America East: Vermont Catamounts (25-5, 17-1 in conference)
Key Wins: at Northern Iowa, vs Colgate, at UMBC
Key Losses: at Hartford
Resume: 63 Net, 69 KenPom
Runner-Up: UMBC Retrievers
The Vermont Catamounts are looking to win their 3rd American East Conference Championship since 2017. The Catamounts have been hot all season in conference play, only one in conference game. The Catamounts are led by forward Ryan Davis who leads the Catamounts and the America East Conference in points per game with 17.3 and leads the Catamounts in blocks per game with 0.9. They are also led by forward Isaiah Powell who leads the Catamounts in rebounds per game and assists per game, averaging 6.4 rebounds per game and 3.0 assists per game. The Vermont Catamounts started the season at a record of 6-4, but since then they are 18-1 with their loss being at Hartford. Vermont has been a great defensive team all season, allowing 61.7 points per game, which is 1st in the America East Conference and 17th in the country. Vermont has been one the most efficient teams shooting from the field, as their field goal percentage is 48.78%, which is 1st in the America East Conference and 11th in the country. Vermont has also destroyed opponents all season, as they have a scoring margin of 12 points per game, which is 15th in the country. The Catamounts are a smaller team that does have great depth at the forward position. One concern about the Vermont Catamounts for the NCAA tournament is the level of competition they have played all season. The Catamounts have only played 3 games against teams in quadrants 1 and 2 going 1-2 in that stretch.
Colonial Athletic: Towson Tigers (24-7, 15-3 in conference)
Key Wins: at UNC Wilmington, at Hofstra, at Delaware
Key Losses: at Northeastern, at Pittsburgh
Resume: 61 Net, 65 KenPom
Runner-Up: Hofstra Pride
The Towson Tigers are on a 7 game win streak going into the Colonial Athletic Association tournament. The Towson Tigers are led by guard Cameron Holden who leads the Tigers in rebounds and steals per game, averaging 8.1 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game. The Tigers average 73.9 points per game, which is 5th in the CAA and 111th in the country. The Towson Tigers shoot efficiently from beyond the arc, shooting 36.47% from 3, which is first in the CAA and 54th in the country. Towson allows 63.9 points per game, which is first in the CAA and 35th in the country. Opponents do not shoot so efficiently when playing against the Towson Tigers, shooting 41.05% from the field, which is 59th in the country. The Tigers averaged 36.8 rebounds per game, which is 2nd in the CAA and 93rd in the country. The Towson Tigers biggest problem is their fouling, averaging 17.1 fouls per game, which is 206th in the country.
Missouri Valley: Loyola Chicago Ramblers (22-7, 13-5 in conference)
Key Wins: vs Northern Iowa, at Missouri State, San Francisco
Key Losses: at Bradley
Resume: 31 Net, 32 KenPom
Runner-Up: Missouri State Bears
Even though the Loyola Chicago Ramblers went 2-2 in their final four games, the Ramblers know what a winning streak is like, winning 10 games in a row from November 26th to January 18th. The Loyola Chicago Ramblers are led by guard Lucas WIlliamson, who leads the Ramblers in points, rebounds and steals per game, averaging 14.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. The Ramblers are also led by guard Braden Norris who leads the Missouri Valley Conference in assists per game, averaging 4.2 assists per game. The Loyola Chicago Ramblers are 4th in the Missouri Valley Conference and 89th in the country in points per game, averaging 74.7 points per game. The Ramblers shoot 48.96% from the field, which is first in the Missouri Valley Conference and 8th in the country. The Loyola Chicago Ramblers also shoot very efficiently from beyond the arc, shooting 38.82% from 3, which is first in the Missouri Valley Conference and 7th in the country. The Ramblers allow 62.9 points per game, which is first in the Missouri Valley Conference and 27th in the conference. The Loyola Chicago Ramblers beat opponents by an average of 11 points per game, which is first in the Missouri Valley Conference and 17th in the country. The biggest problem for the Ramblers is their rebounding, averaging 33.4 rebounds per game, which is 6th in the Missouri Valley Conference and 268th in the country. If the Ramblers want to make noise in the NCAA tournament like they did last year, then they need to foul less. The Ramblers foul 17.1 times a game which is 205th in the country.
Southern: Chattanooga Mocs (24-7, 14-4 in conference)
Key Wins: at VCU, at Furman, vs Samford
Key Losses: at Western Carolina, vs VMI
Resume: 70 Net, 76 KenPom
Runner-Up: Furman Paladins
The Chattanooga Mocs are on a 2 game winning streak, after going on a 2 game losing streak. The Mocs are led by guard Malachi Smith who leads the Chattanooga Mocs in assists and steals per game, averaging 3.2 assists and 1.7 steals per game. Smith also leads the Southern Conference in points per game averaging 20.3 points per game. The Mocs are also led by forward Silvio De Sousa who leads the Mocs in rebounds and blocks per game, averaging 6.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. The Chattanooga Mocs average 75.1 points per game, which is 5th in the Southern Conference and 73rd in the country. The Mocs have the best field goal percentage in the Southern Conference and the 44th best in the country, shooting 46.80% from the field. The Mocs do not force a lot of turnovers, forcing 12.4 turnovers per game, which is 210th in the country. Even though Chattanooga does not force a lot of turnovers, they do not turn the ball over a lot either, turning the ball over 11.0 times per game, which is 2nd in the Southern Conference and 41st in the country. The Chattanooga Mocs allow 65.0 points per game, which is 53rd in the country. The Mocs beat their opponents by an average of 10 points per game, which is first in the Southern Conference and 33rd in the country. The Mocs have the 5th best 3 point percentage in the Southern Conference and have the 90th best in the country , shooting 35.45% from 3. The biggest issue for the Mocs is their rebounding, averaging 35.6 rebounds per game, which is 133rd in the country.
