MAC:
Headline: Can anyone stop Akron? The Zips are traditionally at the top of the MAC but this year’s team seems special. Akron only has 4 losses, 3 of them by one score (including against a currently ranked Utah State). The Zips are also undefeated in MAC play. They aren’t without challengers, Bowling Green under first year coach Todd Simon loaded up with transfers from the portal. The Falcons are one of the hottest teams in the country winning 12 of their last 13, the one loss was at Akron. Toledo had a rough non-conference but has gotten it going with a 5-1 start to conference play. One thing holding Bowling Green and Toledo back is they both haven’t made the NCAA tournament in a long time. In short we will likely see a strong Akron team make the tournament, or a program end a long tournament less streak, or a big upset in the MAC tournament.
Surprise(s): Bowling Green Falcons – the voters for the MAC preseason poll did not believe in the Falcons portal heavy approach, voting them 6th in the preseason poll. As a Falcon alum, this season is a lot of fun for me. Central Michigan deserves a shout-out too. The Chips were almost unanimously picked to finish last in the MAC but are off to a 4-2 start in conference play.
Disappointment(s): Kent State Golden Flashes/Ohio Bobcats – These 2 teams were expected to be Akron’s biggest challengers to win the MAC, including Kent State being the defending conference champs but both teams have struggled to .500 records and aren’t off to a good start in MAC play.
Missouri Valley Conference:
Headline: Can the Missouri Valley Conference finally get multiple bids? Following non-conference play it was apparent there were a lot of good squads in this conference but after a few weeks of conference play it is apparent that 2 teams have separated themselves from the pack and are in bubble contention. Those teams are the Indiana State Sycamores and the Drake Bulldogs. Indiana State has been a very fun team to watch, they work with excellent spacing on offense and shoot it well. Drake has been here before, they got the Valley’s last At Large bid in 2021 when they got a first 4 bid and won the conference to make the tournament last year. Drake’s appearance last year was a heartbreaker against Miami who went on to make the final 4. Drake grabbed an 8 point lead and as you can see in the win probability chart below, just flatlined at the end 😟 Both teams need to keep it clean and only lose to each other because perfection is expected of mid majors to make the tournament without an auto bid. Here’s hoping we see them both make it!
Surprise(s): Southern Illinois Salukis – This was a tough one because so many teams surprised and started strong early but have been beaten up in conference play. Southern Illinois is one of those but they were picked preseason #9 and are still looking solid with a 12-7 record. They’re a team who could surprise and win the conference tournament. I really wanted to shout-out the Evansville Purple Aces who struggled a lot in recent seasons and were picked 11th in preseason but got off to an awesome 10-2 start, alas the Purple Aces have lost 6 of their last 7.
Disappointment(s): Missouri State Bears – The Bears were expected to be strong this year, be in the top half of the league and maybe even contend for a tournament bid but they’ve struggled in conference play going 2-6 so far. Northern Iowa also qualifies, they’ve started conference play strong but they were a team who scheduled with intentions of aiming for an At-Large but was disappointing out of conference.
NEC:
Headline: The NEC is yet another wide open conference. Last year’s March Madness hero Fairleigh Dickinson is one of the contenders but the Knights currently find themselves below .500 overall. There’s a long list of contenders with Central Connecticut State and Sacred Heart currently tied for the lead. Merrimack, Wagner, Le Moyne and the aforementioned FDU are all lurking closely behind.
Surprise(s): LeMoyne Dolphins – The newcomers of the conference, not much was expected of the Dolphins who were last in the preseason poll but as mentioned above they are in contention for the regular season title, of course due to a silly NCAA rule they’re not eligible for the tournament…lame
Disappointment(s): Stonehill Skyhawks – Stonehill is enduring a rough transition year. They were expected to at least be mid pack but they’re currently 2-19. Better years will be ahead for the Skyhawks.
Ohio Valley Conference:
Headline: The kings of the OVC the Morehead State Eagles have taken back their perch at the top of the conference. Morehead State is off to a nice 15-5 start overall and only lost one conference game. The Eagles will not be without challengers SIU-Edwardsville is the team that took down Morehead State in conference play, but the Cougars have struggled to maintain consistency otherwise. Western Illinois is a newcomer to the league and the Leathernecks have immediately made themselves at home, they’re 12-7 and 2nd in the conference. The Tennessee State Tigers will be a factor as well, they just beat Western Illinois on the road. UT-Martin is up there as well, they’re longer time member of the never made the tournament club so if there’s a surprise winner from this league, here’s hoping it’s the Skyhawks.
Surprise(s): Western Illinois Leathernecks – Western Illinois was mentioned above and have been a nice surprise, they were picked to finish near the bottom of the conference. The Leathernecks are also a member of the never made the tournament club so here’s hoping they can go on a run.
Disappointment(s): Southeast Missouri State Redhawks – The Redhawks are the defending conference tournament champions so there was hope they could sustain the momentum their program got, but alas they’ve struggled to a 7-12 record so far.
Pac-12 Conference :
Headline: It’s truly a one last ride for the Pac-12 as a basketball conference until further notice. Unlike in football the Pac-2 will not continue in some weird existence. Additionally also unlike football, the Pac-12s last ride hasn’t been as triumphant. Arizona has a great team again that will challenge for a 1 or 2 seed, but who else is going to step up to challenge them?? Currently tied with them atop the Pac-12 is Oregon who was merely ok in non-conference play, the Ducks are squarely on the bubble and Arizona State who really didn’t play good out of conference, they aren’t even on the tournament radar currently. Colorado and Utah are teams who would be in the tournament currently so one of them could get hot too.
Surprise(s): Utah Utes – as mentioned above, Utah would be in the tournament if it was today. The Utes were expected to be a year away from that but instead they’ve played well and if they can keep it up they’ll be solidly in the tournament. They have the best resume outside of Arizona right now. Washington State deserves a shout-out as the Cougars are on the outer fringe of the bubble right now.
Disappointment(s): Wow this is a long list, really the conference as a whole could qualify. USC had really high expectations with some talented players and highly touted freshmen coming in. It just hasn’t worked at all, USC is 8-11 and they aren’t going to make the tournament unless they pull a miracle and win the conference tournament. What a disaster. UCLA lost a lot of experienced players but everyone thought Cronin could still pull a solid squad together, but they too aren’t playing good and have struggled to a 8-11 record. UCLA is also out of contention for a tournament bid. Oregon and Arizona State are both in Pac-12 contention but they were supposed to easily make the tournament, instead Oregon is on the bubble and Arizona State isn’t on the radar.
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