College Basketball Conference Tournament Predictions

Photo courtesy of www.bisoninc.com

March Madness is just around the corner and as the anticipation of Selection Sunday builds, The Campus just couldn’t wait. So here are The Campus predictions for the 32 automatic qualifying conference bids. If you read this, your bracket is guaranteed to not be busted. 

America East Championship 14 March

The University of Vermont Catamounts are atop the current standings and with the potential of home court throughout the America East tournament; the Catamounts will take the America East’s automatic bid to March Madness. The University of Vermont is no stranger to success in March. 

American Athletic   Championship 15 March

As the one of the last bids to be automatically punched hours before selection Sunday, the American Athletic conference championship is anyone's race. At first glance at the conference standing one would think of the Houston Cougars or Cincinnati Bearcats as the favorite to win the AAC tournament. But with the tournament being played in Fort Worth, Texas, look for the virtual home team, the SMU Mustangs, to win the AAC tournament. 

Atlantic 10 Championship 15 March

The Dayton Flyers have been flying at the top of the A-10 conference all year, led by National Player of the Year Candidate Obi Toppin and are currently ranked fifth in the country. However, look for diminutive guard Fatts Russell who scores on average 20ppg. to lead his Rhode Island Rams to the A-10 tournament crown. 

ACC   Championship 14 March

North Carolina has been dreadful this year, and other than the top four teams of Duke, Louisville Florida State and last year's national champions, UVA, there aren’t many good teams this year in the ACC. The depth of Florida State will win out over the likes of Duke and Louisville in the ACC tournament. 

Atlantic Sun  Championship 8 March 

Ospreys, Dolphins, Bisons, Lions Eagles and Owls just to name a few; if you are a lover of animals and animal mascots then the A-Sun is the conference for you. Last year in the NCAA tournament, the Liberty Flames knocked off a five seed Mississippi State in the first round. But this year, watch as the Ospreys of North Florida soar over the Flames of Liberty University into March Madness. 

Big 12   Championship 14 March

The Baylor Bears have been the number one team in the nation and in the Big 12 conference for most of this college basketball season. However, the Kansas Jayhawks are finding their offensive rhythm and are the more talented team. The Big 12 tournament is played in Kansas City and look for Kansas City to continue its championship season as the Jayhawks hoist another trophy. 

Big East  Championship 14 March

The Big East has been one of the most thrilling conferences of basketball to watch all season. With numerous teams on the NCAA tournament bubble and dynamic guards Markus Howard of the Marquette Golden Eagles and Myles Powell of the Seton Hall Pirates both averaging well over 20ppg look for the excitement to continue at Madison Square Garden. However The Campus believes with its stellar road record that the Creighton Bluejays will win the Big East tournament. 

Big Sky   Championship 14 March

Currently the Montana Grizzlies are sitting on top of the Big Sky Conference with a decent lead over the Eastern Washington Eagles and Northern Colorado Bears. This year though the Lumberjacks of Northern Arizona University emerge from the middle of the pack to send the Grizzlies into early hibernation as they punch their first ticket in nearly twenty years to the NCAA tournament.  

Big South  Championship 15 March

So far the Big South Conference is top heavy. Only the Winthrop Eagles and the Radford Highlanders have overall records above .500. In a battle between the Eagles and Highlanders watch as high scoring Radford guard Carlik Jones carries the Highlanders to the top of the hill and into the NCAA tournament.

Big Ten  Championship 15 March

The Big Ten has been a brutal and tough fight every week. With the exception of current bottom feeders Nebraska Cornhuskers and Northwestern Wildcats, nearly every team is on the tournament bubble. Preseason number one Michigan State is no longer even ranked in the top 25, though a tournament birth seems secure. In 2020, the Big Ten will be seeing red as the Rutgers Scarlet Knights win the Big Ten tournament. 

Big West Championship 14 March

The Anteaters of UC Irvine sit at the top of the Big West conference and are one of just four teams in the conference with a record over .500. The Anteaters upset Kansas State in last year's tournament and could be primed for another upset in March if they can secure the Big West’s automatic bid; which The Campus predicts they will. 

