Juan Dixon is here! Ok, fine, he's just coaching a low-tier team, unless Coppin State shocks me (and the world!). The fight at the top should be between Hampton, Morgan State, and Norfolk State, with a few dark horses mixed in. Can anyone else break into the ranks of the contenders?
Read moreNEC Preview 2017-18
While the transfer epidemic continues to deplete the league's talent supply, the Red Flash project to be a slight favorite in what will likely be yet another rat race to the finish line in the NEC.
Read moreAtlantic Sun Preview 2017-18
Florida Gulf Coast is the heavy favorite in the Atlantic Sun, but Lipscomb is a real contender and North Florida is sneaky dark horse. Still, though, Dunk City is the biggest threat to win games in the NCAA Tournament, so high seeds beware - they might be even better than the 2013 Sweet 16 darling.
Read moreAmerica East Preview 2017-18
The Catamounts have their eyes set on a 2nd straight America East title after running the table last year, but don't count out the dynamic duo of Joe Cremo and David Nichols for Albany.
Read moreBig Sky Preview 2017-18
In a conference with plenty of skilled guards and upwards of 3-4 legitimate contenders, the margins are extremely thin. Who will be able to separate themselves from the pack and fly highest in the Big Sky?
Read moreQuick Peek at Futures - 2017-18
At long last, I finally got around to writing my annual look at the NCAA basketball futures market. Gonzaga was a big hit last year, so hopefully one of my 5 picks turns out just as fruitful this year...
Read moreOhio Valley Preview 2017-18
In a league with a clear top tier, who will be able to create some separation between Belmont, Murray State, and Jacksonville State? Murray boasts star guard Jonathan Stark, but never count out Rick Byrd and the Bruins...
Read moreSoCon Preview 2017-18
After a fiercely competitive playing field resulted in a 3-way tie for first atop the SoCon standings last season, as many as 7 teams have a realistic shot at claiming the conference crown in 2017-18.
Read moreWAC Preview 2017-18
With a recent influx of high-level coaches, the WAC is getting more and more competitive, particularly at the top. But will Thunder Dan and Grand Canyon pull a Northern Kentucky and earn the conference's NCAA tournament bid in the program's first year of postseason eligibility?
Read moreConference USA Preview 2017-18
After steamrolling through the C-USA last year, Middle Tennessee finally looks vulnerable with Jacorey Williams and Reggie Upshaw graduating this summer. The Blue Raiders will have to fend off a handful of worthy adversaries who have the chops to seize the regular season crown in 2017-18.
Read moreSummit Preview 2017-18
Apart from poor Omaha and Western Illinois, every team in the Sun Belt returns significant talent from last season - none better than South Dakota State's Mike Daum. Can Daum lead the Jackrabbits back to a third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance?
Read moreSun Belt Preview 2017-18
Four teams with dynamic duos should top the standings this year, but don't count out Ron Hunter and Georgia State either. The Sun Belt race should come down to the wire this year...
Read moreWCC Preview 2017-18
The WCC is once again a two horse race between Saint Mary's and the Zags. Mark Few and co. should reload instantly, but will this be the year Jock Landale leads the Gaels to an outright WCC title?
Read moreMAC Preview 2017-18
The MAC enters 2017-18 sans a lot of last year's talent, but there are still some dangerous squads lurking here. Western Michigan, Ball State, and Buffalo seem to be the frontrunners, but in an unpredictable league, anything can happen.
Read moreAAC Preview 2017-18
The AAC welcomes a new friend to the party this year after the perennial Missouri Valley Conference powerhouse Wichita State joined the now 12-team league this summer. Gregg Marshall and the Shockers look to continue their dominance as they step up in competition, but a formidable foe in Cincinnati patiently awaits the challenge.
Read moreMountain West Preview 2017-18
After peaking in 2012-13 with 5 of the conference's 9 teams making the Big Dance, only 1 of 11 squads have qualified for the Tournament in each of the past two years. I'm not sure that will change this year, despite the presence of several high-potential squads...
Read moreAtlantic 10 Preview 2017-18
While Rhode Island seems to be the clear-cut frontrunner in the A-10 this year, it's hard to find much separation amongst the rest of the 14-team field. With only four games separating the 4th and 9th place teams last season, the margin for error will once again be slim to none in 2017-18.
Read moreSEC Preview 2017-18
After years of being the ugly stepchild of power conference hoops, the SEC brings in a glut of new talent this season and looks to be back on par with the ACC/Big Ten/etc. But how many NCAA bids will that lead to? And can anyone unseat the Kentucky Kid Crew?
Read morePac-12 Preview 2017-18
Despite an impressive 10-4 showing in last year's NCAA tournament, the Pac-12 earned only four berths to the Big Dance - the league's least since 2012. Will a loaded Arizona squad roll through the "Conference of Champions" in a one-horse race? Or will the likes of USC, UCLA and Oregon have the chops to take down the Wildcats?
Read moreBig East Preview 2017-18
After sending 7 of it's 10 teams to the NCAA tournament last March - the most since the league's realignment in 2013 - the Big East looks to be just as deep this year. Will Villanova claim their 5th straight regular season title? Or will this finally be the year someone knocks the Wildcats off their perch?
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