March Madness is officially here, with most of the conversation concerning the top teams in college basketball, analyzing the favorites to get to the Final Four. However, a big part of the next two weeks is about the conference tournaments from the one-bid leagues, where only one of them can make the NCAA Tournament.
Even while there aren’t ranked teams involved, there are still some talented programs that have the potential to spring an upset in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. This piece will focus exclusively on teams from projected one-bid conferences, so Akron from the MAC isn’t eligible.
Here’s the top 10 teams that high-majors won’t want to see in the Round of 64.
1. South Florida Bulls
Record: 21-8 (13-5 American)
With the Memphis Tigers down and out, South Florida has emerged as not only the team to beat in the American, but a legit double-digit threat to make noise if they win their tournament. The Bulls are a top-10 scoring team in the country at 88.3 points per game, with all five starters averaging double figures. Six-foot-10 senior forward Izaiyah Nelson (16.2 points and 10 rebounds per game) and former D-II star and 6-foot-2 junior guard Wes Enis (15.9 points) are stars, leading them to wins over Utah State and Charleston in the nonconference.
2. Liberty Flames
Record: 24-5 (16-2 Conference USA)
The Flames had a recent 17-game win streak and have dominated CUSA all season, until back-to-back losses a week ago. But this is still a dangerous mid-major unit which managed to beat the likes of Dayton, Charleston and FAU to open the season. This is another team with all five starters averaging 10-plus points per game, with 6-foot-7 senior forward Zach Cleveland (11.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 6.8 assists) performing like one of the top all-around players in the country.
3. Belmont Bruins
Record: 26-5 (16-4 Missouri Valley Conference)
The Bruins have been one of the most consistent mid-major programs for the past 20 years, with this season being no different. They’re one of the most efficient offensive units in the country, ranking in the top-five nationally in both field-goal accuracy (52 percent) and three-point shooting (41 percent), making nearly 11 a game. One of several quality shooters on the team is 6-foot-6 senior guard Tyler Lunblade (15.8 points), who shoots better than 40 percent from deep on 8.8 attempts a game. Belmont will be a highly dangerous offense to deal with in the first round of the Big Dance.
4. High Point Panthers
Record: 27-4 (15-1 Big South)
Even if you ignore their three blowout wins over non-D-I opponents, the Panthers’ top-five scoring offense (90.7 points per game) is still impressive. Not only are they elite at getting to the free-throw line, but High Point can also force turnovers, ranking first in the nation at 11.1 steals per game. They’re led by 6-foot-6 senior forward Terry Anderson and 5-foot-10 senior guard Rob Martin, who both average more than 15 points per game, and now that 6-foot-6 senior forward Cam’Ron Fletcher (13.4 points, 6.8 rebounds) is back in the fold, High Point has plenty of firepower to compete with most teams in a potential No. 4 vs. No. 13 matchup.
5. College of Charleston Cougars
Record: 21-10 (14-4 CAA)
Assuming 6-foot-3 senior guard Connor Hickman (11.3 points) remains eligible to play after constant court battles, Charleston has a roster with plenty of talent. Six-foot-3 senior Jlynn Counter (15.9 points, 5.6 assists) is a quality lead guard, while 7-foot-1 junior center and Duke transfer Christian Reeves (11 points, 7.9 rebounds) is a high-major talent who can compete with the bigger teams. While the Cougars aren’t a great shooting team, their size, depth and high-major caliber talent make them a threat in March.
6. Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
Record: 21-7 (13-5 Big West)
There are multiple candidates to represent the Big West this year, but the team that stands out is Hawaii, thanks to its overall size. The top five scorers are all 6-foot-6 or taller, led by 7-foot senior center Isaac Johnson (13.7 points, 5.8 rebounds). The size has helped their perimeter defense, which ranks seventh nationally by allowing opponents to shoot just 29 percent from deep. The Warriors are the type of team that can win a slugfest if the opposing team isn’t able to shoot over them.
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7. McNeese State Cowboys
Record: 26-5 (19-3 Southland)
It’s been McNeese and Stephen F. Austin who have dominated the Southland all season, but between the two, the Cowboys are the better bet to pull off a potential upset. Their roster is filled with plenty of high-major transfers, led by former Creighton guard and 6-foot-4 sophomore Larry Johnson (17.2 points, 5.3 rebounds). Other than three-point shooting, McNeese State is a fairly well-rounded unit, and even without Will Wade, coach Bill Armstrong has a formidable roster and has made them a legit threat in March.
8. Utah Valley Wolverines
Record: 22-7 (12-4 WAC)
As of publication, Utah Valley still hasn’t received a full temporary restraining order to compete in the WAC Tournament. But assuming a pending ruling goes in their favor, the Wolverines would have a great shot at securing their first-ever berth to the Big Dance. They’re an efficient team from inside the arc and a quality defensive unit on the other end, led by 6-foot-7 junior forward Jackson Holcombe (15.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists). Having allowed 60 points or fewer in five of the last eight games, Utah Valley is playing its best defense heading into the postseason.
9. Robert Morris Colonials
Record: 21-10 (13-7 Horizon League)
A year ago, Robert Morris almost pulled off the upset over Alabama as a No. 15 seed. It’s a completely new cast, but the similarities are there with this version, which enters the postseason on a seven-game win streak and having the Horizon League Player of the Year on its roster in 6-foot-8 sophomore forward DeSean Goode (15.4 points, 8.6 rebounds). This is a team with size and depth which ranks in the top 30 in three-point shooting (37 percent). If they can get past the crowded Horizon League Tournament field, the Colonials could pose a challenge in the Big Dance.
10. Yale Bulldogs
Record: 22-5 (10-3 Ivy League)
The Bulldogs have a number of quality wins over top-tier mid-major programs in the nonconference, including Akron, Charleston, Navy and Vermont. Yale’s strength is its offense; the rotation is full of floor spacers, and the team ranks second in the nation in three-point shooting at better than 40 percent from deep. Likely Ivy League Player of the Year and 6-foot-7 senior forward Nick Townsend leads the team with 16.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game, and is the kind of star who can lead a team to an upset — assuming Yale can win its upcoming four-team event.
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