MARCH IS HERE! .. & you know what that means. Let the madness begin! Last season, I created a preview, diving into each and every single Conference Tournament. I’m back at it again in 2026 as I’m expecting another phenomenal month of basketball. (Odds via. DraftKings Sportsbook.)Article is Complete.*Player scoring averages are from March 1-3 stats. -----------------------------------------------------Atlantic Sun Conference: (March 4, 6-8) - Jacksonville, Florida5 Players To Watch Out For: Collin Parker (Austin Peay / Forward) - 18.1 PTS, 3.2 AST, 6.1 REBJ.R. Konieczny (Florida Gulf Coast / Forward) - 15.6 PTS, 2.1 AST, 6.4 REBShelton Williams-Dryden (West Georgia / Forward) - 20.8 PTS, 1.5 AST, 9.0 REBCamren Hunter (Central Arkansas / Guard) - 19.7 PTS, 2.7 AST, 4.2 REBJack Karasinski (Bellarmine / Forward) - 21.3 PTS, 1.1 AST, 4.8 REBWhat To Expect:What a difference a year makes. Last season, Austin Peay, Central Arkansas & Queens NC were all at the bottom of the standings, expected to go one and done inside the conference tourney. All three of them. This year, they are the top three contenders inside the A-Sun. With a few new faces like Bellarmine, Stetson & West Georgia (who’s not eligible for NCAA Tournament - transition year.) I expect a really fun tourney, with four teams at +500 or better to win it. Last year, I had Lipscomb winning this tournament and that’s exactly what happened. This year, I’m going to ride with FGCU, who have fantastic odds + the Eagles are one of the hottest teams within the conference right now. Burns' Selection: (UPSET WARNING) Florida Gulf Coast (+1600)
Odds To Win:Austin Peay ( +205)Central Arkansas (+250)Queens NC (400)Lipscomb (+475)Florida Gulf Coast (+1600)Eastern Kentucky (+4000)Bellarmine (+5500)Jacksonville (+5500)West Georgia (+8000)Stetson (+30000)North Florida (+40000)North Alabama (+40000)
-----------------------------------------------------America East Conference : (March 7, 10, 14) - Campus Sites5 Players To Watch Out For: Gus Yalden (Vermont / Forward) - 16.8 PTS, 2.2 AST, 5.9 REBAmir Lindsey (Albany / Guard) - 17.5 PTS, 4.9 AST, 3.3 REBTJ Hurley (Vermont / Guard) - 14.7 PTS, 1.4 AST, 3.5 REBAngel Montas (UMASS Lowell / Guard) - 15.2 PTS, 1.8 AST, 5.2 REBJah’Likai King (UMBC / Guard) - 14.0 PTS, 1.5 AST, 3.5 REB
What To Expect:The change from one season to another is absolutely massive in College Hoops. Bryant, who won this tournament (and was the favorite,) a year ago, has the worst odds to win it this season. There’s really only two teams that the oddsmakers expect to have much of a chance in this year’s verision. UMBC, a school that everyone remembers as it was the first #16 seed to ever beat a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. & Vermont, the preseason favorites. UMBC is very consistent on both sides of the ball and doesn’t turn the ball over. Vermont plays a very similar style to UMBC, just slightly worse so far this year with limited turnovers and great defensive rebounding. With UMBC’s home court advantage, it’s hard to see it losing. Burns' Selection: UMBC (-270)
Odds To Win:UMBC (-270)Vermont (+220)NJIT (+1600)UMASS Lowell (+2000)Albany NY (+4500)Maine (+13000)New Hampshire (+18000)Bryant (+20000)-----------------------------------------------------American Athletic Conference: (March 11-15) - Birmingham, Alabama5 Players To Watch Out For:
Izaiyah Nelson (South Florida / Forward) - 15.8 PTS, 1.2 AST, 9.8 REBJordan Riley (East Carolina / Guard) - 23.6 PTS, 2.5 AST, 6.0 REBKenyon Giles (Wichita State / Guard) - 19.4 PTS, 1.5 ASTM 2.6 REBWes Enis (South Florida / Guard) - 16.5 PTS, 2.4 AST, 3.7 REBDavid Green (Tulsa / Forward) - 16.5 PTS, 1.6 AST, 4.6 REBWhat To Expect:What a disastrous season it’s been for the preseason favorite, Memphis. Going into the year, the Tigers were the clear favorite to win this conference. Now, going into the Conference Tournament, they have the sixth best odds. While it’s too early to count them out, it’s highly unlikely the way things have been going and I’m shocked that there hasn’t been a coaching chance. USF has elite players everywhere and should be in the NCAA Tournament already (at least one more win wouldn’t hurt.) Tulsa has been the shock of the conference, owning a very dangerous offense (4th in 3pt shooting at 39.7% + 13th in FT shooting at 78.3%!) The Shockers of Wichita State are always a threat at this time too. They're in the top five in offensive rebounding this season! Those are the teams that the oddsmakers think have the best chance, and I’m with them. Burns' Selection: USF (-120)
Odds To Win:South Florida (-120)Tulsa (+270)Wichita State (+370)UAB (+2200)North Texas (+6500)Memphis (+8000)Florida Atlantic (+12000)Charlotte (+12000)Temple (+15000)Tulane (+30000)-----------------------------------------------------Atlantic 10 Conference: (March 11-15) - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 5 Players To Watch Out For:
Rafael Castro (George Washington / Center) - 15.7 PTS, 1.8 AST, 8.8 REBTarence Guinyard (Duquesne / Guard) - 16.9 PTS, 4.7 AST, 3.4 REBDerek Simpson (Saint Joseph’s / Guard) - 13.7 PTS, 5.2 AST, 5.2 REBRobbie Avila (Saint Louis / Center) - 12.6 PTS, 4.1 AST, 4.5 REBTerrence Hill (VCU / Guard) - 14.1 PTS, 2.8 AST, 2.6 REBWhat To Expect:
All season long, St. Louis has been the top team in the conference. But, a possible bid stealer could be up for grabs in this tournament. The Billikens did not finish the season too well, dropping three of its last six. But, St. Louis/VCU should pretty much be locks to make the NCAA Tournament already. That leaves room for teams like Dayton, George Washington, George Mason, Saint Joseph’s and even Davidson to possibly win this tournament. Obviously, the Billkens remain the favorite. But, Dayton’s got one of the best defenses in the country while GW is fantastic offensively. GMU began the season 18-1 and is great on both sides. VCU plays fast and wants to score with lots of three pointers. This could be the best tournament of them all.
