Welcome to the third of a three-part series where we give you a look at all minor NCAA Division 1 conference tournaments.
Conference tournament season is finally upon us, and around 300 teams beginning in late February will battle it out for spots in the 2021 NCAA Tournament. This battle is even steeper for teams in 21 “low-major” conferences, as the tournament champ will almost certainly be that conference’s only representative in March Madness. The talent is still prevalent on these low-major teams however, and we’ve seen squads like 2018 UMBC, 2012 Norfolk St, and 2013 Florida Gulf Coast knock off some of the nation’s best. We’re getting closer and closer to March Madness a.k.a. the best days of the year, and this post should be your one-stop shop when it comes to our third batch of low-major conference tourneys.
*By The Numbers + Sleeper Team made with help from heatcheckcbb.com’s conference tourney previews.
Big West
March 9-March 13
Las Vegas
Last 3 Winners
UC Davis (2017), Cal St Fullerton (2018), UC Irvine (2019)
3 Stars
Jaquori McLaughlin (UC Santa Barbara)- 6’4/190 SR, 15.6 PPG (4th in Big West)/5.4 APG (2nd in Big West)
Zyon Pullin (UC Riverside)- 6’4/195 SO, 12.5 PPG/4.5 APG (4th in Big West)
TJ Starks (Cal St Northridge)- 6’2/196 JR, 21.6 PPG (6th in NCAA)
By the Numbers
6– When it comes to threes, the Big West is one of the best in the land. As a conference, they rank 6th in three-point percentage. However, this conference isn’t all offense either, with three teams ranking in the top 75 nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency.
Sleeper Team
#5 Cal St Bakersfield- This team is one of the most balanced in the conference. They run a slow offense and have a solid defense as well. If they can control the tempo in their tournament games, the Roadrunners could go dancing.
My Prediction
5 Cal St Bakersfield over 2 UC Irvine
WAC
March 11-March 13
Las Vegas
Last 3 Winners
New Mexico State (2017), New Mexico State (2018), New Mexico State (2019)
3 Stars
Asbjorn Midtgaard (Grand Canyon)- 7’0/270 SR, 14.3 PPG/10.3 RPG (2nd in WAC)/1.2 BPG (3rd in WAC)/.715 FG% (1st in NCAA)
Fardaws Aimaq (Utah Valley)- 6’11/245 JR, 14.5 PPG/15.1 RPG (1st in NCAA)/1.7 BPG (1st in WAC)
Jabari Rice (New Mexico State)- 6’4/180 JR, 13.5 PPG
By the Numbers
57– While the WAC may not be one of the most talented conferences on paper, they know how to move the ball. 57% of the conference’s made field goals come off of assists, which is 1st nationally.
Sleeper Team
#4 Cal Baptist- The Lancers have beaten the WAC’s 1 seed in Grand Canyon. If they get to them in the semis, their great three-point shooting and fast tempo could throw Grand Canyon off and send the Lancers on their way to a possible WAC title.
My Prediction
5 Seattle over 3 New Mexico State
MEAC
March 11-March 13
Norfolk
Last 3 Winners
NC Central (2017), NC Central (2018), NC Central (2019)
3 Stars
Anthony Tarke (Coppin State)- 6’6/220 SR, 16.4 PPG (2nd in MEAC)/8.4 RPG (1st in MEAC)/2.7 SPG (2nd in MEAC)/1.9 BPG (1st in MEAC)
DeVante Carter (Norfolk State)- 6’3/200 SR, 15.9 PPG (4th in MEAC)
Kameron Langley (North Carolina A&T)- 6’2/165 SR, 10.6 PPG/6.6 APG (8th in NCAA)/2.7 SPG (5th in NCAA)
By the Numbers
74.4– The MEAC is the fastest conference in the country, as it ranks 1st nationally with an average of 74.4 possessions per game. This is led by Coppin State, who has the fastest offense in the country with 77.5 possessions per game. With all these up-tempo offenses, the MEAC is the conference to watch for any NBA fans, as its teams play closest to what you’d see in the pros.
Sleeper Team
#S2 Florida A&M- The Rattlers have the best defense in the conference along with some quality non-conference results- a 10-point loss to Georgia, a 10-point loss to Georgia Tech, and a 6-point win over Austin Peay the main results. If this team plays to their full potential on offense, they can shut their opponents down on the other side of the ball and head to the Big Dance.
