Category Archives: College Basketball Conference Tournaments

BrackEYEtestology: Ranking the First 11 Teams in the Tourney

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Each March, the NCAA Tournament introduces college basketball fans to a new group of mid-major champions who earned automatic bids by winning their conference tournaments. This blog article will evaluate the visual “eye test” qualities of each mid-major team that secured a place in the 2026 Men’s College Basketball Tournament bracket, focusing on those who punched their ticket prior to Gonzaga.

While Gonzaga appears on this conference outline, the program is widely regarded as a national power despite competing in a traditionally weaker conference structure. The goal of this article is to provide quick-hit visual scouting impressions of these mid-major qualifiers.

BY MATTY D.

Tennessee State Jumps Off the Page when Comparing Hype to the Eye Test

One of the first teams to punch their tickets to the 2026 Men’s College Basketball Tournament could be one of the most dangerous and dramatic upset candidates in the entire tourney. If you like riding underdogs on your bracket, you may enjoy how this team’s entry will be old news by the time Selection Sunday gets sorted out.

Guard Aaron Nkrumah absolutely jumps off the page. Or, should I say, he jumps off the TV screen with athleticism. The bouncy 6-6 senior scored 14 points in the championship win against Morehead State, but it was actually noteworthy that the Tigers enjoyed five players scoring in the teens during that game. This is on par with how Tennessee State has been finishing up its regular season. Since losing its last time this season to Morehead State, the Tigers have been beating teams by an average of 18 points, including two lopsided wins of 27 and 26 points against SIUE and Morehead State, respectively.

If you needed any more reasons to like Tennessee State as a sleeper team, consider its head coach. This past summer, former 4-year starting Duke point guard Nolan Smith was announced at the Tigers head coach. This, after serving as an assistant with Memphis and Louisville.

Rookie head coach Nolan Smith was nominated as a finalist for one of the best mid-major coaches in America.

Tennessee State’s announcement of the Nolan news put it in context the best:

“Smith spent his entire playing career at Duke under Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski, widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches in college basketball history. That experience helped shape Smith’s foundation as a tactician, motivator, and leader.”

Seniority “On Brand” as UNI Finds the Field Once Again

In this age of NIL, it’s hard to find examples of seniority thriving in college basketball.

Yet, there’s a perfect example of hard work paying off in the Missouri Valley Conference. The University of Northern Iowa is led by 4-year senior guard Trey Campbell, who also led an Iowa high school team to a state championship.

Of course, it wouldn’t be “on brand” to say that UNI is a one man show. Campbell leads the team with 13 points per game, but has four other teammates averaging around double digits.

Northern Iowa also has seniority when it comes to its long tenured head coach. Ben Jacobson has been at the helm for the Panthers since 2006.

Furman Finds Itself As Another Fiesty 6 Seed to Fight Its Way Into the Tournament

Ironically, both the Furman Paladins and that Northern Iowa Panthers teams are making it into the tournament as former 6 seeds in their own conferences.

Furman is a well-put-together roster with capable athletes everywhere. Led by a true freshman in Alex Wilkins, he has brothers Cooper and Cole Bowser attacking the rim at his side.

Not only do UNI and Furman share similarities as 6 seeds to win their conference championship, but they also squared off earlier this season in non-conference play.

Former Syracuse Fan Favorite Fanning the Flames of Upstate New York Revival

If you live in New York, you might be happy to hear that three of the first 11 teams to make the NCAA Tournament are from the Empire State. Upstate New York may have been hopeful of a rejuvenation of Syracuse basketball with Carmelo Anthony’s son playing for the orange and blue.

However, it’s another former Syracuse Orange player who is making a splash.

Syracuse cult hero Gerry McNamara, aka “G-Mac” has led another Upstate New York program to prominence. You’ll remember Gerry McNamara as the starting point guard on the 2001 Syracuse Orange championship team. Now, the Siena Saints of the capital region will return to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament with McNamara as their head coach.

Siena Saints head coach Gerry McNamara courtesy SienaSaints.com Potographer Josh Miller

True to the script of how the universe is unfolding as it should, McNamara’s Saints are led by another gritty undersized under-recruited combo guard from Upstate New York. Gavin Doty of Fulton, NY is averaging 18 points for the Saints in his sophomore season. Siena was dominating Merrimack in the MAC Championship game in the first half before they had to fend off a more serious run.

What Else You Should Know about the First 10 Teams to Make March Madness 2026

As the bracket continues to take shape, six additional mid-major champions who punched their tickets before Gonzaga deserve at least a quick closing nod. Queens (N.C.) arrives from the ASUN with one of the nation’s most aggressive transition attacks, routinely pushing tempo behind dynamic guard play. High Point leaned on a prolific perimeter scoring profile during its Big South title run, spacing the floor with multiple double-figure shooters. Wright State brings a physically imposing interior presence that has powered one of the Horizon League’s most efficient paint-scoring units. Long Island surged late with disruptive on-ball pressure that fueled a top-tier steal rate in Northeast Conference play. And North Dakota State, long respected for disciplined execution, once again showcased a methodical half-court offense that finished near the top of the Summit League in shooting efficiency — a reminder that even in a tournament defined by chaos, structure and shot-making still travel well when the lights get brightest. Hofstra returns to March Madness with a reputation for elite ball security, consistently ranking among conference leaders in assist-to-turnover efficiency.

