Now with the regular season complete and some automatic bids already punched in mid-major tournaments, men’s Champ Week takes center stage.
Ahead of what is sure to be an action-packed week of games to decide the NCAA Tournament field, here are five storylines for men’s Champ Week:
Can Duke, Houston carry regular-season dominance into conference tournaments?
With just two combined conference losses between them, Duke (28-3, 19-1 ACC) and Houston (27-4, 19-1 Big 12) have risen to the top two in the latest Associated Press Top 25 men’s basketball poll and appear poised for deep postseason runs.
According to ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi, the ACC is only projected to get three teams in the “Big Dance.” A potential matchup with No. 2 seed Louisville or No. 3 seed Clemson — the only team to beat the Blue Devils in conference play — could present a challenge. However, with a defense that has only allowed 70 or more points in conference play four times in 20 games and the National Player of the Year candidate, Cooper Flagg, Duke is the clear favorite in the ACC Tournament.
Aside from a 82-81 overtime loss to the two-seed Texas Tech on Feb. 1, the Cougars had a dominant run through Big 12 play. The conference currently has eight teams projected in the NCAA Tournament and has plenty of depth, including the red-hot BYU Cougars, who have won eight straight.
It will not be an easy feat for Houston to win the conference tournament, but if its Division I-leading defense (58.1 PPG) has any say, the Big 12 Tournament will go through the Cougars.
St. John’s looks to build off first regular-season title in 40 years
After winning its first Big East regular-season title since 1985, St. John’s (27-4, 18-2 Big East) looks to add some more hardware in the Big East Tournament. The conference only has five projected NCAA Tournament bids, but the road will not be easy for the Red Storm.
St. John’s may be the favorites, but teams like Creighton, the two-time defending-champion UConn and Marquette are more than capable of surprising them.
Michigan State carries momentum into Big Ten Tournament
With seven straight wins, including two against in-state rival Michigan, the Spartans (26-5, 17-3 Big Ten) are as hot as any team in the country. With 10 Big Ten teams projected in the NCAA Tournament, though, it will be a challenging stretch of games.
No. 2 seed Maryland has won three straight since its most recent loss to Michigan State and a potential third game against its rival could have Michigan set up for revenge. Considering the nine-seed in the conference, Indiana, upset the Spartans on Feb. 11, anything is possible in the Big Ten Tournament.
SEC Tournament is wide-open
Although Auburn (27-4, 15-3 SEC) enters as the top seed, Florida, Alabama and Tennessee all pose a strong challenge to the Tigers. The conference is projected to get a record 13 teams in the NCAA Tournament.
Now that teams have went through the SEC gauntlet during the regular season, it could set the stage for some upsets and unpredictability in Nashville. Auburn has earned the No. 1 seed, but the SEC Tournament is as wide-open as any tournament in the country.
One team that can surprise in March
While Saint Mary’s (27-4, 17-1 WCC) is ranked 19th, the Gaels have not been talked about near as much as the power conference teams. However, their NET ranking of 19 and the fifth-best defense in the country (60.8 PPG) point to a team that has the potential to make some noise.
