Welcome to Champ Week!
A number of convention tournaments acquired underway this week, with multiple-bid leagues beginning over the weekend and into subsequent week.
For this week’s tiers, I am a very powerful and aggressive convention tournaments main into the Large Dance.
Let’s get to it.
Tier 1: High of the road
1. Large 12: Kansas is the favourite to win the Large 12 Match title. The winner will doubtless earn a No. 1 seed, assuming it is Kansas, Baylor or Texas. There are additionally a number of groups from the convention on the bubble, together with West Virginia and Oklahoma State. Each the Mountaineers and Cowboys must do properly on this event.
2. Large Ten: Purdue presently sits at 24-5 general and must cement a No. 1 seed. A number of Large Ten groups, led by Indiana, may very well be in line for a top-four seed. In the meantime, three groups from the convention — Wisconsin, Michigan and Penn State — must get wins to get within the NCAA Match discipline.
3. SEC: Alabama is 26-4 general and vying for a No. 1 seed. In the meantime, each Texas A&M and Tennessee try to get on the 4 or 5-line. Kentucky is on the rise, and there are a number of bubble groups, like Auburn and Mississippi State, that may’t flop within the convention event.
4. Large East: This yr’s Large East common season was wild. Count on the Large East Match to be the identical with Marquette, Xavier, Creighton, Providence and UConn all having a shot to win. And do not dismiss surging Villanova.
[Marquette, UConn and Providence highlight big weekend on FOX]
The Large 12 headlines one of the best convention tournaments in school basketball
FOX Sports activities’ Andy Katz lists probably the most aggressive convention tournaments in school basketball with March Insanity across the nook.
Tier 2: Subsequent up
1. ACC: Miami and Virginia stay the favorites to take residence the event title, however Pitt has had a breakthrough season. And always remember about Duke and North Carolina, particularly in Greensboro. Monitoring their progress all through the convention event will likely be must-see TV.
2. Pac-12: UCLA has been one of many hottest groups within the nation and has an opportunity to safe a No. 1 seed. Arizona might nonetheless get on the 2-line or no less than the 3-line. USC and Arizona State must maintain successful so as to safe a spot within the tourney. Oh, and don’t overlook about Oregon, which is at all times a risk to win in Las Vegas.
3. MWC: San Diego State is the favourite to win the convention event, however Nevada, Boise State, Utah State and New Mexico have all had their moments, and all are viable winners. And don’t dismiss San Jose State as a spoiler within the MWC.
4. American: Houston is the favourite and attempting to lock up a No. 1 seed within the NCAA Match. Memphis is squarely on the bubble and must get to the championship recreation. Dropping early might severely harm the Tigers’ event hopes.
Tier 3: The sleepers
1. MVC: Bradley is the favourite to take residence the event crown after successful the regular-season title for the primary time in 27 years. Nevertheless, Drake, Indiana State, Missouri State, Southern Illinois, Belmont and Northern Iowa are greater than able to pulling off an upset.
2. A10: The A10 is a one-bid league this season. VCU is the favourite to win the convention event, however hardly a lock. Dayton, Saint Louis and even Fordham might find yourself successful the title.
3. WCC: Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s are locks to make the NCAA Match. Each are vying for a spot on the 4-5 line. Look out for LMU or Santa Clara as groups that would earn the WCC a 3rd bid with a title.
4. CAA: Hofstra gained the regular-season title, ending 16-2 in convention play. However Charleston, Towson and UNC Wilmington are simply as viable to win the event championship and earn an automated bid.
5. Convention USA: Florida Atlantic nonetheless must win the event title so as to safely get a bid. The Owls will get a powerful push from each North Texas and UAB.
Andy Katz is a longtime school basketball author, analyst and host. He may be seen on the Large Ten Community, in addition to March Insanity and NCAA.com, and he hosts the podcast “March Insanity 365.” Katz labored at ESPN for almost 20 years and, previous to that, in newspapers for 9 years.
High tales from FOX Sports activities:
Get extra from School Basketball Comply with your favorites to get details about video games, information and extra
