By Sam Federman
Hello all, and welcome to the first edition of my sporadic column, Fed in Focus, which is a name I've had for a long time, just never any idea what to write about. I've finally convinced myself that it's time to write a column semi-consistently this season, and what better place to start than multi-team events. I'm picking each multi-team event in Russell Steinberg's Silversword competition. Each event has point values assigned based on preseason KenPom, and I'll make note of it, but I'm not going to list out the whole field for each event.
Feast Week basketball is one of the very best times of the year. It's hours upon hours of hoops from all across the tropical regions of North America, and even a few MTE's up north too. Now, without further ado, here are my Silversword picks.
Baha Mar: Tennessee (4 points)
Whoever comes out victorious in Baylor/St. John's will have gone through a war. The Johnnies want to play extremely physically, and I'm not sure that that's something that will work well in an MTE setting after you get past game one. Even if they win, Tennessee has the types of athletes that can match the physicality - for the most part - and should be able to win the game. If Baylor wins, then I trust Tennessee to dispatch of them quite comfortably. The way that Chaz Lanier and company played on the road at Louisville gave me a ton of early-season confidence.
Legends Classic: Texas Tech (2 points)
Nobody has thought about Texas Tech because nobody has had to. When you're playing against Bethune, Northwestern State, and Wyoming, it's best to not have your name mentioned by the national media at all, which is exactly what has happened. The Red Raiders are all the way up to ninth in KenPom and that's with only 13 minutes of action from Elijah Hawkins as of Sunday night. If somebody else were to win this MTE, it would have to be Texas led by a herculean Tre Johnson performance. Syracuse and Joes have far too many question marks at the moment.
Boardwalk Battle: La Salle (8 points)
I wrote about La Salle's start to the season over at Mid-Major Madness, but I've been very impressed. I'm not sure they're the best team in this tournament, but they absolutely have the best value.
Charleston Classic: VCU (2 points)
This will be the VCU coming out party. I wasn't certain that this team would be the best in the A-10 (in fact, I picked them third), but after four games, I'm all the way in (not out on Loyola either though). The frontcourt defense is there, and we know how stacked that backcourt is with Max Shulga, Joe Bamisile, and Phillip Russell making up part of it. PPP allowed so far this season? .98, .77, .59, and .80. Just dominant stuff on the defensive end from a coach more known for offense. I not only think VCU wins the Charleston Classic, but I think they do so in dominant fashion, and start to drum up serious buzz from the national college basketball media.
Myrtle Beach Invitational: South Florida (6 points)
Princeton should be the best team in this competition, but I'm not sure the Tigers have the depth to win three games in four days against tough teams, especially with how sluggish they've looked for long stretches of games this year. Watching for a breakout tournament from JUCO transfer Jimmie Williams of USF.
Greenbrier Tip-Off (Mountain Division): Wisconsin (4 points)
I'm not quite as in on Pitt as KenPom is, even though I definitely like the team more than I did before the season. Wisconsin has the pieces, led by John Tonje and John Blackwell, to overpower you with wing scoring (and foul shooting).
Paradise Jam: Kansas State (2 points)
It would probably be very concerning to K-State fans if they don't win Paradise Jam, as they're the only high-major team in the tournament. There are some good mid-major teams in here, including UAB and McNeese, but the Wildcats should be able to handle it.
Cayman Islands Classic: Boise State (2 points)
Looking at this bracket, we should be setting up for a High Point/Boise State title game, and I think the Broncos are just a tier or two better than the Panthers.
Sunshine Slam (Beach Division): San Francisco (6 points)
I don't think I'd be shocked if San Francisco is straight up the best team of the four by the time the season is over. The Dons are 4-0, have already defeated Boise State, and just demolished LBSU and Chicago State. Tyrone Riley, Malik Thomas, and Marcus Williams is an unbelievable backcourt trio, especially with Ryan Beasley off the bench. Then the frontcourt is just as dangerous, with Chips Newbury and Carlton Linguard. They have the athleticism and speed to match with either high-major in this bracket, and might even have more of it. Expect me to talk highly of USF all year long.
Sunshine Slam (Ocean Division): Radford (3 points)
I know basically nothing about Radford or PFW, but I wanted to go for the value play here, I guess.
Fort Myers Tip-Off (Beach Division): Xavier (2 points)
There are two tiers in this bracket. Michigan and Xavier are both top-30 caliber teams, and it's a total toss-up as to who wins that game once they each defeat South Carolina and Virginia Tech. I decided to go with the Musketeers in the end, but could really go either way.
Fort Myers Tip-Off (Palms Division): Siena (4 points)
This wouldn't be a Sam post if I didn't mention the MAAC. Gerry McNamara has impressed me with how well the Saints have played over the first two weeks of the season. If Marcus Jackson is back, Siena should absolutely have the chance to win this tournament, and even without him considering how well Justice Shoats and Major Freeman have meshed in the backcourt.
