It's 2020, and with the new year, that means that conference play is kicking off across the country, if it hasn't started already. With that, I wanted to give a quick preview of every conference title race and my prediction for who wins the regular season portion of each conference. Please note, this isn't who will gain the auto bid through the conference tournament, as a lot of that depends on who is hot at the right time and some single game variance. Normally on Fridays, I'll talk about some things I saw while watching basketball this week and some previews of upcoming games, but I was busy this week and I decided to write this instead. I talked about the changes that are coming to the blog on Twitter @ThreePointRange, so be sure to follow me there for some instant reactions as well as my thoughts on some breaking college basketball news. Without further ado, let's get into the conference previews.
America East: This one seems pretty cut and dry. Vermont has been considered the class of the league all year and has done nothing to dispel that notion so far. They picked up an impressive win over St. John's in non-conference play, and senior forward Anthony Lamb is a legit star. Stony Brook and New Hampshire are the only other schools to enter America East play with winning records, but the Catamounts look poised to run through the league.
American: The AAC has quietly been one of the better conferences in the country so far this year. Ten of the twelve teams currently have winning records and another is .500. At the top, expect Memphis, Wichita State, Houston, Cincinnati, UConn, and Temple to be competing for spots in the tournament, and don't count out SMU either. Memphis and Wichita State each have just one loss on the year, and look like the two best teams in the conference. I could see Kelvin Sampson leading Houston on a title run, but I think it will ultimately come down the Tigers and the Shockers. Memphis certainly has the talent, even without James Wiseman, but I'm going to back Gregg Marshall. He's done this before, and Penny Hardaway is not only an inexperienced coach, but has a very young team. I think that Marshall's experience, combined with a talented team of his own, will be the difference in what should be a very close conference race. This one seems to be too close to call, but I'll back the Shockers.
Atlantic-10: Dayton has been a pleasant surprised, and is currently the only team in the league sitting in the AP Top 25. Anthony Grant has his team playing a very aesthetically pleasing style of basketball, and they have a true star and potential lottery pick in Obi Toppin. They look like the favorites right now, but it won't be an easy road. As with the American, there is a lot of depth in the conference, as eleven of the league's fourteen teams are currently .500 or better. George Mason, La Salle, and Duquesne have all exceeded expectations this year, and teams like Rhode Island, Davidson, and Saint Bonaventure will not be easy wins. Preseason favorites VCU are still very much in the race, entering conference play at 10-3, and I've been impressed with Richmond this year. However, it'd be foolish to pick against the Flyers given how good they've been this far, so I think Dayton takes home the regular season crown.
ACC: It's a down year in the ACC, with North Carolina struggling mightily, especially in Cole Anthony's absence, and multiple teams have underperformed expectations. There are currently only four teams in the AP Top 25 from the conference, although two do reside in the top 10. This race could end up coming down to Duke and Louisville. The Blue Devils are led by sophomore point guard and an impressive freshman class, headlined by center Vernon Carey. If guard Cassius Stanley can continue to improve, then they have a great shot. As for Louisville, the conversation has to start and end with star forward Jordan Nwora. He's one of the best players in the country and is currently averaging over 20 points a game. Louisville needs someone to emerge as a capable second scorer for them to reach their full potential. Don't count out dark horse Florida State either, as the Seminoles have a deep roster and play great defense, which could put them in contention for the conference crown. My pick will be Duke, but this one should be tight.
Atlantic Sun: Similar to Vermont in the America East, Liberty looks poised to dominate the Atlantic Sun. The Flames only recently lost their first game, at LSU, and have a strong duo with Caleb Homesley and Scottie James. No other team in the conference enters the new year with a winning record, and Liberty should have no problem winning this league.
Big 12: Prior to last season, picking against Kansas in the Big 12 was a foolish move. However, the Jayhawks relinquished the regular season crowd for the first time in fourteen seasons. The Big 12 figures to be one of the most competitive conferences in the country, with every team currently sitting about .500, and four of the ten teams featuring the in the Top 25. Kansas, Baylor, West Virginia, and Texas Tech are all featured in the AP Poll. The Jayhawks, Bears, and Mountaineers likely have the best chances. Kansas has the best duo maybe in all of college basketball with Devon Dotson and Udoka Azubuike, and those two alone will win Bill Self a lot of games. Baylor has a very strong perimeter, led by sophomore Jared Butler, and big man Tristan Clark may finally be fully healthy for conference play and might be the x-factor in the title race. Finally, West Virginia has twin towers Oscar Tshiebwe and Derek Culver and their front court is one of the best in the country. It should be close, and don't out Chris Beard or a healthy Oklahoma State team just yet, but I think Kansas starts a new streak atop the conference.
Big East: Like the Big 12, the Big East is very deep and should be super competitive this year. Villanova and Butler are the only two ranked teams, but everyone has a winning record and anyone can win on any given night. The Wildcats have been excellent as always under Jay Wright, and Collin Gillespie has taken a step to be the leader of this young team. Meanwhile, Butler has a star of their own in Kamar Baldwin alongside a great combination of role players. Creighton has also impressed this year with their perimeter trio of Marcus Zegarowski, Tyshon Alexander, and Mitch Ballock being arguably the most potent in the nation. Seton Hall is also not out of the race by a long shot, as they have a very good defense and a star in Myles Powell, who is one of the best scorers in the nation. When Sandro Mamukelashvili gets healthy, they will be quite a formidable unit. I like all four teams, but I think Villanova has the best coach, which separates them from the pack in this close race.
Big Sky: The Big Sky doesn't have one team that's separated themselves from the pack at the moment and this one could go in a number of ways. I'm admittedly not the most knowledgable about this conference, but Eastern Washington, Montana, Montana State, Southern Utah, and Portland State should all end up competing for the conference title. Montana has represented the conference in the tournament each of the past two seasons, and the Eagles of Eastern Washington are probably the current favorites. However, I'm going to go with Portland State. They have transfers in some key places and I think they may be gelling at just the right time to win the conference.
