We’re around the halfway mark for most of the 31 conferences. And with every team now playing actual road games, everyone is vulnerable to losing. Yet, as we reach the end of January, there are still 12 teams that have yet to lose a game in conference play. Here’s how I rank those teams in terms of their potential to win games in the NCAA Tournament:
12. Southern Jaguars (11-8 overall, 6-0 SWAC)
The Jaguars have plenty of depth, playing 12 players each night. Sophomore guard Jordan Johnson (10 ppg) leads them in scoring, but Southern is also one of the top defensive units in the SWAC. They’re destined to be in the eventual 16 vs 1 matchup if they win the SWAC tournament, but Southern was competitive in the non-con losses to Iowa, Texas A&M and Ole Miss.
11. Bryant Bulldogs (12-9, 6-0 America East)
Coach Phil Martelli Jr.’s team is going to put up points, ranking in the top 25 nationally with 83.2 points per game. They have some experienced talent in 6-foot-6 senior guard Rafael Pinzon (17.6 ppg), along with Earl Timberlake, a senior wing and former top-50 prospect, who is producing 15.8 points, 8.2 rebonds and 4.7 assists per game. Bryant has given up a ton of points to its opponents who are ranked in the top 150 on KenPom, but make no mistake, they would be a very scary opponent for a No. 2 or No. 1 seed.
10. Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks (13-9, 7-0 Summit League)
In a rare off-year for South Dakota State, the Mavericks appear to be the team to beat in the Summit League after knocking off St. Thomas, which was previously unbeaten in league play, on Jan. 23. The Mavericks are led by junior forward Marquel Sutton (16.7 ppg and 7.4 rpg), while starting guards Tony Osburn and JJ White are double-digit scorers who are shooting around 40% from three-point range. They nearly defeated Minnesota early on in the non-conference schedule.
9. Utah Valley Wolverines (15-6, 7-0 WAC)
The big reason why the Wolverines have been such a big surprise is Dominick Nelson, a JUCO transfer who is putting up nearly 20 points per game in league play. Carter Welling, a 6-foot-10 sophomore, has been one of the top centers (12.3 ppg and 6.1 rpg), blocking nearly two shots a game after transferring from UC Irvine. The main concern with UVU come March is that they don’t shoot threes, ranking in the bottom 20 nationally in both makes and attempts.
8. McNeese Cowboys (15-5, 9-0 Southland)
There’s never been a question as to whether the Cowboys have the talent to dominate the Southland, as the roster is filled with former high-major players. Former UMass guard Javohn Garcia leads them with 13.5 points per game and there’s solid depth overall. However, this group isn’t as good as last year’s No. 12 seed. Based on their non-conference results, McNeese State will probably end up as a 14-seed this time around, hurting its chances of an upset in the first round.
7. Akron Zips (14-5, 7-0 MAC)
Coach John Groce and the Zips have quietly been one of the most consistent mid-majors in the country, coming off a win over Miami (Ohio) to be the last MAC team without a league loss. Without all-time Akron great Enrique Freeman, the Zips have been a more balanced team, led by 6-foot-3 junior guard Nate Johnson with 13.1 points and 3.4 assists per game. They’re also the complete opposite of UVU in that they shoot a ton of threes, making over 11 a game. Plus, Akron boasts a 92-85 over fellow conference unbeaten Nebraska-Omaha.
6. Yale Bulldogs (11-6, 4-0 Ivy League)
Former Yale star Danny Wolf is putting up big numbers at Michigan now but like with most teams in the Coach James Jones era, the Bulldogs continue to rebuild. They’ve been boosted by the return of star senior guard John Poulakidas (19.8 points per game), who had missed a few weeks with a toe injury. With Poulakidas in the fold, Yale looks like a typical Ivy squad that can cause problems for a certain No. 4 or No. 5 seed in the Big Dance.
5. Saint Mary’s Gaels (18-3, 8-0 WCC)
Yes, Saint Mary’s has yet to play Gonzaga in WCC play, but it has been dominating everyone else, led by another top-10 defensive unit for Coach Randy Bennett. Last year’s WCC Player of the Year, guard Augustas Marciulionis, leads the Gaels with 13.7 points and 5.7 assists per game, while Arizona transfer and 6-foot-8 forward Paulius Murauskas (12.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game) has replaced Joshua Jefferson, who transferred to Iowa State, at the four-spot. This is a team that may not yet have the top-flight wins to show it can win multiple rounds in March, but given the right matchup, the Gaels may end up being the league’s best chance to get to the Sweet Sixteen.
4. Michigan State Spartans (17-2, 8-0 Big Ten)
Who would’ve thought that the Spartans would have a two-game lead in the loss column for first place? On paper, they’ve very much overachieved, with just one double-digit scorer on the roster in senior Jaden Akins (13.9 points per game). Yet despite being a poor three-point shooting team, Michigan State’s defense and depth have proven to be big assets. That, and having one of the best coaches of all time on the sidelines in Tom Izzo.
3. Houston Cougars (16-3, 8-0 Big 12)
The Cougars haven’t been as dominant as previous teams, which is a compliment to what coach Kelvin Sampson has built. And while there are rightful concerns as to whether this roster has enough talent to make a deep run in March, the Saturday comeback road win at Kansas is another reason why you shouldn’t doubt them.
2. Auburn Tigers (18-1, 6-0 SEC)
This is a genuine tossup between Auburn and Duke, but for now, I’m going to respect the head-to-head result between the top two teams. Yet Auburn being unbeaten in a historically great SEC, including two-and-a-half games without National Player of the Year favorite Johni Broome, is an incredible feat. They have six double-digit scorers and maybe the best backcourt in the Bruce Pearl era since the group that went to the Final Four in 2019.
1. Duke Blue Devils (17-2, 9-0 ACC)
Yes, the ACC is far inferior compared to the SEC. Yet that doesn’t explain why the Blue Devils are approaching historic levels of dominance, as their defense (allowing under 60 points per game) is one of the best in the country. Freshman forward Cooper Flagg (19.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game) has been even better than the giant preseason hype he had, while fellow five-star freshmen Kon Knueppel (12.7 points per game) and Khaman Maluach (8.9 points and 6.3 rebounds per game) have also played at a high level. This is a Duke team with a real chance of going 20-0 in ACC play. But what matters for them is March, where they’ll be a favorite to win it all. They already have a home win over Auburn as the ultimate proof that they can beat anyone else and still have ways where they can improve.