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American Athletic: SMU Mustangs

It takes courage or foolishness or both to pick against Connecticut here in light of the fact that: (A) the Huskies are the defending national champions, and, even more importantly, (B) the tournament's being held in Hartford. Even so, I'll go with Larry Brown's Mustangs. On a per-possession basis SMU has been clearly the American's best team in league play.

Of note:

Big 12: Kansas Jayhawks

This pick was easy. The last time two consecutive Big 12 tournaments were played without Kansas winning at least one of them was in 2004 and 2005. And since KU didn't win the 2014 Big 12 tournament (Iowa State did), the Jayhawks are due. One additional consideration: Bill Self also happens to have the league's best team.


Big Sky: Eastern Washington Eagles

With the winner of the Big Sky regular-season crown hosting the conference tournament, my pick here is really another way of saying I envision EWU edging Sacramento State in league play. But either way it should be highly entertaining, as both the Eagles and Sac State feature excellent offenses and (how shall I put this delicately?) uneven defenses.

Ivy: Yale Bulldogs

I know I should pick Harvard to secure its fourth consecutive automatic bid, but hear me out. The Crimson already lost at home to Dartmouth, and the thing about "the 14-game tournament" is that it's, you know, just 14 games. That loss could loom large, and meanwhile Yale is still undefeated in league play. Then again, if Harvard wins its game at New Haven this weekend, this pick of mine will suddenly look much more shaky.

SWAC: Texas Southern Tigers

You might remember these guys from such upsets as the win at Michigan State last December. Deverell Biggs, Chris Thomas and the Tigers are the class of the SWAC, and Mike Davis will have them dancing for a second consecutive year.

West Coast: Gonzaga Bulldogs

You might think the Bulldogs would be vulnerable to a letdown, but Mark Few's men will be looking to run the table against West Coast opponents and leave no question that they deserve a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.

I think we've discussed this before but does a conference consider its champion the regular season winner or the tournament champion?

LA_Mustang wrote:I think we've discussed this before but does a conference consider its champion the regular season winner or the tournament champion?

Two separate banners. I think the regular season crown in more prestigious, but prefer the tournament crown because of the attached prize.

LA_Mustang wrote:I think we've discussed this before but does a conference consider its champion the regular season winner or the tournament champion?

Yes.