This is March!
That means it’s time to identify some potential bid stealers to monitor prior to Championship Week.
Check out our list of nine below:
AAC
Memphis: College basketball’s most mercurial team is capable of losing in its first conference tournament game or earning an automatic bid and then advancing to the Sweet 16. The Tigers were 15-2 in their first 17 games of this season, but are just 7-7 since. Memphis has the most talented roster in the American Athletic Conference, but it’s also the sport’s most unpredictable team. Keep an eye on David Jones, who was an All-American candidate earlier this season. The 6-6 wing enters the postseason averaging 21.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.1 steals.
Atlantic 10
Loyola Chicago: One year after finishing in last place in the Atlantic 10, Drew Valentine has led the Ramblers to a share of the league’s regular season title along with Richmond. Don’t expect the winning to end there. Loyola Chicago is an extremely connected team that has assisted on 64.6 percent of its made field goals. The Ramblers also have a veteran point guard in Braden Norris (9.1 points, 4.9 assists) who was a part of this program’s run to the Sweet 16 in 2021. This team has won 17 of its last 20 games entering this week’s Atlantic 10 Tournament in Brooklyn.
ACC
Pitt: The Panthers have quietly won 21 games and returned to national relevance under Jeff Capel, who led this program to two NCAA Tournament victories a year ago. Pitt has a star in Blake Hinson (18.8 points, 4.6 rebounds), a burgeoning freshman in Carlton Carrington (13.6 points), and the necessary post depth to win multiple games in multiple days. Monitor this team closely over the next few days in Washington D.C.
Big 12
Kansas State: It’s a little less than two hours from Manhattan to Kansas City and the Wildcats will need all of their fans to make an impact this week at the Sprint Center. They also needs Arthur Kaluma to play like he’s capable of playing as Kansas State is 6-0 this season when Kaluma scores 20 points or more. Jerome Tang’s team already owns wins this season over Iowa State, Kansas, Baylor, and BYU. If the Wildcats beat Texas in their first game on Wednesday, look out.
Big East
Butler: It’s highly unlikely that the Bulldogs — or any other team in the Big East Tournament — that’s not currently projected to make the NCAA Tournament has a chance to earn an automatic qualifier to March Madness, but Butler’s offense puts it in a different tier. The Bulldogs average 77.4 points and have already won road games this season at both Creighton and Marquette. Thad Matta’s squad will open the Big East Tournament against Xavier on Wednesday at MSG.
Big Ten
Ohio State: Momentum is a big thing during Championship Week and the Buckeyes clearly have it. Ohio State is 5-1 since Jake Diebler took over as this team’s interim head coach and is playing with tremendous confidence. Under Diebler, the Buckeyes have beaten Purdue, Michigan State, and Nebraska — three teams who are all projected to be a part of March Madness. Ohio State will open the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday against Iowa.
Mountain West
UNLV: This is an easy choice. The Runnin Rebels have won nine of their last 11 games and will play the Mountain West Tournament on their home floor at the Thomas & Mack Center. UNLV already owns wins this season over Creighton, Boise State, New Mexico (twice), and San Diego State, who the Runnin Rebels will play on Thursday in the quarterfinals of the Mountain West Tournament.
Pac-12
USC: Don’t be fooled by this team’s 14-17 record — the Trojans have the second-most talented roster in the Pac-12 behind Arizona. Chemistry issues and injuries have hurt Andy Enfield’s team all season long, but over the past few weeks this team has shown tremendous promise. USC has won four of its last five games, headlined by Saturday night’s victory over Arizona at the Galen Center. With Isaiah Collier, Boogie Ellis, and Kobe Johnson, USC has a perimeter that can match up with any opponent in this week’s Pac-12 Tournament in Las Vegas. The broad shouldered Collier — a projected lottery pick — is averaging 18.3 points during the Trojans’ current three-game winning streak.
SEC
Texas A&M: The Aggies were expected to be one of the top teams in the SEC this season, but only sit at 18-13 overall. Firmly entrenched in the bubble picture, don’t be shocked if this team plays its best basketball this week in Nashville. Buzz Williams has always been a very good coach in conference tournament settings and has one of the league’s best backcourts in Wade Taylor (18 points) and Tyrece Radford (15.5 points). 6-5 wing Manny Obaseki has also emerged as of late and is averaging 18 points in his last three games. Texas A&M will open the SEC Tournament against Ole Miss — who it blew out on Saturday in Oxford — in its first game this week.
