Tag Archives: Utah State Basketball

Who is good in college basketball this year? The Answer is still TBD January of 2026

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The college basketball landscape is wide open as the calendar turns to 2026 and these teams outside of the top 5 have built a compelling tournament resume.

BY MATTY D.

Utah State Looking Like the Aztecs in Terms of Mountain West Dominance

College basketball fans like myself, who have been watching for the past 20-30 years, just assume that the San Diego State Aztecs are going to dominate the Mountain West and then represent the conference honorably in March. This year, there’s a different wrinkle to that picture. Utah State is not only winning, but they are dominating. This weekend they went into Boise State and beat the shit out of a Broncos team that actually just took those same Aztecs into triple overtime. And so they’re good. However, it wasn’t a contest when Utah State visited Boise a few days later.

Watch the first half highlights from this game. The Aggies came out angry and athletic, a deadly.combo.

AJ Storr and a talented Ole Miss orchestra of guards playing in harmony after discord

AJ Storr and his coach Chris Beard went viral to start the season because of their uncomfortable moment at the postgame podium. When you’re a player like Storr who has literally played for four college programs, it’s easy for basketball fans to critque you for your lack of coommitment to basketball’s fundamentals. But Storr’s play at times this season, justified that jeering.

This weekend, Storr had his best game in store.

He scored 26 on a highly efficient night. He shot 50% from the field, 4-6 from 3PT, and a perfect 6-6 from the free throw line.

This could be a turning point to the season to where Ole Miss starts cooking.

Iowa exposed inside on big win by the Baltic built Illinois basketball team

Illinois didn’t just beat Iowa. They physically exposed them.

This was not a game decided by hot shooting or clever sets. This was decided by mass, leverage, and a level of interior strength that Iowa simply did not have answers for. From the opening possessions, Illinois lived in the paint, and Iowa absorbed it. By halftime, Illinois had already dropped 24 points in the paint.

That production came straight from the Balkan Five. Tomislav Ivišić, Zvonimir Ivišić, Andrej Stojaković, Mihailo Petrović, and David Mirković brought a level of size and physical comfort that Iowa could not match. These are adult frames. These are players who are used to contact. And they played like it.

When Illinois rolls that group out, it doesn’t look like a college lineup. It looks like a EuroLeague frontcourt wandered into the Big Ten.

Kylan Boswell was the steady hand that made all of it work. He played 38 minutes, scored 17 points, hit timely shots, and more importantly, kept the offense organized. He didn’t over-dribble. He didn’t force. He consistently got Illinois into their actions and delivered the ball where it needed to go. In a game built on physical advantage, that kind of point guard control is everything. Iowa never disrupted him, and Illinois never lost rhythm.

Stojaković is especially interesting in this group, not just because of his strength, but because of his bloodlines. As Peja Stojaković’s son, he connects Illinois to this growing wave of sons of NBA players currently impacting college basketball (click here for the full article).

Illinois is not just international. They are grown.

NCAAB Best Betting Future Values for College Basketball Futures in 2026

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Now that the NFL season is over, it’s time to get serious about which teams I would invest in as future values for the 2025-2026 Men’s College Basketball season and March Madness. Here are some teams that I would consider for a low risk, high-reward payoff in the futures market.

BY MATTY D.

For example, I had a ticket for Oregon to win a national football title at 8-1 before the night began. After the Miami Hurricanes beat the odds-on favorite for a national title, the Ohio State Buckeyes, that same ticket became 6-1 (theoretically increasing in value 25%).

Volatile Kentucky Futures Worth Monitoring for Low Risk High Reward Payoff

Even by Kentucky standards, this college basketball season has been very dramatic. There have been big highs and low lows. Head coach Mark Pope was a champion as a player with the 1996 Kentucky team. Yet, after a so-so start to the 2025-2026, some Kentucky fans were calling for his job. After high profile back-to-back wins against Indiana and St. John’s to finish 2025, it was the consecutive losses to Alabama and Missouri to start 2026 that got Wildcats fans twisted.

Kentucky’s futures value to win a national championship has fluctuated anywhere from the 40-1 territory to sitting around 100-1 in mid February (according to DraftKings NCAAB futures market).

Kentucky’s volatile future value can also be contributed to the health status of key players.

Starting point guard Jaland Lowe is out for the season with a shoulder injury and super athletic big man (and Arizona State transfer) Jayden Quaintance has been missing a slew of games with a knee injury. The Wildcats had won 8 of 9 games without Quaintance is a nice run in mid-January to mid-February before getting dominated by a bigger Florida bunch.