Burns' Selection: VCU (+180)
Odds To Win:Saint Louis (+130)Virginia Commonwealth (+180)Dayton (+750)Saint Joseph's (+1100)George Washington (+1600)Davidson (+2500)George Mason (+3500)Duquesne (+6000)Rhode Island (+8000)Richmond (+20000)Fordham (+20000)Saint Bonaventure (+25000)Loyola Chicago (+50000)La Salle (+50000)-----------------------------------------------------Atlantic Coast Conference: (March 10-14) - Charlotte, North Carolina8 Players To Watch Out For: Cameron Boozer (Duke / Forward) - 22.7 PTS, 4.0 AST, 10.2 REBMikel Brown Jr (Louisville / Guard) - 18.2 PTS, 4.7 AST, 3.3 REBRyan Conwell (Lousiville / Guard) - 18.7 PTS, 2.6 AST, 4.7 REBThijs De Ridder (Virginia / Forward) - 15.9 PTS, 1.6 AST, 6.3 REBBoopie Miller (SMU / Guard) - 19.4 PTS, 6.6 AST, 3.6 REBMalik Reneau (Miami / Forward) - 19.0 PTS, 2.1 AST, 6.6 REBDarrion Williams (NC State / Forward) - 14.0 PTS, 2.8 AST, 4.8 REBJuke Harris (Wake Forest / Guard) - 21.7 PTS, 1.7 AST, 6.7 REBNeoklis Avdalas (Virginia Tech / Guard) - 12.3 PTS, 4.7 AST, 3.2 REBWhat To Expect:Just like last season, Duke has crushed its competition this year inside the ACC and looked nearly unstoppable throughout the regular season. Now, it’s always interesting to see what happens in these tournaments as anything can happen. But, I just don’t see anything else happening than the Blue Devils cutting down the nets. UVA looked shaky against VT in the final reg season game. But, the Cavs do possess a fantastic defense just like always. Louisville has been fantasitic this year. However, it doesn’t seem to perform too well against the top teams. UNC would have a great chance if Caleb Wilson didn’t injure himself in practice. The Tar Heels still could turn some heads. Clemson is my pick if Duke goes down early. The Tigers began the season 20-4 and definitely have looked stronger again in the final three games. This tournament is about taking down Duke and barring anything crazy, that probably won’t be the case. Burns' Selection: Duke (-350)
Odds To Win:Duke (-350)Virginia (+650)Louisville (+950)Miami FL (+2000)North Carolina (+2200)Clemson (+4000)NC State (+5000)Florida State (+13000)SMU (+15000)Virginia Tech (+20000)California (+25000)Stanford (+30000)Wake Forest (+80000)Syracuse (+80000)Pittsburgh (+80000)-----------------------------------------------------Big 12 Conference: (March 10-14) - Kansas City, Missouri8 Players To Watch Out For: AJ Dybantsa (BYU / Guard) - 24.7 PTS, 3.8 AST, 6.7 REBDarryn Peterson (Kansas / Guard) - 19.9 PTS, 1.8 AST, 4.2 REBChristian Anderson (Texas Tech / Guard) - 19.2 PTS, 7.8 AST, 3.7 REBBrayden Burries (Arizona / Guard) - 16.0 PTS, 2.6 AST, 5.0 REBKingston Flemings (Houston / Guard) - 16.5 PTS, 5.4 AST, 3.9 REBCameron Carr (Baylor / Guard) - 19.0 PTS, 2.7 AST, 5.5 REBMilan Momcilovic (Iowa State / Forward) - 17.0 PTS, 1.0 AST, 3.1 REBPJ Haggerty (Kansas State / Guard) - 23.3 PTS, 3.9 AST, 5.3 REBWhat To Expect:In recent years, there’s been a lot more consistency within the Big 12, leading to one of the best conference tournaments out there. Although the same might happen this season, the split between the best teams and the lesser teams within this conference has been immense. I’m big on Arizona right now. with the size and strength down low, as well as the big time shot makers. Houston was my preseason #1 team and with the defensive pressure and turnover %, they should be threats to go deep in the NCAA Tournament. But, the Cougs will need their freshman to step up huge in big spots. Iowa State can most definitely win this tournament. The Cyclones did finish the season quite cold. But, they are really efficient and have threats all over the place. I’d pick one of those teams to win this tournament, for sure. But, there are teams like Kansas, Cincinnati, and TCU who most definitely can make some noise. Baylor is well coached, but has had an off-year. Texas Tech/BYU have fallen off a bit towards the end of the season as injuries have played a part. Burns' Selection: Arizona (+100)
Odds To Win:Arizona (+100)Houston (+200)Iowa State (+700)Kansas (+800)Texas Tech (+1700) Cincinnati (+4500)TCU (+6000)BYU (+10000)West Virginia (+18000)UCF (+40000)Baylor (+40000)Colorado (+50000)Arizona State (+60000)Oklahoma State (+80000)Kansas State (+80000)Utah (+100000)-----------------------------------------------------Big East Conference: (March 11-14) - New York City8 Players To Watch Out For:
Zuby Ejiofor (St. John’s / Forward) - 16.0 PTS, 3.5 AST, 7.1 REBTyler Perkins (Villanova / Guard) - 13.7 PTS, 1.6 AST, 5.5 REBNigel James (Marquette / Guard) - 16.4 PTS, 4.8 AST, 3.5 REBDuke Brennan (Villanova / Forward) - 12.3 PTS, 2.0 AST, 10.5 REBBryce Hopkins (St. John’s / Guard/Forward) - 13.3 PTS, 2.0 AST, 6.0 REBMichael Ajayi (Butler / Forward) - 16.3 PTS, 3.2 AST, 11.1 REBJaylin Sellers (Providence / Guard) - 18.1 PTS, 1.6 AST, 4.0 REBSilas Demary (UCONN / Guard) - 11.1 PTS, 6.5 AST, 4.6 REBWhat To Expect:
What has happened to the Big East? Not long ago, we had 11 teams from this conference make “March Madness” (2011.) Now, we’re on the verge of seeing just three teams from the Big East play beyond the conference tournament. Even with the loss to Marquette to finish the regular season, UCONN should not be looked down on. Dan Hurley didn’t win B2B championships for no reason. The Huskies could definitely win this and win it all. Don’t overlook St. John’s either. Coached by Rick Pitino, the Red Storm have talent everywhere and are extremely deep. I can’t help but like these odds on the Wildcats of Villanova though. They are extremely experienced and shot over 70% in their last game of the regular season. Marquette just won B2B games for the first time since November. & Creighton has been horrible down the stretch. Anything could happen, but expect one of those top three teams (UCONN, St. Johns, Villanova) to end up victorious at MSG. I’ll take the best odds. Burns' Selection: Villanova (+650)