Big South: The Big South has been pretty awful this year, currently ranking 29 out of 32 conferences on KenPom. At the moment, Winthrop, Radford, and a resurgent Campbell team, who are currently 9-3 despite the loss of star Chris Clemons, look to be the class of the league. Last year, it was Radford who captured the regular season title, and I think they do the same this year. Winthrop has a great front court with Josh Ferguson and Tennessee transfer DJ Burns, but the Highlanders likely have the best player in the conference with guard Carlik Jones and they have the experience necessary to capture the title once more.
Big Ten: Perhaps the race I'm most interested in seeing, the Big Ten is very strong at the top. Ohio State has been one of the best teams in the nation this year, and both Michigan schools figure to be at the top of the conference once more. Maryland, Penn State, and Iowa are all ranked in addition to those three schools, and Purdue is always a tough team to beat. Still, I think this comes down to the Buckeyes, Spartans, Wolverines, or Terrapins. I love the balanced scoring attack of the Buckeyes around star center Kaleb Wesson, and it should serve them well throughout conference play. Michigan State has yet to find their groove this year, but with Cassius Winston on the roster, they will certainly not be easy to beat. Michigan has been a pleasant surprise under Juwan Howard in year one, and the trio of Zavier Simpson, Isaiah Livers, and Jon Teske is, in my opinion, the best in the conference. Don't count Maryland out yet either. They have been inconsistent throughout Mark Turgeon's tenure, including this year, but with Anthony Cowan, Jalen Smith, and others, there is no shortage of talent in College Park. I'll take the Buckeyes to win, as they have been the most consistent throughout the season thus far, but don't be shocked to see this one come down to the final game.
Big West: UC Irvine represented the Big West in the tournament last year, and won their first round matchup, so there is talent in the league. However, the Anteaters won't be my pick this year. I think the loss of Max Hazzard to Arizona will be slightly to much for Russell Turner to overcome against conference competition, and I'm instead taking UC Santa Barbara. The Gauchos are very talented, with multiple high major transfers like JaQuori McLaughlin, Matt Freeman, and Brandon Cyrus on the roster, plus talented sophomore big Armadou Sow and senior guard Max Heidegger who, when healthy, might be the best player on the team. They've only taken four losses so far this year, and with all of the talent Joe Pasternack has at his disposal, I think he can win the league.
Colonial: The Colonial may actually be the toughest race to call, with four teams separated by a razor thin margin. Charleston, Northeastern, Delaware, and Hofstra all have legit cases to be made that they are the best team in the CAA and any of the four can win this league. I think Hofstra is the least likely because of their lack of a true star. They had one with Justin Wright-Foreman last year, and he led them to a league title, but he's gone to the NBA and I don't think Desure Buie and Eli Pemberton are a potent enough duo to get it done. Delaware has been a surprise to me, as they lost two of their three leading scorers from last season. UAB transfer Nate Darling is off to a hot start, averaging 21.1 points a game, and they just got Villanova transfer Dylan Painter eligible, which should only help the Blue Hens. Meanwhile, Northeastern has an even more impressive scoring guard in Justin Roland. He's currently averaging 22.6 points a game for the Huskies, and has been lighting up scoreboards this year. Charleston may actually have the best guard in the conference in Grant Riller, also averaging 21.1 points a game, and the Cougars have yet to lose to a team outside of the top 100 on KenPom. It should be a close title race, but I'll give the slightest of edges to Northeastern thanks to the supporting cast around Roland. Freshman point guard Tyson Walker has made an immediate impact and forward Bolden Brace does all the dirty work, so for that reason I'll take the Huskies.
Conference USA: No one has emerged as a title contender in Conference USA. My preseason pick, Western Kentucky, has a lot of talent, but lost star big Charles Bassey to a season ending injury. Meanwhile, UTEP, another team I thought was very talented, has been a mixed back and seems to have some chemistry issues. Either could still win the league, but it looks significantly less likely. Meanwhile, Louisiana Tech and FIU are off to good starts, and either could win this league as well. The Bulldogs have probably been better, but I'm actually going to pick the Panthers. Jeremy Ballard has them playing at one of the fastest paces in the country, and it's been effective so far. Big man Osasumwen Osaghae, good luck pronouncing that one, leads the country in blocks with 4.6 a game and is third in field goal percentage, making 72.5% of his shots on the season. With three other players averaging in double figures for the Panthers, they have a sneaky good team and they are my pick to win the conference.
Horizon League: While Youngstown State and Northern Kentucky look like they will be solid teams in the Horizon League, I think the league is Wright State's to lose. The Raiders have a great front court duo with Bill Wampler and Loudon Love, and senior guard Cole Gentry has been a nice compliment to those two. Detroit Mercy are hard to count out because of their high scoring backcourt of Antoine Davis and Brad Calipari, but they are terrible at everything else. The Norse possess a strong duo of their own in Dantez Walton and Tyler Sharpe and look like the second best team in the conference and they should challenge Wright State. However, I think they are lacking just a little bit and I'm going to back the Raiders to win the league.
Ivy League: The trio of Penn, Yale, and Harvard will provide a very entertaining race for the conference championship. All three have just four losses entering conference play and have quite a lot of talent on their rosters. Starting with Harvard, the Crimson are probably the most talented team in the Ivy League, even without Seth Towns, who is out with injury. Bryce Aiken is plenty talented on his own and with players like Noah Kirkwood, Chris Ledlum, Chris Lewis, and Justin Bassey, the. rest of the roster is very good in their own right. They are the current favorites, but the Bulldogs and Quakers won't be stopped easily. Yale is led by a strong front court duo of Jordan Bruner and Paul Atkinson, plus a talented shooter in Azar Swain. Meanwhile, Penn took down Alabama, UCF, and Providence this season, and has four players in double figures. I was actually leaning towards Harvard, but while doing the research, I'm going to give the edge to Penn. I really like the group they have, and I think they are a rock solid team that will be able to win a lot of games and pick up the conference title.
