by AAA Sports
Monday, Feb 23, 2026As the first Conference Tournament begins on March 3rd, we are now less than 10 days away from letting the madness begin. It's been a regular season filled of surprises as we've just seen the #1 and #2 team go down this past weekend. With limited games left on the schedule, the AAA team has put together a list of teams to watch out for in their respective conference.
1 ) Norfolk State Spartans (14-14 record ~ Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
Before the season began, we thought that Norfolk State could end up at the top of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. In the power-conferences, winning the conference regular season title means quite a bit. But, in a conference like the MEAC, it doesn't really mean much other than a banner and some bragging rights. What really matters is the conference tournament. The Spartans have been playing much better lately, winning four games in a row. They get the luxury of playing in their home city of Norfolk, Virginia in the conference tournament. Considering that the rest of the MEAC isn't too strong other than Howard, the Spartans could definitely end up in the Big Dance when it's all said in done.
2 ) Florida Gulf Coast Eagles (14-15 record ~ Atlantic Sun)
The Atlantic Sun Conference doesn't get talked about enough. With a third of the conference owning a winning record this year, there's definitely going to be some competitive games in the Conference Tourney in March. Florida Gulf Coast might be on the outside of those top four at the moment. But, the Eagles are red hot off four straight wins. They shoot the ball really effectively and don't take too many bad shots. That's key in a tournament down the stretch of games as some teams panic when it matters most. Austin Peay is most likely going to be the #1 choice of many people to come out of this tournament, but an upset could be brewing here in the ASUN and we're liking the way the Eagles are playing.
3 ) Kennesaw State Owls (16-11 record ~ Conference USA)
The first team with a winning record on this list. Kennesaw State is getting a bit overlooked at the moment in our opinion. With nine teams seperated by just three games in the CUSA conference standings, there's a lot of question about who's going to challenge Liberty for a spot in March Madness. With how the committee is, it's unlikely to select any teams from the conference that isn't a conference tournament winner, even Liberty (23-4.) Kind of disappointing, but just how things go. Kennesaw State has some tournament experience, being there in 2022-23 as a #14 and just barely losing to the #3 Xavier. With maybe the Owls best roster since that year, we've seen stranger things happen. The Flames don't look at their best at the moment and the seasons end is near.
4 ) South Alabama Jaguars (20-9 record ~ Sun Belt)
How bout 'dem Jaguars. South Alabama sits in fourth in the Sun Belt Conference right now because of conference records being the seeding factor. But, the Jaguars have the best overall record in the SBC and are the only team with less than 10 losses. It's been terrific on the road and great in home games as well. We know that this is a list of sleeper teams. But, with three teams above the Jags in the standings, this definitely could be talked about as a sleeper pick in not only the conference tournament, but the Big Dance too if they are to make it. South Alabama is no joke this season -- the ability not to turn the ball over and get easy buckets in the paint is a treat to watch.
5 ) Cal State Northridge Matadors (18-10 record ~ Big West)
The last team on our list goes to Cal State Northridge. The Big West has had great teams over the last few years, including UC San Diego last season. UC Irvine & Hawaii are other teams that have been really good this year and could make it through. But, just take a look at the Matadors for a second. They are on a seven game winning streak and like to play really, really fast. A different style of game to the rest of the conference, the Matadors could definitely end up being too fast for a lot of these teams to disrupt some of their opponents. If they remain hot, look out in thwe Big West.
1 ) Norfolk State Spartans (14-14 record ~ Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
Before the season began, we thought that Norfolk State could end up at the top of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. In the power-conferences, winning the conference regular season title means quite a bit. But, in a conference like the MEAC, it doesn't really mean much other than a banner and some bragging rights. What really matters is the conference tournament. The Spartans have been playing much better lately, winning four games in a row. They get the luxury of playing in their home city of Norfolk, Virginia in the conference tournament. Considering that the rest of the MEAC isn't too strong other than Howard, the Spartans could definitely end up in the Big Dance when it's all said in done.
2 ) Florida Gulf Coast Eagles (14-15 record ~ Atlantic Sun)
The Atlantic Sun Conference doesn't get talked about enough. With a third of the conference owning a winning record this year, there's definitely going to be some competitive games in the Conference Tourney in March. Florida Gulf Coast might be on the outside of those top four at the moment. But, the Eagles are red hot off four straight wins. They shoot the ball really effectively and don't take too many bad shots. That's key in a tournament down the stretch of games as some teams panic when it matters most. Austin Peay is most likely going to be the #1 choice of many people to come out of this tournament, but an upset could be brewing here in the ASUN and we're liking the way the Eagles are playing.
3 ) Kennesaw State Owls (16-11 record ~ Conference USA)
The first team with a winning record on this list. Kennesaw State is getting a bit overlooked at the moment in our opinion. With nine teams seperated by just three games in the CUSA conference standings, there's a lot of question about who's going to challenge Liberty for a spot in March Madness. With how the committee is, it's unlikely to select any teams from the conference that isn't a conference tournament winner, even Liberty (23-4.) Kind of disappointing, but just how things go. Kennesaw State has some tournament experience, being there in 2022-23 as a #14 and just barely losing to the #3 Xavier. With maybe the Owls best roster since that year, we've seen stranger things happen. The Flames don't look at their best at the moment and the seasons end is near.
4 ) South Alabama Jaguars (20-9 record ~ Sun Belt)
How bout 'dem Jaguars. South Alabama sits in fourth in the Sun Belt Conference right now because of conference records being the seeding factor. But, the Jaguars have the best overall record in the SBC and are the only team with less than 10 losses. It's been terrific on the road and great in home games as well. We know that this is a list of sleeper teams. But, with three teams above the Jags in the standings, this definitely could be talked about as a sleeper pick in not only the conference tournament, but the Big Dance too if they are to make it. South Alabama is no joke this season -- the ability not to turn the ball over and get easy buckets in the paint is a treat to watch.
5 ) Cal State Northridge Matadors (18-10 record ~ Big West)
The last team on our list goes to Cal State Northridge. The Big West has had great teams over the last few years, including UC San Diego last season. UC Irvine & Hawaii are other teams that have been really good this year and could make it through. But, just take a look at the Matadors for a second. They are on a seven game winning streak and like to play really, really fast. A different style of game to the rest of the conference, the Matadors could definitely end up being too fast for a lot of these teams to disrupt some of their opponents. If they remain hot, look out in thwe Big West.