Odds To Win: Connecticut (+100)St. John's (+185) Villanova (+650)Seton Hall (+1400)Creighton (+4000)Marquette (+6000)Providence (+8000)Bulter (+10000)DePaul (+11000)Georgetown (+13000)Xavier (+25000)-----------------------------------------------------Big Sky Conference: (March 7-11) - Boise, Idaho5 Players To Watch Out For: Quinn Denker (Northern Colorado / Guard) - 18.9 PTS, 7.0 AST, 5.2 REBMoney Williams (Montana / Guard) - 19.6 PTS, 5.0 AST, 4.2 REBTerri Miller (Portland State / Forward) - 18.9 PTS, 3.5 AST, 5.6 REBJaylin Henderson (Portland State / Guard) - 17.9 PTS, 6.0 AST, 4.1 REBIsaiah Moses (Eastern Washington / Guard) - 17.9 PTS, 4.0 AST, 3.0 REBWhat To Expect:Rarely will you see a conference tournament draw that has this many title contenders of less than +1000. The Big Sky looks like it’s going to host one of the most intriguing tourney’s this season and I’m all here for it. Montana State brings in a balanced style of play with very effective shooting. Portland State is much more defensive heavy and actually got the #1 in this draw + the hypothetical best path. UNCO is the hottest team entering this tournament, having just smashed Montana (9-1 L10) and will search for efficient shots all over the court. Eastern Washington is also really hot. But, the Eagles statistically aren’t as great as some of the other contenders. Montana, who plays kind of like Northern Colorado, was the preseason fav, but hasn’t been playing its best lately. I think that this bracket sets up well for a Portland State team that can use its defensive advantages to win late games in March. Burns' Selection: Portland State (+400)
Odds To Win:Montana State (+340)Portland State (+400)Northern Colorado (+425)Eastern Washington (+475)Montana (+700)Weber State (+850)Idaho (+950)Idaho State (+3500)Sacramento State (+20000)Northern Arizona (+30000)-----------------------------------------------------Big South Conference: (March 4, 6-8) - Johnson City, Tennessee
5 Players To Watch Out For:
Rob Martin (High Point / Guard) - 14.9 PTS, 3.5 AST. 1.8 REBToyaz Solomon (UNC Ashville / Forward) - 16.3 PTS, 1.9 AST, 7.3 REBTerry Anderson (High Point / Forward) - 15.8 PTS, 1.4 AST, 5.7 REBKameron Taylor (UNC Ashville / Guard) - 18.8 PTS, 3.1 AST, 5.0 REBDel Jones (Radford / Guard) - 17.1 PTS, 3.5 AST, 3.6 REB
What To Expect:
The Big South hasn’t really changed from a season ago. High Point, who I successfully picked to win last year, remains the team to beat with thebest record. Winthrop isn’t too far behind though this year and is expected to give the Panthers a run for their money in this year’s tournament. Some of the teams from 3-7 in the “odds to win” list, down below, could very well do some damage too. In these mid-major conference tournaments, it’s all about peaking at the right moment, and letting the madness carry a team to unseen heights. However, I don’t see an upset here. I’m sticking with High Point to get back to the Big Dance. Burns' Selection: High Point (-160)
Odds To Win:High Point (-160)Winthrop (+290)Radford (+1300)UNC Asheville (+1600)Longwood (+2800)Presbyterian (+3000)Charleston Southern (+3000)USC Upstate (+6500)Gardner-Webb (+50000)-----------------------------------------------------Big 10 Conference: (March 10-15) - Chicago, Illinois8 Players To Watch Out For: Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan / Forward) - 14.7 PTS, 3.2 AST, 7.2 REBNick Boyd (Wisconsin / Guard) - 20.1 PTS, 4.0 AST, 3.7 REBBennett Stirtz (Iowa / Guard) - 20.2 PTS, 4.4 AST, 2.5 REBBruce Thornton (Ohio State / Guard) - 20.1 PTS, 3.9 AST, 5.2 REBJeremiah Fears (Michigan State / Guard) - 15.5 PTS, 9.1 AST, 2.4 REBPryce Sandfort (Nebraska / Forward) - 17.9 PTS, 2.0 AST, 4.9 REBTrey Kaufman-Renn (Purdue / Forward) - 13.4 PTS, 2.7 AST, 8.7 REBBraden Smith (Purdue / Guard) - 14.9 PTS, 8.7 AST, 3.7 REBWhat To Expect:Other than maybe the SEC, I think that this is the conference tournament that I’m most excited about this season. I could see about eight/ten teams winning it all and chopping down the nets and I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a ton of upsets. Michigan is the favorite and for good reason. It's been the best team record wise and statistically all year. But, the Wolverines did lose to Wisconsin earlier in the season. Watch out for the Badgers who have wins against Michigan, Illinois, MSU, UCLA & Purdue this year. Talking about those other teams, Michigan State is one of the best teams defensively in the nation and has fantastic rebounding. Illinois is led by the most efficient offense in the country. Purdue can win March Madness if it’s playing the right way with excellent all-around play. Everyone seems to be leaving out Nebraska as a team that could be great this March too. The Cornhuskers have been poor after beginning the season 20-0. But, they are still 5th in defensive efficiency and have shown signs of dominance on the offensive side. This should be fun. Burns' Selection: Wisconsin (+3500)
Odds To Win:Michigan (-135)Illinois (+425)Michigan State (+600)Purdue (+900)Nebraska (+1100)Wisconsin (+3500)UCLA (+3500)Ohio State (+7000)Iowa (+8000)Indiana (+18000)Washington (+30000)Minnesota (+30000)USC (+50000)Rutgers (+50000)Penn State (+50000)Oregon (+50000)Northwestern (+50000)Maryland (+50000)-----------------------------------------------------Big West Conference: (March 11-14) - Henderson, Nevada 5 Players To Watch Out For:
Josiah Davis (CSUN / Guard) - 15.7 PTS, 7.4 AST, 4.6 REBHamad Mousa (Cal Poly / Guard/Forward) - 20.4 PTS, 1.9 AST, 6.3 REBJoshua Ward (CSUF / Guard) - 14.5 PTS, 3.4 AST, 4.4 REBJurian Dixon (UC Irvine / Guard) - 15.9 PTS, 2.4 AST, 3.6 REBAidan Mahaney (UC Santa Barbara / Guard) - 15.1 PTS, 2.7 AST, 1.9 REBWhat To Expect:
This is a very difficult conference tournament to predict, as there are so many different styles of play and things could get really interesting this season. The Anteaters of UC Irvine, who played in the NIT last year, are the favorites this time around. They rank inside the top 25 of the country in defensive efficiency & have the #1 two-point shot defense in the nation. Hawaii will be off the islands for this tournament and that might be concerning. But, the Rainbow Warriors also have a top 50 defense and are elite on that side of the ball as well (with a win over UCI already this year.) UC Santa Barbara finished the regular season really poorly, but remains a top 100 offensive side in D1. UC San Diego was the Big West representative last season and despite the new coaching staff, it finished the regular season as perhaps the hottest team in the conference. The Tritons are efficient inside the paint, and also have a really solid defense. CSUN has beaten UCSD & UCSB twice, Hawaii, & lost by just one against UCI. The Matadors play really fast and that can overwhelm their opponents at times.