Summit: South Dakota State Jackrabbits (27-4,18-0 in conference)
Key Wins: at Stephen F. Austin, at Oral Roberts, at North Dakota State
Key Losses: vs Washington, at Idaho
Resume 71 Net, 68 KenPom
Runner-Up: Oral Roberts Golden Eagles
The South Dakota State Jackrabbits are on an 18 game win streak going into the Summit League tournament. The Jackrabbits are led by guard Baylor Scheierman, leading the Jackrabbits in points and steals, averaging 16.2 points and 1.4 steals per game, while shooting 52% from the field. Scheierman also leads the Summit League in rebounds and assists per game, averaging 8.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game. The Jackrabbits also have two other 15+ per game scorers in forward Douglas Wilson and guard Noah Freidel. The South Dakota State Jackrabbits are not only the best scoring offense in the Summit, but they are the 2nd best scoring offense in the country, averaging 87.2 points per game. The South Dakota State Jackrabbits also have the best field goal percentage and three point percentage in the country, shooting 52.75% from the field, and 45.07% from 3. The biggest problem for them is that they allow a lot of points per game, allowing 73.8 points per game, which is 290th in the country. The Jackrabbits still beat opponents by an average of 13 points per game, which is 9th in the country. The South Dakota State Jackrabbits average 35.7 rebounds per game, which is 4th in the Summit League and 144th in the country. The Jackrabbits force 11.9 turnovers per game, which is 247th in the country. The Jackrabbits turn the ball over 11.5 times per game, which is 5th in the Summit League and 68th in the country.
Sun Belt: Texas State Bobcats (21-6, 12-3 in conference)
Key Wins: vs Appalachian State, at Troy, South Alabama
Key Losses: Ut Arlington
Resume: 118 Net, 129 KenPom
Runner-Up: Georgia State Panthers
The Texas State Bobcats are currently on a 9 game win streak going into the Sun Belt Conference tournament. The Bobcats are led by guard Caleb Asberry, who leads the Bobcats in points per game averaging 13.7 points per game. The Bobcats are also led by forward Isiah Small, who leads the Bobcats in rebounds and steals per game, averaging 7.0 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. The Texas State Bobcats are first in the Sun Belt Conference and 43rd in the country in field goal percentage, shooting 46.85% from the field. The Texas State Bobcats are one of the most efficient teams from beyond the arc in the country, being first in the Sun Belt Conference and 16th in the country in three point field goal percentage, shooting 38.14% from three. The Bobcats have the 2nd best scoring defense in the Sun Belt Conference and the 23rd best scoring defense in the county, allowing 62.5 points per game. The Texas State Bobcats turn the ball over 12.7 times per game which is 4th in the Sun Belt Conference and 177th in the country. Even though the Bobcats turn the ball over frequently, they force their opponents to turn the ball turnover 14.93 per game, which is 51st in the country. The Texas State Bobcats beat opponents by an average of 8 points per game, which is 2nd in the Sun Belt Conference and 60th in the country. The biggest problem from the Bobcats is their rebounding, as they average 33.5 rebounds per game, which is 10th in the Sun Belt Conference and 264th in the country.
West Coast: Gonzaga Bulldogs (24-3. 13-1 in conference)
Key Wins: vs Texas Tech, vs UCLA, vs Saint Mary’s
Key Losses: vs Alabama
Resume: 1 Net, 1 KenPom
Runner-Up: Saint Mary’s Gaels
Even though the Gonzaga Bulldogs are on 1 game losing streak, they have been a top 5 ranked team all season long and are contenders to play for a National Championship in March Madness. The Bulldogs are led by forward Drew Timme who leads the Bulldogs in points per game averaging 17.6 points per game, shooting 58.3% from the field. The Bulldogs are also led by potential top 3 pick in the 2022 NBA draft, center Chet Holmgren, who leads the Bulldogs in rebounds per game and leads the West Coast Conference in blocks per game, averaging 9.7 rebounds and 3.6 blocks per game. Lastly, the Gonzaga Bulldogs are led by guard Andrew Nembhard who leads the Bulldogs in steals per game and leads the West Coast Conference in assists per game, averaging 5.5 assists and 1.7 steals per game. The Gonzaga Bulldogs are first in the country in points per game averaging 88.3 points per game. The Bulldogs shoot very efficiently from the field, shooting 52.41% from the field, which is first in the West Coast Conference and 2nd in the country. The Bulldogs are first in the West Coast Conference and 4th in the country in rebounds per game, averaging 42.26 rebounds per game. The Gonzaga Bulldogs have obliterated opponents all season, winning by an average of 23 points per game. The Gonzaga Bulldogs biggest problem this season is forcing turnovers, the Bulldogs force 12.59 turnovers per game, which is 193rd in the country.