5 Conference Tournament Sleeper Teams That Could Crash March Madness

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BY MATTY D.

Oddsmakers Face a Tricky Puzzle Entering Conference Tournament Week

No one is ever going to feel badly for the sportsbook, but they do have a tricky dilemma headed into conference championship week. Some of the Power Five’s best teams might have players nursing injuries or doing load management. On the flip side, you have teams at the bottom of the league that are incredibly desperate to win the conference tournament and punch their ticket to March Madness. Creating the odds in this landscape is most certainly a challenging exercise.

Conference tournament week is often where March Madness sleepers emerge, especially when desperate teams collide with favorites managing injuries or tired legs.

A team like UConn might be an obvious minus-150 moneyline favorite to win its league in the Big East. However, there could always be a team lurking around 80-to-1 that suddenly becomes very dangerous. Here are a few sleeper teams for conference championship week when everything is on the line.

Could the Running Rebels Bring Vegas High Wire Act Into the Big Dance?

My #1 Sleeper Pick — Because the Odds Payout Could Be Huge

With Cincinatti losing to (8 seed in the Big 12) UCF on Wednesday, only one more team is running away with my fantasies of super underdoggery.

UNLV is staying true to its form as the entertainment capital of the country with how the Running Rebels are entertaining college basketball fans in the closing weeks of the season.

They have a leading scorer in Dra Gibbs-Laworn who dropped 42 points in an overtime win against Nevada. They also won a thrilling matchup against Boise State after coming back from more than 25 points. Not long after that, UNLV absolutely crushed Utah State, which is a no-doubt NCAA Tournament team.

Gibbs-Lawhorn is a top scorer across college basketball.
Click here to see how leading scorers should be feared historically, regardless of seed line.

With that kind of momentum and scoring ability, the Rebels could be a dangerous sleeper if they carry that energy into conference tournament play. According to the eye test, UNLV is clearly one of the March Madness sleepers to watch if they can string together a few wins in their conference tournament.

Could Stanford’s Quietly Improving Season Turn Into an ACC Tournament Surprise?

Could Red-Hot Colorado State Carry Its Late-Season Momentum Into the Mountain West Tournament?

My #2 Sleeper Pick

Another team that has been heating up late in the season is Colorado State. The Rams struggled earlier in the year and at one point started the season just 3-8 before finding their rhythm.

Since that slow start, Colorado State has quietly been one of the hotter teams in its league, going on an impressive run and winning the majority of its games down the stretch. The Rams have been able to win with balanced scoring and efficient shooting, and they have shown they can beat quality teams in the Mountain West. Center Kyle Jorgensen is one of many players who have returned from injury and are playing with upbeat swagger.

That type of late-season momentum can be dangerous in a conference tournament setting. If you’re looking at conference tournament predictions, Colorado State is the type of team that could surprise people if their recent form continues.

Could Northwestern’s Gritty Wildcats Turn Close Calls Into a Tournament Run?

Teams That Could Shake Up Conference Tournament Week

Prior to a championship week starting with very disappointing performances by the so-called bubble teams, ironically the two remaining bid stealers were from the Mountain West.

On this article, I had previously written how, “conference tournament week is always chaotic.”

History shows that several surprise teams reach the NCAA Tournament every year. Cincinnati, UNLV, Stanford, Colorado State and Northwestern all have recent momentum or roster advantages that could make them dangerous in a single-elimination setting.

If even one of these teams catches the right matchups and continues its late-season form, the road to March Madness could suddenly look very different.

Mountain West Check-In: Are We Headed Toward Another Multi-Bid Year?

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The Mountain West has opened the 2025–26 season with a competitive upper tier and several teams showing signs that the league could once again chase multiple NCAA Tournament bids. Early-season performances from Utah State, Colorado State, Boise State, Grand Canyon, and San Diego State have helped shape the conference’s identity heading into December.

Below is a focused check-in on these five teams, plus an updated look at Fresno State’s early results.

Utah State (4–0, KenPom No. 66)

Utah State has delivered one of the most complete early-season profiles in the conference. Their senior leadership and defensive cohesion have been clear strengths, allowing them to control pace and dictate matchups across their first four games.

Key Game: Utah State vs. VCU

Their win over VCU stands out as the defining moment of November. Seniors Kolby King, Garry Clark, and MJ Collins Jr. took command of the game from the opening tip. King steadied the offense and controlled tempo; Clark imposed himself physically inside; and Collins Jr. delivered steady perimeter defense and confident scoring. Anytime VCU attempted to swing momentum, one of Utah State’s veterans answered with a high-level possession. The Aggies never relinquished control, and the victory showcased their maturity and readiness to compete at the top of the conference.

Colorado State (4–1)

Colorado State continues to lean on strong spacing, smart ball movement, and dependable guard play. Their early-season results reflect a disciplined team that understands how to generate efficient offense even against superior size or athleticism.

Boise State (4–1)

Boise State has once again emerged as a physical and fundamentally solid team. Their home-court strength remains one of the most reliable factors in the conference, and the Broncos’ ability to defend without fouling has traveled well in the early weeks.

Grand Canyon (3–2, KenPom No. 87)

Grand Canyon’s efficiency ranking places them among the Mountain West’s early standouts. With length at multiple positions and defensive activity that disrupts rhythm, they’ve already shown they can handle high-major size and speed.

