ACC
North Carolina
The most obvious choice in all the country. The Tarheels return their entire team, a team that was a heavy favorite to win the NCAA title just a year ago. Tyler Hansbrough will be the AP Player of the Year, and the Tarheels should contest with having an undefeated season, yes they are that good.
AMERICAN EAST
Vermont
Marqus Blakely heads the Catamounts as the league's best player. 19 points, 11 boards, and 2.7 blocks, should lead Vermont to the NCAAs as a possible upset team.
ATLANTIC 10
Xavier
Xavier was a 30 win team last season, and Sean Miller's squad is is poised for another great season. Miller brought in 7 recruits this year and still have C.J. Anderson and Derrick Brown who both averaged 11 points a game last year.
ATLANTIC SUN
Belmont
The Bruins are one of only six teams nationally to have earned 3 straight automatic NCAA bids. Led by senior Shane Dansby, Belmont has a deep returning team trying to make a 4th trip!
BIG 12
Texas
Even after losing D.J. Augustin, A.J. Abrams is back with a great supporting cast that will contend for an Elite 8 appearance. Damion James is a great double-double man that should hold his own in the paint and lead the Longhorns to another Conference title.
BIG EAST
Louisville
In this deep and competitive conference, the Cardinals should have a Final Four team this year. This was a tough pick for me, even though I think UCONN will be a Final Four team, I think that Louisville will win the Big East at Madison Square Garden then get upset early in the tournament. As much as I hate to say it, this is the best conference in America, which could easily get 9 teams in the tournament.
BIG TEN
Purdue
The bulk of the Boilermakers are back, which will have many teams in the Big Ten worried. Even though they won't be under the radar like last season, I think that coach Matt Painter will keep his team motivated to go further in the NCAA Tournament. Michigan State and Wisconsin should also push Purdue, but it will not be enough. Keep an eye on Robbie Hummel, a 6'8'' sharp shooter with the most well rounded game in the conference.
BIG SKY
Portland State
Lead by Conference MVP, Jeremiah Dominguez, Portland State looks to improve on a 14-2 conference record a year ago. If that is possible.
BIG SOUTH
Winthrop
The Big South as a conference is in a complete rebuilding process. And the only logically team to pick are the winners of the conference 8 of the last 10 seasons.
BIG WEST
Cal State Fullerton
Basically this Conference comes down to three teams, Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Northridge, and UC Santa Barbara. I like Fullerton, just for the reason that they brought in the best recruiting class led by a 6'8'' 235 pound, Bernard Kamwa.
COLONIAL
VCU
The Rams are back at again with Eric Maynor leading the offense. Maynor averaged 15, 4, and 5 a year ago, and don't expect him putting up with them in the NIT like last season. They could very well be better than the team that beat Duke two years ago.
CONFERENCE USA
Memphis
Well, there will be no controversy about the talent in C-USA this season, because it really does stink. Expect only the Tigers and Tulsa to be heading the conference, other than that UAB and UTEP will try to make things interesting. Guard Stefon Jackson from UTEP will be the best player of the conference this season.
HORIZON
Cleveland State
The Vikings have two of the league's best players on their roster in seniors J'Nathan Bullock and Cedric Jackson.
IVY
Cornell
Could contest for another undefeated conference title this year with returning starters Louis Dale and Ryan Wittman.
MAAC
Siena
Led by senior Kenny Hansbrouck, the Saints return all 5 starters that will try to hold off the likes of Fairfield and Niagara this year and make the NCAA tournament second round for a second consecutive year.
MID-AMERICAN
Kent State
The Golden Flashes should be able to hold off Western Michigan despite losing coach Jim Christian who left for TCU. Al Fisher, is a name to remember come tournament time.
MEAC
Morgan State
This very competitive conference should be interesting come conference tourney time. But, I like what coach Todd Bozeman has done with turning this laughing stock team to contender in one season.
MISSOURI VALLEY
Creighton
With Drake and losing most of their squad to graduation. The Bluejays should be able to hold off the likes of Southern Illinois and Illinois State. Creighton has always played a team game of ball, so don't expect to hear much about an outstanding player on their roster. This young squad has 8 freshmen and sophomores on their roster which you might find in the Sweet Sixteen this year.
