NCAA Basketball: 2023 Myrtle Beach Invitational preview and predictions

Predictions

Anything can happen at this year’s edition of the Myrtle Beach Invitational. We’re not giving scores for these predictions, but we’ll go through each round and make guesses on what will happen between these teams.

The opener will be exciting with a slight edge for Charleston to knock off Vermont, though this is a matchup we certainly could have seen later on in the tournament. Saint Louis should take care of business against a Wyoming team still figuring themselves out, while the same is true for Wichita State against Coastal Carolina. Furman against Liberty is another awesome matchup, but we’ll give this one to a new-look Furman team that looked really good in the opening week.

The first semifinal will see Saint Louis face a significant challenge from Charleston, but we’ll lean on the Billikens who have looked a little better than the Cougars so far. In the other semifinal, expect Furman to take care of Wichita State in what could be an exciting matchup. On the consolation side of the bracket, Wyoming could struggle against Vermont, while Coastal Carolina may not be able to keep up with Liberty despite playing close to home.

In the 7th place game, Wyoming gets back on track against Coastal Carolina to preserve something from their long trip. The consolation title game will be a really exciting matchup between two potent mid-major powers, though we’re giving it to Liberty over Vermont. Wichita State has a lot going for them in a new season, but expect Charleston to prevail for 3rd place in the event. When Furman and Saint Louis meet in the title game, anything can truly happen, though we’re giving a slight edge for the Paladins to win the event.

Any of those games can go a different way. You could certainly make a case for Saint Louis to win that title game, or for Liberty, Vermont, Wichita State, or nearly anyone else to prevail for the championship. That’s part of the beauty of this field. We’re going to get to know a lot about this eight teams as they descend upon Conway, but who do you think will be left standing once the weekend comes to an end?