By Sam Federman
ACC: Duke
I really find it difficult to believe that North Carolina beats Duke three times, and I don't have confidence in anybody else in this league to even make it to the finals.
AAC: Memphis
Given that Memphis is the five seed, and will not have to face the best team in the conference (FAU) until the final assuming they make it there. Getting potentially 7 points out of one of the most talented teams in the country is a no brainer.
Atlantic 10: Loyola Chicago
I know that this won't be Dayton, I don't think they've played well recently. I also like VCU in this tournament, but UMass could easily trip them up in the quarters. I really like this Loyola team, I've been super high on them for a long time, and they play really well to their physical defensive identity, which travels.
Big 12: Houston
Houston is arguably the best team in the country, even without Jojo Tugler. I can't pick against them.
Big East: UConn
UConn eviscerated Marquette home-and-away, Creighton at home, Seton Hall at home, and most of the rest of the league. Add in being the top seed and playing in front of a raucous UConn crowd at Madison Square Garden, and I think the vibes will be too good. Don't want to jinx it though, and I just might have.
Big Ten: Purdue:
Just like Houston, I just think this team is so much better than everybody else in their league, that picking anybody besides them would be a mistake. Wouldn't be extremely shocked to see them not win, but I'd have much more regret for picking somebody else than picking them.
Big West: UC Irvine
I have a bunch of teams that I like in this league, UC Riverside, Long Beach State, but I really don't know if I want to pick any of them to beat Irvine. They're much higher in KenPom than the rest of the league, and with 4 wins in a row, they're playing good basketball right now.
Conference USA: Louisiana Tech
I've really enjoyed watching Louisiana Tech this year because they have a plethora of high-major athletes in a true mid-major league. Also Isaiah Crawford is a stud. They're the best team in this league, and that's with all due respect to Chris Mudge and how good of a job he's done all year at Sam Houston.
Ivy League: Princeton
I'm gonna "take the points" here with Princeton, as I'll have an 84% chance (KenPom) at the 2 points (and probably like a 45% chance at the 5 points) rather than going with the riskier pick of Cornell as the three seed that could hypothetically get me 7 points.
MAAC: I will not disclose my pick
MAC: Akron
Good luck stopping Enrique Freeman and Ali Ali in this tournament a few days in a row. I'm definitely a little concerned about the idea that Toledo could just outscore everybody though.
MEAC: Norfolk State
I'm not betting against Rob Jones as the top seed in this tournament. Jamarii Thomas might be the player of the year in the league, Allen Betrand has made a huge impact, and they play the best defense in the conference.
Mountain West: San Diego State
You're going to give me the chance to get seven points out of the premiere program in the conference with the highest KenPom rating in the conference with the best coach in the conference and the team I projected to finish first in the conference and still think is the best in the conference? Give me that.
Pac 12: Arizona
Pour one out for the Pac 12, but Arizona can blast the rest of this league. Nobody outside of them moves me at all, especially with how bad Wazzu has struggled recently, Maybe Colorado since they have a ton to play for? I don't think Utah is all that good.
SEC: Alabama
This is a really tough one because it feels like there's four teams that can just blast anybody in this league on a given day. Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, and Auburn. I don't know who is most likely to win this tournament, but Alabama has the best coach of that group, so I'm going to pick them.
SWAC: Southern
I'm not going to act like I've watched any SWAC games this year, but Southern is among the top teams in the league by the metrics, and I have a chance at seven points.
WAC: Grand Canyon
I like UT Arlington and Abilene Christian but I'd be a fool to pick against the talent that Bryce Drew has at Grand Canyon.