Burns' Selection: UC Irvine (+165)
Odds To Win:UC Irvine (+165)Hawaii (+220)UC San Diego (+700)UC Santa Barbara (+800)CSUN (+1500)UC Davis (+2200)Cal State Fullerton (+2200)Cal Poly (+10000)-----------------------------------------------------Coastal Athletic Association: (March 6-10) - Washington, DC5 Players To Watch Out For: Cruz Davis (Hofstra / Guard) - 20.3 PTS, 4.6 AST, 3.8 REBErik Pratt (Stony Brook / Guard) - 19.3 PTS, 3.7 AST, 4.9 REBKavion McClain (Monmouth / Guard) - 17.6 PTS, 5.9 AST, 3.3 REBJlynn Counter (Charleston / Guard) - 15.9 PTS, 5.6 AST, 5.1 REBPatrick Wessler (UNC Wilmington / Forward) - 13.5 PTS, 1.1 AST, 9.5 REBWhat To Expect:With the number one record in the conference all season long, the Seahawks of UNC Wilmigton are not getting the respect that they probably deserve by the oddsmakers. Instead, Hofstra is the “favorite” to come out of this conference, with three more conference defeats and five more overall. Looking at UNCW, it does a fantastic job on the defensive end, holding opponents to an effective FG% of 47.1% (23rd best in the nation) as well as a 3pt % allowed of 29.4% which is top 10. Not only that, but the Seahawks can shoot the lights out themselves. As the oddsmakers have acknowledged, Hofstra is KenPom’s top rated team in the conference. It’s got an even stronger defensive presence, with an effective FG% against of 46.1%. The Pride have a top five 2pt % allowed in the country at 44.1% as well. Charleston has won five straight games while William & Mary plays faster than any team in the country offensively. Delaware was the “Cinderella story” last year, making it from the first round of the gauntlet to the finals. But, the Blue Hens are not in this conference anymore & I expect defending champs UNCW to get back to the dance. Burns' Selection: UNC Wilmington (+260)
Odds To Win:Hofstra (+195)UNC Wilmington (+260)Charleston (+500)William & Mary (+900)Monmouth (+950)Towson (+1500)Drexel (+2000)Campbell (+2500)Stony Brook (+3500)Elon (+8000)Hampton (+10000)North Carolina A&T (+13000)Northeastern (+30000)-----------------------------------------------------Conference-USA: (March 10-14) - Huntsville, Alabama5 Players To Watch Out For: Teagan Moore (Western Kentucky / Guard) - 18.4 PTS, 2.0 AST, 5.5 REBMostapha El Moutaouakkil (Jacksonville State / Guard) - 19.4 PTS, 1.3 AST, 7.1 REBKeith Palek (Missouri State / Forward) - 17.8 PTS, 3.5 AST, 6.5 REBBrett Decker (Liberty / Guard) - 16.9 PTS, 1.1 AST, 2.6 REBCorey Stephenson (FIU / Guard/Forward) - 17.8 PTS, 1.6 AST, 6.3 REB
What To Expect:With no clear favorite in the Conference-USA Tournament this season, there’s going to be a lot of teams competing for the title. #1 ranked Liberty stumbled to the finish line, winning only two of its past five games. But, the Flames do have a great offense, ranking #2 in effective field goal percentage in the country. Sam Houston State also dropped its last two games of the regular season. The Bearkats shoot the 3pt shot at 38.4% which is 14th best in the nation. Kennesaw State’s best player has been suspended indefinitely since January, but remains a top team. WKU, like Kennessaw, plays really fast and attempts a lot of foul shots. Keep an eye out for Middle Tennessee State who’s the hottest team in the conference, winning five straight games to end the year. Burns' Selection: Liberty (+275)
Odds To Win: Sam Houston (+215)Liberty (+275)Western Kentucky (+700)Kennesaw State (+850)Middle Tennessee State (+950)Louisiana Tech (+1100)Missouri State (+2500)Jacksonville State (+2800)Florida International (+3000)New Mexico State (+3500)-----------------------------------------------------Horizon League: (March 2-4, 8-10) - Campus Sites (Round 1 & 2) - Indianapolis, Indiana (Quarterfinals-Finals)5 Players To Watch Out For: Brody Robinson (Oakland / Guard) - 17.0 PTS, 6.8 AST, 2.6 REBOrlando Lovejoy (Detroit Mercy / Guard) - 15.4 PTS, 3.7 AST, 3.5 REBTuburu Naivalurua (Oakland / Forward) - 14.3 PTS, 1.9 AST, 6.0 REBMarcus Hall (Green Bay / Forward) - 13.9 PTS, 2.5 AST, 5.4 REBMichael Cooper (Wright State / Guard) - 13.2 PTS, 2.3 AST, 2.7 REBWhat To Expect:This is the only conference tournament to begin on Monday, which means it’s the first to tip-off. As the #1 seed in the draw/bracket, Wright State awaits the winner of the Cleveland State/IUPUI game to play in the opening round. The Raiders rely on great offense, with excellent 3pt shooting. RMU is an even better 3pt shooting team than Wright St, shooting at 38.2% on the year. Not only that, but the defending conference tourney champions are a top 15 offensive rebounding % team in the country as well. I really don’t see any other team winning this tournament other than those two, barring multiple upsets along the way. Burns' Selection: Robert Morris (+320)
Odds To Win:Wright State (+200)Robert Morris (+320)Oakland (+425)Green Bay (+1000)Detroit Mercy (+1000)Northern Kentucky (+1400)Youngstown State (+1600)Purdue Fort Wayne (+4500)Milwaukee (+6500)IUPUI (+50000)Cleveland State (+50000)-----------------------------------------------------Ivy League: (March 14-15) - Ithaca, New York5 Players To Watch Out For:
Nick Townsend (Yale / Forward) - 16.5 PTS, 4.1 AST, 7.5 REBCooper Noard (Cornell / Guard) - 18.5 PTS, 1.9 AST, 3.4 REBJake Fiegen (Cornell / Guard) - 16.8 PTS, 2.2 AST, 5.1 REBEthan Roberts (Penn / Guard/Forward) - 16.9 PTS, 2.3 AST, 3.9 REBRobert Hinton (Harvard / Guard) - 17.1 PTS, 2.1 AST, 4.7 REBWhat To Expect:Over the past couple of seasons, it’s been the Yale show in the Ivy League. The back-to-back champions are back at it again, looking for its third title in as many years. If we take a look at the four teams though, there could definitely be an upset or two in this three game tournament. Yale does have elite shooting, with the 3rd best three point percentage in the country. It combines that with solid defense. Cornell could be considered even better offensively than Yale this season, ranking 8th in effective field goal percentage and owning top 15 numbers in both 3pt and 2pt percentage shooting. The Big Red have struggled defensively though, leading to high scoring shootouts. But, they will play Yale in the first round and could very well pull off an upset, like it did just two weeks ago. Harvard is more defensive minded and plays at the 356th tempo in the country. The Crimson also rank 2nd nationally in free throw percentage which is very important at this time of the year. Pennsylvania is a bit of a weird one. It actually ranks 2nd in free throw percentage allowed this season, but struggles itself. The Quakers shoot the three ball at the 16th best rate in NCAAB, but are much stronger defensively. I like Yale to fight through Cornell and win the final to get back to the dance. Burns' Selection: Yale (-110)
Odds To Win:Yale (-110)Cornell (+330)Harvard (+475)Pennsylvania (+650)
