get past Xavier.

Big Ten

In:
Purdue [28-3 (17-3); Quad 1: 12-3; NET: 2]
Illinois [23-8 (14-6); Quad 1: 5-6; NET: 15]
Wisconsin [19-12 (11-9); Quad 1: 4-8; NET: 22]
Michigan State [18-13 (10-10); Quad 1: 4-8; NET: 25]

Bubble:
Nebraska [22-9 (12-8); Quad 1: 4-6; NET: 37]
Northwestern [21-10 (12-8); Quad 1: 4-6; NET: 50]
Ohio State [19-12 (9-11); Quad 1: 3-6; NET: 54]
Iowa [18-13 (10-10); Quad 1: 3-8; NET: 60]

Like the Big East, the Big Ten has been a conference of haves and have not most of the year. While the Big East has a little more clarity now, the Big Ten does not. Northwestern has the advantage with those Quad 1 wins. Seriously, their loss to Chicago State (what the heck?) was so damaging to their resume. Without that loss, they would be unbeaten in Quad 3/4 with flashy wins over Dayton, Purdue, Michigan State, Illinois, and Nebraska. The Wildcats can also brag about taking Purdue to overtime on the road. It’s a combination of a not-so-good non-conference schedule (beyond Dayton) and a singular bad loss that keeps them sweating.

Does Michigan State deserve to slip back to the bubble? For now, I am saying no. Their NET remains strong enough to be considered “safe,” though they better not lose that 8-vs-9 game against Minnesota (18-13, 9-11).

Iowa and Ohio State face off in the 7-vs-10 contest. The winner is not guaranteed to go to the NCAA Tournament (they will likely need to defeat Illinois in the quarterfinals). However, the loser will be eliminated from consideration.

Missouri Valley

In:
Drake won the conference tournament.

Bubble:
Indiana State [28-6 (17-3); Quad 1: 1-4; NET: 29]

A frantic comeback came up short for Indiana State and they will now sweat out Selection Sunday. The Sycamores have a strong NET and good KenPom (43rd, better than Utah State, Washington State, Pittsburgh, and South Carolina). Their lack of Quad 1 wins will hold them back, but they are 4-1 in Quadrant 2. It’s a solid resume – one that should be enough for one of the nation’s best mid-major teams.

Mountain West

In:
San Diego State [22-9 (11-7); Quad 1: 3-9; NET: 20]
Boise State [22-9 (13-5); Quad 1: 6-4; NET: 23]
Nevada [26-6 (13-5); Quad 1: 7-5; NET: 31]
Utah State [26-5 (14-4); Quad 1: 5-4; NET: 32]

Bubble:
New Mexico [22-9 (10-8); Quad 1: 2-7; NET: 28]
Colorado State [22-9 (10-8); Quad 1: 5-7; NET: 36]
UNLV [19-11 (12-6); Quad 1: 5-4; NET: 75]

It’s time to lock in three more teams. Boise State has six Quad 1 wins and Nevada has seven. Utah State won a tough conference outright and has one loss outside of Quad 1 (a Quad 2 loss to Bradley).

New Mexico has a better NET than Nevada and Utah State, but their resume isn’t as strong. The Lobos have as many Quad 1 wins as they do Quad 3/4 losses (2). They will get a first-round matchup against Air Force. Lose that game and they will be sweating profusely on Sunday. I don’t think they will need to follow that up with a win over Boise State.  Colorado State earned huge non-conference wins (Creighton, Colorado). In their case, they can’t afford to lose to San Jose State in the first round.

UNLV gets the Mountain West Tournament on their home floor. Their only path to the NCAA Tournament is winning the conference tourney. They were indeed missing a key player earlier this season, but it doesn’t excuse three Quad 4 losses.

Pac-12

In:
Arizona [24-7 (15-5); Quad 1: 8-3; NET: 4]
Washington State [23-8 (14-6); Quad 1: 6-3; NET: 45]

Bubble:
Colorado [22-9 (13-7); Quad 1: 2-5; NET: 27]
Utah [18-13 (9-11); Quad 1: 4-8; NET: 52]
Oregon [20-11 (12-8); Quad 1: 2-6; NET: 68]

Arizona may have blown their chance at a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament when they lost to USC. It still isn’t out of the question, though. You may be curious about Washington State, whose NET is not heading in a good direction. The Cougars are sitting on six Quad 1 wins, including a sweep of Arizona and a neutral-court win over Boise State. Yeah, they don’t want to lose to the winner of the California-Stanford game, but they are a safe team.

Colorado (KenPom: 27) benefited the most this weekend when they swept through Oregon. Their 6-game winning streak includes wins over Oregon and Utah and they haven’t lost a Quad 3/4 game. They get the winner of Utah-Arizona State in the second round.

While Colorado helped themselves in Oregon, Utah hurt themselves as they lost both games. The Utes will want the committee to look at their solid non-conference schedule (which includes a home win over BYU, a neutral court win over Wake Forest and a road win over St. Mary’s). They likely will need to beat Arizona State and Colorado to get back into the “Last four in” mix.

Oregon is nearly dead. Their saving grace is that they earned a first-round bye and a potential semi-final date with Arizona.