My Prediction
N3 Morgan State over S1 North Carolina A&T
C-USA
March 9-March 13
Frisco
Last 3 Winners
Middle Tennessee (2017), Marshall (2018), Old Dominion (2019)
3 Stars
Charles Bassey (Western Kentucky)- 6’11/235 JR, 17.6 PPG (5th in C-USA)/11.8 RPG (4th in NCAA)/3.1 BPG (3rd in NCAA)/.611 FG% (3rd in C-USA)
Jahmir Young (Charlotte)- 6’2/185 SO, 18 PPG (4th in C-USA)
Javion Hamlet (North Texas)- 6’4/193 SR, 14.4 PPG/4.1 APG (5th in C-USA)
By the Numbers
18– The top five teams in the C-USA are separated by only 18 spots in KenPom. The final rounds of this tournament could get crazy.
Sleeper Team
#5W UTEP- The Miners are on a hot streak heading into this tournament. They have a four-game conference win streak and almost knocked off Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse. Led by talented guard Souley Boum, UTEP has the offensive capability to make some noise in the C-USA tourney.
My Prediction
1E Western Kentucky over 2E Old Dominion
Big Sky
March 10-March 13
Boise
Last 3 Winners
North Dakota (2017), Montana (2018), Montana (2019)
3 Stars
Cameron Shelton (Northern Arizona)- 6’2/180 JR, 20.2 PPG (1st in Big Sky)/4.1 APG (4th in Big Sky)
Ethan Esposito (Sacramento State)- 6’7/225 SR, 18.3 PPG (2nd in Big Sky)/7.6 RPG (4th in Big Sky)
John Knight III (Southern Utah)- 6’3/205 SR, 13.6 PPG/4.3 APG (2nd in Big Sky)/.577 FG% (5th in Big Sky)
By the Numbers
35– If the Big Sky goes mostly chalk, we could see one of the most exciting games in all of Champ Week with Eastern Washington taking on Weber State in the semifinals. These teams both rank in the top 35 nationally in tempo and also are in the top 100 nationally in offensive efficiency. If you’re bored on Friday night, this one’s gonna be a shootout.
Sleeper Team
#6 Montana- The Grizzlies have won the past two Big Sky titles, so that’s something to keep in mind for the 6 seed. Additionally, they have a very talented roster top to bottom, led by forward Kyle Owens. With their wealth of talent, Montana could have some hot games.
My Prediction
2 Eastern Washington over 9 Sacramento State
Southland
March 9-March 13
Katy
Last 3 Winners
New Orleans (2017), Stephen F. Austin (2018), Abilene Christian (2019)
3 Stars
Demarkus Lampley (Sam Houston State)- 6’2/170 SR, 14.9 PPG
Kolton Kohl (Abilene Christian)- 7’0/240 SR, 12.2 PPG
Ty Gordon (Nicholls)- 6’1/200 JR, 14.9 PPG
By the Numbers
2– The Southland plays fast. This conference plays at the 2nd-fastest tempo in the country, with nine teams ranking in the top 110 in this stat and three ranking in the top 25. No Southland team has a great defense either. So be ready to see some Southland shootouts and if you’re a bettor, I would take the over for any and all Southland games.
Sleeper Team
#5 New Orleans- This team had a rough draw that makes them appear worse than they are. The Privateers had a tough road trip in January where they lost three games in a week and then went on a long COVID pause. However, they’ve won five of six heading into this tournament, and their one loss is by 4 in OT to 1 seed Nicholls.
My Prediction
3 Sam Houston State over 1 Nicholls
SWAC
March 10-March 13
Birmingham
Last 3 Winners
Texas Southern (2017), Texas Southern (2018), Prairie View A&M (2019)
3 Stars
Michael Weathers (Texas Southern)- 6’3/175 SR, 16.2 PPG (5th in SWAC)/3.5 APG (4th in SWAC)/2.4 SPG (2nd in SWAC)
Tristan Jarrett (Jackson State)- 6’4/195 SR, 20.1 PPG (1st in SWAC)
Cam Mack (Prairie View A&M)- 6’2/170 JR, 12.1 PPG/8.4 APG (2nd in NCAA)/2.9 SPG (3rd in NCAA)
By the Numbers
66.8– I’m not gonna lie to you, some of these SWAC games may be kind of boring. This is because the SWAC has the highest free-throw rate in the country, so there’s going to be a lot of fouls. However, despite all the free-throw shooting, the SWAC also has the worst free-throw percentage of all conferences, as their players shoot 66.8% from the line. This may result in some more exciting finishes though.
Sleeper Team
#3 Texas Southern- Because they’re not a top 2 seed, people might not see that Texas Southern has a good chance to head to their 5th NCAA Tournament in eight years. They’re led by one of the conference’s best players in Michael Weathers, and with the SWAC’s offensive struggles, the Tigers could definitely string together a few good games.
My Prediction
4 Southern over 6 Alcorn State