-----------------------------------------------------Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference: (March 5-8, 10) - Atlantic City, New Jersey5 Players To Watch Out For: Kevair Kennedy (Merrimack / Guard) - 18.5 PTS, 4.2 AST, 4.6 REBBrandon Benjamin (Fairfield / Forward) - 13.9 PTS, 1.2 AST, 10.2 REBGavin Doty (Siena / Guard) - 17.5 PTS, 2.3 AST, 7.0 REBCJ Anthony (Iona / Guard) - 14.4 PTS, 5.4 AST, 3.1 REBAsim Jones (Quinnipiac / Guard) - 12.7 PTS, 3.9 AST, 2.3 REB, 48% 3ptWhat To Expect:Only three year’s ago, we had the St. Peter’s magical run to the elite eight as a #15 seed. It was something breathtaking to watch and has forever changed the way people think about teams of the MAAC. This conference isn’t to be taken lightly, whoever comes out of it. Merrimack is the favorite after receiving the #1 seed in this conference tournament. The Warriors are a phenomenal FT shooting team (79%) and they have great defensive numbers. If we take a look at this year’s Peacocks of St Peter’s, the press that they use could cause some havoc. They create a ton of turnovers and also have really strong defense. Marist might even own the best defense of the bunch, but comes in banged up. I’m leaning a different direction as I think Siena’s versatility and its big three are good enough to beat anyone in this conference. But, I wouldn’t be surprised if Merrimack gets through as I believe that the Warriors could have a real shot at a March Madness upset if they do. Burns' Selection: Siena (+330)
Odds To Win:
Merrimack (+310)Siena (+330)Marist (+475)Saint Peter’s (+650)Quinnipiac (+650)Fairfield (+1100)Mount Saint Mary's (+1500)Iona (+1800)Sacred Heart (+5000)Manhattan (+16000)-----------------------------------------------------Mid-American Conference: (March 12-14) - Cleveland, Ohio5 Players To Watch Out For:
Tavari Johnson (Akron / Guard) - 20.2 PTS, 5.2 AST, 3.0 REBLeroy Blyden (Toledo / Guard) - 16.2 PTS, 4.5 AST, 3.9 REBPeter Suder (Miami Ohio / Guard) - 14.8 PTS, 3.9 AST, 4.7 REBJackson Paveletzke (Ohio / Guard) - 17.5 PTS, 5.2 AST, 3.0 REBJavontae Campbell (Bowling Green / Guard) - 18.8 PTS, 5.1 AST, 4.6 REBWhat To Expect:
Miami Ohio has been the talk of all of College Hoops over the past month, as nobody saw this coming. For the first time since 2020, a team has finished the regular season with a perfect record. It hasn’t always been pretty. But, the RedHawks have found a way each and every game. They are clutch and shoot very effectively, at #6 in the country. Akron, though, beat Miami OH in last year’s final and is the favorite going into the tournament. The Zips rank just behind the Redhawks with the #7 effective FG%. Both teams play fast and everyones hoping for those teams to meet up in the final once again. But, don’t count out Toledo, who gave both of those teams quite a bit of trouble, and played both on the road. With the perfect record on the line, it’s hard not to cheer for the RedHawks. But, I’m hoping Akron gets it done to reach the NCAA Tournament as well as I know the Zips could cause some havoc this March.
Burns' Selection: Akron (-115)
Odds To Win:Akron (-115)Miami Ohio (+190)Toledo (+1500)Kent State (+1600)Bowling Green (+2200)Massachusetts (+4000)Buffalo (+5500)Ohio (+7500)-----------------------------------------------------Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference: (March 11-14) - Norfolk, Virginia
5 Players To Watch Out For:
Cedric Taylor (Howard / Guard) - 17.4 PTS, 3.4 AST, 6.7 REBBryce Harris (Howard / Guard) - 17.5 PTS, 2.5 AST, 6.7 REBAlfred Worrell (Morgan State / Guard) - 17.4 PTS, 1.2 AST, 3.8 REBAnthony McComb (Norfolk State / Guard) - 17.0 PTS, 1.4 AST, 4.3 REBGage Lattimore (NC Central / Guard) - 17.2 PTS, 2.5 AST, 4.0 REBWhat To Expect:
As one of the “lesser conferences” is NCAA, this tournament isn’t followed by nearly as many people. Having said that, the teams in the MEAC are sometimes fighting for more than just a spot in the big dance. But, they are also fighting for glory and maybe even a first ever championship for their school. That’s what makes every tournament so special and unique. Howard is the big favorite going into this year’s version. The Bison have a great defense and have won six straight games since losing to Yale in OT. Norforlk State gets to play this tournament at home (not on campus though,) which is always a plus. The Spartans are 9-4 at home this year and could be dangerous. Morgan State is a bit of a surprise team that’s done really well down the stretch including beating Howard. I like the favorite, but anything could happen, like always.
Burns' Selection: Howard (-300)
Odds To Win:Howard (-300)Norfolk State (+600)Morgan State (+1200)NC Central (+1600)MD East Shore (+2200)South Carolina State (+5000)Delaware State (+10000)-----------------------------------------------------Missouri Valley Conference: (March 5-8) - St. Louis, Missouri5 Players To Watch Out For: Jaquan Johnson (Bradley / Guard) - 17.4 PTS, 3.5 AST, 3.9 REBChase Walker (Illinois State / Forward) - 13.6 PTS, 2.1 AST, 5.3 REBQuel’Ron House (Southern Illinois / Guard) - 14.7 PTS, 3.3 AST, 3.4 REBDrew Scharnowski (Belmont / Forward) - 10.9 PTS, 2.6 AST, 6.0 REBJavon Jackson (Murray State / Guard) - 16.0 PTS, 2.8 AST, 2.3 REBWhat To Expect:Last season, Drake was near the top of the short-list of expected MVC Tourney winners. This time around, the Bulldogs don’t really even have a chance. UNI is the second slowest playing team in the country. It also ranks top 25 in defensive efficiency. Belmont has a top 40 offensive efficiency in the nation with the #1 effective FG%, shooting threes at 41.1% & twos at 61.1% on the season. Illinois State just beat Belmont on the last day of the year. The Redbirds are one of the most well-rounded in the conference, great on both sides of the ball. Bradley is always a contender as well with a fantastic turnover ratio. UIC dominates the offensive glass and Murray State will play fast and execute offensively. Expect one of the most competitive tournaments to take place here in St. Louis. Burns' Selection: Belmont (+155)
Odds To Win:Belmont (+155)Northern Iowa (+475)Illinois State (+500)Bradley (+750)Illinois Chicago (+850)Murray State (+1000)Southern Illinois (+1800)Valparaiso (+3500)Indiana State (+7500)Drake (+20000)Evansville (+20000) -----------------------------------------------------Mountain West Conference: (March 11-14) - Las Vegas, Nevada5 Players To Watch Out For:
Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn (UNLV / Guard) - 21.0 PTS, 2.5 AST, 3.1 REBMason Falslev (Utah State / Guard) - 15.9 PTS, 2.9 ATS, 5.7 REBJaden Henley (Grand Canyon / Guard) - 17.6 PTS, 2.9 AST, 5.7 REBTomislav Buljan (New Mexico / Forward) - 12.2 PTS, 1.3 AST, 10.3 REBCorey Camper (Nevada / Guard) - 17.1 PTS, 2.4 AST, 4.4 REBWhat To Expect:
I’m very excited for this Mountain West Tournament. Utah State has already clinched, while the rest of the field try and make it two teams from the MWC in March Madness. I could see about eight different teams winning this tournament & I’m not even joking. Considering what we saw last year, anything can happen. USU is great offensively and uses a ton of guys off the bench. San Diego State has been sub-par down the stretch. But, it’s got a top 25 defense and also has a ton of talent on the bench. GCU could never really win many games in a row. However, the Lopes also have a top 25 defense and have looked great over their past two contests. Boise started the year with maybe the worst loss in NCAA history. Since, it’s played solid basketball, ranking in the top 10 in FT %. UNLV gets to play at home and it’s one of the hottest teams coming in. The Rebels have a strong offense and could beat anyone on their day. I’m not huge on New Mexico. But, the Lobos & Aztecs could meet up and that’s going to be an enormous game. Don’t count out CSU or Nevada just yet either.