SEC

In:
Tennessee [24-7 (14-4), Quad 1: 7-6; NET: 5]
Auburn [24-7 (13-5); Quad 1: 1-7; NET: 6]
Alabama [21-10 (13-5); Quad 1: 3-9; NET: 8]
Kentucky [23-8 (13-5); Quad 1: 6-5; NET: 19]
Florida [21-10 (11-7); Quad 1: 4-7; NET: 35]
South Carolina [25-6 (13-5); Quad 1: 4-4; NET: 49]

Bubble:
Mississippi State [19-12 (8-10); Quad 1: 4-8; NET: 42]
Texas A&M [18-13 (9-9); Quad 1: 5-6; NET: 46]

Tennessee had a chance to stamp their ticket to the #1 seed in the West but lost to Kentucky at home. While it is possible that North Carolina can enter the discussion, this is likely to come down to how Arizona and Tennessee fare in their conference tournaments. For Arizona, the difference between #1 and #2 isn’t much, as they will be out West regardless.

I am locking South Carolina in (finally). How many SEC teams with 25 regular-season wins (and 13 conference wins) are going to be left out? While their non-conference wasn’t great, they earned eight road wins this season (including Tennessee, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and Mississippi State). As for Florida, losing to Vanderbilt was a bad loss. They should still feel good about themselves.

Mississippi State is the pure definition of a bubble team. On the good side, they have several solid wins. They lost their final four regular-season games, but all were against top-notch competition and three of the four games were close. Texas A&M is relying on their five Quad 1 wins. Here’s their big chance to improve their resume: If they get past Ole Miss in the first round, they’ll get a shot at Kentucky. What more can a bubble team ask for?

Sun Belt

Bubble:

James Madison [30-3 (15-3); Quad 1: 1-1; NET: 55]

James Madison is in the title game of the Sun Belt Conference, where they will face off with Arkansas State, who upset top-seeded Appalachian State in the semi-finals. How crazy was that win? Appalachian State beat Arkansas State by 23 nine days earlier. The bad news for James Madison is that any shot at an at-large likely required losing to Appalachian State in the championship. A loss to Arkansas State does nothing for them.

West Coast

In:

Gonzaga [24-6 (14-2); Quad 1: 3-5; NET: 16]
St. Mary’s [24-7 (15-1); Quad 1: 4-3; NET: 17]

Bubble:

None.

Gonzaga and St. Mary’s are safely in the tournament and nobody else has a shot. Bubble teams need one or the other to take this title.

History: Iona has dominated this tournament over the last several years, winning six of the last seven competitions. In the other year (2022), Saint Peter’s won the championship and became the first #15 seed to make it to the Elite Eight.

Overall, Iona has 14 championships. Manhattan and Siena are tied for second-most with five titles.

Returning Champion: Iona. In his final year as head coach, Rick Pitino‘s squad won three straight games by double-digits. In the title game, the Gaels defeated upstart Marist (the #11 seed) by 21. In the NCAA Tournament, as a #13 seed, they fought UConn hard for a half before the Huskies ran away from them and the entire NCAA Tournament field.

Format:  All 11 schools make the field. The top five schools automatically advance to the quarterfinals.

Favorite:  Quinnipiac (23-8, 15-5)

The Bobcats have never made it to the NCAA Tournament. This year’s squad scores 78.4 points (62nd in the nation), with senior guard Matt Balanc leading the way (18.5 points/4.8 rebounds). They played one Quad 1 game (a road loss to Florida) and enter this tournament on a 4-game winning streak.

Contenders: Fairfield (20-11, 14-6), Marist (17-12, 12-8), Rider (15-16, 12-8)

Live Long Shot:  Mount St. Mary’s (13-18, 9-11)

Preview:

Fairfield has the league’s best NET (163rd) but didn’t play a Quad 1 game. However, the Stags defeated Yale on the road in a Quad 2 game. They finished the season on a 5-1 run. Three senior guards lead the way, with Jalen Leach (16.4 points/4.1 rebounds/3.1 assists), Caleb Fields (16.1 points/3.8 rebounds), and Brycen Goodine (14.6 points). Goodine was a Top 100 recruit for Syracuse years back and also played a few years for Providence. 

Marist is not about scoring. The Red Foxes rank 6th in the nation in defensive scoring (62.2) on 41% shooting. This is a young team, with the three top scorers either freshmen or sophomores. In the non-conference, they lost to Notre Dame by four.

Rider was 5-8 in conference play at one point, before they ended the season on a seven-game winning streak that places them squarely amongst the favorites. The Broncs challenged themselves in the non-conference, though they weren’t particularly close to pulling off an upset. The five leading scorers on this squad are seniors, led by forward Marvin James, who averages 19.0 points and 6.0 rebounds. This university hasn’t made it to the NCAA Tournament since 1994.

Mount St. Mary’s played Maryland within 15 and Ole Miss within nine in non-conference road games. If they win their 8-vs-9 game against Canisius, they will get a shot at top-seeded Quinnipiac. The two schools split their games this year (both were blowouts), with Mount St. Mary’s putting up 96 points back on February 10th. The Mountaineers are 2-5 since.

Bottom Line:

Pick out of a hat. Iona is no longer the beast school here, which opens up a lot of possibilities for a team destined to be a #16 seed.

Winner: Rider is the hot team with the star player.