The Lexington Herald Leader was reporting in mid-February how Quaintance’s draft stock was decreasing due to his extended absence with that knee injury. If he made a triumphant return to the lineup in March, that would be a major boost to the stock of a program that we know has a high ceiling.

Kentucky’s season has not been all about inconsistency. Combo guard Otega Oweh has been the model of consistency. He has shown an ability to shoulder the load and lead this Cats bunch.

Over that 8-of-9 run, Oweh regularly posted 20-plus points while contributing across the stat sheet — mixing efficient shooting with rebounds, assists, and timely defensive plays that helped stabilize Kentucky’s offense when other key pieces were banged up. His scoring spurts against Ohio State, Tennessee, and Arkansas weren’t just box-score padding; they shifted momentum in games where Kentucky needed a go-to option, and his willingness to shoulder that responsibility underscored the Wildcats’ potential when their stars are firing on all cylinders. That blend of production and poise from Oweh during their best stretch this season crystallizes just how high this Kentucky roster can rise when roles are clear and confidence is high.

https://www.covers.com/sport/basketball/ncaab/teams/main/kentucky-wildcats/injuries

Looking for even longer odds chances to snag a crazy underdog pick for March Madness 2026?
Click here to see more of my favorite futures values and underdogs for a NCAAB Championship.

Nebraska Cornhuskers Harvesting the Best Tourney Resume No one is Talking About

Even as Nebraska knocked off top 10 ranked Michigan State in dramatic fashion in a January 2nd home game, the oddsmakers kept disrespecting the Huskers. Nebraska stood as a 20-1 long-shot to make a Final Four on FanDuel, despite having one of America’s best (and still undefeated) records.

Joe Lunardi’s December 30th bracketology had them as a 4 seed in the West Region, but Monday’s AP Top 25 voting might have them as the 4th best ranked team in the nation.

It’s hard to believe that head coach Fred Hoiberg is already in his seventh season as head man at Nebraska, after his “mayoral” status at the Hilton Coliseum with Iowa State. However, his family legacy is continuing in Lincoln this season in legendary fashion. He is coaching his son to an undefeated start of the season (well into 2026) overseeing a program that his grandfather coached for 9 seasons starting in the 1950s. This team is loaded with storylines that any TV producer at CBS Sports would salivate over during March Madness. It could be time that you put a shekel on the huskers.

Nebraska maxed out at a value around 25-1 to win the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. At Valentine’s Day where the week saw a dramatic overtime loss to Purdue and a beat-down of Northwestern, I still love this team as a future value of 10-1 to reach a Final Four.

Utah State 200-1 to win the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship

Utah State delivered one of the more eye-opening results of February by dominating Memphis in a rare non-conference matchup of potential bubble teams, Utah State and the Memphis Tigers on Valentine’s Day. Even with that kind of résumé-defining performance on a national stage, the Aggies’ futures value has remained hovering around 200-1 to win a championship, the type of number that suggests the market still hasn’t fully caught up to how solid this group really is.

Someone is coming out of the Mountain West grandfathered in as the annual 7 through 11 seed, and this veteran laden bunch is as good a bet as any to win a few games.

Before conference play, Utah State Aggies quietly built a strong résumé for bettors seeking high-quality future value picks. The Aggies paired legitimate wins over programs like VCU and Tulane with dominant blowouts of Davidson, Charlotte, and Colorado State, showing both floor and ceiling. That blend of NET-relevant victories and decisive margins signaled a team undervalued nationally entering league play.

College Basketball Eye Test Notebook Logging a Spreadsheet of values 2025-2026

Arizona and Iowa are also two teams whose odds I am watching closely. Listed below is a simple chart comparing NCAAB Futures on two major Sportsbooks in December of 2025.

Iowa left the circle of trust on Valentine’s Day after being dominated by Purdue. They also struggled mightily against a bigger Illinois team in early January, exposing their lack of size.

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.

Upset Alert Teams to Win a College Basketball Conference Tournament during “Champ Week”

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BY MATTY D.

Cinderella can reside in the Power 5. In 2021, Georgetown surged in unlikely fashion after a horrible regular season. The Hoyas went dancing in March Madness as the Big East Tournament winner. The team had only gone 7-9 in the conference regular season and had an overall record of .500 (13-13).

Similarly, Oregon State went from an expected pre-season bottom feeder in the Pac-12, to The Elite 8.

