Power 5 Conference Tournament Preview

Today’s post is going to look at the major conference tournaments, my predictions, and potential dark horses. I will be going over the:

  • Big 12

  • Big Ten

  • Big East

  • SEC

  • ACC



Big 12 Conference Tournament

Preview:

The Big 12 is a really interesting conference because the top six seeds have all traded losses with each other. I think this is Arizona’s to lose, but I do believe they will be challenged on their way there. Arizona also has the hardest path to the championship game. They will have to likely beat Cincinnati or UCF, two teams vying for one of the final at large bids in the NCAA tournament. They will then need to beat the winner of Texas Tech and (probably) Iowa State to make it to the finals. I think this is a very difficult path for them and could leave them either exhausted for the championship or not even in the game. On the other end of the bracket we have three teams in TCU, Houston, and Kansas that I think could make it to the championship game. TCU is playing for their life and could give Kansas some trouble in the quarterfinals. Not sure if this will translate to a win, but I think it will be a good game. 


Semi Finals:

  • Arizona vs Iowa State

  • Houston vs TCU


Championship:

  • Arizona vs Houston


Champion:

  • Houston Cougars

Houston is going to win the Big 12 tournament. Arizona’s path is significantly more difficult than Houston and I think that they are going to be tired going into the championship game. I believe that Arizona will remain a 1-seed in the NCAA tournament and Houston will stay a 2-seed as a result of this. The only seeding I could see a change in is Iowa State dropping to a 3-seed.


Dark horse:

  • TCU

TCU is a scary team that should be a lock in the tournament, but isn’t a lock quite yet. I can see them going on a streak here and making it to the conference championship game. While not likely, don’t be shocked if they do. 


Big Ten Conference Tournament

Preview:

The Big Ten is Michigan’s to lose. With the injuries Duke is currently facing, the Wolverines have an amazing chance to grab the number 1 overall seed for the NCAA tournament. They have shown they are the best team in the conference this year, with their only loss coming to Wisconsin, a team they may play in the semifinals. I believe Michigan will face Iowa in the quarterfinals and then Illinois in the semis. The other half of the bracket will see Michigan State beating Nebraska to play in the conference championship. I think the Big Ten is going to have a pretty chalk championship this year, but we will get some great basketball because of it.


Semi Finals:

  • Michigan vs Illinois

  • Nebraska vs Michigan


Finals:

  • Michigan vs Michigan State


Championship:

  • Michigan Wolverines

Like I said before, Michigan is the best team in the Big Ten and has proved it all year. I don’t see them getting tripped up against any of their potential opponents and they are going to get the number one overall seed. Michigan State is going to stay as a 2-seed, but a threatening one at that. 


Dark horse:

  • Wisconsin

Wisconsin has shown that when they are hitting shots, no one can beat them. They have four top 15 wins, three of those being top 10 wins. I think they are a sleeper team to take down Illinois and Michigan once again. Who knows what will happen after that but definitely a team to pay attention to. 


Big East Conference Tournament

Preview:

This is a bracket that not many people thought we would be seeing. Saint John’s got the 1-seed and Big East regular season championship thanks to Marquette taking down UConn in the final game of the year. Saint John’s is going to use this gift and ride the championship game. UConn has a significantly harder path to the championship game and I’m not sure if they will make it. They have to play the winner of Xavier and Marquette, which I think Marquette will win and have a lot of momentum going into playing UConn twice in six days. If they win that game, they will likely have to play a peaking Villanova team that is ready to go on a run themselves. I think this tournament is wide open for anyone to take. 

Semi Finals:

  • Saint John’s vs Seton Hall

  • Villanova vs UConn


Championship:

  • Saint John’s vs Villanova


Champion:

  • Villanova

Villanova is going to announce their return to the upper echelon of college basketball by taking down the top two seeds in this tournament. They have only lost twice since the end of January, both to UConn and Saint John’s, and are going to use those losses to fuel their run. Winning the Big East will jump them up to a 5-seed, while UConn will stay as a two and Saint John’s will be a 4-seed.


Dark horse:

  • Creighton

This season has not gone the way any Creighton fans thought it was going to. They have been a fantastic team the last few years and have the coaching staff to get them back to that standard. While I don’t believe they will win their first game against Seton Hall, pulling a win out against the Pirates could fuel a deep run. 


ACC Conference Tournament

Preview:

The ACC tournament championship has been viewed as a lock for Duke for a while now, but that is thrown to the wind with the injuries to Caleb Foster and Pat Ngongba. Foster is out indefinitely and Ngongba is out for at least the ACC tournament. These are significant injuries that leave Duke vulnerable if Cam Boozer has a bad game. Duke is going to have to play the winner of Florida State and Cal, two teams fighting for an NCAA tournament spot, plus either North Carolina or Clemson. These injuries open the door for Virginia, Miami or even Louisville to steal the championship away from the Blue Devils. 


Semi Finals:

  • Duke vs Clemson

  • Virginia vs Louisville


Championship:

  • Clemson vs Virginia


Champion:

  • Virginia

In a championship game not many people saw coming, Virginia is going to take down Clemson to get the auto-bid. Virginia has been playing well down the stretch and although Clemson is going to get hot in the tournament, I think the Cavaliers are going to be too much for them. Virginia will probably stay as a 3-seed, but this will secure Clemson a higher seed. 


Dark horse:

  • Stanford

Coming from a current ACC basketball player, Stanford is going to be my darkhorse team. With an easier run to the quarterfinals, I can see them taking Virginia down and moving on to the semis. They are another team who is trying to keep their season alive, so look out if you have to play them. 


SEC Conference Tournament

Preview:

I believe the SEC is a top heavy conference, with the top only being Florida. The second best team this year has been Alabama and while a good time, not great. I think Florida is going to run the table and secure a 1-seed. They will have to play either Tennessee or Vanderbilt in the semifinals, both teams who they should roll. I think Arkansas and Alabama are great, but watch out for Georgia to come out of the bottom half of the bracket. I think Florida will cruise through the tournament and get set for the tournament. 


Semi Finals:

  • Florida vs Tennessee

  • Georgia vs Arkansas


Championship:

  • Florida vs Georgia


Champion:

  • Florida

Not much needs to be added here. I think Florida is the best team in the SEC and is going to win the tournament fairly comfortably. Good for Georgia for making it to the championship game but it won’t be enough.


Dark horse:

  • Georgia

As previewed in my championship game pick, I think Georgia is a dark horse to make a deep run in the SEC. They play a tough, fast, high scoring brand of basketball that can compete in the weaker group of potential opponents they will play. Look out for the Bulldogs, they are ready to make some noise.


Definitely some hot takes in here so if you have any questions or comments feel free to leave them! Also thanks to Hoops HD for the brackets.

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