San Diego State (2–1, KenPom No. 80)

San Diego State continues to embody the traits that have defined their program for years—pressure defense, physical shot contests, and confident late-game execution. Even with limited sample size, they again look like one of the most dependable teams in the Mountain West.

Fresno State (5–2)

Fresno State has the win total, but not the profile. However, their losses at home to UC San Diego and especially SC Upstate—currently ranked 326th in KenPom—makes it so that we can’t take them seriously.

Selection Sunday Sites College Basketball Fans Should Be Monitoring

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The Selection Sunday Show, broadcast exclusively by CBS Sports at 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time, is just hours away. In the meantime, there’s a lot of housekeeping to take care of as a college basketball fan.

If you’re the fan of a bubble team, I hope your plans for this Sunday morning included going to church and saying a few Hail Mary’s. The quality of the bubble teams’ play down the stretch has left something to be desired. North Carolina couldn’t come up with a quality win. Boise State got crushed by Colorado State in its championship game. And, it’s felt like an eternity since we saw Wake Forest, Xavier and Ohio State play basketball.

Colorado State sophomore Rashaan Mbemba rises up over a defender for a hook shot.

Here are some sites to keep your eyes on before the 2025 March Madness bracket is revealed.

🏆 Elite 8 Articles 🏆

🔥 Top Injuries to Watch 🔥
✈️ 4 Fun Destinations to March Madness Travel✈️
🐶 5 Underrated Underdogs to Watch 🐶
🎉 6 March Madness Traditions 🎉
🏀 7 Sons of NBA Stars 🏀
📊 Season ATS Standings 📊
💰 This Week’s Best Picks 💰
🕵️‍♂️ Fun Matchups the Committee Could Conspire 🕵️‍♂️

Best Underdogs Odds to Win a Title before 2025 March Madness Bracket Reveal

Another piece of housekeeping before the bracket is revealed includes jumping on some crazy odds before they dry up. For example, Yale was still spotted at 1,000-to-1 to win it all. Sure, this is a crazy bet, but if they (or a similar underdog) make the Sweet 16, you’d look like a genius with a lot of leverage in your pocket.

Game Previews and Predictions for Championship Week Saturday – NCAAB

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Sometimes you just have to see things for what they are. This is a college basketball season where the cream has been rising to, and is now congealed solid on, the top. The SEC powers and possible eventual champions Auburn, Alabama, Florida and Tennessee all handled their business in decisive fashion. Duke crushed its opponent, which was a desperate UNC team that needed a quality win. Will the dominance continue in semifinal and championship games?

Here are my predictions for a critical Saturday across the college basketball landscape.
The team is begin with is the team I would take considering the spread.

Michigan -3.5 vs. Wisconsin College Basketball Prediction, Pick

Its the time of year wihen Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo leads guards who are peaking in their command of the game. Forwards are ripping the rebound away from the opponent. They are hungry, they are hungry, and they are well coached. Combo guard Jase Richardson finds himself climbing up NBA mock draft boards. [Click here to see a full list of NBA sons in NCAAB today].

Tennessee +5.5 vs. Auburn College Basketball Prediction, Pick

This Tennessee Vols team is interesting. Its starting five appears to have all the right parts, but with six losses in this SEC schedule, is there a ceiling for this team right below where the cream rises?

This article documents my season record (ATS) so far during the 2025 campaign.

For today’s matchup I see Tennessee having something more to prove than Auburn and probably winning this game. I’d certainly like them getting five points.

Michigan +4.5 vs. Maryland College Basketball Prediction, Pick

Michigan is a highly talented team that looks like it’s still figuring each other out. Turnovers have cost them games. However, you wouldn’t expect that from a team with a lot of transfers but a lot of them with high stakes Madness games under their belts. Today a surging Maryland team will probably beat them outright, but I expect a wire-to-wire game where Michigan plus 4-and-a-half sounds good to me.

VCU -9.5 vs. Loyola Chicago College Basketball Prediction, Pick
VCU’s defensive pressure has the potential to suffocate Loyola Chicago in this matchup. The Rams thrive on creating turnovers and converting them into easy buckets, a recipe that should overwhelm a Ramblers team that has struggled against elite defensive units. With their ability to control the glass and dictate the tempo, a double-digit win for VCU looks appealing.

Amazing photo of VCU Guard Zeb Jackson posted to the VCU Athletics website.

Memphis -8.5 vs. Tulane College Basketball Prediction, Pick
Memphis has the length, athleticism, and defensive chops to make life miserable for Tulane. The Tigers’ pressure defense should disrupt the Green Wave’s perimeter shooting while their ability to attack in transition will keep the scoreboard moving.

Alabama +3.5 vs. Florida College Basketball Prediction, Pick
Alabama’s offensive attack is built to stretch defenses, and that’s exactly what I see happening against Florida. The Crimson Tide’s ability to hit threes in bunches and force a faster tempo should neutralize the Gators’ size advantage. With the way Alabama can take over games late, getting three-and-a-half points in this spot is something that stands out.

St. John’s -6.5 vs. Creighton College Basketball Prediction, Pick
St. John’s thrives in chaotic games, and they should have Creighton playing at an uncomfortable pace. Their defensive pressure will create turnovers, and their depth will allow them to keep the pressure on for 40 minutes. At home, with the crowd at MSG fueling their energy, a win by at least seven looks like a sharp play. With old school New Yorkers crawling all around and inside the Garden, this is an ESPN Classic before it even tips.