Burns' Selection: San Diego State (+330)
Odds To Win:Utah State (+220)San Diego State (+330)Grand Canyon (+475)Boise State (+550)New Mexico (+650)Nevada (+1900)Colorado State (+2500)UNLV (+4500)Wyoming (+7000)Fresno State (+20000)San Jose State (+60000)Air Force (+80000)-----------------------------------------------------Northeast Conference: (March 4, 7, 10) - Campus Sites5 Players To Watch Out For: Darin Smith (Central Connecticut State / Forward) - 20.4 PTS, 1.2 AST, 5.2 REBJay Rodgers (Central Connecticut State / Guard) - 11.3 PTS, 7.0 AST, 2.2 REBMalachi Davis (Long Island / Guard) - 14.5 PTS, 3.4 AST, 3.5 REBShilo Jackson (Le Moyne / Forward) - 15.9 PTS, 2.2 AST, 8.0 REBBernie Blunt (Mercyhurst / Guard) - 17.4 PTS, 2.3 AST, 2.9 REB
What To Expect:
As it has been over the past couple of seasons, CCSU & LIU are the two favorites to come out of the Northeast Conference. Last season, St. Francis PA made a miracle run to the Big Dance and although the Red Flash didn’t make this tournament, that’s definitely something to watch out for again in the NEC. New in the conference this season, Mercyhurst is one of the best teams in the country at keeping control of the ball, top 10 in turnovers per game. Central Connecticut State finished the year probably the hottest of any team and they are excellent from the FT line. The favorite, Long Island is great defensively and shoots at a very high percentage. In a battle between the top two, it’s very difficult to beat a team three times, and LIU might just have to do that (vs. CCSU) to get into the dance this season. Burns' Selection: Central Connecticut State (+400)
Odds To Win:Long Island (-200)Central Connecticut State (+400)Mercyhurst (+600)Le Moyne (+1200)Stonehill (+6000)Wagner (+15000)Fairleigh Diksinson (+16000)Chicago State (+50000)-----------------------------------------------------Ohio Valley Conference: (March 4-7) - Evansville, Indiana5 Players To Watch Out For: Aaron Nkrumah (Tennesse State / Guard) - 17.6 PTS, 2.9 AST, 5.6 REBJohnathan Lawson (Little Rock / Guard) - 16.2 PTS, 4.0 AST, 4.0 REBJadis Jones (Lindenwood / Guard) - 15.3 PTS, 2.6 AST, 8.5 REBAndrija Bukumirovic (UT Martin / G/F) - 13.7 PTS, 1.0 AST, 7.8 REBDavion Cunningham (Moreheard State / Guard) - 11.6 PTS, 2.0 AST, 4.1 REBWhat To Expect:In a conference with only eight teams making the tournament, this definitely is one to watch out for. There is no team that stands out as a clear favorite, meaning every single team that made it has a chance. & when I say every team, I mean every single team. Eastern Illinois, the final team to secure a spot, causes absolute havoc on the defensive end, ranking top 40 in turnovers created and top 50 in 3pt % defense. Little Rock opened the year as the favorite to win this conference. At the top of the seeds, Tennessee State plays really fast and will use a heavy-pressure, high press defense to force turnovers. UT Martin has a ton of European players and employs a unique style of basketball. SIUE won this tournament last year and it’s also one of the best defensive teams in the country. This one’s going to be very fun. Burns' Selection: UT Martin (+370)
Odds To Win:Tennessee State (+220)UT Martin (+370)Southeast Missouri State (+400)Morehead State (+400)SIU Edwardsville (+1100)Lindenwood (+1600)Little Rock (+3500)Eastern Illinois (+6500)-----------------------------------------------------Patriot League: (March 3, 5, 8, 11) - Campus Sites5 Players To Watch Out For: Austin Benigni (Navy / Guard) - 18.1 PTS, 4.4 AST, 3.4 REBNasir Whitlock (Lehigh / Guard) - 20.8 PTS, 3.2 AST, 3.6 REBJalen Cox (Colgate / Guard) - 17.6 PTS, 5.1 AST, 5.2 REBAidan Kehoe (Navy / Center) - 15.4 PTS, 2.4 AST, 11.0 REBMichael McNair (Boston / Guard) 17.0 PTS, 2.2 AST, 5.2 REBWhat To Expect:All season long, Navy has been the team that everyone’s been trying to catch. The Midshipmen are in the midst of their best season of basketball over the past decade and they are trying to get back to the Big Dance for the first time since 1998. Colgate has been to the tournament pretty recently and Lehigh is quite hot coming in. But, Navy’s simply been untouchable this year, winning 17 of 18 conference games. I don’t see any team giving the Midshipmen many problems in this tournament. Burns' Selection: Navy (-120)
Odds To Win:Navy (-120)Colgate (+360)Lehigh (+800)Boston (+850)American (+900)Loyola Maryland (+4500)Lafayette (+7500)Holy Cross (+12000)Bucknell (+14000)Army (+20000)-----------------------------------------------------Southeastern Conference: (March 11-15) - Nashville, Tennessee8 Players To Watch Out For:
Darius Acuff Jr (Arkansas / Guard) - 22.2 PTS, 6.4 AST, 3.0 REBThomas Haugh (Florida / Forward) - 17.2 PTS, 2.0 AST, 6.1 REBLabaron Philon (Alabama / Guard) - 21.5 PTS, 4.8 AST, 3.2 REBOtega Oweh (Kentucky / Guard) - 18.2 PTS, 2.7 AST, 4.6 REBTyler Tanner (Vanderbilt / Guard) 19.2 PTS, 5.2 AST, 3.5 REBAlex Condon (Florida / Forward/Center) - 14.8 PTS, 3.6 AST, 7.6 REBJa’Kobi Gillespie (Tennessee / Guard) - 18.0 PTS, 5.6 AST, 2.9 REBTahaad Pettiford (Auburn / Guard) - 15.2 PTS, 3.6 AST, 2.9 REBWhat To Expect:
Among the best conferences in College Basketball, Florida’s ready to fight for another title. The defending champs have an even stronger front court (much more experience,) with dangerous guards once again. Arkansas, though, might just have the best player in the conference in Darius Acuff. Florida, Arkansas & Alabama love to push the pace and rank in the top 25 in tempo. They combine that speed with excellent offense, all ranking top 10 in offensive efficiency. Vanderbilt’s a tad slower, and also has a top 15 offensive rating. Tennessee takes a much slower approach, relying on tough defense to make opponents take shots that are much more difficult. UGA/A&M push the pace as well, while Knetucky relies on size to out muscle teams. Expect fireworks and a lot of points to be scored throughout this week.
