NCAA Basketball: 10 bold predictions for 2022-23 season

Houston is the lone team to win 30 games before the NCAA Tournament

Before the NCAA Tournament, most teams typically play 33-34 games, if they participate in a multi-team event and play 2-3 games in the respective conference tournaments. Usually, there are a few programs that win around 30 of those games, including some mid-majors that run roughshod in their leagues. Last season, South Dakota State and Murray State dominated the Summit League and Ohio Valley Conference to win 30+ games, along with Arizona in the Pac-12.

Obviously, there will be a few teams that come out of nowhere to dominate their leagues but right now, I don’t see anyone going unbeaten. Bryant gives Vermont competition in the America East, while the WAC has somewhat caught up to perennial power New Mexico State. And it’s very hard to accomplish this at the power conference level.

Just below it offers the top two options. Gonzaga has done this several times before but between them having an elite non-conference schedule that could give them several losses and only playing two games in the WCC Tournament, it’ll be hard for them to accomplish. On the other hand, Houston has a great chance to get to 30 wins before the Big Dance.

The Cougars are the preseason No. 3 team in the country and a clear-cut national title contender. They’re in the AAC and the only projected top-50 teams in the league are Memphis, Cincinnati, and Tulane. They can easily go 16-2 or better in league play and have just Alabama, Virginia, and Oregon as capable opponents in the non-conference. and if they win two of three, can definitely get to 30 wins.

Expect Houston to have an easy 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and show why they’re favorites to win it all.