Louisville +5.5 vs. Duke College Basketball Prediction, Pick
Louisville has shown a scrappy edge lately, and that’s exactly what you need to stay competitive against Duke. The Cardinals’ physicality in the paint and ability to control the tempo should keep them within striking distance all game. Given the way they’ve been competing, getting five-and-a-half points in this spot looks like a clear value play. Two-way star Chucky Hepburn for Louisville has been the agitator and leader on this surging, high energy team. Coach Pat Kelsey has them playing a brand of basketball similar to the up-tempo exhausting pace that had both his Winthrop and College of Charleston underdogs in several tournaments in recent years. I like Louisville to compete with Duke throughout and possibly land a black eye with a giant haymaker here.

🏆 More Trending 🏆
🐶 5 Underrated Underdogs to Watch 🐶
🎉 6 March Madness Traditions 🎉
🏀 7 Sons of NBA Stars 🏀
🕵️‍♂️ Fun Matchups the Committee Could Conspire 🕵️‍♂️

The Ultimate College Basketball Hub: Stay Ahead This March Madness

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🏆 Elite 8 Articles 🏆

🔥 Top Injuries to Watch 🔥
✈️ 4 Fun Destinations to March Madness Travel✈️
🐶 5 Underrated Underdogs to Watch 🐶
🎉 6 March Madness Traditions 🎉
🏀 7 Sons of NBA Stars 🏀
📊 Season ATS Standings 📊
💰 This Week’s Best Picks 💰
🕵️‍♂️ Fun Matchups the Committee Could Conspire 🕵️‍♂️

March Madness is almost here, and every college basketball fan wants an edge. Whether you’re tracking injuries, scouting underdogs, or looking for fun destinations to experience the madness firsthand, CollegeBasketballeyetest.com has you covered. Our latest Elite 8 Articles connect you with the most important topics leading up to the tournament.

📲 Your One-Stop Shop for College Hoops

We dive deep into the latest trends, hidden betting opportunities, and must-watch storylines. These articles guide you through every aspect of the tournament:

🔥 Top Injuries to Watch – Key players battling injuries could make or break their team’s chances. Stay informed before placing any bets.

🏀 Sons of NBA Stars – Meet the next generation of basketball royalty making waves in college hoops.

🐶 Top 5 Underrated Underdogs – Every year, a few lower-seeded teams make a deep run. These are the squads to keep an eye on.

🎉 6 March Madness Traditions – From historic buzzer-beaters to iconic pep bands, relive the best traditions of the tournament.

📊 Season ATS Standings – Betting against the spread? Check which teams have been the most (and least) profitable all season.

💰 This Week’s Best Picks – Get expert insights on the best value plays leading up to Selection Sunday.

🕵️‍♂️ Fun Matchups the Committee Could Conspire – Which potential tournament matchups could stir up the most drama? We break down the possibilities.

✈️ Four Fun Destinations to Travel for March Madness – Want to experience the madness in person? Here are four great cities to catch the action live.

With these deep dives, our site connects college basketball fans to the info they crave. Click through to any article and stay ahead of the game this March! 🚀

2025 Update: Injuries to Monitor ahead of March Madness for Men’s College Basketball

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If you are exploring the futures market or already filling out your bracket, you need to do a status check on these men’s college basketball player injuries first!

🏀🏀Selection Sunday Edition last updated March 15, 2025 🏀🏀

Will Cooper Flagg Play Injured During March Madness for the Duke Blue Devils?

Just as news was announced that Duke superstar freshman would miss the ACC Championship game, Bleacher Report and Sports Illustrated were reporting that Flagg would be playing in the NCAA Tournament.

For Duke, it’s not only Cooper Flagg whose injury is stressing out fans. Fellow projected NBA pick and forward Maliq Brown has also been spotted on the sidelines wearing an arm wrap after dislocating his shoulder.

Texas Tech Twin Injuries that Could Ruin a Deep-Run for Red Raiders

Chance McMillian and Darrian Williams each missed Texas Tech’s last game in the Big 12 Tournament, which was also a lop-sided loss to Arizona.

Eye Test Observers Monitoring Other Injuries

Since posting this article, some @CBBEyeTest followers on Twitter have highlighted other injuries that they’re tracking. Joel Johns says that he’s watching for how Clemson basketball will make up for Dillon Hunter‘s missing production. The Greenville News is reporting that the guard is out indefinitely after breaking his right hand recently against SMU.

Another Twitter user “Right Wing Dad” might be taking a “conservative approach” to how far he has Wisconsin going in his bracket. He is monitoring Carter Gilmore’s health status, although the 6-7 Badger is not currently listed on the injury report.

Alabama’s Grant Nelson Nursing Knee Injury

Alabama snagged a 2-seed in the tournament, but wasn’t sure the tournament availability of its big man, Grant Nelson. On conference championship weekend, Alabama.com was reporting that the injury wasn’t structural.

Grant Nelson stretches the floor for a high scoring Alabama attack

Kentucky Otega Oweh Recovering from Collision

Kentucky’s combo guard who looks like a fullback is recovering from tough personal contact.

Memphis Basketball Injury Status for Star Guard Tyrese Hunter

During the American Conference semifinal, Tyrese Hunter landed awkwardly on another players toes. He found himself on the sidelines in a walking boot for the rest of that contest against Tulane.

Tyrese Hunter gets a foot boot in the semifinal of his conference tournament.