MAAC: This is another league that I don't know a ton about. I think Siena, Rider, and Iona are the teams to watch here. Siena has the best player in the conference with point guard Jalen Pickett, and they've surrounded him with some solid role players. Meanwhile, Rider likely has the most talent in the league, but putting it all together consistently has been a problem for the Broncos. Iona always plays well in the conference tournament, and if Tim Cluess is back on the sidelines for the Gaels after health issues, then they should be better than they've shown so far. I'm going to lean towards the Saints, as I think Pickett will have them in almost every game and I think they are the safest pick right now.
MAC: MACtion is always fun, and there's real competition at the top of the league. Because it's split into conferences, I'll just pick who I think has the best record overall. Akron, Toledo, Kent State, Bowling Green, and Eastern Michigan have all been good to start the year and are generating a lot of buzz. Akron specifically has been very good to start the year, and the play of Loren Christian Jackson, Tyler Cheese, and Dayton transfer Xeyrius Jackson has propelled the Zips to be a popular pick. However, I'm going to go a little off the wall and pick Buffalo. They were obviously great last year, but lost numerous key contributors and their coach, so they've gotten off to an inconsistent start. They had multiple transfers and players stepping into new roles, and I think the whole team took a little bit to gel. However, I'm a believer in this roster, led by junior guard Jayvon Graves, and I think they get hot during MAC play and win the conference title once more.
MEAC: I have not, and likely will not, watch any MEAC action this year. Ranked at the bottom of KenPom's conference rankings, the league is bad. I think Bethune-Cookman is supposed to be good, so I'll pick them, but I really have no idea how this will go.
Missouri Valley: Missouri State was largely considered the favorite in the Missouri Valley by many, myself included. The Bears have struggled to start the year, while Northern Iowa has emerged as the favorite in the MVC. Loyola Chicago and Bradley are also in the race, but the Panthers look like the team to beat. Northern Iowa is led by sophomore guard AJ Green along with junior Pepperdine transfer Trae Berhow. Both of them are scoring in double figures this year, and Berhow is one of the top shooting players from three, while Green is living up to his top 100 recruiting ranking, as he is averaging 17.1 points a game this year. Meanwhile, Porter Moser at Loyola Chicago has the best player in the conference with Cameron Krutwig, who leads the team in points, rebounds, and assists, making him an immense threat. Don't count out Missouri State just yet either, as players like Keandre Cook and Tulio Da Silva are very talented and they have a chance to be the best defensive unit in the conference. Still, I'm going to roll with the Panthers. They've been very, very good to start the season and I'm a believer in their duo being able to win them a lot of games this year. I'm really looking forward to watching them play in the Missouri Valley this year.
Mountain West: The Mountain West is always one of my favorite conferences in college basketball, with late night games that are always exciting. Last year, Nevada and Utah State provided a ton of great games and very both incredible teams. This year, San Diego State is currently undefeated and the Aztecs have an awesome squad this year. With three transfers in their starting lineup and some really good returning players, the Aztecs are super legit. They are the clear favorite at the moment. Utah State shouldn't be counted out, however. The Aggies were the preseason favorite for a reason, with Sam Merrill, arguably the best player in the country, leading the way, and Neemias Queta, a talented big man who has struggled with injuries, anchoring the defense. New Mexico also has a ton of talent, although there seems to be locker room issues there and they seem like a mess, and Boise State has a star in Derrick Alston that should keep them in a lot of games. San Diego State is the pick here, but it might not be as clear cut as people might think at first glance.
NEC: Another conference that is struggling, having been decimated by transfers, the NEC is currently fifth worst on KenPom. St. Francis (PA), Sacred Heart, and Bryant look to be the two favorites here. Senior guards Keith Braxton and Isaiah Blackmon lead the Red Flashes, and they are a dynamic duo that will be tough to stop. Meanwhile, Sacred Heart has one of the top assisters in the nation in Cameron Parker, currently averaging 8.7 assists a game, and forward EJ Anosike is averaging a double double at the moment for the Pioneers. However, I'm going to take Bryant. Second year head coach Jared Grasso has a reputation as a talented recruiter, and the Bears have some good young talent. Plus, he's impressive on the sidelines, and Adam Grant is scoring 19 points a game right now. I think they'll continue to get better as the season goes on and I think they capture the title.
Ohio Valley: Last year was a banner year for the OVC, with two teams, Belmont and Murray State, making the tournament, and each of them winning a game in the Big Dance. They both had first round picks in the NBA Draft in Ja Morant, ever heard of him?, for the Racers, and Dylan Windler from the Bruins. Because of that, these teams look a lot different this year. However, they are both still quite good and are probably the two favorites for the conference championship. Adam Kunkel has emerged for Belmont, going from playing under 10 minutes a game to nearly thirty, and averaging 18.1 points a game this year. Nick Muszynski and Grayson Murphy are also quite good, rounding out a really good sophomore class in Nashville. Meanwhile, Tevin Brown has stepped out of Morant's shadow and is scoring 16.8 points a game. The games between these two should be great, but Belmont looks more well rounded and I think they capture the title.
