Obviously, we try to get the best player at the most needed positions, for the best monetary deal. But I don't see us getting a regular rotation guy at another P5 conference. Don't think we have enough to offer. We also know the risk of dropping too far down. Again, we should look at everyone. But this is what I think may be our sweet spot, using the prestige of the B1G to our advantage:
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10. AAC
Regular season winner: South Florida
Challengers for the auto-bid: Tulsa, Wichita State
South Florida has the best win in the conference by knocking off an awesome Utah State team, and they also have the best balance in the AAC with the No. 61 overall offense and No. 48 defense. Former Arkansas wing Joseph Pinion is the a sniper on the outside, and Izaiyah Nelson is a productive two-way big at 6’10. South Florida beat Tulsa twice during the regular season, and I’d bet on another matchup happening in the conference tournament.
9. Missouri Valley
Regular season winner: Belmont
Challengers for the auto-bid: Bradley, Illinois State, Murray State, UIC
Arch Madness is always one of the best conference tournaments, and this one should be no different. Belmont ran away with the league, and sophomore big man Drew Scharnowski is turning into a true mid-major star. The best player in the conference resides on Bradley with sophomore guard Jaquan Johnson. Johnson is a 40 percent three-point shooter who gets tons of steals and doesn’t turn the ball over. Belmont will be challenged, but I still like them to earn the auto-bid.
8. Atlantic 10
Regular season winner: St. Louis
Challengers for the auto-bid: VCU, Dayton, St. Joe’s
The A-10 has three top-75 teams on KenPom with St. Louis, VCU, and Dayton. The Billikens have been ranked in the polls entering March with a deadly five-out attack around center Robbie Avilia. St. Louis’ 41.4 percent mark from three-point range is the best in the country, and they also hold their opponents to just 28.9 percent shooting from three. This team should be good enough for an at-large bid even if they lose in the conference tournament. VCU is also really good with sophomore guard Terrence Hill leading the way. America needs the Billikens in the field of 68. I named them a Final Four sleeper months ago, and I’m sticking with it.
7. West Coast Conference
Regular season winner: Gonzaga and St. Mary’s tied
Challengers for the auto-bid: Santa Clara
Gonzaga vs. St. Mary’s in men’s basketball is one of the best rivalries in all of college sports. This year a third team has entered the mix in Santa Clara. Santa Clara has a breakout freshmen stud in Allen Graves who is tracking as a first-round NBA draft pick, and a dominant rim finisher in Bukky Oboye, who shoots 77.5 percent from two-point range. An injury to Gonzaga’s Braden Huff opens up the conference tournament, and it’s hard to pick against St. Mary’s. Randy Bennett’s team is solid on both ends of the floor with a pair of stars in Mikey Lewis and Paulius Murauskas. With three legit contenders, this will be a conference tournament to watch.
6. Mountain West Conference
Regular season winner: Utah State
Challengers for the auto-bid: San Diego State, Grand Canyon, New Mexico
Utah State has a top-20 offense nationally in head coach Jarrod Calhoun’s second season since coming over from Youngstown State. The wing combo of Mason Falslev and MJ Collins is fantastic, and this team is also no pushover on defense with a top-45 unit. San Diego State will be a serious challenger with another typically awesome defense under Brian Dutcher that ranks No. 17 in the country, led by all-world wing defender Myles Byrd. There’s a nice group of challengers here, but Utah State feels a cut above the rest.
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10. AAC
Regular season winner: South Florida
Challengers for the auto-bid: Tulsa, Wichita State
South Florida has the best win in the conference by knocking off an awesome Utah State team, and they also have the best balance in the AAC with the No. 61 overall offense and No. 48 defense. Former Arkansas wing Joseph Pinion is the a sniper on the outside, and Izaiyah Nelson is a productive two-way big at 6’10. South Florida beat Tulsa twice during the regular season, and I’d bet on another matchup happening in the conference tournament.
9. Missouri Valley
Regular season winner: Belmont
Challengers for the auto-bid: Bradley, Illinois State, Murray State, UIC
Arch Madness is always one of the best conference tournaments, and this one should be no different. Belmont ran away with the league, and sophomore big man Drew Scharnowski is turning into a true mid-major star. The best player in the conference resides on Bradley with sophomore guard Jaquan Johnson. Johnson is a 40 percent three-point shooter who gets tons of steals and doesn’t turn the ball over. Belmont will be challenged, but I still like them to earn the auto-bid.
8. Atlantic 10
Regular season winner: St. Louis
Challengers for the auto-bid: VCU, Dayton, St. Joe’s
The A-10 has three top-75 teams on KenPom with St. Louis, VCU, and Dayton. The Billikens have been ranked in the polls entering March with a deadly five-out attack around center Robbie Avilia. St. Louis’ 41.4 percent mark from three-point range is the best in the country, and they also hold their opponents to just 28.9 percent shooting from three. This team should be good enough for an at-large bid even if they lose in the conference tournament. VCU is also really good with sophomore guard Terrence Hill leading the way. America needs the Billikens in the field of 68. I named them a Final Four sleeper months ago, and I’m sticking with it.
7. West Coast Conference
Regular season winner: Gonzaga and St. Mary’s tied
Challengers for the auto-bid: Santa Clara
Gonzaga vs. St. Mary’s in men’s basketball is one of the best rivalries in all of college sports. This year a third team has entered the mix in Santa Clara. Santa Clara has a breakout freshmen stud in Allen Graves who is tracking as a first-round NBA draft pick, and a dominant rim finisher in Bukky Oboye, who shoots 77.5 percent from two-point range. An injury to Gonzaga’s Braden Huff opens up the conference tournament, and it’s hard to pick against St. Mary’s. Randy Bennett’s team is solid on both ends of the floor with a pair of stars in Mikey Lewis and Paulius Murauskas. With three legit contenders, this will be a conference tournament to watch.
6. Mountain West Conference
Regular season winner: Utah State
Challengers for the auto-bid: San Diego State, Grand Canyon, New Mexico
Utah State has a top-20 offense nationally in head coach Jarrod Calhoun’s second season since coming over from Youngstown State. The wing combo of Mason Falslev and MJ Collins is fantastic, and this team is also no pushover on defense with a top-45 unit. San Diego State will be a serious challenger with another typically awesome defense under Brian Dutcher that ranks No. 17 in the country, led by all-world wing defender Myles Byrd. There’s a nice group of challengers here, but Utah State feels a cut above the rest.
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