10 Teams That Will Punch Their Ticket During Conference Tournaments

By Jerry Landry

10 Teams That Will Punch Their Ticket During Conference Tournaments

Northeastern Men's Basketball Conference Tournament — The NCAA tournament is so close it’s palpable, like putting an ear to the ground to sense an incoming buffalo stampede. Arguably the greatest weekend in sports is preceded by a week of pressure-packed tournament tension as teams scrap their way to automatic bids into the big dance. Here are 10 teams you can expect to punch their tickets to the tourney early.

10. Harvard Crimson — Ivy League

Harvard Crimson Men's Basketball Ivy League Conference Tournament

10. Harvard Crimson — Ivy League

Harvard Crimson Men's Basketball Ivy League Conference Tournament — Harvard seeks their fifth straight Ivy league men’s basketball championship, and Tommy Amaker is the coach who will get them through to the field of 68. The Yale Bulldogs will be their greatest hurdle, but look for any upset to wait until the big dance.

9. Albany Great Danes — America East

Albany Great Danes America East conference tournament

9. Albany Great Danes — America East

Albany Great Danes America East conference tournament — Albany will seal the deal in the America East and clinch their third straight NCAA tournament berth. In continuing the trend, look for the Great Danes to give another first round juggernaut a scare as they did last year against the Florida Gators.

8. SMU Mustangs — American Athletic

SMU Mustangs American Athletic conference tournament

8. SMU Mustangs — American Athletic

SMU Mustangs American Athletic conference tournament — This year, Larry Brown and the SMU Mustangs won’t even give the selection committee the option to snub. Expect SMU to roll through their conference tournament, and get back at the UConn Huskies in the process of completing their tournament application.

7. Iowa State Cyclones — Big 12

Iowa State Cyclones Big 12 conference tournament basketball

7. Iowa State Cyclones — Big 12

Iowa State Cyclones Big 12 conference tournament basketball — College basketball’s most competitive conference will close regular season play with a sizable conference championship upset with the Iowa State Cyclones rock-chalking the Kansas Jayhawks.

6. Ohio State Buckeyes — Big Ten

Ohio State Buckeyes Big Ten Conference tournament basketball

6. Ohio State Buckeyes — Big Ten

Ohio State Buckeyes Big Ten Conference tournament basketball — Just moments before the selection Sunday announcements, the Ohio State Buckeyes will pull off the weekend’s final upset in a decisive victory over the Wisconsin Badgers. This will foil the Badger’s shot at a No. 1 seed, and could earn the Buckeyes a No. 2.

5. UC Davis Aggies - Big West

UC Davis Aggies Big West Conference basketball tournament

5. UC Davis Aggies - Big West

UC Davis Aggies Big West Conference basketball tournament — The UC Davis Aggies have all but run away with the Big West in 2014-15. 5.5 games better than their closest conference mate, look for the Aggies to confirm their seat at the big table Mar. 14.

4. Valparaiso Crusaders — Horizon

Valparaiso Crusaders Valpo Horizon league basketball tournament

4. Valparaiso Crusaders — Horizon

Valparaiso Crusaders Valpo Horizon league basketball tournament — Is America ready for more Valpo? I think they are. Expect the Crusaders to blitz through the Horizon league tournament and continue to pen a few more pages to Valparaiso tournament lore.

3. Kent State Golden Flashes — Mid-American

Kent State Golden Flashes MAC basketball conference tournament

3. Kent State Golden Flashes — Mid-American

Kent State Golden Flashes MAC basketball conference tournament — The Golden Flashes have won four of their last six games, and could be building momentum to seize the Mid-American conference tournament. The Buffalo Bulls currently hold serve in the conference, but anything can happen in single-elimination.

2. Dayton Flyers — Atlantic 10

Dayton Flyers Atlantic 10 basketball conference tournament

2. Dayton Flyers — Atlantic 10

Dayton Flyers Atlantic 10 basketball conference tournament — One of the most consistent programs in the Atlantic 10 conference will be heading to the tournament again. Although the Flyers should have the resume to ensure an at-large bid, they’ll work toward improving their seeding by winning their conference’s tournament championship.

1. Murray State Racers — Ohio Valley

Murray State Racers Ohio Valley conference basketball tournament

1. Murray State Racers — Ohio Valley

Murray State Racers Ohio Valley conference basketball tournament — Last but not least, my dark horse for the NCAA tournament. The Racers’ run begins in the Ohio Valley conference tournament, and may not end until the Elite Eight.

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