Pac-12: After a few down years, the Pac-12 looks to be having a renaissance. Oregon is currently inside of the top 5, and Colorado, Washington, and Arizona all looked poised to challenge the Ducks at the top of the conference. Starting with the Buffaloes, they have an experienced group and Boulder is always a tough place to play. As for Washington and Arizona, they have a lot of new pieces, each welcoming multiple five star freshmen. Washington has big man Isaiah Stewart and forward Jaden McDaniels, alongside Kentucky transfer Quade Green and returner Naz Carter, who is having a breakout year on the wing. Meanwhile, Arizona has freshmen Nico Mannion, Josh Green, and Zeke Nnaji, all three highly regarded freshmen who have had varying levels of success to start the year. These two teams could continue to improve throughout conference play, and I'd keep an eye on them. However, Oregon has to be my pick. Peyton Pritchard is playing at an All-American level right now, and Anthony Mathis, Will Richardson, and Chris Duarte have been excellent as supplementary pieces. Five star freshman N'Faly Dante recently gained eligibility, and he could be a difference maker for the Ducks. They seem to be the most well rounded team in the conference and have plenty of good players, making them a good bet to win the conference.
Patriot League: Colgate was the favorite heading into the year after winning the conference last year, and they've done nothing to dissuade me this year. The duo of Jordan Burns and Rapolas Ivanauskas is quite good, and the Raiders run good offense. Their greatest challenger looks to be Loyola. The Greyhounds are led by senior guard Andrew Kosteka, and have talented Spanish freshmen Golden Dike and Santiago Aldama, although Aldama has yet to see the court due to injuries. If he can get fully healthy, look for them to be good in the Patriot League. However, I'm going to stick with there Raiders for now.
SEC: Perhaps the most disappointing league in the country, the SEC has struggled at large to start the year. They only have two teams inside of the top 10 at the moment, Kentucky and Auburn. The Tigers are one of the two undefeated teams, although their schedule has been relatively light thus far. Meanwhile, Kentucky is coming off of a win against in-state rivals Louisville, and the Wildcats have talent. They are my pick because I think they have a pretty safe floor and I don't trust anyone else in the conference quite yet. One other team to watch: Arkansas. The Razorbacks have lost just one game all year and Mason Jones and Isaiah Joe are as good of a scoring backcourt as you'll find in the country. They can singlehandedly win games for the Razorbacks, although they seriously lack size on the interior.
Southern Conference: The Southern Conference race was hotly contested last year, with UNC Greensboro, Furman, East Tennessee State, and eventual champions Wofford duking it out all year. All four are good once again this year in what should be one of the tightest conference races you'll see all year. Wofford is probably the worst of the teams this season, as they lost star Fletcher Magee to graduation after last season. They are struggling defensively this season, and I wouldn't take them to win the league. Furman has one of the best players in the conference with Jordan Lyons, who is a multi-talented guard, and the Paladins as a whole have a good offense. East Tennessee State made waves with this win at LSU earlier this year, and they gave Kansas a tough test in Lawrence. The Buccaneers are very balanced, with four players in double digits, and are excellent at crashing the offensive glass. However, I'm going to lean towards UNC Greensboro. Wes Miller's team has finished no lower than third the past three years, and they have Isaiah Miller, a junior guard scoring 17.3 points a game. It's really just a gut feeling, but I'm going to take the Spartans.
Southland: The next two previews will be pretty short. These two conference rank 30th and 31st respectively and I will be the first to admit that I don't watch a ton of these teams play. Stephen F. Austin is the headliner in the Southland after their win against Duke at Cameron Indoor, and they have been good since then, currently sitting at 12-2. Their biggest challenger will be Sam Houston State, with the Bearcats holding a 10-4 record after winning the conference last year. The Lumberjacks have a sort of magical feel to them after that win at Duke, so I'll go with them, but this one could go either way.
SWAC: As mentioned, I don't really know anything about SWAC basketball. A lot of teams in the league play a ton of buy games, so it can be tough to gauge how good some of these teams are. Texas Southern has been good for a while, and Prairie View A&M and Grambling State look like they might compete. I like the Panthers from Prairie View mostly because they have a middling defense on KenPom which is more than you can say about most SWAC teams.
Summit League: Mike Daum has left South Dakota State, as have David Jenkins and coach TJ Otzelberger. This has left a big power vacuum at the top of the conference, and a few teams will look to take advantage. South Dakota and North Dakota State are the two favorites in my mind, and Oral Roberts are no slouches either. I think the Bison, who won the conference tournament last year and have a star duo in Tyson Ward and Vinnie Shahid, are able to win the league. But don't count the Coyotes out after a slow start. They have their own duo in Tyler Hagedorn and Stanley Umude and five players scoring in double figures. If they can tighten up their defense, expect them to challenge at the top of the conference. I think that the Bison are the best team in the conference and they end up proving it.
Sun Belt: The Sun Belt has had Georgia State represent them in the tournament each of the past two years, and the Panthers look good once again this year. They have a balanced scoring attack and have hung tough with Duke and Georgetown. Their main challengers will be Arkansas State and Georgia Southern. The Red Wolves have double digit wins but have played a relatively weak schedule and will need to prove they are good enough in Sun Belt play. Meanwhile, Georgia Southern is quite similar to their in-state rivals, with balanced scoring, although their defense is worse. They do play at a very quick tempo and that should be an advantage for the Eagles to have a shot at the title. I'm going to pick Georgia State, but I think this could be a close league race.
WCC: This one seems pretty open and shut to me. Gonzaga is one of the handful of best teams in the country, and while the WCC is filled with really good teams, like Saint Mary's and BYU, but I don't see anyone taking down the Zags. They have a crazy balanced scoring attack and their size will be a problem for their conference competition. The Gaels and Cougars are both really good and should be in the tournament this March, but I really do think that Gonzaga is just on another level.
