Busting Brackets
Fansided

NCAA Basketball: Predicting all 32 conference favorites for 2020-21 season

By Tristan Freeman

Feb 29, 2020; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Virginia Cavaliers guard Braxton Key (2) shoots the ball over Duke Blue Devils guard Cassius Stanley (2) in the second half at John Paul Jones Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 29, 2020; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Virginia Cavaliers guard Braxton Key (2) shoots the ball over Duke Blue Devils guard Cassius Stanley (2) in the second half at John Paul Jones Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 21
Next
NCAA Basketball
NCAA Basketball Houston Cougars (Photo by Joe Murphy/Getty Images) /

AAC

Favorite – Houston

One of the best perimeter-oriented teams for the upcoming season, Houston returns leading scorer Caleb Mills, Quentin Grimes, Marcus Sasser, and Dejon Jarreau. They also add transfer Cameron Tyson to add even more depth as well. The season-ending injury to Fabian White Jr. stings but Arkansas transfer forward Reggie Chaney gives them enough size inside to strike a balance. As long as the frontcourt holds up, the Cougars have a great shot at a third-straight AAC title.

Biggest threats – Memphis, SMU, and Cincinnati

Depending on who you ask, it’s either the Cougars or Memphis Tigers as the favorite to win the American Athletic Conference. Even with the addition of Virginia Tech transfer Landers Nolley and five-star freshman center Moussa Cisse, the chemistry edge currently goes to Houston. If Evansville forward Deandre Williams gets a waiver though, I may have to change my mind.

The other contenders to consider include the Mustangs, led by the dynamic guard duo of Tyson Jolly and Kendric Davis, as well as the Bearcats who have a great scoring wing in Keith Williams, as well as forward Chris Vogt.

Atlantic 10

Favorite – Saint Louis

There are several teams in the conference that is returning a ton of talent. But the edge, for now, goes to the lone team in the country that had two players who averaged double-doubles in Jordan Goodwin and Hasahn French. The best scorer on the team comes off the bench in Javonte Perkins (15.0 ppg), while Yuri Collins is set for a breakout sophomore campaign.

Biggest threats – Richmond, Dayton, Saint Bonaventure

The Spiders would’ve been the favorites two weeks ago but they sadly lost elite shooting wing Nick Sherod for the season. They do return four other senior starters, including star point guard Blake Francis. We already knew about Dayton not having Obi Toppin around, which obviously hurts the team’s odds of winning the A-10 again.

However, don’t discount Jalen Crutcher winning Conference Player of the Year and with senior guards Ibi Watson and Rodney Chatman supporting him, the Flyers won’t fall down much at all this season.

A sneaky contender will be the Bonnies, whose junior duo of Kyle Lofton and Osun Osunniyi is one of the best in the conference. With a ton of returning talent, Saint Bonaventure will be a tough out in league play.

Home/NCAA Basketball News