Going without him during March Madness would be a massive loss. Hunter contributes nearly 14 points per game with 3 or 4 assists and rebounds per game to go with it.

Houston Cougars Counting on High Level Veteran Juwan Roberts

Houston stud power forward and veteran leader J’Wan Roberts missed the Big 12 Conference Championship game (Cougars still won), but he is expected to play in March Madness.

Arkansas Hogs Hope for Big Bonus if their Bubble Berth Gets Buttoned-Up

Once expected to miss the entire season, Arkansas’s guard Boogie Fland could add a major boost to the Razorback’s roster if he rebounds from a hand injury. The setback happened in January, but reports started to surface around Selection Sunday that Fland is returning to practice.

Boogie Fland, John Calipari, Arkansas – © Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

Iowa State lists Nagging Injuries during Championship Week

The Cyclones are another team limping to the finish line of the regular season. Covers.com had both key rotation players Keshon Gilbert and Tamin Lipsey listed on the injury report as they both missed the Cyclone’s last game which was a rematch against BYU in the Big 12 Tournament. Lipsey and Gilbert had both played the prior game the day beforehand to Cincinnati, so one would assume they were being treated with care to avoid games on consecutive days.

Gilbert himself tweeted more information late Sunday, answering to speculation:

“Love/appreciate all of your support! i want yall to kno that there is nothing more to the situation. Im battling an injury that just can’t seem to get better while playing on it. But enough about me! We a 3 seed in Milwaukee .. Ik the guys are going to make you all proud!” -KG2Times on Twitter

Tender Wrist for St. John’s Hands-On Defense

Simeon Wilcher of St. John’s injured his hand in the semifinal game in the Big East Tournament, but played in the championship game the following day against Creighton.

Simeon Wilcher dunks over Sacred Heart defenders, courtesy St. John’s official roster

Other Injuries from the Archives Only for the 2024-2025 College Basketball Season

<The headlines below are archival references preceding >

Kansas KJ Adams Misses Time, Jayhawks Take Opportunity to Develop Depth

KJ Adams missed some time for the Kansas Jayhawks in late January. The one major loss suffered during that period was an embarrassing late collapse at Allen Fieldhouse against the Houston Cougars. However, this could ultimately be a good thing. This allowed the Jayhawks to develop the depth of their roster. Freshman forward Flory Bidunga flourished despite losing to Houston. He got some rare playing time and showed flashes of greatness in the post. Add him to a front line that includes Hunter Dickinson, who is having a healthy season for the chalky Jayhawks, and KU is suddenly looking like a dangerous blood blood that somehow snuck under the radar.

KJ Adams spotted missing a noteworthy loss at home to Houston

It is impossible to replace the production that Hunter Dickinson brings to KU Hoops. After a 2023-2024 season that saw him miss some time, Dickinson has played every game for the Jayhawks in November, December and January. His game log (and our eye test) shows consistent rebounding numbers between 8 and 14 per game. Dickinson can also get hot as a scorer, with a high ceiling in the high 20s.

Xavier NBA Prospect Plays after Limping Off Court Against St. John’s Mid-January

Xavier Sophomore Dailyn Swain was averaging 9 points and 5 rebounds when his squad was riding a 3 game winning streak and battling St. John’s in a Big East showdown at MSG. Swain was injured late and limped off the court as Xavier was in the middle of squandering a health lead.

Still, Swain returned right to the lineup in the next game. Instead, Xavier basketball has three other injuries listed on the Covers.com site.



Follow College Basketball Eye Test on Twitter (X, whatever) to debate more NCAAB trends!

Championship Week Sets Table for College Basketball’s Bubble Bursting Weekend

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The week before Selection Sunday gives clarity on college basketball’s rising and falling stock.

BY MATTY D.

On the morning of Thursday, March 9th CBS Network bracketologist Jerry Palm had Michigan in and Rutgers out. Mississippi State was also on the edge of the March Madness bubble. And as quickly as games could tip on that day, the tournament landscape shifted again.

Michigan lost to Rutgers by 12 points, effectively losing its place on the bubble.

Conversely, Rutgers raised its stock on the right side of the bubble.

In the SEC, Mississippi State effectively punched its ticket with a close win against the Florida Gators. The Bulldogs will now play Alabama where it’s academic who wins. Both teams should be tournament teams.

Oklahoma State is another bubble team that couldn’t pop through its own glass ceiling. The Cowboys lost in the 7 vs. 2 matchup against Texas in the Big 12 Conference Tournament. With Joe Lunardi listing them as one of the last four in, this loss almost certainly ensures they’ll show up as an 11 seed in a play-in game (if at all).

The ACC has a similar dynamic on its hand. None of its “bubble teams” are seizing the moment. Clemson, UNC, and Pittsburgh are all showing their warts within the final chapter of conference play.

Despite the typo, Joe Lunardi’s bubble was full of Big 10 and ACC teams.