WAC: New Mexico State has had a stranglehold on the WAC in recent years, and it doesn't look like that will change anytime soon. Seattle has Terrell Brown, a talented guard that can win games in the conference singlehandedly, Grand Canyon has a lot of talent, but they've been a train wreck so far and correcting course may be too much of a challenge at this point. The Aggies are incredibly deep and have a lot of talent, led by a now healthy Trevelin Queen, and I think their defense is possibly their best talent. I think they have a good chance to win the league this year barring a big change in the landscape of the league.
America East: This one seems pretty cut and dry. Vermont has been considered the class of the league all year and has done nothing to dispel that notion so far. They picked up an impressive win over St. John's in non-conference play, and senior forward Anthony Lamb is a legit star. Stony Brook and New Hampshire are the only other schools to enter America East play with winning records, but the Catamounts look poised to run through the league.
American: The AAC has quietly been one of the better conferences in the country so far this year. Ten of the twelve teams currently have winning records and another is .500. At the top, expect Memphis, Wichita State, Houston, Cincinnati, UConn, and Temple to be competing for spots in the tournament, and don't count out SMU either. Memphis and Wichita State each have just one loss on the year, and look like the two best teams in the conference. I could see Kelvin Sampson leading Houston on a title run, but I think it will ultimately come down the Tigers and the Shockers. Memphis certainly has the talent, even without James Wiseman, but I'm going to back Gregg Marshall. He's done this before, and Penny Hardaway is not only an inexperienced coach, but has a very young team. I think that Marshall's experience, combined with a talented team of his own, will be the difference in what should be a very close conference race. This one seems to be too close to call, but I'll back the Shockers.
Atlantic-10: Dayton has been a pleasant surprised, and is currently the only team in the league sitting in the AP Top 25. Anthony Grant has his team playing a very aesthetically pleasing style of basketball, and they have a true star and potential lottery pick in Obi Toppin. They look like the favorites right now, but it won't be an easy road. As with the American, there is a lot of depth in the conference, as eleven of the league's fourteen teams are currently .500 or better. George Mason, La Salle, and Duquesne have all exceeded expectations this year, and teams like Rhode Island, Davidson, and Saint Bonaventure will not be easy wins. Preseason favorites VCU are still very much in the race, entering conference play at 10-3, and I've been impressed with Richmond this year. However, it'd be foolish to pick against the Flyers given how good they've been this far, so I think Dayton takes home the regular season crown.
ACC: It's a down year in the ACC, with North Carolina struggling mightily, especially in Cole Anthony's absence, and multiple teams have underperformed expectations. There are currently only four teams in the AP Top 25 from the conference, although two do reside in the top 10. This race could end up coming down to Duke and Louisville. The Blue Devils are led by sophomore point guard and an impressive freshman class, headlined by center Vernon Carey. If guard Cassius Stanley can continue to improve, then they have a great shot. As for Louisville, the conversation has to start and end with star forward Jordan Nwora. He's one of the best players in the country and is currently averaging over 20 points a game. Louisville needs someone to emerge as a capable second scorer for them to reach their full potential. Don't count out dark horse Florida State either, as the Seminoles have a deep roster and play great defense, which could put them in contention for the conference crown. My pick will be Duke, but this one should be tight.
Atlantic Sun: Similar to Vermont in the America East, Liberty looks poised to dominate the Atlantic Sun. The Flames only recently lost their first game, at LSU, and have a strong duo with Caleb Homesley and Scottie James. No other team in the conference enters the new year with a winning record, and Liberty should have no problem winning this league.
Big 12: Prior to last season, picking against Kansas in the Big 12 was a foolish move. However, the Jayhawks relinquished the regular season crowd for the first time in fourteen seasons. The Big 12 figures to be one of the most competitive conferences in the country, with every team currently sitting about .500, and four of the ten teams featuring the in the Top 25. Kansas, Baylor, West Virginia, and Texas Tech are all featured in the AP Poll. The Jayhawks, Bears, and Mountaineers likely have the best chances. Kansas has the best duo maybe in all of college basketball with Devon Dotson and Udoka Azubuike, and those two alone will win Bill Self a lot of games. Baylor has a very strong perimeter, led by sophomore Jared Butler, and big man Tristan Clark may finally be fully healthy for conference play and might be the x-factor in the title race. Finally, West Virginia has twin towers Oscar Tshiebwe and Derek Culver and their front court is one of the best in the country. It should be close, and don't out Chris Beard or a healthy Oklahoma State team just yet, but I think Kansas starts a new streak atop the conference.
Big East: Like the Big 12, the Big East is very deep and should be super competitive this year. Villanova and Butler are the only two ranked teams, but everyone has a winning record and anyone can win on any given night. The Wildcats have been excellent as always under Jay Wright, and Collin Gillespie has taken a step to be the leader of this young team. Meanwhile, Butler has a star of their own in Kamar Baldwin alongside a great combination of role players. Creighton has also impressed this year with their perimeter trio of Marcus Zegarowski, Tyshon Alexander, and Mitch Ballock being arguably the most potent in the nation. Seton Hall is also not out of the race by a long shot, as they have a very good defense and a star in Myles Powell, who is one of the best scorers in the nation. When Sandro Mamukelashvili gets healthy, they will be quite a formidable unit. I like all four teams, but I think Villanova has the best coach, which separates them from the pack in this close race.
Big Sky: The Big Sky doesn't have one team that's separated themselves from the pack at the moment and this one could go in a number of ways. I'm admittedly not the most knowledgable about this conference, but Eastern Washington, Montana, Montana State, Southern Utah, and Portland State should all end up competing for the conference title. Montana has represented the conference in the tournament each of the past two seasons, and the Eagles of Eastern Washington are probably the current favorites. However, I'm going to go with Portland State. They have transfers in some key places and I think they may be gelling at just the right time to win the conference.
