Conference #16 – Big West

Conference Winner: UC-Irvine

UC-Irvine looks to repeat last year’s successful season which saw the Anteaters barely lose to Louisville in the NCAA tournament.  Irvine’s top player is the always fun to watch 7’6” center Momadou Ndiaye.  He alone is worth staying up late on Thursday nights for Big West action on ROOT.

Conference #17 – OVC

Conference Winner:  Belmont

The Bruins look to be the top of the Ohio Valley conference again as they return all players of note except Craig Bradshaw.  Murray State should be solid but I wonder how much affect Steve Prohm leaving to take the Iowa State job will have on this team.  On a side note, former Marquette player, Jon Harris takes over at SIU-Edwardsville

Conference # 18 – MAC

Conference Winner: Central Michigan

Now we make the break from the 1 bid leagues that are bottom seed fodder to 1 bid leagues where the league champion, if they win their conference tournament, have a chance for a 13 or lower seed upset.  We start with the MAC where Buffalo should have been the favorite but Bobby Hurley left to take the Arizona job.  Next up are the Chippewa’s of Central Michigan who played well enough last year to be considered for an at-large deep into February.  Akron seems to be the biggest obstacle but the Chippewa’s return all 5 starters and I think it’s their conference to lose

Conference # 19 – Sun Belt

Conference Winner:  Louisiana Lafayette

It’s a two horse race here between Georgia State and Louisiana.  With Georgia State losing 4 starters and Ron Hunter to the NBA the Ragin Cajuns are poised to take the title.  The Sun Belt, like most mid-majors aren’t what they used to be but Georgia State did spring the upset last year over Baylor.  I’m not sure Louisiana has that sort of firepower this year.

Conference # 20 – Summit

Conference Winner: South Dakota State

After losing last year’s conference title game by 1 the Jackrabbits are ready to redeem themselves this year.  4 starters are back and won’t soon forget how close they were to making the tournament

Conference # 21 – Big South

Conference Winner: High Point

Coastal Carolina has won the last two bids and are good enough to make a run for a third but High Point boast the best player in the league in John Brown who averaged almost 20 ppg.  Star power wins conferences like these and I see High Point reaching its high point as a 15 seed in the tournament this year

Conference #22: Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference

My favorite real mid-major is the MAAC.  Last season, I predicted a 3-team race between Iona, Siena & Manhattan. They ended the regular season 1st, T-3 and T-8 with Siena being the biggest disappointment. 

Iona is the clear favorite this season, returning presumptive POY, A.J. English. He's joined in the back court by sophomore guard, Schadrac Casimir. Casimir is a good shooter who was 43% from deep. He also shot 90% at the FT line. English will be the star and leader. 

Iona travels to Valpo, Oregon State, Rhode Island and Tulsa out of conference to test themselves. They were upended by Manhattan in the league tournament last season and will need to avoid that to make the dance this year.

Other contenders will include Monmouth, lead by junior guard Justin Robinson and Siena who looks to bounce back from a disappointing season. Injuries derailed the Saints a year ago.

Iona should come out of this league and if they do, would be a pest for whoever drew them in the opening round