Burns' Selection: Florida (-180)
Odds To Win:Florida (-180)Arkansas (+600)Alabama (+850)Vanderbilt (+1000)Tennessee (+1100)Georgia (+3500)Texas A&M (+3500)Kentucky (+4500)Texas (+6000)Oklahoma (+10000)Missouri (+15000)Auburn (+18000)Mississippi (+60000)South Carolina (+80000)Mississippi State (+80000)LSU (+80000)-----------------------------------------------------Southern Conference: (March 6-9) - Asheville, North Carolina5 Players To Watch Out For: Kahmare Holmes (Wofford / Guard) - 19.3 PTS, 2.7 AST, 5.6 REBBaraka Okojie (Mercer / Guard) - 19.5 PTS, 5.4 AST, 3.1 REBDylan Faulkner (Furman / Forward) - 17.3 PTS, 1.8 REB, 8.6 REBJadin Booth (Furman / Guard) - 21.2 PTS, 2.2 AST, 3.7 REBCam Morris (East Tennessee State / Forward) - 14.1 PTS, 1.5 AST, 5.3 REBWhat To Expect:The SOCON tournament is always one of my favorites to watch. Upsets happen all of the time and I expect more to occur this time around. Chattanooga has struggled this year after being expected to finish near the top. ETSU has established itself as the #1 seed. That very matchup could happen on the second day of action. The (3)Samford/(6)Furman matchup is the one I’m most excited for in the opening round. Both of those teams could make a run at the title and I’m actually picking one of them to do so. Samford has won eight of its L9 games and takes excellent care of the basketball. Furman shoots nearly 60% with 2pt shots! Don’t sleep on Mercer, who’s been one of the most efficient offenses in the Southern this season. I’m not counting out ETSU as it could definitely be the team to represent this conference. But, given the path, I’ll go with Furman here. Burns' Selection: Furman (+425)
Odds To Win:East Tennessee State (+185)Furman (+425)Mercer (+475)Samford (+550)Wofford (+800)West Carolina (+1000)UNC Greensboro (+3500)Chattanooga (+4000)The Citadel (+50000)Virginia Military (+90000)-----------------------------------------------------Southland Conference: (March 8-11) - Lake Charles, Louisiana5 Players To Watch Out For: Keon Thompson (Stephen F. Austin / Guard) - 18.1 PTS, 4.4 AST, 4.8 REBLarry Johnson (McNeese State / Guard) - 17.2 PTS, 1.4 AST, 5.3 REBJakevion Buckley (New Orleans / Guard) - 14.2 PTS, 5.7 AST, 4.8 REBTyshawn Archie (McNeese State / Guard) - 14.3 PTS, 2.9 AST, 1.9 REBLateef Patrick (Stephen F. Austin / Guard) - 15.5 PTS, 1.6 AST, 2.9 REBWhat To Expect:In a conference that only sends eight of twelve teams to the conference tournament, the Soutland is fairly top heavy this season with two teams in McNeese State & Stephen F. Austin expected to compete for a chance to represent the conference. Now, there’s a chance for a team like UTRGV, Corpus Christi & New Orleans to sneak in and upset the rest of the field. But, Stephen F. Austin is 27-4 this year (20-2 in conference) and has used its suffocating top ten perimeter defense to its advantage. One of its losses this year came against McNeese though, who owns the #1 defensive turnover % in the nation (2nd in turnovers forced per game.) The Cowboys, at 26-5 (eight straight wins,) have the luxury of having won this tournament last year. I’ve got McNeese again. Burns' Selection: McNeese State (+115)
Odds To Win:McNeese State (+115)Stephen F. Austin (+125)UT Rio Grande Valley (+700)Texas A&M Corpus Christi (+1700)New Orleans (+3000)Nicholls State (+13000)Northwestern State (+20000)Houston Christian (+30000)-----------------------------------------------------SWAC Conference: (March 9-14) - Atlanta, Georgia 5 Players To Watch Out For: Quion Williams (Arkansas-Pine Bluff / Guard) - 17.5 PTS, 5.4 AST, 8.1 REBMichael Jacobs (Southern U / Guard) - 17.6 PTS, 5.2 AST, 3.7 REBJakobi Heady (Bethune Cookman / Guard/Forward) - 18.1 PTS, 1.8 AST, 5.0 REBTroy Hupstead (Texas Southern / Forward) - 14.6 PTS, 1.1 AST, 9.3 REBDontae Horne (Prairie View A&M / Guard) - 19.7 PTS, 2.9 AST, 4.5 REBWhat To Expect:The SWAC tournament is also very interesting, even if the winner only reaches the NCAA Tournament as a #16 seed. With no clear favorite this season, it’s definitely up in the air. On of the preseason favorites, Jackson State, could be without its best player in Daeshun Ruffin (23.3 PTS, 5.3 AST, 2.8 REB) which is why I didn’t include in “5 Players To Watch Out For.” He’s the SWAC Player Of The Year and if he’s a no-go, the Tigers could be in trouble early. Southern University has won consuecitve games and relies on its fast pace to overwhelm teams. The slight favorite, B-CU, is probably the best defensive team in the conference. If the Bulldogs of Alabama A&M don’t get many free throws, don’t expect too much out of them. Texas Southern pounds the paint and gets to the line quite a bit too. As a bit more of an all-around team, I like Southern to come out of this one. Burns' Selection: Southern U (+270)
Odds To Win:Bethune Cookman (+185)Southern U (+270)Texas Southern (+750)Florida A&M (+750)Alabama A&M (+750)Arkansas-Pine Bluff (+1500)Grambling State (+2200)Alabama State (+3000)Jackson State (+3500)Prairie View A&M (+4000)Alcorn State (+20000)Mississippi Valley State (+50000)-----------------------------------------------------Summit League: (March 4-8) - Sioux Falls, South Dakota5 Players To Watch Out For: Carson Johnson (Denver / Guard) - 20.2 PTS, 3.0 AST, 1.7 REBNolan Minessale (St. Thomas MN / Guard) - 19.8 PTS, 4.4 AST, 4.3 REBJoe Sayler (South Dakota State / Guard) - 14.5 PTS, 2.3 AST, 3.5 REBIsaac Bruns (South Dakota / Guard) - 20.8 PTS, 1.3 AST, 5.1 REBPaul Djobet (Omaha / Guard) - 18.4 PTS, 2.1 AST, 6.3 REBWhat To Expect:Just like last season, the top three favorites to win this conference remain the same. Saint Thomas MN, NDSU & SDSU. Even with those teams being the favs a year ago, Omaha was able to come out of the conference tournament as the last team standing. Given that it leads the country in 2pt % at an absurd 63.9%, I do believe that the Tommies are slightly favored for good reason though. North Dakota State is a complete basketball team that plays it’s own game and doesn’t let the opponent affect it. Given that the Mavericks of Omaha did it last year, we cannot count them out either. In fact, they split the season series with STMN so far. Burns' Selection: (UPSET ALERT) Nebraska Omaha (+1500)
