In a new-look season for the American convention, with six new groups to begin the season, there have been many surprises. Nobody anticipated a majority of these seasons out of South Florida or Charlotte, and few anticipated to see the emergence of David Jones at Memphis.
With all on the road for a lot of of those groups, it can all come right down to the convention event at Dickies Enviornment in Fort Value, Texas.
Bracket
Schedule
Wednesday, March 13
Sport 1 – No. 13 Rice vs. No. 12 Wichita State – Midday CT | ESPN+
Sport 2 – No. 14 UTSA vs. No. 11 Temple – 2 p.m. CT | ESPN+
Thursday, March 14
Sport 3 – No. 9 Tulsa vs. No. 8 East Carolina – 11:30 a.m. CT | ESPNU
Sport 4 – Sport 1 winner vs. No. 5 Memphis – 1:30 p.m. CT | ESPNU
Sport 5 – No. 10 Tulane vs. No. 7 North Texas – 6 p.m. CT | ESPNU
Sport 6 – Sport 2 winner vs. No. 6 SMU – 8 p.m. CT | ESPNU
Friday, March 15
Sport 7 – Sport 3 winner vs. No. 1 South Florida – Midday CT | ESPN2
Sport 8 – Sport 4 winner vs. No. 4 UAB – 2 p.m. CT | ESPN2
Sport 9 – Sport 5 winner vs. No. 2 Florida Atlantic – 6 p.m. CT | ESPNU
Sport 10 – Sport 6 winner vs. No. 3 Charlotte – 8 p.m. CT | ESPNU
Saturday, March 16
Sport 11 – Semifinal 1, Sport 7 winner vs. Sport 8 winner – 2 p.m. CT | ESPN2
Sport 12 – Semifinal 2, Sport 9 winner vs. Sport 10 winner – 4 p.m. CT | ESPN2
Sunday, March 17
Sport 13 – Championship, Sport 11 winner vs. Sport 12 winner – 2:15 p.m. CT | ESPN
Preview
The Contenders
South Florida Bulls (23-6 General, 16-2 Convention)
Head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim has made a right away impression on this Bulls squad in simply his first yr. With one of the best protection within the convention (No. 1 in KenPom defensive effectivity), South Florida has charged to the highest report within the league. Led by Chris Youngblood, the Bulls shoot nicely from deep and once they get scorching generally is a scary matchup.
And not using a assure from bracketologists that they are going to be an at-large bid, South Florida will virtually positively must win out to seek out themselves within the event attributable to their No. 78 NET ranking. Simply another excuse why Abdur-Rahim may have his staff prepared for a future in Fort Value this week.
Florida Atlantic Owls (24-7 General, 14-4 Convention)
The Owls have faired decently nicely of their first yr as a part of the American Convention, however sitting as the 2 seed headed into the event, FAU is seeking to drive the ultimate nail within the coffin with reference to their at-large standing within the event (projected No. 9 seed by Joe Lunardi as of March 12).
Led as soon as once more this season by the backcourt duo of Johnell Davis and Alijah Martin, the gamers for the Owls are in place to make yet one more Closing 4 run. An electrical offense that boasts wins over Arizona, Texas A&M and Butler makes itself the straightforward favourite to return out of the American, however losses to Bryant, Florida Gulf Coast and Charlotte present that they are often crushed by much less proficient groups. The Owls are on upset watch.
Memphis Tigers (22-9 General, 11-7 Convention)
It has been an up-and-down season for Penny Hardaway’s Memphis Tigers. As soon as considered the straightforward favourite within the convention, the Tigers misplaced 4 straight convention video games, together with a loss to Rice on their residence court docket. At this level, predicting which Memphis staff you will notice once they step out on the court docket has develop into nearly not possible. That being mentioned, when they’re at their finest, the Tigers can beat each staff within the convention and discover themselves in yet one more NCAA Match. Their at-large hopes hanging within the steadiness, a minimal of two wins within the event is required if they need any probability in making the Large Dance.
Falling to a 5 seed signifies that Memphis should play a second spherical matchup, lacking the double-bye that may have been useful, particularly for a staff that has had an inclination to permit less-talented groups to compete and even win in opposition to them.
