Let’s see how things evolve, especially as teams compete in their respective post-season tournaments.
March 15 is a long way off. NCAA first-round games start that day. But it’s not too early to start following Mid-Majors that could spring first-round upsets and, perhaps, even take steps beyond that.
Following these “David’s” is something I really like to do, and each year I share my thoughts at TSC.
Most of these teams will be seeded 14-16 in the tournament.
Teams in CAPS below are on my February Watch List. The ten teams in bold are teams I’m following closely. (I didn’t include St. Mary’s and Gonzaga in bold because they’re big-time teams playing in a mid-major conference.)
Twenty conferences are included here (mid-major conferences that have at least one team I think is capable of springing a tournament upset). Numbers positioned next to teams represent Jay Bilas’ February 7 ranking of the top 68 teams (from ESPN.com)
Atlantic 10: RHODE ISLAND (25), St. Bonaventure (67)
America East: VERMONT (64)
Atlantic Sun: Florida Gulf Coast
Big Sky: MONTANA
CJ Massinburg plays on the best UB team in years (photo, Buffalo News)
Big West: UC SANTA BARBARA, UC Davis
Conference USA: MIDDLE TENNESSEE (41)
Horizon: Wright State, Northern Kentucky
Ivy: Penn
Metro Atlantic: RIDER
Mid-American: BUFFALO
MEAC: North Carolina A&T
Missouri Valley: LOYOLA (IL)
Mountain West: NEVADA-RENO (30), Boise State (40)
Northeast: WAGNER
Ohio Valley: Belmont, Murray State (68)
South Dakota State’s Mike Daum (24) is a major talent. (photo, SB Nation)
Southern: EAST TENNESSEE STATE (62)
Summit: SOUTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
Sun Belt: LOUISIANA (65)
WAC: NEW MEXICO STATE (56)
West Coast: ST, MARY’S (23), GONZAGA (19).
With that, here’s my early February Top Ten list with “best wins” over Power 6 teams listed in bold:
Gonzaga (22-4, best win, Ohio State)
Rhode Island (19-3, best win, Seton Hall)
Nevada (20-5, best win, Rhode Island)
St. Mary’s (24-2, best win, California)
Middle Tennessee (19-5, best win, tied, Ole Miss, Vandy)
New Mexico State (21-3, best wins, New Mexico, twice)
Buffalo (18-6, best win, UAB)
Loyola (20-5, best win, Florida)
South Dakota St. (21-6, best win, Iowa)
Rider (18-7, best win, George Washington)
Let’s see how things evolve, especially as teams compete in their respective post-season tournaments.
Stay tuned!
