Faculty basketball tiers: ACC, Huge East spotlight prime convention races
Andy Katz
College Basketball Analyst & Writer
The perfect time of yr for college basketball followers is rapidly approaching. Convention races are heating up throughout the nation, and essentially the most aggressive ones have gotten extra clear as we attain late January.
The ACC has 5 groups sitting 6-2 or higher in convention play as of Friday morning. In the meantime, Xavier sits atop the Huge East, whereas each Marquette and Providence are off to distinctive begins in convention play, as properly.
How will these leagues shake out?
Here’s a have a look at my prime convention races this season, damaged down into tiers. That is not a rating of the most effective leagues, however moderately the most effective races among the many conferences which have an opportunity to obtain a number of NCAA Event bids.
Andy Katz’s hottest school basketball convention races
Fox Sports activities’ Andy Katz talks about essentially the most aggressive school basketball convention races left within the season, together with the ACC and the PAC 12.
Tier 1 races
ACC: This race is huge open, particularly after Wake Forest knocked off beforehand unbeaten Clemson Tuesday night time. Clemson has one loss; Miami, Wake Forest, Pitt and Virginia all have two losses; NC State, North Carolina, Syracuse and Duke every have three. Predicting a winner is extraordinarily tough. The doubtless contenders are nonetheless Miami, Virginia, North Carolina and Duke, however to dismiss Clemson, Wake, Pitt and NC State can be a mistake. Count on the ACC champion to have a minimal of three losses, however extra doubtless at the least 5 by season’s finish. The excellent news is that the depth on this convention means eight bids is an actual chance.
Big East: Xavier sits atop the league by means of eight video games with a 7-1 mark. In the meantime, Providence and Marquette every have two losses, and Creighton has three by means of eight video games. Seton Hall sits at 5-4, whereas UConn has now dropped to 4-5. Sure, Xavier is 3.5 video games forward of UConn with a win over the Huskies, however there isn’t any motive to imagine they’re a lock to take the title. The Musketeers had received 11 in a row earlier than falling 73-72 to DePaul on Wednesday. They seem like the favourite, however nonetheless, this needs to be probably the most entertaining races right down to the ultimate weekend.
Pac-12: UCLA sits at 8-0 heading right into a much-anticipated matchup towards Arizona this weekend. Arizona State is 6-2 with its two losses coming towards the Bruins and Wildcats. And abruptly, USC is again within the chase with solely three losses. Arizona additionally has three losses after falling at Oregon (following earlier defeats versus Washington State and at Utah). Nonetheless, the Wildcats are arguably essentially the most proficient group within the league, outdoors of UCLA. So, to imagine Arizona wouldn’t be within the title chase can be a mistake. This race may have some separation this weekend with the LA faculties within the desert. However the Arizona faculties should head again to LA, so this competitors is much from over.
Mountain West: This needs to be probably the most balanced races among the many prime conferences. Boise State, San Diego State, Nevada, New Mexico, and probably Utah State, will all be within the thick of the chase over the following six weeks. San Diego State was the favourite however misplaced at dwelling to the Lobos. Boise State misplaced at dwelling to Nevada however heads to the Pit for a showdown with New Mexico on Friday. The excellent news for the MWC is that this seems to be at the least a two-bid league for the NCAA Event. Three isn’t out of the query, however the prime two, barring a 3rd group successful the convention match, are doubtless sure to get bids.
Atlantic 10: That is trending towards a one-bid convention, and it seems just like the A10 goes to have a wide-open chase for the title. The 2 greatest groups have been VCU and Dayton. Saint Louis is lastly taking part in to its potential. And it will be unsuitable to dismiss Richmond and St. Bonaventure as potential candidates. Davidson dropped out of the race at 2-5 by means of seven video games. VCU, Dayton and Saint Louis all have one loss by means of Friday, and having all of them tie for first, or at the least two of the three, wouldn’t be a shock. The issue is that none of them did properly sufficient in nonconference play for an at-large bid. That’s to not say any of these three groups can’t get a bid on their very own benefit, nevertheless it’s going to be tough. VCU already beat Dayton on the highway and will get Dayton at dwelling on Feb. 7. The Rams play Saint Louis twice on Feb. 3 and Feb. 28. The Billikens nonetheless have two video games towards Dayton, as properly, on Feb. 10 and March 3.
Tier 2 races
SEC: Alabama is the favourite to win the SEC. The Tide have the products to win the league by a recreation or two. Tennessee is almost definitely to be their hardest problem. The Vols host Alabama with out a return. But, Alabama has already confirmed to be a powerful group on the highway and on impartial courts. Texas A&M and Auburn are taking part in properly, however I am unsure if they’re able to be legit title contenders. This feels and appears like a two-team race with Alabama and Tennessee.
Big 12: Kansas State needed to go to additional time to nip Kansas on a closing possession. That was the primary Huge 12 loss for the Jayhawks. And sure, by means of six video games, Kansas, Kansas State and Iowa State all have one loss. However Kansas had already crushed Iowa State with a recreation to return in Ames. Kansas State should return to Lawrence. The favourite remains to be Kansas. Texas has two losses by means of Friday, whereas TCU and Baylor have three. All of those faculties are nonetheless in play for the title, after all, however the odds nonetheless favor Kansas amongst these prime six. And you’ll guide NCAA Event bids for all of them — even right here in late January.
Big Ten: Purdue is the overwhelming favourite. By means of Friday, the Boilermakers maintain a two-game lead on Rutgers and Michigan State. Rutgers did win at Purdue and don’t play the Boilermakers once more this season. Nonetheless, the percentages are towards Rutgers operating the desk the remainder of the season, whereas it wouldn’t be a shock if Purdue solely misplaced yet another recreation. Michigan State has seemed good, however dropping Malik Hall is a success for a title run. Michigan has misplaced three video games so far, towards Michigan State in East Lansing, at Iowa, and at Maryland. Illinois was trending upward, however the Illini fell to Indiana on Thursday. In the meantime, Ohio State has been reeling, whereas accidents have hampered Indiana and Wisconsin. Iowa is the sleeper, however the Hawkeyes don’t match up properly with Purdue. The Boilers ought to win the league by a recreation or two.
Tier 3 races
American: Houston goes to run away with the title. The Cougars sit at 6-0, whereas Tulane, Cincinnati and Temple are all 5-2. Houston additionally holds a two-game lead over Memphis. Might the Tigers nonetheless win the league? Certain. However there’s been no indication they’ll topple Houston. Count on the Cougars to win the league by at the least two, if not three or 4 video games.
WCC: Gonzaga’s 75-game home win streak was snapped by Loyola Marymount on Thursday night time. The Zags nonetheless should play Saint Mary’s twice. So, this race will nonetheless be aggressive between the Zags and the Gaels. Nevertheless it’s only a two-team race, which means it’s Tier 3 compared to the leagues above.
Andy Katz is a longtime school basketball author, analyst and host. He may be seen on the Huge Ten Community, in addition to March Insanity and NCAA.com, and he hosts the podcast “March Insanity 365.” Katz labored at ESPN for practically twenty years and, previous to that, in newspapers for 9 years.
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