Mid-major teams take care of business as bubble teams drop the ball

The team that is remiss from the bubble conversation on both Palm and ESPN bracketologist’s Joe Lunardi’s projection mid-way through Championship Week was Florida Atlantic. The Owls were a mainstay in the Top 25 before getting into the meat of its own difficult Conference USA schedule. They avoided this bubble conversation because they simply took care of business. Having only 3 losses on the season, FAU had slowly risen out of bubble talks and into the 9 or 10 seed on projections. Having played the likes of a talented North Texas and UAB squad, FAU’s regular conference season was not without its NET-boosting opportunities. The few losses that the Owls had suffered were respectable. The Owls were also able to upset the aforementioend Florida Gators in one of its few Quad 1 opportunities. FAU was still battling for its conference title heading into the weekend, but looking solid for an at-large bid regardless. Another mid-major team that took care of its business was College of Charleston. The Cougars went into Championship Week also as a 3 loss team. Joe Lunardi had them out of the tournament if it weren’t for a conference championship. But the Cougars took care of business. They beat a respectable challenger in Towson during the quarterfinals then capped off the crown with a win against UNCW. Teams like College of Charleston and FAU should be seen for what they are. They are hardened by a conference schedule where they were the hunted. And they survived. These teams should be much more fear than a fledurling Michigan or Wisconsin “bubble team” from the Big 10. (Wisconsin lost to a pathetic Ohio State team in the conference tournament).

Johnell Davis photo courtesy Mauricio Paiz/ fausports.com

Mountain West climbs towards five tournament teams as Selection Sunday nears

Utah State is considered a bubble team, although Aggies fans shouldn’t worry. Very rarely does a team within the top 25-30 of the NET not make the NCAA Tournament. This year, their losses are a lot more justified with the Mountain West ranking higher than the ACC in a lot of categories. Conference mate Boise State is also technically on the bubble line, although the Broncos are in a similar power position. Utah State could be the fifth tournament team from the Mountain West, joining Boise State, San Diego State (regular season champions), New Mexico and Nevada or San Jose State.

Other news and notes from NCAAB’s Championship Week:

Baylor is officially in damage control mode after getting swept this season by the Iowa State Cyclones of all teams. ISU beat the Bears three times total this season, including a conference tournament win Thursday afternoon in Kansas City.

Marquette messed around and was losing to 8 seeded St. John’s at halftime before conference player of the year Tyler Kylek and the Golden Eagles came back to win.

UCLA got great contributions from Amari Bailey and Adem Bona in their PAC-12 Tournament win against a fiesty Colorado Buffs program. Bailey and Bona are going to be crucially important as the Bruins just lost Jaylen Clark, likely out for the season.

🤕 👩‍⚕️Want to monitor the most important injuries in March Madness?🤕 👩‍⚕️
🦶Click here to see the top 11 injuries to monitor and team adjustments in progress.🦶

11 Injuries to Monitor Before Filling out your Bracket – March Madness 2023

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March Madness 2023 is underway and this article is tracking the most important injuries to monitor. That includes watching how teams are adjusting after losing stars. Don’t fill out your 2023 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament bracket before checking on the health statuses here!

BY MATTY D.

The new headline is to track the status of a starting guard for the odds-on favorite to win the 2023 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship. Marcus Sasser missed the AAC Championship game against Memphis and is questionable going forward.

Photo courtesy uhcougars.com

Unfortunately, this update also comes as one of the best players on one of the best teams just tore his ACL. Zakai Zeigler, the 5-9 spark plug for the Vols offense and defense just suffered the injury on the eve of March. Despite the cruel turn of events for this surging sophomore, he took to Twitter with a very positive message:

Aside from Zeigler’s major injury, there are many student athletes still in recovery mode. Here are the top 11 injuries to monitor while those players are nursing different ailments. See more of a summary of how this affects each team in alphabetical order below.

Top Injuries to Monitor across College Basketball

To recap, here is a top 10 list (plus some) of the most important injuries to monitor:

14. Jett Howard – Michigan guard
13. Chucky Hepburn – Wisconsin guard 
12.  Moussa Cisse – Oklahoma State center
11. Anthony Anderson III – Oklahoma State guard
– – – – – – – – – PROJECTED CUT – – – – – – – – –
11. Nijel Pack  – Miami guard
10. Efton Reid III   – Gonzaga center
9. Federiko Federiko – Pittsburgh center
8.  Kendrick Davis – Memphis guard
7. Timmy Allen – Texas forward
6. Ben Vander Plas – Virginia forward
5. Zach Freemantle  – Xavier forward
4. Keyonte George – Baylor guard
3. *Jaylen Clark – UCLA wing
2. *Zakai Zeigler – Tennessee guard
1. Marcus Sasser – Houston guard

In the case of 2 of the top 3 injuries here, there is no chance for a recovery. Both Jaylen Clark and Zakai Zeigler are *out for the remainder of the season. In these and similar cases, we are monitoring the team adjustments instead of the personal recoveries.

Players recently returned from injury add to resurgent college basketball teams

It’s not all bad news on this list. In fact, there’s a strong handful of players who are recently back into lineups and taking their teams to the next level. Nick Smith Jr. is adding a scoring punch to an Arkansas lineup that suddenly has found itself on the bubble. Justin Moore has a month under his belt after a torn Achilles. His Villanova Wildcats looks like Nova once again. And Dariq Whitehead has been back for Duke with the Blue Devils finally safely off the bubble.

See more about each team affected in alphabetical order below.

Arkansas and its future NBA lottery pick Nick Smith Jr. navigates knee “management”

Nick Smith Jr. returned to action on February 11th after missing nearly two months with “knee management.”  He played just 21 game minutes in his first pair of games, but then averaged around 35 minutes after that.  In fact, he played all 40 minutes in a close matchup against the Alabama Roll Tide in a game the Razorbacks were fighting from behind for most of.  He dropped 24 points and grabbed 6 points in that game.  It looks like Nick Smith Jr. is back to his NBA prospect self, but check his injury status pregame during March Madness just in case! 

