It’s the best time of the year. The Chuo University Conference tournament has already begun, and we’ve seen everything from buzzer beaters to double overtime and more.
Most teams are fighting for a ticket to the Big Dance, which is just a week away.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the Power 5 conferences that begin their tournaments on Tuesday or Wednesday and break down some futures to bet on.
Colorado wins Pac-12
Odds are not yet available as the Pac-12’s seeding will be decided midway through, but there is one team I’m keeping an eye on to advance and find the net in Las Vegas.
Having already secured a bye in the first round, Cody Williams will have more time to recover and return to full health for his final push.
Thanks to seeding, Colorado doesn’t have to play Arizona until the championship, which is also a big plus.
The Buffaloes are in the NCAA bubble, giving them a huge motivational advantage.
When fully healthy, I think this team is the second-best team in the conference, even if history suggests this is a team that could give Arizona some fit. I believe with all my heart.
Colorado is as balanced an offensive line as any team. This team isn’t a great 3-shooter, but he’s very effective at it (40%, which ranks him fifth in the NCAA).
The Buffs love to attack downhill and use their physicality and strength around the rim to finish.
KJ Simpson leads this offense and is one of the most impactful players in college basketball. He leads the team in points (19.8), assists (4.8) and steals (1.8), while shooting nearly 45 percent from three.
The Buffs rank 12th in the nation in average height, and Simpson (6-foot-2) is the smallest player. There are very few lineups that don’t have three players over the age of 6-8.
That’s a big reason behind Colorado’s downhill aggressive approach, ability to draw fouls at a high rate, and ability to control the offensive line.
Since Feb. 17, Colorado has ranked as the 22nd-best team in the country, according to Bart Torbic. Tad Boyle’s team has an elite offensive line that was able to cover up some defensive issues, primarily in the paint.
But a push comes a push and I support a talented team in March and Colorado is definitely a top 25 team when fully healthy. Once Williams returns to full health, take the Buffaloes to cut through the Pac-12’s net.
Florida wins SEC
One team that I think is underrated going into the NCAA Tournament is Florida. Since the beginning of February, the Gators have been the 17th-best team in the country, Torbic said.
With so many transfers coming into Todd Golden’s system, the offense initially struggled to flow, but the Gators eventually smoothed things out.
In the same span, Torbic has Florida as the No. 14 offense.
Florida’s cash cow is its elite interior size and offensive rebounding.
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The Gators grab nearly 40 percent of all chances thanks to their trio of big men in Tyrese Samuel, Micah Handlogten, and Alex Condon.
This is a completely different team than we saw earlier in the season. Walter Creighton Jr. became one of the best scorers in the SEC, and Zion Poulin came into his own as a scorer and facilitator.
This team is slightly under the personnel ceiling, but much of that is due to roster turnover, especially early turnover. But as things progressed, we realized just how dominant the Gators were.
They defeated Auburn and Alabama and also had a road win at Kentucky.
Florida is experienced and clicking at the right time. Don’t be surprised if this team advances beyond his second weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
