NCAA Basketball: 10 biggest storylines from 2022 “Feast Week” matchups

Next to the postseason that includes conference tournaments (Championship Week) and the NCAA Tournament, an argument can be made that “Feast Week” is the best part of the NCAA Basketball season. It’s essentially a 10-day span that features a number of high-profile non-conference tournaments that provides a bunch of big matchups.

For example, you have marquee events such as the Battle 4 Atlantis, Maui Invitational, and Empire Classic, along with the return of the PK Invitational and Legacy 8-team fields that features at least five ranked programs. There are going to be a ton of storylines starting on Monday throughout the week that could play a big role in who are true contenders going forward or who’ll have a lot of work to do. Here are 10 key storylines to keep watch.

1. Opportunites for Tulane and Western Kentucky in Caymans Classic

In this year’s Caymans Classic, there isn’t a clear “awful” team in the field, although Rhode Island without Brayon Freeman may fit that category based on its bad start. The favorite, on paper, is LSU, who has a rebuilt roster with head coach Matt McMahon but hasn’t played anyone of note.

Two teams that have high expectations based on program standards are Tulane and Western Kentucky. Head coach Ron Hunter has slowly built the Green Wave and has its best roster in years. Meanwhile, the Hilltoppers have 7’5 center Jamarion Sharp and plenty of talent around him and should be a contender in Conference USA as well.

This is the kind of tournament where either team could go 3-0 and make some national noise and enhance their respective resumes for the rest of the non-conference. On the other hand, going 1-2 or even 0-3 in the event would halt any momentum that was being built.