NCAA Basketball: Predicting all 32 autobids for 2022 NCAA Tournament

Atlantic 10

Winner: Dayton Flyers

Any of the top teams can win this tournament easily. Davidson, Saint Bonaventure, and VCU are all going to be teams who are likely playing for their tournament lives or to improve their NCAA tournament seeding. Those are all also teams who can win the league tournament and secure the NCAA bid. The Flyers would be a lock to make the NCAA tournament had it not been for their bad November. Dayton has one of the youngest rosters in the NCAA, but they are one of the best-coached teams and even with their youth they still have a ton of talent.

The Flyers are playing their best basketball of the season right now and is playing like the best team in the Atlantic 10. Dayton is one of the best defensive teams in the country, and every player on this team is bought in on that end of the floor and it keeps them in games and keeps teams close. Kobe Elvis and Daron Holmes are then able to take over a game on offense and get Dayton a victory.

Sleeper: Richmond Spiders

Richmond should be a lot better; they have been picked to be one of the top teams in the Atlantic 10 over the last two seasons and given their roster makeup and the experience they should have finished there. Injuries have derailed them the last two seasons.

Say what you will about the Spiders and their chances of winning this tournament but if Richmond is connected and healthy, they are an extremely dangerous team. Every starter on the floor can score and rebound. All Richmond needs is one good week, and the Spiders are going dancing. Grant Golden is going to try and make sure that happens.

Atlantic Sun

Winner: Liberty Flames

The Atlantic Sun added some teams in the offseason and these teams have provided some competition at the top for the Flames. The new teams have shrunk the gap in the Atlantic Sun. The Bellarmine Knights would have been the favorite to win the tournament, but since they are currently in their transitional period into Division 1 they are not eligible for this tournament. Liberty has the experience and they have won this tournament the last three years in a row, and even won a game in the NCAA tournament.

Liberty likely has the Player of the Year in the conference Darius McGhee. McGhee has been at Liberty for four years and has taken his game to another level now that he is the guy on offense. The Flames were a lock to win the conference tournament the last three seasons but this year they are going to have to play well to win it again as it won’t be an easy path.

Sleeper: FGCU Eagles

It has been a while since Florida Gulf Coast has appeared in the tournament and this is also the first year that current head coach Michael Fly has been able to secure himself and the Eagles their first winning season in his tenure. They are no longer Dunk City, as they take about 30 threes per game which puts them in the top 10 overall in attempts. They also make about 11 threes per game which puts them in the top 10 in makes per game as well.

Florida Gulf Coast plays extremely fast and can light up the scoreboard. They don’t play much defense which is why they are not the overwhelming favorite to win the league. They are a team that can get hot from downtown and win this tournament. Tavian Dunn-Martin averages over 20 points per game and takes about 9 threes per game. He can make a lot happen and win this tournament for Florida Gulf Coast.