Odds To Win:Saint Thomas MN (+135)North Dakota State (+145)Denver (+1100)South Dakota State (+1200)Omaha (+1500)South Dakota (+2500)North Dakota (+3500)Oral Roberts (+13000)UMKC (+40000)-----------------------------------------------------Sun Belt Conference: (March 3-9) - Pensacola, Florida 5 Players To Watch Out For: DJ Hall (Texas State / Forward) - 15.3 PTS, 2.3 AST, 7.5 REBThomas Dowd (Troy / Forward) - 14.6 PTS, 2.1 AST, 10.1 REBChaze Harris (South Alabama / Guard) - 18.9 PTS, 4.7 AST, 4.6 REBAdam Olsen (South Alabama / Forward) - 16.7 PTS, 1.0 AST, 4.2 REBTylik Weeks (Southern Miss / Forward) - 18.8 PTS, 2.4 AST, 5.8 REBWhat To Expect:This conference is an absolute mess at the top of the standings. The #1-7 seeds are separated by just one game & why is that significant? Well, the team that got 7th (Arkansas State) will have to win three extra games to win the tournament, all in successive days. Ridiculously unfair.. but it’s the reality. Even despite the horrible bracket for lower ranked teams, I am expecting this SBC Tourney to get pretty interesting. If you’ve been following me this season, USA plays tremeoundous D & has a three point sniper that I went to High School with - Adam Olsen (mentioned above.) Ark St ranks among the fastest playing teams in the nation and dominates the offensive glass. Troy, the #1 seed, plays really close to the hoop and doesn’t take too many mid-range jump shots. Marshall is a fantastic shooting team, from both inside and outside, but lacks on D. App State is the exact opposite as Marshall. Things will get interesting, but it's going to be very difficult with this kind of bracket for a lower seed to pull through. Expect Troy to pull through. Burns' Selection: Troy (+170)
Odds To Win:Troy (+170)Marshall (+270)Appalachian State (+500)Arkansas State (+1000)South Alabama (+1100)Coastal Carolina (+1400)Texas State (+3000)James Madison (+3000)Southern Miss (+9000)Old Dominion (+10000)Georgia Southern (+30000)Louisiana (+50000)Georgia State (+50000)Louisiana Monroe (+100000)-----------------------------------------------------West Coast Conference: (March 5-10) - Las Vegas, Nevada5 Players To Watch Out For: Graham Ike (Gonzaga / Forward) - 19.8 PTS, 2.5 AST, 8.4 REBPaulius Murauskas (St. Mary’s / Forward) - 18.9 PTS, 2.2 AST, 7.7 REBMikey Lewis (St. Mary’s / Guard) - 13.4 PTS, 2.1 AST, 2.7 REBAce Glass (Washington State / Guard) - 16.3 PTS, 2.3 AST, 3.1 REBChristian Hammond (Santa Clara / Guard) - 15.9 PTS, 2.4 AST, 2.9 REBWhat To Expect:In the final game of the regular season, Saint Mary’s was able to defeat Gonzaga to put some doubt in the Zags fans. Nonetheless, the Bulldogs are the favorites to win the WCC Tournament this season, like most years. Santa Clara is close enough to these top two teams to have a slight chance, having one of its best seasons in many years. Both the oddsmakers and I would be shocked to see any other team win this tourney given the lengthy bracket and having to play consecutive games day after day. If Santa Clara does its job and wins its first game, I do expect all three of these top teams to make the Big Dance whoever wins. The WCC final four should be a blast to watch whoever comes out on top. Burns' Selection: Gonzaga (-210)
Odds To Win:Gonzaga (-210)Saint Mary's (+230)Santa Clara (+650)San Francisco (+12000)Oregon State (+17000)Seattle (+18000)Pacific (+25000)Washington State (+25000)Loyola Marymount (+80000)Portland (+80000)Pepperdine (+80000)San Diego (+100000)-----------------------------------------------------Western Athletic Conference: (March 11-14) - Las Vegas, Nevada5 Players To Watch Out For:
Dominique Daniels (Cal Baptist / Guard) - 22.6 PTS, 3.3 AST, 3.8 REBDior Johnson (Tarleton State / Guard) - 23.8 PTS, 1.5 AST, 3.2 REBJackson Holcombe (Utah Valley / Guard) - 15.6 PTS, 3.6 AST, 7.3 REBBradyn Hubbard (Abilene Christian / Forward) - 16.2 PTS, 1.7 AST, 4.6 REBEthan Potter (Utah Tech / Forward) - 16.3 PTS, 2.0 AST, 8.0 REBWhat To Expect:
In the WAC, there’s no in between. Either you play slow, or you play fast. Utah Valley likes to push the tempo and is red hot at the moment, winning six consecutive games. The Wolverines are quietly one of the most complete teams in terms of mid-majors. Cal Baptist is also really hot, winning four straight contests. It’s great defensively and domiantes the glass, especially offensive. UTA loves to play at a really slow pace, with the #1 three point (perimeter) defense in the entire country. Don’t sleep on Utah Tech though, who’s beaten every team in the conference and did so in six consecutive games at one point this season. I like UT Arlington, to shock the rest of the conference. But, I wouldn’t be shocked if either Utah Valley or Cal Baptist come out of this tournament as well.
Burns' Selection: Texas Arlington (+1000)
Odds To Win:Utah Valley (+105)California Baptist (+155)Texas Arlington (+1000)Utah Tech (+1300)Tarleton State (+4500)Southern Utah (+5000)-----------------------------------------------------Good Luck to ALL, and Happy Watching!William Burns
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