Big South: The Big South has been pretty awful this year, currently ranking 29 out of 32 conferences on KenPom. At the moment, Winthrop, Radford, and a resurgent Campbell team, who are currently 9-3 despite the loss of star Chris Clemons, look to be the class of the league. Last year, it was Radford who captured the regular season title, and I think they do the same this year. Winthrop has a great front court with Josh Ferguson and Tennessee transfer DJ Burns, but the Highlanders likely have the best player in the conference with guard Carlik Jones and they have the experience necessary to capture the title once more.
Big Ten: Perhaps the race I'm most interested in seeing, the Big Ten is very strong at the top. Ohio State has been one of the best teams in the nation this year, and both Michigan schools figure to be at the top of the conference once more. Maryland, Penn State, and Iowa are all ranked in addition to those three schools, and Purdue is always a tough team to beat. Still, I think this comes down to the Buckeyes, Spartans, Wolverines, or Terrapins. I love the balanced scoring attack of the Buckeyes around star center Kaleb Wesson, and it should serve them well throughout conference play. Michigan State has yet to find their groove this year, but with Cassius Winston on the roster, they will certainly not be easy to beat. Michigan has been a pleasant surprise under Juwan Howard in year one, and the trio of Zavier Simpson, Isaiah Livers, and Jon Teske is, in my opinion, the best in the conference. Don't count Maryland out yet either. They have been inconsistent throughout Mark Turgeon's tenure, including this year, but with Anthony Cowan, Jalen Smith, and others, there is no shortage of talent in College Park. I'll take the Buckeyes to win, as they have been the most consistent throughout the season thus far, but don't be shocked to see this one come down to the final game.
Big West: UC Irvine represented the Big West in the tournament last year, and won their first round matchup, so there is talent in the league. However, the Anteaters won't be my pick this year. I think the loss of Max Hazzard to Arizona will be slightly to much for Russell Turner to overcome against conference competition, and I'm instead taking UC Santa Barbara. The Gauchos are very talented, with multiple high major transfers like JaQuori McLaughlin, Matt Freeman, and Brandon Cyrus on the roster, plus talented sophomore big Armadou Sow and senior guard Max Heidegger who, when healthy, might be the best player on the team. They've only taken four losses so far this year, and with all of the talent Joe Pasternack has at his disposal, I think he can win the league.
Colonial: The Colonial may actually be the toughest race to call, with four teams separated by a razor thin margin. Charleston, Northeastern, Delaware, and Hofstra all have legit cases to be made that they are the best team in the CAA and any of the four can win this league. I think Hofstra is the least likely because of their lack of a true star. They had one with Justin Wright-Foreman last year, and he led them to a league title, but he's gone to the NBA and I don't think Desure Buie and Eli Pemberton are a potent enough duo to get it done. Delaware has been a surprise to me, as they lost two of their three leading scorers from last season. UAB transfer Nate Darling is off to a hot start, averaging 21.1 points a game, and they just got Villanova transfer Dylan Painter eligible, which should only help the Blue Hens. Meanwhile, Northeastern has an even more impressive scoring guard in Justin Roland. He's currently averaging 22.6 points a game for the Huskies, and has been lighting up scoreboards this year. Charleston may actually have the best guard in the conference in Grant Riller, also averaging 21.1 points a game, and the Cougars have yet to lose to a team outside of the top 100 on KenPom. It should be a close title race, but I'll give the slightest of edges to Northeastern thanks to the supporting cast around Roland. Freshman point guard Tyson Walker has made an immediate impact and forward Bolden Brace does all the dirty work, so for that reason I'll take the Huskies.
Conference USA: No one has emerged as a title contender in Conference USA. My preseason pick, Western Kentucky, has a lot of talent, but lost star big Charles Bassey to a season ending injury. Meanwhile, UTEP, another team I thought was very talented, has been a mixed back and seems to have some chemistry issues. Either could still win the league, but it looks significantly less likely. Meanwhile, Louisiana Tech and FIU are off to good starts, and either could win this league as well. The Bulldogs have probably been better, but I'm actually going to pick the Panthers. Jeremy Ballard has them playing at one of the fastest paces in the country, and it's been effective so far. Big man Osasumwen Osaghae, good luck pronouncing that one, leads the country in blocks with 4.6 a game and is third in field goal percentage, making 72.5% of his shots on the season. With three other players averaging in double figures for the Panthers, they have a sneaky good team and they are my pick to win the conference.
Horizon League: While Youngstown State and Northern Kentucky look like they will be solid teams in the Horizon League, I think the league is Wright State's to lose. The Raiders have a great front court duo with Bill Wampler and Loudon Love, and senior guard Cole Gentry has been a nice compliment to those two. Detroit Mercy are hard to count out because of their high scoring backcourt of Antoine Davis and Brad Calipari, but they are terrible at everything else. The Norse possess a strong duo of their own in Dantez Walton and Tyler Sharpe and look like the second best team in the conference and they should challenge Wright State. However, I think they are lacking just a little bit and I'm going to back the Raiders to win the league.
Ivy League: The trio of Penn, Yale, and Harvard will provide a very entertaining race for the conference championship. All three have just four losses entering conference play and have quite a lot of talent on their rosters. Starting with Harvard, the Crimson are probably the most talented team in the Ivy League, even without Seth Towns, who is out with injury. Bryce Aiken is plenty talented on his own and with players like Noah Kirkwood, Chris Ledlum, Chris Lewis, and Justin Bassey, the. rest of the roster is very good in their own right. They are the current favorites, but the Bulldogs and Quakers won't be stopped easily. Yale is led by a strong front court duo of Jordan Bruner and Paul Atkinson, plus a talented shooter in Azar Swain. Meanwhile, Penn took down Alabama, UCF, and Providence this season, and has four players in double figures. I was actually leaning towards Harvard, but while doing the research, I'm going to give the edge to Penn. I really like the group they have, and I think they are a rock solid team that will be able to win a lot of games and pick up the conference title.
