Conference Tournament are Underway: Players to Watch this Week

It is finally happening!! Conference tournaments are tipping off this week, with multiple mid-major auto bids on the line. A few of the tourneys are getting started over the next two days, so let’s take a look at some players to watch this week!

Before people get on me for missing players, I’m only looking at the conference tournaments that are starting this week. So this includes players from the ASUN, Big South, CAA, Horizon, Missouri Valley, NEC, OVC, Southern, Sun Belt, and WCC. Whew, that was a mouthful. Let’s pick one player to watch from each—this will be fun to monitor for sure!

In the Atlantic Sun Conference, we’re sticking with the No. 1-seeded Lipscomb sharp-shooting big man Jacob Ognacevic. At 6'8", the senior can rebound, but it's his 41% clip from three that can change a game at a moment’s notice. For those who know March, shooters are always the ones to watch. Ognacevic could be the next small-school shooter that captures the hearts of America. He’s not Jack Gohlke, though...he can play inside and loves to get to the FT line, averaging over six attempts per game.

Now to the Big South, where I’m going against a popular Cinderella pick in High Point and rolling with the 20-win, No. 2-seeded UNC Asheville and their undersized sophomore PG, Jordan Marsh. He averages 19 a game and is not afraid to let it fly. In an OT game against High Point earlier this year, he dropped 33 points on 6-12 from three. I’m not saying UNC Asheville is the favorite, but if they want to dethrone High Point, they need Marsh.

Let’s head over to a deeper conference of candidates—the CAA—and some international flavor with Croatian big man Ante Brzovic for No. 3-seeded Charleston. If they want to return to the NCAA Tournament, it’s going to be through him. At 6'10", there aren’t many guys in this league who can stop him. He can also stretch the floor and score from outside, which makes him a nightmare for defenses. Brzovic is the guy to keep in mind when betting the CAA.

For the Horizon League, we don’t need to look further than No. 1-seeded Robert Morris, led by their do-it-all senior, Kam Woods. At 6'2", he plays bigger than his size, is a menace on defense, and brings the energy that makes the Colonials must-watch basketball.

The Missouri Valley Conference is a tough one to pick from, with teams boasting studs left and right who could probably play in a Power 4 conference—or already have. I’m going with the team everyone loves to talk about...Drake and their junior guard Bennett Stiritz, who is averaging almost 19 points and six assists per game. He leads an inspirational squad of D2 transfers under a new coach.

In the Northeast Conference, we have a very low seed in 12-19 Fairleigh Dickinson, but they have a sophomore who can flat-out hoop—Terrence Brown, averaging 20.6 points per game. He should be on every transfer portal radar this offseason. A run to the NCAA Tournament would only boost his stock. A HUGE long shot, but this kid can really go!

For the Ohio Valley, I’m rolling with No. 2-seeded Southern Illinois Edwardsville guard Ray’Sean Taylor. The senior is a high-volume scorer and a two-way threat, averaging two steals per game. SIUE has a legit shot at the Big Dance, and if they make it, it’ll be because of Taylor.

The Southern Conference is wide open, with multiple 20-win teams, but my focus is on No. 3-seeded East Tennessee State and their senior guard Quimari Peterson. He is electric on both ends, averaging 19.5 points and two steals per game, and he is lethal from deep at 43% from three. He knocks down almost three threes a game. If ETSU is playing, tune in for this guy!

In the Sun Belt, let’s head over to James Madison to check out Mark Freeman, an undersized guard who helped a new-look Dukes squad lock in the No. 2 seed. They’re looking to return to the NCAA Tournament after last year’s huge upset. If they want another shot at a Cinderella run, they’ll need big games from Freeman—luckily, with the crazy Sun Belt bracket, they only need two wins to get there.

Lastly, the WCC. My easy homer pick is Ryan Nembhard of Gonzaga—the dude is playing out of his mind heading into March. But I’ll stay unbiased and give you another name—Malik Thomas from No. 4-seeded San Francisco. If they want into the Big Dance, they need three big wins, and he is the difference-maker. When he’s scoring, USF is dangerous. At 6'5", he’s a big guard who can put defenses in bad spots. The Dons can score in bunches with him leading the way.

Whew, I know that was one of my longer ones, but it’s March—there’s no such thing as "too much info" when it comes to March Madness. If you can drop a name or two, your buddies will be shocked by your ball knowledge, or your girl will think this game must be really important. Well, of course, in March, they all are!

Bet Recap: Princeton, Princeton. Princeton. Dang smartie pants!

Bet of the Day:

03-03

Northern Arizona - Idaho State over 142.5