CAA   Championship 10 March

The top three of the Colonial Athletic Association currently consist of the Hofstra Pride, William & Mary Tribe and the Delaware Blue Hens. This season Hofstra has already gone into Pauley Pavilion and beaten the UCLA Bruins owners of 11 National Championships. With this experience in their rear view mirror look for Hofstra to use this as a springboard to take the CAA tournament title. 

Conference USA  Championship 14 March

One of the most broad geographically expansive athletic conferences, C-USA stretches from Norfolk, VA with Old Dominion University Monarchs to El Paso, TX with UTEP Miners and teams seemingly everywhere in between. With the C-USA conference tournament being played in Frisco, TX the North Texas Mean Green are a top the conference standings and will have to do the least amount of traveling for the conference tournament. Watch as this rest pays off and the Mean Green take the C-USA crown. 

Horizon League Championship 10 March

The Horizon league is a two-horse race so far between the Wright State Raiders and the Northern Kentucky Norse. Though Kentucky is land of thoroughbreds, Wright State, led by four players averaging in double figures will be able to stave off Northern Kentucky to win the Horizon League tournament conference championship.  

Ivy League Championship 15 March

A league that only recently added a conference tournament, the Ivy League’s new conference tournament is the smallest in college basketball as only the top four teams make it. It is currently a five team race for four spots as Yale Bulldogs, Princeton Tigers, Brown Bears, Penn Quakers and the Havard Crimson are all vying for one of the four spots. The Campus surmises that it will be the Princeton Tigers who emerge with the Ivy Leagues crown. 

MAAC  Championship 14 March

Perennial power of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference the Iona Gaels are resting this year in the middle of the pack. This means this year's MAAC tournament race will be a doozy. Saint Peter’s Peacocks are at the top with the Siena Saints and Rider Broncs close behind. The Peacocks of Saint Peter’s will take the 2020 MAAC crown.

MAC Championship 14 March

The Bowling Green Falcons lead the Mid-American Conference’s East division while in the West division Northern Illinois Huskies have a slim lead over the Ball State Cardinals and Chippewas of Central Michigan. The East division has the greater depth of better teams and watch as the Akron Zips speed past everyone in the MAC tournament. 

MEAC Championship 14 March

With no team in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference having an overall record above .500 the winner of MEAC tournament will likely be a 16 in the NCAA tournament and one of the biggest underdogs. We know that a 16 seed can beat a one seed, as it happened a couple years ago when UVA was upset by UMBC. The Norfolk State Spartans are no stranger to massive upsets, as they beat 15 seed Missouri in the NCAA tournament in 2012. The Spartans and their underdog mentality will have the favorites of March on edge again as they punch their ticket to the 2020 NCAA tournament. 

Missouri Valley Championship 7 March 

Arch Madness, as the Missouri Valley Conference tournament is known, is played beneath the shadow of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, MO. Last years conference tournament champion the Bradley Braves sit in 3rd place while two teams with a history of massive success in March; the Northern Iowa Panthers and Loyola Chicago Ramblers sit above them in the conference standings. Northern Iowa and Loyola Chicago have already duked it out in one overtime game this season; look for them to lock horns and again with Northern Iowa winning Arch Madness. 

Mountain West Championship 7 March

The San Diego State Aztecs have not lost a game yet this year and are currently ranked 4th in the country. As the Aztecs have run away with Mountain West’s regular season conference title, the pressure of not losing a single game begins to mount for them. Some will question, could a loss before the end of regular season actually benefit them? The Nevada Wolf Pack are that answer as they will hand San Diego State their first loss and win the Mountain West Conference tournament. 

Northeast Championship 10 March

The Merrimack Warriors lead the Northeast Conference by a game over the Robert Morris Colonials and two over the St. Francis (PA) Red Flash. Like most teams in the Northeast Conference, Merrimack likes to slow the pace down only averaging 63 ppg. This slow pace does help their defense which only gives up 60 pp. Despite this methodical style Merrimack will win the Northeast Conference tournament. 

OVC Championship 7 March

Traditionally, one of the very first tickets to be punched into March Madness is the Ohio Valley Conference tournament is always full of flair and high-wire drama basketball. Last year’s winner, Murray State, led by point guard and NBA superstar Ja Morant, took the Racers to the second round of the NCAA tournament. Murray State is once again near the top of the pack along with the Austin Peay Governors and Belmont Bruins. 2020 is an election year, so The Campus will stick with the Governors to win the OVC tournament. 