Here are seven teams that could burst a bubble team’s dreams. It shouldn’t shock anyone who is watching college basketball to see these teams in a conference tournament championship game.

Maryland Terps 2021-2022 Basketball Profile – Big Ten Conference

In an era of global turmoil, it’s safe to say that Maryland still had a rocky season. They brought in two highly touted transfers in Fatts Russell and Qudus Wahab. However, the Terps season got off to a slow turtle crawl. They lost to in-state non-rival George Mason. And Head Coach Mark Turgeon and the administration, reportedly, agreed to part ways mid-season.

Danny Manning took over as head coach. As you watch the team play, they are slowly rounding into form. A game against Nebraska in mid-February showed off their ceiling. Yes, it’s a lousy Nebraska team, but you saw freshman forward Julian Reese show off his stuff.

The roster is still beefed up with veteran players who have been in plenty of March Madness battles. Eric Ayala and Donta Scott come to mind. It was Danny Manning and the Miracles which made one of college basketball’s most magical runs ever. If some Big Ten teams get complacent during their conference tournament, it could be the Terps that go on a miraculous run.

Photo courtesy umterps.com

Florida Atlantic Owls 2021-2022 Basketball Profile – Conference USA

By NCAA Tournament standards, Conference USA is a major conference. Just in the last decade, look at what Middle Tennessee and North Texas have done to wreak havoc on the bracket. UAB, North Texas and even Louisiana Tech have been on the radar for modest at-large chances this season. However, the Florida Atlantic Owls are staying up late into February with relevant play in its league. In a seven game stretch over January to February, they won 6 of 7 games in conference. That includes the Owls’ dominating win against Louisiana Tech where the Owls shot 52% from the field, 45% from 3 point territory, and led by as many as 20 points.

Like many deep sleepers, this team features some sizable international talent. Its front-court features size and versatility with players from Kosovo, Russia, Senegal and Kongo all contributing.

Arizona State Sun Devils 2021-2022 Basketball Profile – Pac 12 Conference

This one is simple. You cannot watch the Arizona State Sun Devils inspired play against Final 4 favorite UCLA and not be inspired to think they can go on a magical run. After an era of Arizona State pumping guards into the NBA, its powerful forwards forced the action against UCLA late. They beat the Bruins and the Oregon Ducks in February. They also scored a win against Colorado and were very competitive against an AP Top 5 team in Arizona.

Forwards like Jalen Graham are dropping double digits with regularity late in the season.

Bobby Hurley is one of the sports all-time great point guards. Perhaps he can be the floor general as head coach of the Sun Devils and lead them to a conference crown.

Utah State 2021-2022 Basketball Profile – Mountain West Conference

Google the phrase college basketball elder statesman, and Brock Miller’s mug shot might pop up. This team is as aged as the sandy ledge of a mountain boarding the small town of Sandy, Utah. And they can shoot. Sure, big man Neemias Queta moved on to bigger and better things. But there’s still plenty of residue remaining to roll up a run. You could look at their record and say they’re toast. Or, you could look at their record and give props to just how good the Mountain West has been this year. Wyoming, Colorado State, and San Diego State are likely tournament teams regardless of what happens in the Mountain West Tournament. The Aggies are only middle of the pack in terms of college basketball’s best three point shooting team. On February 24th they ranked 159th in the nation with a pedestrian 34% from 3PT. However, that’s not indicative of the shooting stroke you could see from senior leaders Miller and Justin Bean. So why not let loose in Vegas and roll the dice with a bunch of bombs from downtown during Champ Week?

This list included Mizzou and Northwester weeks ago, but their play has since soured.

George Mason 2021-2022 Basketball Profile – Atlantic 10

The Atlantic 10 is filled with teams that are capable of “stealing a bid.” In fact, it will likely happen. Davidson has enjoyed a lead atop the league for most of the season. However, they face stiff competition with St. Louis, VCU, Dayton, Richmond, St. Bonaventure, and George Mason, to name a few. George Mason is coached by former Mizzou baller Kim English Jr. They are a bit of a mystery, with a lots of bad losses on their record. However, they have one of the conference’s purest shooters in Colorado transfer D’Shawn Schwartz. 6-9 forward Josh Oduro is having a solid season. He averages 18 points and 7 rebounds on the season. Their wins over St. Bonaventure, Dayton and Richmond should be noted as proof this team could compete for the conference championship.

George Mason is an up-and-coming program in college basketball.
Photo courtesy: gomason.com