MAAC: This is another league that I don't know a ton about. I think Siena, Rider, and Iona are the teams to watch here. Siena has the best player in the conference with point guard Jalen Pickett, and they've surrounded him with some solid role players. Meanwhile, Rider likely has the most talent in the league, but putting it all together consistently has been a problem for the Broncos. Iona always plays well in the conference tournament, and if Tim Cluess is back on the sidelines for the Gaels after health issues, then they should be better than they've shown so far. I'm going to lean towards the Saints, as I think Pickett will have them in almost every game and I think they are the safest pick right now.
MAC: MACtion is always fun, and there's real competition at the top of the league. Because it's split into conferences, I'll just pick who I think has the best record overall. Akron, Toledo, Kent State, Bowling Green, and Eastern Michigan have all been good to start the year and are generating a lot of buzz. Akron specifically has been very good to start the year, and the play of Loren Christian Jackson, Tyler Cheese, and Dayton transfer Xeyrius Jackson has propelled the Zips to be a popular pick. However, I'm going to go a little off the wall and pick Buffalo. They were obviously great last year, but lost numerous key contributors and their coach, so they've gotten off to an inconsistent start. They had multiple transfers and players stepping into new roles, and I think the whole team took a little bit to gel. However, I'm a believer in this roster, led by junior guard Jayvon Graves, and I think they get hot during MAC play and win the conference title once more.
MEAC: I have not, and likely will not, watch any MEAC action this year. Ranked at the bottom of KenPom's conference rankings, the league is bad. I think Bethune-Cookman is supposed to be good, so I'll pick them, but I really have no idea how this will go.
Missouri Valley: Missouri State was largely considered the favorite in the Missouri Valley by many, myself included. The Bears have struggled to start the year, while Northern Iowa has emerged as the favorite in the MVC. Loyola Chicago and Bradley are also in the race, but the Panthers look like the team to beat. Northern Iowa is led by sophomore guard AJ Green along with junior Pepperdine transfer Trae Berhow. Both of them are scoring in double figures this year, and Berhow is one of the top shooting players from three, while Green is living up to his top 100 recruiting ranking, as he is averaging 17.1 points a game this year. Meanwhile, Porter Moser at Loyola Chicago has the best player in the conference with Cameron Krutwig, who leads the team in points, rebounds, and assists, making him an immense threat. Don't count out Missouri State just yet either, as players like Keandre Cook and Tulio Da Silva are very talented and they have a chance to be the best defensive unit in the conference. Still, I'm going to roll with the Panthers. They've been very, very good to start the season and I'm a believer in their duo being able to win them a lot of games this year. I'm really looking forward to watching them play in the Missouri Valley this year.
Mountain West: The Mountain West is always one of my favorite conferences in college basketball, with late night games that are always exciting. Last year, Nevada and Utah State provided a ton of great games and very both incredible teams. This year, San Diego State is currently undefeated and the Aztecs have an awesome squad this year. With three transfers in their starting lineup and some really good returning players, the Aztecs are super legit. They are the clear favorite at the moment. Utah State shouldn't be counted out, however. The Aggies were the preseason favorite for a reason, with Sam Merrill, arguably the best player in the country, leading the way, and Neemias Queta, a talented big man who has struggled with injuries, anchoring the defense. New Mexico also has a ton of talent, although there seems to be locker room issues there and they seem like a mess, and Boise State has a star in Derrick Alston that should keep them in a lot of games. San Diego State is the pick here, but it might not be as clear cut as people might think at first glance.
NEC: Another conference that is struggling, having been decimated by transfers, the NEC is currently fifth worst on KenPom. St. Francis (PA), Sacred Heart, and Bryant look to be the two favorites here. Senior guards Keith Braxton and Isaiah Blackmon lead the Red Flashes, and they are a dynamic duo that will be tough to stop. Meanwhile, Sacred Heart has one of the top assisters in the nation in Cameron Parker, currently averaging 8.7 assists a game, and forward EJ Anosike is averaging a double double at the moment for the Pioneers. However, I'm going to take Bryant. Second year head coach Jared Grasso has a reputation as a talented recruiter, and the Bears have some good young talent. Plus, he's impressive on the sidelines, and Adam Grant is scoring 19 points a game right now. I think they'll continue to get better as the season goes on and I think they capture the title.
Ohio Valley: Last year was a banner year for the OVC, with two teams, Belmont and Murray State, making the tournament, and each of them winning a game in the Big Dance. They both had first round picks in the NBA Draft in Ja Morant, ever heard of him?, for the Racers, and Dylan Windler from the Bruins. Because of that, these teams look a lot different this year. However, they are both still quite good and are probably the two favorites for the conference championship. Adam Kunkel has emerged for Belmont, going from playing under 10 minutes a game to nearly thirty, and averaging 18.1 points a game this year. Nick Muszynski and Grayson Murphy are also quite good, rounding out a really good sophomore class in Nashville. Meanwhile, Tevin Brown has stepped out of Morant's shadow and is scoring 16.8 points a game. The games between these two should be great, but Belmont looks more well rounded and I think they capture the title.
Pac-12: After a few down years, the Pac-12 looks to be having a renaissance. Oregon is currently inside of the top 5, and Colorado, Washington, and Arizona all looked poised to challenge the Ducks at the top of the conference. Starting with the Buffaloes, they have an experienced group and Boulder is always a tough place to play. As for Washington and Arizona, they have a lot of new pieces, each welcoming multiple five star freshmen. Washington has big man Isaiah Stewart and forward Jaden McDaniels, alongside Kentucky transfer Quade Green and returner Naz Carter, who is having a breakout year on the wing. Meanwhile, Arizona has freshmen Nico Mannion, Josh Green, and Zeke Nnaji, all three highly regarded freshmen who have had varying levels of success to start the year. These two teams could continue to improve throughout conference play, and I'd keep an eye on them. However, Oregon has to be my pick. Peyton Pritchard is playing at an All-American level right now, and Anthony Mathis, Will Richardson, and Chris Duarte have been excellent as supplementary pieces. Five star freshman N'Faly Dante recently gained eligibility, and he could be a difference maker for the Ducks. They seem to be the most well rounded team in the conference and have plenty of good players, making them a good bet to win the conference.
