The Conference USA Men’s Basketball Tournament begins Tuesday night with a first round game before the quarterfinals tip-off Wednesday. Here’s a quick preview of each team entering the tournament this week:
#1 Sam Houston (20-11, 13-3)
The Bearkats were the surprise of the regular season in Conference USA this season. They got off to a strong start and just kept finding themselves at or near the top of the conference standings. Under first year head coach Chris Mudge, Sam Houston cemented itself atop the league standings with a win at Louisiana Tech in the final week of the regular season. Can the Bearkats cut down the nets in Huntsville this week?
KenPom gives Sam Houston an 14.2% chance at winning the tournament.
Bart Torvik gives Sam Houston a 16.4% chance at winning the tournament.
Team Rankings gives Sam Houston a 12.77% chance at winning the tournament.
#2 Louisiana Tech (22-9, 12-4)
The Bulldogs are the highest ranked team in CUSA by just about every metric you can find, except for the conference standings. Louisiana Tech lost to Sam Houston at home to lose the season series to the Bearkats and settle in at No. 2 in the seeding pecking order this week. Many still see the Bulldogs as the favorite this week in the conference tournament behind CUSA Player of the Year Isaiah Crawford and Newcomer of the Year Daniel Batcho.
KenPom has La Tech as the favorite with a 42.3% chance at winning the tournament.
Bart Torvik gives La Tech a 45.6% chance at winning the tournament.
Team Rankings gives La Tech a 38.43% chance at winning the tournament.
#3 Western Kentucky (19-11, 8-8)
The Hilltoppers slipped to end the regular season, entering this week on a four-game losing streak. Granted, three of those games were on the road and the other one came against Louisiana Tech. Will WKU be able to turn things around and make a run this week or are they ready to pack it in and end the season? Western Kentucky has the talent to win the conference tournament this week if they can get back on track and find their groove.
KenPom gives Western Kentucky an 14.5% chance at winning the tournament.
Bart Torvik gives Western Kentucky a 13.6% chance at winning the tournament.
Team Rankings gives Western Kentucky a 14.29% chance at winning the tournament.
#4 Liberty (18-13, 7-9)
It has been an up and down regular season for the Flames. On one hand, there are metrics that point to Liberty having a strong chance to make a run this week. Look no further than the fact that the Flames are the only team in CUSA with wins over both Louisiana Tech and Sam Houston this season, But, at the same time, Liberty has only one three or more straight over Division I teams this season on two separate occasions. Can Liberty get back to a 6th conference championship game in seven seasons?
KenPom gives Liberty an 16.9% chance at winning the tournament.
Bart Torvik gives Liberty a 12.0% chance at winning the tournament.
Team Rankings gives Liberty a 22.36% chance at winning the tournament.
#5 UTEP (16-15, 7-9)
The Miners enter the tournament in Huntsville week perhaps playing the best basketball of any team in the league. After slipping to 4-9 and last place in the conference standings, UTEP closed the regular season with three straight wins including its first two road wins of the year. This included a win over Liberty in Lynchburg. Can UTEP duplicate that feat and pick up a win over the Flames in the quarterfinals?
KenPom gives UTEP a 5.5% chance at winning the championship.
Bart Torvik gives UTEP a 7.5% chance at winning the tournament.
Team Rankings gives UTEP a 5.81% chance at winning the tournament.
#6 New Mexico State (13-18, 7-9)
The Aggies lost six straight during the stretch run as they went from competing in the top half of the conference standings to fighting to stay out of the basement and the play in game. NMSU did pick up wins in its last two games of the regular season, winning at Jacksonville State and against FIU. Now, they take on Western Kentucky to open up conference tournament play on Thursday.
KenPom gives NMSU a 1.2% chance at winning the championship.
Bart Torvik gives NMSU a 1.1% chance at winning the tournament.
Team Rankings NMSU a 1.3% chance at winning the tournament.
#7 Middle Tennessee (13-18, 7-9)
Like Liberty, the Blue Raiders were picked as the preseason favorite to win the league, but injuries helped derail those expectations before the season hardly even began. Middle Tennessee opened conference play at 0-4, but, since then, they have found their groove and have been much more competitive. After winning five out of seven, MTSU has alternated wins and losses their last six times out.
KenPom gives MTSU a 1.3% chance at winning the championship.
Bart Torvik gives MTSU a 1.2% chance at winning the tournament.
Team Rankings gives MTSU a 1.46% chance at winning the tournament.
#8 Jacksonville State (14-17, 6-10)
The Gamecocks started CUSA play at 2-0, including a win at Liberty, as they looked like they might compete near the top of the conference standings. That success did not continue as Jax State has had difficulty stringing together multiple wins the past several weeks. They will look to knock off FIU in the 8/9 play-in game on Tuesday night.
KenPom gives Jacksonville State a 3.7% chance at winning the championship.
Bart Torvik gives Jacksonville State a 2.4% chance at winning the tournament.
Team Rankings gives Jacksonville State a 2.88% chance at winning the tournament.
#9 FIU (10-21, 5-11)
It’s been a disappointing season for the Panthers this year, as they limped home to a 5-11 conference record, finishing at the bottom of the conference standings. FIU will look to keep their season alive on Tuesday night against Jacksonville State.
KenPom gives FIU a 0.4% chance at winning the championship.
Bart Torvik gives FIU a 0.2% chance at winning the tournament.
Team Rankings gives FIU a 0.7% chance at winning the tournament.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
MARCH 12 | FIRST ROUND
Game 1: #8 Jacksonville State vs #9 FIU, 9 p.m., ESPN+
MARCH 13 | QUARTERFINALS
Game 2: #8 Jacksonville State-#9 FIU winner vs #1 Sam Houston, 6:30 p.m., ESPN+
Game 3: #7 Middle Tennessee vs #2 Louisiana Tech, 9 p.m., ESPN+
MARCH 14 | QUARTERFINALS
Game 4: #4 Liberty vs #5 UTEP, 6:30 p.m., ESPN+
Game 5: #3 Western Kentucky vs #6 New Mexico State, 9 p.m., ESPN+
MARCH 15 | SEMIFINALS
Game 6: Winner of Game 2 vs Winner of Game 4, 12:30 p.m., CBSSN
Game 7: Winner of Game 3 vs Winner of Game 5, 3 p.m., CBSSN
MARCH 16 | CHAMPIONSHIP
8:30 pm, CBSSN
