The Conference USA Men’s Basketball Tournament begins Tuesday night with two first round games before the quarterfinals tip-off Wednesday. Here’s a quick preview of each team entering the tournament this week:
#1 Liberty (25-6, 17-3)
The preseason favorite, Liberty has lived up to the billing. The Flames are the first team to repeat as regular season CUSA champs since Middle Tennessee did so during the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons. Liberty won the regular season title by four games after starting the conference season 15-0. Now, head coach Ritchie McKay and the Flames will look to repeat as CUSA Tournament champs for the first time since MTSU did in 2016 and 2017.
Bart Torvik gives Liberty a 23.4% chance at winning the tournament.
Team Rankings gives Liberty a 26.16% chance at winning the tournament.
#2 Sam Houston (21-10, 13-7)
The Bearkats nearly made a run at Liberty for the regular season title after winning 12 out of 13 games entering the final week of the regular season. They do head to Huntsville having lost two straight and facing some injury concerns. Justin Begg (missed last 7 games), Jaxson Ford (missed last 13 games), and Isaiah Manning (missed last 15 games) are all out for the season while Po’Boiogh King has missed the last two games and his status for this week is questionable.
Bart Torvik gives Sam Houston a 29.2% chance at winning the tournament.
Team Rankings gives Sam Houston a 22.03% chance at winning the tournament.
#3 Western Kentucky (18-13, 11-9)
The Hilltoppers won six straight and were the first team to defeat Liberty in conference play, ending their 17-game win streak. During that six-game win streak, WKU won four of them by double figures, including the final three all by 20+. However, Western dropped its final two games of the regular season at Missouri State (87-74) and FIU (92-67) as they enter the conference tournament with a bit of adversity.
Bart Torvik gives Western Kentucky a 9.1% chance at winning the tournament.
Team Rankings gives Western Kentucky a 11.09% chance at winning the tournament.
#4 Louisiana Tech (18-13, 11-9)
The Bulldogs may be riding more momentum than anyone heading to Huntsville this week. Louisiana Tech knocked off Liberty this past Thursday night behind 34 points from AJ Bates. They carried that over to a thrashing of Delaware, 81-38, in the regular season finale Saturday.
Bart Torvik gives Louisiana Tech a 4.8% chance at winning the tournament.
Team Rankings gives Louisiana Tech a 5.93% chance at winning the tournament.
#5 Middle Tennessee (17-14, 11-9)
A few weeks ago it looked like MTSU was left for dead as they had dropped five straight and seven of eight. They enter the CUSA Tournament with the longest active winning streak in the league, having won five straight as they surged into a tie for third place in the league standings.
Bart Torvik gives Middle Tennessee a 13.5% chance at winning the tournament.
Team Rankings gives Middle Tennessee an 11.95% chance at winning the tournament.
#6 Kennesaw State (18-13, 10-10)
The Owls entered the final week of the regular season with a path to the 3-seed open. Kennesaw dropped both games on the road at UTEP and New Mexico State and instead slipped to the 6-seed where they will take on Western Kentucky. The Owls did sweep the regular season series against WKU in a 3-6 matchup that feels like the winner could make a run to a championship
Bart Torvik gives Kennesaw State an 8.9% chance at winning the tournament.
Team Rankings Kennesaw State a 10.98% chance at winning the tournament.
#7 Jacksonville State (15-16, 10-10)
The Gamecocks were 8-4 and in second place just past the midway point of the conference season before dropping four straight. Two of their last four games have gone into overtime as Jax State opens up in the first round Tuesday night against New Mexico State.
Bart Torvik gives Jacksonville State a 2.5% chance at winning the tournament.
Team Rankings gives Jacksonville State a 2.89% chance at winning the tournament.
#8 FIU (15-16, 8-12)
The Panthers have alternated wins and losses in their last eight games, and enter the conference tournament coming off an impressive 92-67 win at home over Western Kentucky to ensure their spot in the field.
Bart Torvik gives FIU a 3.8% chance at winning the tournament.
Team Rankings gives FIU a 3.11% chance at winning the tournament.
#9 Missouri State (14-17, 8-12)
After jumping out to a 7-4 start in conference play, the Bears were in danger of missing the conference tournament altogether coming on the heels of a seven game losing skid. Missouri State snapped that streak this past Thursday with a win at home over Western Kentucky.
Bart Torvik gives Missouri State a 2.3% chance at winning the tournament.
Team Rankings gives Missouri State a 2.07% chance at winning the tournament.
#10 New Mexico State (15-15, 8-12)
The Aggies may be the 10-seed, but they have their eyes set on making a run in this tournament. Winners of four out of the past six, New Mexico State beat the Gamecocks, their first round opponent, in overtime at home this past week.
Bart Torvik gives NMSU a 2.5% chance at winning the tournament.
Team Rankings gives NMSU a 3.78% chance at winning the tournament.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
MARCH 10 | FIRST ROUND
Game 1: #8 FIU vs #9 Missouri State, 6:30 p.m., ESPN+
Game 2: #7 Jacksonville State vs #10 NMSU, 9 p.m., ESPN+
MARCH 11 | QUARTERFINALS
Game 3: #8 FIU-#9 Missouri State winner vs #1 Liberty, 6:30 p.m., ESPN+
Game 4: #7 Jacksonville State-#10 NMSU winner vs #2 Sam Houston, 9 p.m., ESPN+
MARCH 12 | QUARTERFINALS
Game 5: #4 Louisiana Tech vs #5 Middle Tennessee 6:30 p.m., ESPN+
Game 6: #3 Western Kentucky vs #6 Kennesaw State, 9 p.m., ESPN+
MARCH 13 | SEMIFINALS
Game 7: Winner of Game 3 vs Winner of Game 5, 12:30 p.m., CBSSN
Game 8: Winner of Game 4 vs Winner of Game 6, 3 p.m., CBSSN
MARCH 14 | CHAMPIONSHIP
8:30 pm, CBSSN