MOUNTAIN WEST
UNLV
The Running Rebels should be able to hold off BYU. Led by senior guard Wink Adams, UNLV will try and lift a team that stumbled badly late in the season a year ago and lost their chance at a tournament appearance.
NORTHEAST
Mount St. Marys
Without a doubt are the favorites to repeat as champs this year. The Mountaineers return 4 starters including stud junior, Jeremy Goode. CCSU and Robert Morris should be around to contend, but it doesn't look good.
OHIO VALLEY
U Tenn-Martin
Lester Hudson could have left for the NBA Draft a year ago but decided to stay another season. He looks to get to the tournament, and improve on his 25.7 ppg a year ago.
PAC 10
UCLA
Even with the loss of Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook the Bruins are poised to win another Pac-10 title. Senior Darren Collison will lead the team that signed 5 of the top 50 recruits during the off-season led by guard Jrue Holliday. They are really clear cut favorites and should win the regular season and conference tournament with much ease.
PATRIOT
American
With two first team seniors, Garrison Carr and Derrick Mercer, the Eagles are the only team that is likely for a return trip in the NCAAs.
SEC
Tennessee
The Vols are still the most talented team in the conference this season despite looking alot different. Even with Tyler Smith back, I am not expecting big things come tournament time. Coach Bruce Pearl has to prove to me this season that he is a good coach, because there is no excuse for his early exit in the tournament a year ago, after having in my opinion the best team in the nation. This conference is deep again, but deep with teams that are over-rated. Trust me the SEC won't have a team in the Elite Eight!
SOUTHERN
Davidson
All the hype will continue with Stephen Curry, but what worries me is the loss that he and the Wildcats will be missing this season in point guard Jason Richards, gone to graduation. Coach Bob McKillop has done a great job getting the right players on his team, and this year they brought in two big men both over 6'9'' to help under the boards.
SOUTHLAND
Lamar
Returning 7 letterman should help with a team that finished 13-3 a year ago, but stumbled in the conference tournament.
SWAC
Alabama State
The Hornets were 15-3 in the conference a year ago, and return 3 first-team all conference members in seniors Brandon Brooks, Andrew Hayles, and junior Trant Simpson.
SUMMIT
Oral Roberts
Even with the loss of 4 seniors the Golden Eagles are at it again with senior guard Robert Jarvis, who was the nation's top scoring sixth man last season.
SUN BELT
South Alabama
The Jaguars return 3 starters to a team that won 16 games in the conference a year ago. Brandon Davis will be a name to keep an eye on.
WAC
Nevada
When you win and find yourselves in March in the NCAA tournament, even as a small school you can get players to come and play for you. 5 true freshman should find the hardcourt this season, and a tough schedule that includes UNC will get the Wolf Pack back to the tourney.
WEST COAST
Gonzaga
I said it before and I'll say it again, Mark Few is one of the best coaches in the nation, but he will continue to stay under the radar being on the west coast. Jeremy Pargo returning after declaring for the NBA Draft has the Zags loaded on offense again with a Final Four appearance on their minds. Saint Mary's will challenge again but no one should compete with Gonzaga again this season. They have another tough non-conference schedule which will help them be prepared in March.
4 comments:
I readily admit that you know more than I do when it comes to the mid major conferences...heck of a job Desmond!
thanks buddy! after reading your blog on cbb i had to step it up so i read up on every conference thoroughly last night during the football game. I LOVE THIS TIME OF THE YEAR!
Deez, I like most of the picks except for the Big East and Pac 10 I think UCONN or Pitt will win the conference. I like Louisville's guards and Samardo Samuels is supposed to be the truth but UCONN has more talent and should win and Pitt has three legit players in Blair, Fields, and Young. As for the Pac 10, don't sleep on Arizona St. Its not just Harden but Pendergraph is tough down low and got solid young guards in Ty Abbott, Jamelle McMillan (Nate's kid) and Derek Glasser. UCLA will be good and explosive but you gotta love Herb Sendek's teams.
I agree with both you assessments for those two conferences. I admit, I really like UCONN this season so I am going to pick someone else to win at MSG. Pitt would have been more of an obvious pick, but I am hoping that they exit early so that they can have a better NCAA. As for Arizona St, they will be great this season as you will see in my post tomorrow, but I really don't think that anyone in that conference will be able to hang with the Bruins, I hope that I am wrong but I just don't see it!
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