2016 March Madness Predictions: Conference Tournament Picks – MAC, MEAC, Big Sky & CUSA: March Madness is just around the corner, but before the field of 68 is set, conference tournaments have to decide some automatic bids. Some of the mid-major conferences have already begun tournament play, and things really pick up this coming week.
The MAC, MEAC, Big Sky and Conference USA conference tournaments are set to begin Monday and Tuesday, and here is a closer look at the frontrunners and some potential dark horses. Don’t forget to get all your 2016 NCAA Tournament picks this month from NSAwins.com’s expert handicappers.
MAC Favorite: Akron Zips
The Zips have been the best team in the conference all year, and they boast the best overall record and conference record of any MAC team. Like the rest of the conference, they struggle on the road, but their depth and balance on both ends of the court gives the Zips the best chance to win the conference tournament. Akron ranks fourth in the MAC in scoring, and they also own the fourth-best scoring defense. Center Isaiah Johnson leads an offense that runs eight deep and has four players scoring in double figures.
Sleeper: Toledo Rockets
Nathan Boothe and Jonathan Williams are averaging a combined 37.2 points per game for an offense that ranks second in the MAC in scoring. The Rockets have five players that can knock down shots from beyond the arc, and if they are hot from deep during the tournament, the Rockets could be dangerous.
MEAC Favorite: Norfolk State Spartans
Make no mistake about it. The MEAC is bad conference top to bottom, but the Spartans are the best bet to emerge from the conference tournament. Led by senior guard Jeff Short, Norfolk State has three players averaging more than 12.0 points per game, who can all hit shots from deep. The Spartans also have a defensive presence in the paint in sophomore forward Jordan Butler, who is averaging 2.2 blocks per game. Perhaps more importantly, they performed well against the MEAC’s other top teams, beating Hampton and South Carolina State easily at home and keeping things close against Hampton on the road.
Sleeper: Hampton Pirates
Losses to Norfolk State and South Carolina State on the road down the stretch don’t inspire confidence, but the Pirates do have the best overall record and conference record of any team. They also have arguably the best individual talent in the league. Seniors Reginald Johnson Jr. and Quinton Chievous are averaging a combined 35.5 points per game, and Chievous is also averaging 11.2 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Brian Darden provides a threat beyond the arc. When it comes time to make big plays in big spots, Hampton has two experienced, proven options to turn to.
Big Sky Favorite: Weber State Wildcats
The Wildcats won the regular season conference crown, and they boast the second-best scoring offense and second-stingiest scoring defense heading into the Big Sky tournament. Weber State also has two of the top players in the conference, who should carry the Wildcats to the tournament title. Senior big man Joel Bolomboy is averaging 17.9 points and 12.8 rebounds per game, and senior guard Jeremy Senglin is averaging 17.8 points and is knocking down 3.0 treys per game at a 44.1 percent clip.
Sleeper: Idaho Vandals
Their offense won’t scare anyone, but the Vandals do have three players that can get hot from deep, including leading-scorer Victor Sanders. Idaho also has the best scoring defense in the conference to fall back on. The Vandals enter the tournament on a three-game winning streak, and they posted a 2-0 record against the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in the Big Sky tournament.
Conference USA Favorite: UAB Blazers
The Blazers have built a comfortable lead in the conference standings, and there is little doubt that they are the best team in Conference USA. They rank third in both scoring and points allowed in the conference, and the Blazers rank third in the country in assists per game. Chris Cokley and Robert Brown lead the offense, but five players can provide scoring on any given game.
Sleeper: Old Dominion Monarchs
The Monarchs have won four games in a row, and thanks to a defense that is allowing by far the fewest points in Conference USA, they are one of the best teams at controlling the pace. Granted, Old Dominion isn’t an offensive juggernaut, but senior guard Trey Freeman is averaging 21.2 points and can carry the load when he gets hot.
You can get expert 2016 March Madness picks and 2016 March Madness predictions this month from NSAwins.com’s top handicappers plus a pre-filled downloadable and printable 2016 March Madness Bracket to help you win your office pool!
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