Photo courtesy arkansasrazorbacks.com

Baylor back in the habit of reloading talent

Keyonte George missed a game at Oklahoma State in late February, but it almost didn’t matter. The freshman shooting guard has glided right into a productive role with Baylor this season. But in his absence, the Baylor Bears just reloaded again. This team is already accustomed to losing one or two first round picks to the NBA every year. Now, it’s also been in the unfortunate habit of having injured players miss some of all of the season. Baylor has been in postseason position and jockeying for the Big 12 title this season, despite not having veteran forward Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua. Now he is back.

In that Oklahoma State game that George missed with an ankle sprain, seldom used guard Dale Bonner filed right in with 15 points in 32 minutes. He had rarely played in the previous few games. Baylor coach Scott Drew has an abundance of riches. This team should be feared as a top pick to win it all.

Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images

Duke started its season without the services of All-American freshmen, center Dereck Lively II and small forward Dariq Whitehead. In late February, Duke had a completely clean injury report according to Covers.com. Still, double-check these youthful Dukies for any bumps and bruises.

Gonzaga monitors the injury status of its rim protector off the bench Efton Reid III

If the Gonzaga Bulldogs are going to make a deep run in the tournament, they need to stand tall at the rim. After 7-foot something Chet Holmgren left for the NBA, the Bulldogs were a little thin on the inside. They added Efton Reid III, a big man from LSU. When Reid popped up on the injury report in late February, it was a concern for Gonzaga’s overall depth.

Reid has returned to action in March, but has played sparingly. He logged only four minutes in the WCC Championship game against St. Mary’s.

Memphis monitors a motley crew of injuries to its ball-handlers

Point guard Keynote Kennedy punched a wall after a loss to Houston and effectively sidelined himself for the rest of the regular season. He was the Tigers third leading scorer. Its top scorer and senior transfer Kendrick Davis also missed that game with a bad ankle. Davis averages around 21 points a game. Both of these teams are worth monitoring as Memphis will likely be an underdog in both its own conference tournament and if/when it makes the NCAA Basketball Tournament. They’ll need all hands on deck (and not against walls).

Miami misses Nijel Pack in a game they’d like to have back

Florida State stormed back to beat the Miami Hurricanes in a game their tournament seeding will likely want back. Florida State isn’t good this year. However, it’s important to note that K-State transfer guard Nijel Pack missed that game for Miami with a lower body injury. Watch this injury closely so that Miami doesn’t suffer anymore surprises.

Michigan plays it safe with Jett Howard’s injury, looks to get on right side of bubble

The coach’s son Jett Howard missed the Wisconsin game with an ankle injury in late February where the Wolverines nearly lost. One more loss in a close game like this might cost Michigan its tournament berth. Watch Jett Howard’s status. He is averaging 14.4 points per game for a Michigan team that can struggle at times to score.

(Missouri’s Kobe Brown out with an illness February 26th – should be short term).

Oklahoma State tournament chances on thin ice while starting center and guards out

It’s never good to have your starting center and starting guard out while you’re trying to play your way off the bubble. But that’s exactly the position that Oklahoma State finds itself in. Moussa Cisse and Anthony Anderson III are both missing time as we roll into March. Anderson’s injury might be more long-standing with him dealing with a wrist injury.

Pittsburgh wins play-in-game despite not having a center in the starting lineup

The nation learned who Federiko Federiko was on Tuesday night as the tournament tipped off with its play-in games. The Panthers center was listed as a game time decision, according to Pittsburgh Sports now, but he ended up sitting out the game while nursing a knee injury. The nation watched as the Panthers battled to win a tight one point game against Mississippi State. Jorge Diaz Graham did a nice job as a substitute center, stretching Miss St. center Tolu Smith outside of the paint. The smaller lineup worked out for Pittsburgh.

(TCU’s Eddie Lampkin Jr. out with undisclosed injury late February).

Tennessee suffers major blow with Zakai Ziegler’s injury

Ziegler’s injury leaves the Vols very thin at point guard. The Volunteers just lost Kennedy Chandler to the NBA (and Memphis Grizzlies) after a one-and-done campaign. Shooting guard Santiago Vescovi is expected to do more ball handling. Tyreke Key is also expected to get more minutes.  

Wisconsin watches Chucky Hepburn’s injury status

Wisconsin’s starting point guard Chucky Hepburn missed some minutes against Michigan in a critical game to finish February. He remains on the injury report with a lower body injury. Hepburn played the last few games for the Badgers, including a first round win against Bradley in the NIT Tournament.

Xavier’s Zach Freemantle ruled out for remainder of the season

For a second straight season, Zach Freemantle’s foot is finding itself on the injury report at the most inconvenient time. As March began, the power forward was ruled out for the remainder of the season. This leaves a gaping hole in the front-court of Sean Miller’s core unit. Fellow big man Jack Nunge will now need to continue (Freemantle has been out for weeks) picking up the slack on the boards and with help defense. The power forward was enjoying the fruits of a veteran team playing winning basketball with Sean Miller’s return to the Musketeers sidelines. Xavier is a 3 seed and will play against upset-minded 14 seed Kennesaw State. Kennesaw State has surged onto the national radar with an impressive program turnaround against coach Amir Abdur-Rahim.