Patriot League: Colgate was the favorite heading into the year after winning the conference last year, and they've done nothing to dissuade me this year. The duo of Jordan Burns and Rapolas Ivanauskas is quite good, and the Raiders run good offense. Their greatest challenger looks to be Loyola. The Greyhounds are led by senior guard Andrew Kosteka, and have talented Spanish freshmen Golden Dike and Santiago Aldama, although Aldama has yet to see the court due to injuries. If he can get fully healthy, look for them to be good in the Patriot League. However, I'm going to stick with there Raiders for now.
SEC: Perhaps the most disappointing league in the country, the SEC has struggled at large to start the year. They only have two teams inside of the top 10 at the moment, Kentucky and Auburn. The Tigers are one of the two undefeated teams, although their schedule has been relatively light thus far. Meanwhile, Kentucky is coming off of a win against in-state rivals Louisville, and the Wildcats have talent. They are my pick because I think they have a pretty safe floor and I don't trust anyone else in the conference quite yet. One other team to watch: Arkansas. The Razorbacks have lost just one game all year and Mason Jones and Isaiah Joe are as good of a scoring backcourt as you'll find in the country. They can singlehandedly win games for the Razorbacks, although they seriously lack size on the interior.
Southern Conference: The Southern Conference race was hotly contested last year, with UNC Greensboro, Furman, East Tennessee State, and eventual champions Wofford duking it out all year. All four are good once again this year in what should be one of the tightest conference races you'll see all year. Wofford is probably the worst of the teams this season, as they lost star Fletcher Magee to graduation after last season. They are struggling defensively this season, and I wouldn't take them to win the league. Furman has one of the best players in the conference with Jordan Lyons, who is a multi-talented guard, and the Paladins as a whole have a good offense. East Tennessee State made waves with this win at LSU earlier this year, and they gave Kansas a tough test in Lawrence. The Buccaneers are very balanced, with four players in double digits, and are excellent at crashing the offensive glass. However, I'm going to lean towards UNC Greensboro. Wes Miller's team has finished no lower than third the past three years, and they have Isaiah Miller, a junior guard scoring 17.3 points a game. It's really just a gut feeling, but I'm going to take the Spartans.
Southland: The next two previews will be pretty short. These two conference rank 30th and 31st respectively and I will be the first to admit that I don't watch a ton of these teams play. Stephen F. Austin is the headliner in the Southland after their win against Duke at Cameron Indoor, and they have been good since then, currently sitting at 12-2. Their biggest challenger will be Sam Houston State, with the Bearcats holding a 10-4 record after winning the conference last year. The Lumberjacks have a sort of magical feel to them after that win at Duke, so I'll go with them, but this one could go either way.
SWAC: As mentioned, I don't really know anything about SWAC basketball. A lot of teams in the league play a ton of buy games, so it can be tough to gauge how good some of these teams are. Texas Southern has been good for a while, and Prairie View A&M and Grambling State look like they might compete. I like the Panthers from Prairie View mostly because they have a middling defense on KenPom which is more than you can say about most SWAC teams.
Summit League: Mike Daum has left South Dakota State, as have David Jenkins and coach TJ Otzelberger. This has left a big power vacuum at the top of the conference, and a few teams will look to take advantage. South Dakota and North Dakota State are the two favorites in my mind, and Oral Roberts are no slouches either. I think the Bison, who won the conference tournament last year and have a star duo in Tyson Ward and Vinnie Shahid, are able to win the league. But don't count the Coyotes out after a slow start. They have their own duo in Tyler Hagedorn and Stanley Umude and five players scoring in double figures. If they can tighten up their defense, expect them to challenge at the top of the conference. I think that the Bison are the best team in the conference and they end up proving it.
Sun Belt: The Sun Belt has had Georgia State represent them in the tournament each of the past two years, and the Panthers look good once again this year. They have a balanced scoring attack and have hung tough with Duke and Georgetown. Their main challengers will be Arkansas State and Georgia Southern. The Red Wolves have double digit wins but have played a relatively weak schedule and will need to prove they are good enough in Sun Belt play. Meanwhile, Georgia Southern is quite similar to their in-state rivals, with balanced scoring, although their defense is worse. They do play at a very quick tempo and that should be an advantage for the Eagles to have a shot at the title. I'm going to pick Georgia State, but I think this could be a close league race.
WCC: This one seems pretty open and shut to me. Gonzaga is one of the handful of best teams in the country, and while the WCC is filled with really good teams, like Saint Mary's and BYU, but I don't see anyone taking down the Zags. They have a crazy balanced scoring attack and their size will be a problem for their conference competition. The Gaels and Cougars are both really good and should be in the tournament this March, but I really do think that Gonzaga is just on another level.
WAC: New Mexico State has had a stranglehold on the WAC in recent years, and it doesn't look like that will change anytime soon. Seattle has Terrell Brown, a talented guard that can win games in the conference singlehandedly, Grand Canyon has a lot of talent, but they've been a train wreck so far and correcting course may be too much of a challenge at this point. The Aggies are incredibly deep and have a lot of talent, led by a now healthy Trevelin Queen, and I think their defense is possibly their best talent. I think they have a good chance to win the league this year barring a big change in the landscape of the league.
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