Busting Brackets
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Conference USA Basketball: Wild conference tournament approaches

By Jason Burgess

SAN DIEGO, CA - MARCH 16: C.J. Burks #14 and Jon Elmore #33 of the Marshall Thundering Herd celebrate after defeating the Wichita State Shockers during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena on March 16, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - MARCH 16: C.J. Burks #14 and Jon Elmore #33 of the Marshall Thundering Herd celebrate after defeating the Wichita State Shockers during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena on March 16, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON – MARCH 17: The Old Dominion Monarchs watch the final shot of the game reviewed on the video board as they lose to the Butler Bulldogs 60-58 during the second round of the 2011 NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Verizon Center on March 17, 2011 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON – MARCH 17: The Old Dominion Monarchs watch the final shot of the game reviewed on the video board as they lose to the Butler Bulldogs 60-58 during the second round of the 2011 NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Verizon Center on March 17, 2011 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Teams to watch in the Conference USA Tournament

The Favorite: Old Dominion

The Monarchs won the conference by two games and enter the tournament having won seven of their last nine games and their four of their five losses in league play have been by a total of 18 points. They have just two players that average double figures, Caver and B.J. Stith, who leads the team with 17 points per game. The Monarchs average just 66.8 points per game, but they are one of the best defensive teams in the country, giving up just 61 points per game and allowing opponents to shoot only 38.9% from the field. Their defense is the reason they are the No. 1 seed, and if they win the tourney, it will be the reason why.

Other Contenders

Western Kentucky

Even though the Hilltoppers enter the tournament as the No. 2 seed, their season has been a bit of an enigma. They have won at Arkansas and over Wisconsin, but they have also lost to Indiana State and Troy. In conference play, they have had close games in all their games; of their 18 league games, all but three were decided by less than 10 points. The Hilltoppers have four players scoring in double digits and are led by Bassey and Taveion Hollingsworth, who is second on the team in scoring (14.2) and adds 4.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists.

Texas-San Antonio

The Roadrunners were thought to be a possible title contender in C-USA, but after a 6-7 start during the non-conference slate, that perception changed a bit. Finishing 11-7 in conference play puts them as the fourth seed and all but one of their league losses have been by 10 points or less. They have the arguably the best guard combo in the league with Jackson and Keaton Wallace, who combine to average 42.9 points per game and they have shot 589 three-pointers. The duo combines to shoot 37% from deep.

Marshall

The Thundering Herd are the defending conference tournament champions, and most of the team that went on that run has returned. Despite being the sixth seed, when you have Jon Elmore and fellow guard C.J. Burks who puts up 17.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, you can be dangerous. In conference play, their season has been one of streaks, they started 4-0 and then went 1-7 in their next eight and have won five in a row heading into the conference tournament.

Biggest sleeper: Louisiana Tech

The Bulldogs may be seeded just eighth in the tournament but with the league being so close, they could’ve easily been seeded higher. They have a season sweep over Marshall and also have wins over every team ahead of them except for ODU. Offensively, they have three players averaging double-figures for a team that puts up 73 points per game, led by DaQuan Bracey who scores 15.6 per game. The one thing that might bite the Bulldogs is the free throw line, where they shoot just 66%. If there is a team that could surprise in this quagmire of a conference, take a look at Louisiana Tech.