UCLA loses super athletic wing Jaylen Clark for the season in major postseason loss

UCLA has a major problem on its hands. Despite how consistent guards Tyger Campbell and Jaime Jaquez Jr. have been over their careers, the Bruins rely on some offense you can’t draw up. This is where Jaylen Clark has come into play. He is a great slasher, finisher, and just the type of super athletic wing who you don’t have to feed the ball to in order to get productivity. His athleticism finds a way. Clark had more than doubled his offensive productivity from a season ago and averaged 16 points a game. He gave Campbell and Jaquez a great third option in the early or late stages of a shot clock. And Clark is a great defender. Now, UCLA will head into the tournament without their most athletic wing. This is a major problem.

Staff writer Ben Bolch of the LA Times writes how UCLA’s title chances aren’t over with Clark’s season-ending Achilles injury. I would disagree.

Bolch points to how UCLA went 6-1 while freshman guard Amari Bailey was out for a month with a foot injury. This is an apples to oranges comparison to the superior athleticism that Jaylen Clark brings on the floor. Bailey is a primary ball-handler, which UCLA already has in full supply with Tyger Campbell. Instead of thinking about Bailey as a replacement, freshman Dylan Andrews is more of the prototypical wing who Bruins fans need to look forward to stepping up.

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College basketball status update on Super Bowl weekend

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BY MATTY D.

Avoiding any chance of being upset is a good thing. That’s especially true in college basketball. On a weekend when the Super Bowl is expected to feature a tight matchup between the Chiefs and Eagles, college basketball’s conference standings are tight as well. Many important conference tournaments in college hoops have bye games for its top teams. Here’s a glance at college basketball games for Super Bowl weekend, with an eye on what teams can capture those all-important byes.

Mountain West Offers High Ceiling and High Seeding

The team that climbs to the top of the Mountain West Conference this season will reach certain heights in the college hoops landscape. The Mountain West is the fourth best conference in college basketball this year. Therefore, the conference winner will get regional preference and a top 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament. There will also be a pack of hikers from the league who have a high ceiling. Conversely, someone in the middle of the pack will slip and suffer a dramatic fall. Right now San Diego State is the only team from the conference that is technically “ranked” in the Top 25. The veteran team is again loaded with experienced players who can contribute 6 points or more.

The team that captures the top of the Mountain West will capture a high seed.

The second pack of teams from the conference is a force to be reckoned with. CBS Sports bracketology expert Jerry Palm has Nevada, Boise State and New Mexico all projected in the tournament on Super Bowl weekend. New Mexico just took a bad loss to Air Force on Friday night. The Lobos could be the character that slips from the rocks and falls out of the picture.

Two teams that could back-fill their position are Utah State and UNLV. Today they stand in the NET rankings at 33 and 82 respectively. UNLV is a current victim of how daunting this Mountain West conference actually is. However, when you watch them play, you recognize the high ceiling. The Runnin’ Rebels November matchup against another underrated conference team in Dayton was a good barameter for UNLVs’ potential. Former Oklahoma Sooner transfer Elijah Harmless led the way with 24 points. The Rebels have a fleet of skilled guards and a do-the-dirty work center in David Muoka who can compete with anyone at the rim.

On Saturday, UNLV gets an enormous chance to boost its tournament resume with a game at San Diego State. It’s unlikely that UNLV wins. It’s also unlikely that UNLV makes the NCAA tournament as an at large team. However, this game is a good litmus test to watch whether UNLV has its A game ready for the Mountain West Tournament. With six conference games remaining, it’s also unlikely that UNLV grabs a first round bye in the Mountain West Tournament. The Rebels were one slot short of that accomplishment last season. Right now they are four games behind Utah State in the loss column with six games left.

Big brands re-emerge in the Big East

There has been a bit of a Renaissance in the Big East. With exception of Georgetown, the big brand names remain relevant late in the season. College basketball fans were treated to a UCONN season where the Huskies were an AP Top 5 team. Sean Miller has returned to Xavier and immediately made them an AP Top 25 team. Although they are not a tournament team, even St. John’s is playing relevant basketball and perhaps looking at an NIT or a CBI bid.

However, the biggest mover right now is the Villanova Wildcats. This statement has caused a storm of debate on our Twitter page. However, with veteran guard Justin Moore back from an achilles tear in last year’s Big Dance, Villanova looks much better than its record shows.

Join the Villanova debate by following CBBEyeTest on Twitter.

The tournament committee is stubborn about a lot of things. One thing they have historically actually shown common sense about is judging a team that had a major injury. With Justin Moore back today from Achilles injury, Villanova is back in the tournament hunt as well.

Villanova was leading Creighton in Omaha on the game Justin Moore returned. They lost that one, but rebounded by beating up on Depaul. With an 11-13 record, they now play Seton Hall, Butler, Providence and Xavier next. That’s four winnable games and two Quad 1 opportunities. If they win five straight in this stretch, they will be 15-13 with an opportunity to avenge their loss against Crieghton to go to 16-13. Let’s assume they lose one more of their remaining Big East schedule. They would head into Madison Square Garden as a dangerous, experienced, battle-tested, ball security advocate in the Big East Tournament at 18-14. I don’t see the tournament committee keeping this group out of the Big Dance if they win 2 of 3 in the Big East Tournament in that scenario finishing at 20-15. That’s me. Or they could just win the Big East tournament.

The scrum of college basketball teams to grab the loose bids intensifies on Super Bowl weekend.