Pac-12 Championship 14 March

There is a long jam atop the Pac-12 conference standings, and no, the Oregon State Beavers are not responsible. The Colorado Buffaloes, Oregon Ducks, Arizona Wildcats, Arizona State Sun Devils, USC Trojans and even the UCLA Bruins, who were supposed to be rebuilding under first year coach Mick Cronin, are all tied for or within a game of first place in the standings. The sun seems to be shining on Arizona State Sun Devils as they are led by guards Remy Martin and the silky smooth Alonzo Verge Jr. This combo will lead them to the Pac-12 title. 

Patriot League Championship 11 March

The Patriot League consists of two of the three service academies excluding the Air Force Academy. Neither Army nor Navy has been much of a factor in basketball as they both reside near the middle of the current Patriot League standings. The Colgate Raiders and the Boston University Terriers are the two top teams. Like most terriers, the bark is worse than the bite, and the Colgate Raiders will win the Patriot League’s automatic bid. 

SEC Championship 15 March

Wildcats, Tigers and Tigers, oh my! The Kentucky Wildcats, the LSU Tigers and the Auburn Tigers have established themselves as the class of the SEC. These three teams have by far the most NBA talent and also play the most exciting style of basketball to watch. Auburn especially as Bruce Pearl’s team has no hesitation shooting the three ball. Auburn will get hot again this year from three and win the SEC tournament. 

Southern Championship 9 March

Last year the Wofford Terriers beat Seton Hall in the first round of the NCAA tournament and gave Kentuck all they could handle in the second round. This year the Terriers are in the middle of the standings while the East Tennessee State Buccaneers and the Furman Paladins are leading the Southern Conference standings. East Tennessee State will best the Paladins and the rest of the Southern Conference to punch their automatic ticket to the big dance. 

Southland Championship 14 March

While Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks have already scored the year most notable upset, knocking off Duke in Cameron Indoor Stadium; it would be a monumental upset if the Lumberjacks didn’t win this year's Southland Conference tournament. The Campus is not taking the field here and is sticking with the Lumberjacks to win the Southland Conference tournament. 

SWAC Championship 14 March

Nobody in the Southwestern Athletic Conference has an impressive overall record. Yet the travel of many of these teams is very impressive. Alabama State Hornets opened the season with a brutally tough schedule playing Gonzaga, Tennessee, VCU, Houston, Kansas State, Oregon and Boise State. However Prairie View A&M Panthers are in the lead in the SWAC and that will continue throughout the SWAC tournament as they take the SWAC tournament crown. 

Summit League 10 March

Jackrabbits, Bison, Coyotes, Golden Eagles, Mavericks, Fighting Hawks, Mastodons and Pioneers; there is no surprise at these mascots of an athletic conference in the Midwest. The South Dakota State Jackrabbits and North Dakota State Bison are the top two teams in the Summit League this year. The Jackrabbits will have plenty of bounce in their step come March as they win the Summit League crown. 

Sun Belt 15 March

Though the University of Arkansas Little Rock Trojans have lost their mojo with  back to back losses they are still atop the Sun Belt Conference standings. The Trojans have played in plenty of close games this season and that close game experience will afford them well as they battle down the stretch of the Sun Belt tournament, and win the auto-bid. 

WCC Championship 10 March

The Gonzaga Bulldogs have only lost one game so far this year to Michigan. They have not lost a game yet in conference play either. However look for that to end as the Gonzaga Bulldogs have to play at BYU Cougars this weekend and potentially face them again in the conference tournament. BYU will most certainly knock off Gonzaga in the West Coast Conference tournament and win the league title with their high scoring attack. 

WAC Championship 14 March

New Mexico State Aggies seem to always have not just five great players, but eight to ten players. Watching the Aggies is like watching hockey lines change. This great rotation of players on any given day could make it difficult to find an offensive rhythm, but so far it has not hurt the Aggies in Western Athletic Conference play. New Mexico State will be fueled by last year's close miss against Auburn in the first round of the NCAA tournament as they go on their revenge tour back to March Madness.