Marquette was expected to be among the favorites in the Big East, but I’m not sure many people thought the Golden Eagles would be this good. Their currently second in the conference with a 13-3 league record losing just one of their last 13 games.
Marquette doesn’t have a lot of size, but have two outstanding players in Jae Crowder and Darius Johnson-Odom. These are two players that can carry the Golden Eagles in March. Johnson-Odom, the Tobacco Road-native, is one of the best shooters in the Big East as he makes over 40 percent of his three-pointers. Crowder is a matchup nightmare who’s physical enough to score in the paint, but can also step outside and show range on his jumper.
This team may not rebound the ball well and may be unconventional, but it’s going to play hard and defend to the best of its ability. When you can do that with two all-Big East caliber players, you can make some noise.
No Stock Report this week as we preview some mid-major conference tournaments.
BIG SOUTH: This is pretty simple. UNC-Asheville is the most experienced and clearly the best team in this conference. The Bulldogs finished four games better than it’s next closest rival, Coastal Carolina. Throw in the fact that all games would be played in Asheville and it will be extremely difficult to unseat the Bulldogs as Big South champions.
HORIZON LEAGUE: This figures to be one of the more competitive tournaments in all of college basketball. Valparaiso won the conference outright with a 14-4 record, but showed some kinks in the armor down the stretch. The Crusaders along with Cleveland St will be protected seeds getting byes until the semifinals, but I’m not sure that’s going to protect them. I’m picking the Detroit Titans to find a way to dance.
OHIO VALLEY: In the games leading up to its loss to Tennessee St, Murray St did not look like an at-large candidate. Since that loss, they’ve been playing like a team possessed. The Racers have their mojo and motivation back and is out to prove a point. They’ll be going dancing.
ATLANTIC SUN: At one point this season, the race for the regular season title was heated. That was before Mercer lost three of its last four games to hand Belmont the league title. There’s good news for Mercer though, it’s hosting the conference tournament and had Belmont on the ropes in the regular season finale. It’s hard to beat a team three times in a season. I don’t think Belmont can do it. Mercer is going dancing for the first time in 27 years.
This Week’s Bracket Projections:
Last Four In: Dayton, Northwestern, Miami(FL), Texas
Last Four Out: St. Joseph’s, Colorado St, Arizona, UCF
Good for Games through 2/26
SOUTH
1.Kentucky16.Stony Brook/Savannah St Louisville
8.Memphis9.Washington
5.Indiana12.West Virginia Louisville
4.Gonzaga13.Texas/Dayton
6.Murray St11.Connecticut Albuquerque
3.Baylor14.Akron
7.Florida St10.Cincinnati Pittsburgh
2.Ohio St15.Belmont
WEST
1.Michigan St16.UNC-Asheville/Mississippi Valley St Columbus
8.Iowa St9.Saint Louis
5.Notre Dame12.Long Beach St Portland
4.Wichita St13.Drexel
6.Florida11.Miami(FL)/Northwestern Nashville
3.Georgetown14.Davidson
7.New Mexico10.California Omaha
2.Kansas15.Valparaiso
MIDWEST
1.Duke16.Bucknell Greensboro
8.Alabama9.Kansas St
5.Louisville12.Xavier Nashville
4.Wisconsin13.Iona
6.San Diego St11.Harvard Albuquerque
3.Marquette14.Nevada
7.St. Mary’s10.Virginia Omaha
2.Missouri15.UT-Arlington
EAST
1.Syracuse16.Long Island Pittsburgh
8.Purdue9.BYU
5.Temple12.Mississippi St Portland
4.UNLV13.Oral Roberts
6.Vanderbilt11.Seton Hall Columbus
3.Michigan14.Middle Tennessee St
7.Creighton10.Southern Mississippi Greensboro
2.North Carolina15.Weber St
Bracketville USA 