Finally, the normal season for college basketball is coming to an end. Now, the conference tournaments will begin. Teams in these single-elimination games have a chance to get a guaranteed spot in the NCAA Tournament, which is also known as “March Madness.” Conference playoffs are some of the most exciting parts of the whole season because of the high stakes and fierce competition. Let’s look at some of the most important conferences and who is expected to win:
Meetings of Power:
The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC): This league has some of the best teams in the country, like Duke, North Carolina, and Virginia. The race is very open this year. Armando Bacot, who plays for North Carolina and is very powerful, is a strong candidate. But keep an eye on the Miami Hurricanes, whose Isaiah Wong is showing off his many skills.
Collin Gillespie’s healthy return to the Big East has given Villanova new title hopes. But UConn shouldn’t be forgotten because of the great duo of Adama Sanogo and Andre Jackson. Marquette, with coach Shaka Smart in charge, could also be a surprise.
Big Ten: Purdue is still the favorite because Zach Edey is such a strong player. But teams like Illinois, which is led by the sharpshooting Alfonso Plummer, and a hungry Michigan team are very dangerous. Don’t forget about Coach Tom Izzo’s Michigan State Spartans either; they’re known for making big runs late in the season.
Big 12: Kansas is always a threat when Bill Self is in charge. However, Kansas State has entered the conversation thanks to the rise of rookie star Gradey Dick. Even though Adam Flagler is filling in for Keyonte George, the reigning national champions Baylor shouldn’t be written off.
SEC: Kentucky is the favorite because their freshman class is very good and Cason Wallace is in charge of them. Nick Smith Jr. and Jaylin Williams, who play both inside and outside, are a good pair for Arkansas, though. Don’t forget about Oscar Tshiebwe and Sahvir Wheeler, who transferred from Kentucky and helped the Texas A&M attack get back on track.
Pac-12: UCLA looks like the team to beat, led by the very athletic Jaime Jaquez Jr. But you can’t forget about Arizona, with Azuolas Tubelis holding the paint, and a veteran USC team.
Mid-Major Mayhem: After the big conferences, the mid-major playoffs are where most of the Cinderella stories happen. You can watch these conferences:
Atlantic 10 (A-10); Davidson, VCU, and Dayton are always in the running, but they are also known for having the ability to surprise teams.
As for the Mountain West, Nevada and Boise State, with the sharpshooting Tyson Degenhart, are the teams to beat.
Atlantic Sun: Florida Gulf Coast could be the Cinderella story because Elijah Cummings leads a strong attack.
Things to think about:
It’s not easy to pick the winners of conference tournaments. Injuries, changes in momentum, and one bad game can all have a big effect on the result. Here are some more things to think about:
Home Court Advantage: Teams can get a huge boost from playing in front of a loud home crowd.
Matchups: Some teams are better at a certain style than others.
Teams with players who have been through the conference playoff grind before tend to have an advantage. Who Will Win?
It’s always hard to tell who will win, but here are some possible frontrunners based on recent results and past trends:
North Carolina or Miami in the ACC?
Villanova or UConn in the Big East?
Purdue or Illinois in the Big Ten?
Kentucky or Arkansas in the SEC?
UCLA or Arizona in the Pac-12?
What’s Great About March Madness:
Even though these teams are thought to be the favorites, the fun of conference playoffs is that you can’t be sure who will win. There will always be upset people, and losers often step up to the challenge. No matter who wins, these tournaments promise exciting basketball, passionate fans, and moments that will live in people’s memories. They set the stage for March Madness, the biggest event of the year.
This preview gives you a look at the future conference tournaments. As the story plays out, keep an eye on these teams as well as any possible dark horses. Remember that the path to the national title gets clearer with every last-second steal and buzzer-beating shot. Hold on tight, and enjoy the ride!
Beyond the Favorites: Sleepers and Storylines to Keep an Eye On
Most of the attention is on the known powerhouses, but conference tournaments are where new heroes are born. Take a look at these interesting plots and possible surprise teams:
Stories of Redemption:
Florida: The Gators, who used to be a constant contender, have had a rough few years. But now that star guard Kowacie Jones is back from injury, they could make a long run in the SEC tournament. They want to get back to being a national power, which will help them.
The Hoosiers haven’t been to the NCAA Tournament since 2020. They’ve shown flashes of greatness while being coached by Mike Woodson. Trayce Jackson-Davis will likely be the best player in the paint and could lead them to a deep run in the Big Ten tournament.
Big Changes, New Faces:
Gonzaga (West Coast Conference): The Bulldogs are still strong even though they lost Chet Holmgren to the NBA draft. Nolan Hickman, a freshman guard, has stepped up and shown how good he is at scoring. Don’t forget how much the Zags want to make it to the NCAA Tournament again.
Memphis (American Athletic Conference): The Tigers are missing Lester Quinones, who went to the NBA, but their rookie class is very good, led by point guard Josh Weathers. With veterans like DeAndre Williams back on the team, they could be a surprise in the AAC playoffs.
Effects of the coaching carousel on Oklahoma (Big 12): Porter Moser takes over as coach now that legendary coach Lon Kruger has retired. The Sooners have a lot of good players, and Moser’s offensive plan might help them reach their full potential. Keep an eye out for a possible upset bid in the Big 12 playoffs.
Mike Young’s exit from Virginia Tech (ACC) leaves a big hole. Justyn Mutts is in charge of the experienced team that new coach Brehon Grimes takes over. A big part of the ACC tournament will depend on how quickly they learn Grimes’ method.
New rivalries: Duke vs. North Carolina (ACC): If they play each other in the ACC playoffs, this long-running rivalry could get very heated. The result could have a big effect on how teams are seeded in the NCAA Tournament.
SEC game between Kentucky and Arkansas: These two SEC foes have had many close games in the past. A possible matchup in the SEC tournament would be exciting and show off the best players in the league.
Remember that these are just a few of the interesting stories you can read. Keep an eye on up-and-coming stars, changes in coaches, and the always-present chance of an upset.
Fan tips for the conference tournament:
Stay up to date on bracketology: Stay up to date on possible matchups and how teams might get to the title.
Team trends in research: Check out how a team has done recently, how healthy their key players are, and how they’ve done against other teams in the same conference.
Think about how past conference tournaments turned out: Look at how teams did when they were under a lot of heat in past conference tournaments.
Don’t forget about hurt people: A team’s chances can change a lot if a key player gets hurt.
Accept the crazy: Enjoy how unpredictable conference finals are!
You can be a better and more involved fan as the conference playoffs begin if you know the situation and keep these things in mind. So get ready for exciting basketball games, interesting stories, and times you’ll never forget as March Madness approaches!