The Darkhorses
SMU Mustangs (20-11 General, 11-7 Convention)
The Mustangs go into this convention event following a really tough patch of their season, dropping 4 of their final 5 video games together with a loss to UTSA at residence. With their at-large hopes evaporated, followers will see a determined SMU staff trying steal a bid to the tourney. Highlighted by guards Zhuric Phelps and Chuck Harris, the Mustangs do have the benefit of enjoying near residence, so a run to the championship sport may very well be within the playing cards for them.
Charlotte 49ers (19-11 General, 13-5 Convention)
One other new addition to the convention, the 49ers completed third within the convention, which is increased than they completed in Convention USA final season (fifth). Whereas not many stats stand out for Charlotte, the wins converse for themselves, beating FAU earlier this season. With a scorching streak within the event, the 49ers might discover themselves within the championship sport of their first season within the convention.
UAB Blazers (20-11 General, 12-6 Convention)
Yaxel Lendeborg has been a welcome shock for the Blazers and head coach Andy Kennedy this season. Successful defensive participant of the yr honors within the convention, Lendeborg, together with athletic slasher Eric Gaines, has headed up a staff that has vastly improved because the begin of the season, now to the purpose the place they’ve an opportunity of constructing a run to the championship sport. On the naked minimal, anticipate this to be a enjoyable staff to look at within the event with Gaines working to the rim.
North Texas Imply Inexperienced (17-13 General, 10-8 Convention)
Sitting on the sting of darkish horse territory, the Imply Inexperienced sport wins over Memphis and SMU in convention play behind the expertise of American convention first staff participant Jason Edwards. North Texas hopes to go on a run this week, however with a second spherical matchup versus Tulane, the Imply Inexperienced may have an early problem in opposition to the upset-heavy Inexperienced Wave.
Longshots
East Carolina Pirates (14-17 General, 7-11 Convention)
A tough stretch to complete the season saved the Pirates below 0.500 in convention report, dropping 5 video games in a row, however RJ Felton has been particular this season, averaging 17.3 factors per sport this season. With a proficient protection that ranks fourth within the convention in defensive effectivity through KenPom, East Carolina might string collectively a win or two within the event, however their last-ranked offense will certainly be an issue.
Tulsa Golden Hurricane (16-14 General, 7-11 Convention)
PJ Haggerty has been one of the crucial proficient freshman within the nation this season, and his place on the American Convention third staff cements that, however with a salty South Florida staff ready for them on the opposite facet of East Carolina, it makes it laborious to consider that they don’t seem to be at finest a quarterfinal exit this season.
Tulane Inexperienced Wave (14-16 General, 5-13 Convention)
Head coach Ron Hunter has had his justifiable share of March moments, together with his falling out of a stool following a sport winner by his son, RJ, in a NCAA event matchup in opposition to Baylor being the premier second for him. Sadly, this is not going to be his yr, with Tulane dropping 10 of its final 12 video games in convention play in one of many largest report fall-offs this yr.
Temple Owls (12-19 General, 5-13 Convention)
With the Owls within the midst of a possible playing scheme involving a sport between them and UAB this season, however on this case, it’s suggested that you just guess in opposition to Temple within the convention event with them tying for the final place report within the convention.
Wichita State Shockers (13-18 General, 5-13 Convention)
The shockers rank second to final in KenPom offensive effectivity within the convention, however with a primary spherical matchup in opposition to Rice, they might very nicely choose up a win earlier than being pressured to tackle a fiery Memphis staff within the second spherical.
UTSA Roadrunners (11-20 General, 5-13 Convention)
Whereas it’s notable that the Roadrunners have received three of their final 4, it’s March now, which imply their probabilities of doing that in opposition to are a lot decrease. On condition that, a win over Temple within the first spherical appears believable, however a lot much less believable is them making a run any deeper than that.
Rice Owls (11-20 General, 5-13 Convention)
The spotlight of the Owls season was a highway win in FedExForum at Memphis again in January. Virtually two months later, and Rice should face actuality, which is that they in all probability is not going to win a single postseason sport and their season will finish on ESPN+.
Prediction
The championship sport will very possible be one other matchup between newly-minted rivals Memphis and Florida Atlantic, with the Tigers enjoying for his or her March Insanity hopes. On this sport, Florida Atlantic will squash these hopes in an in depth sport in Dickies Enviornment, absolutely cementing the hatred between these new convention foes.
