College basketball tiers: Big 12, Big Ten headline greatest convention tournaments

Welcome to Champ Week!

Several convention tournaments bought underway this week, with multiple-bid leagues beginning over the weekend and into subsequent week.

For this week’s tiers, I’m an important and aggressive convention tournaments main into the Big Dance.

Let’s get to it.

Tier 1: Top of the road

1. Big 12: Kansas is the favourite to win the Big 12 Tournament title. The winner will probably 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. Both the Mountaineers and Cowboys have to do nicely on this event.

2. Big Ten: Purdue presently sits at 24-5 general and must cement a No. 1 seed. Multiple Big Ten groups, led by Indiana, may very well be in line for a top-four seed. Meanwhile, three groups from the convention — Wisconsin, Michigan and Penn State — have to get wins to get within the NCAA Tournament subject.

3. SEC: Alabama is 26-4 general and vying for a No. 1 seed. Meanwhile, each Texas A&M and Tennessee are attempting 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. Big East: This yr’s Big East common season was wild. Expect the Big East Tournament 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]

Tier 2: Next up

1. ACC: Miami and Virginia stay the favorites to take house the event title, however Pitt has had a breakthrough season. And always remember about Duke and North Carolina, particularly in Greensboro. Tracking their progress all through the convention event might 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 at the very least the 3-line. USC and Arizona State have to hold profitable with a purpose to safe a spot within the tourney. Oh, and don’t overlook about Oregon, which is at all times a menace 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 making an attempt to lock up a No. 1 seed within the NCAA Tournament. Memphis is squarely on the bubble and must get to the championship sport. Losing early might severely harm the Tigers’ event hopes.

Tier 3: The sleepers

1. MVC: Bradley is the favourite to take house the event crown after profitable the regular-season title for the primary time in 27 years. However, 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 profitable the title.

3. WCC: Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s are locks to make the NCAA Tournament. Both are vying for a spot on the 4-5 line. Look out for LMU or Santa Clara as groups that might earn the WCC a 3rd bid with a title.

4. CAA: Hofstra received the regular-season title, ending 16-2 in convention play. But Charleston, Towson and UNC Wilmington are simply as viable to win the event championship and earn an automated bid.

5. Conference USA: Florida Atlantic nonetheless must win the event title with a purpose 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 might be seen on the Big Ten Network, in addition to March Madness and NCAA.com, and he hosts the podcast “March Madness 365.” Katz labored at ESPN for practically twenty years and, previous to that, in newspapers for 9 years.

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