NCAA Basketball: Ranking all 32 conference tournaments for 2019-20
By Connor Hope
16) Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
March 10-14
How did one of the two worst conferences end up in the top half of this list? Well, if you like watching chaotic basketball with a wide-open field and no truly great teams, this is the best conference for that. It doesn’t matter if the best team in the conference is ranked 252 in KenPom AdjEM, this tournament is going to be pure dumb fun from start to finish. Plus, you will get to find out who will lose to the team that will lose to Kansas in the Big Dance, which is reason enough to watch the only game that isn’t aired on FloHoops.
15) Big Sky Conference
March 11-14
It has been a while since the Big Sky Conference Tournament was high in the top half of these rankings. Northern Colorado, Eastern Washington, and Montana are all quality basketball teams, but only one of them will be going to the NCAA Tournament. Add in the Portland State Vikings, a yearly fan favorite, and you have one of the better low-major conference tournaments in the country. Fortunately, with Pluto TV being free to watch, you should be able to catch every game.
14) Colonial Athletic Association
March 7-10
With six teams sporting .500 or better records on the road and in CAA play, this conference tournament will be one to watch this week. The first round is certainly forgettable, but the remainder of the tournament will be fun regardless of the matchups. The good news for viewers is that the final two rounds will be aired on CBS Sports Network, which certainly helps to alleviate the frustration associated with FloHoops broadcasts.
13) Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
March 10-14
While Siena might be a year away from Jalen Pickett announcing himself to casual college basketball fans, he may be reason enough to watch some MAAC basketball. Unlike Vermont with Anthony Lamb, Siena is not the overwhelming favorites, with Rider, St Peter’s and Monmouth all providing formidable roadblocks. This should help prevent some of the fans from escaping to the casino due to blowouts. With just five losses currently separating the top nine teams in the conference, the MAAC should be one of the more unpredictable tournaments in the country.