Maui Invitational: UConn (4 points)
It's an absolute crime that one of Iowa State or Auburn will be in the losers bracket of this tournament. Those two should not be playing each other in round one, swap Colorado or Michigan State with one of them. Anyway, because of this, UConn has the easiest path to the final, and picking against Dan Hurley is not advisable at this point in time. Solo Ball looks like a breakout star, and Alex Karaban has alleviated the loss of Donovan Clingan by protecting the paint himself. I'm not sure a UConn/Auburn or a UConn/Iowa State game definitely goes the way of the Huskies, but I'm sure it will likely end up being one of them. North Carolina is kind of the wild card here, because they could sneak up on Auburn/Iowa State after a war on day one and steal one on day two. They're talented enough to do so.
Cancun Challenge (Riviera Division): Belmont (4 points)
Again, not a ton of knowledge on most of these teams, but Casey Alexander is the best coach of the four, and Belmont is a super consistent program. When in doubt, bet on that. I also think Jonathan Pierre could have a breakout tournament, leading the Bruins to victory.
Cancun Challenge (Mayan Division): North Dakota (1 point)
North Dakota is the only team in this tournament that I've watched so far. Shouts to Treysen Eaglestaff.
Battle 4 Atlantis: Gonzaga (4 points)
Through four games, Gonzaga's resume is about as impressive as it gets. A blowout over a top-20 team in Baylor, a win over another high-major team in Arizona State, a destruction of a good mid-major, and a commanding road win against a well-coached SDSU team in a hostile environment. They're deeper this year than last, and no longer have to rely on everybody to play 35 minutes, which bodes well for a tournament like Atlantis. I like Arizona too, and it would be on-brand for them to win an MTE (Tommy Lloyd had never lost in November until last week against Wisconsin), but I'm gonna lean with the master over the apprentice.
ESPN Events Invitational: Florida (2 points)
Watch out for Wichita State to be a threat in the American Conference this year, but I couldn't in my right mind pick anybody besides the Gators in this bracket. Wake has looked extremely shaky, and this is one of the few games where you could argue that the Deacs don't have the best guard on the floor. Walter Clayton Jr. is averaging 19 ppg and 4 apg on 55% from the field through four games this year. Moving to point guard has worked out in his senior year so far.
NIT Season Tip-Off: Utah State (2 points)
Utah State is still a wagon. I like all four teams in this field, but the Aggies are a tier above the rest. In four games, they're averaging 104 points, and Ian Martinez has looked the part of an All-MWC First Teamer. Eight USU players are averaging 7.5 or more points per game, and that doesn't even include Deyton Albury, who is capable of scoring in bunches as well. Martinez, Mason Falslev, and Karson Templin are the returners who have taken steps forward, while Aubin Gateretse and Dexter Akanno are leading a strong transfer class. Jerrod Calhoun has kept the good thing going.
Acrisure Invitational: Colorado State (4 points)
Despite the rocky start to the season, I think Colorado State will be able to steady the ship and win this MTE, but I could really see any of the four teams winning it. Each team has a player that can take over the game, Nique Clifford, Great Osobor, Adama Alpha-Bal, and while we haven't seen it yet this year, Trazarien White for TCU. All four games should be competitive, but that wing defensive duo of Clifford and Jaylen Crocker-Johnson will be the difference.
Acrisure Classic: New Mexico (6 points)
Make that four Mountain West teams that I have winning their MTE's. I wouldn't argue with you if you picked Saint Mary's, especially considering the relative coaching advantage that they'll have against UNM, but this Lobos team should have the resources to handle whatever gets thrown their way in this tournament.
Rady Children's Invitational: Purdue (2 points)
I really badly wanted to pick BYU to win this. It could be a really fun announcement to the world of Egor Demin and Kevin Young for this Cougar team, but I think back to what I said last year about Purdue. They are a deadly team in multi-team events, having won in controlling fashion against some elite teams over the past few years. Obviously, Edey isn't there, but it's still a motivated team with plenty of continuity and star power - Braden Smith might be the best point guard in the country - looking to get the job done. When it came down to it, picking Purdue, who hasn't lost a non-conference regular season game in a few years, felt like a foregone conclusion as much as I like BYU, and have been impressed by their start to the season.
Arizona Tip-Off (Cactus Division): Mississippi State (2 points)
The Bulldogs are playing 3 seconds faster offensively this year with their smaller backcourt, but they've still managed to hold it together defensively. I don't trust any of the other three teams in this tournament yet, so Mississippi State should win it, but it won't be easy. UNLV and either Northwestern or Butler will make them take it from them.
Arizona Tip-Off (Desert Division): New Mexico State (1 point)
Haven't watched much of anybody in this tournament. I like Bowling Green in the MAC with Todd Simon, but New Mexico State looks like a clear favorite here. West Georgia transfer point guard Zawdie Jackson has the chance to be an all-league guy in Conference USA.