Expert picks for college basketball conference tournaments as March Madness arrives

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This week is oftentimes when March Madness really begins because the conference tournaments that lead into Selection Sunday are host to the final game of the season for many Division 1 teams in the country, and the vast majority don't make it to the men's NCAA basketball tournament.

The stakes, for college basketball teams on the bubble and those looking to salvage disappointing seasons, couldn't be higher with 68 spots in the NCAA Tournament field and only 31 guaranteed through an automatic bid given to each conference tournament champion.

This year's landscape features a variety of conference tournaments, with the SEC, Big Ten and Big East expected to be wide open and heavy favorites in the ACC (Duke) and Big 12 (Houston). There are also, as usual, some potential bid thieves. Experts around the country are weighing in with their picks ahead of this action-packed week of games, but they haven't reached a consensus on who will win most league tournaments.

Here's a breakdown of various predictions for every major men's college basketball conference tournament around the country before Selection Sunday and the 2025 NCAA Tournament:

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Conference tournament predictions: 2025 Champ week picks

ACC

∎ ESPN: Every expert picks Duke

ESPN's college basketball panel of Jeff Borzello, Joe Lunardi and Myron Medcalf, as well as ESPN analytics, all chose Duke to win the 2025 ACC tournament.

Lunardi writes, "the Blue Devils' magnificence should still not be overlooked. Their average margin of victory in 17 conference wins is 23.2 points per game. No team does that in a power conference, not even Duke. A loss at the ACC tournament would be one of Champ Week's biggest upsets."

∎ Greenville News: Duke beats Clemson

Derrian Carter writes, "Clemson has never won three straight games in the ACC tournament in program history. If any team can snap this streak, it would be this iteration of the Tigers. However, history will repeat itself again. Clemson will reach the ACC championship game to face Duke and fall to the Blue Devils."

∎ Bleacher Report: Duke over Clemson

Nicholas Nathanson writes, "Duke will avoid both Clemson and Louisville until the championship. The Blue Devils have owned the ACC all year, and it's quite likely they'll get another crack at Clemson in the championship game, this time coming out on the winning end."

Big Ten

∎ Detroit Free Press: Wisconsin beats Maryland in finals

Jared Ramsey writes, "The Badgers become the latest example of getting hot at the right time, and ride their 3-point shooting to the tournament title."

∎ Indianapolis Star: Michigan State or Wisconsin

The Indianapolis Star's Zach Osterman and Michael Niziolek picked Wisconsin and Michigan State, respectively, to win the 2025 Big Ten tournament. Niziolek writes, "Michigan State is peaking at the right time and that momentum carries over to the Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Spartans win their first Big Ten conference tournament since 2019, which happens to be the last time they won both the regular season and conference championship in the same year."

∎ ESPN: Maryland, Michigan State or Michigan

ESPN's college basketball panel of Jeff Borzello, Joe Lunardi and Myron Medcalf all chose different winners for the 2025 Big Ten tournament.

• Borzello: Maryland
• Lunardi: Michigan State
• Medcalf: Michigan
• ESPN analytics: Michigan State

∎ The Field of 68: Maryland, Wisconsin or Illinois

• John Fanta: Maryland
• Terrence Oglesby: Wisconsin
• Rob Dauster: Illinois

Big 12

∎ Arizona Republic: Houston over Texas Tech in finals

Jeremy Cliff writes, "The Cougars and Red Raiders were the best teams in the conference this season and could both have a say in who wins the NCAA tournament. Texas Tech handed Houston its lone regular-season Big 12 loss in Houston on Feb. 1 with an 82-81 win in overtime, but Houston beat Texas Tech on the road, 69-61 on Feb. 24."

∎ ESPN: Iowa State or Houston

• Borzello: Iowa State
• Lunardi: Houston
• Medcalf: Houston
• ESPN analytics: Houston

Lunardi writes, "It has been clear for a month that Houston regained its form, only with a better offense than what we've seen recently. Adding a scoring guard like L.J. Cryer to a frontcourt anchored by the ultra-dependable J'Wan Roberts is almost a cheat code."

∎ The Field of 68: Houston or Texas Tech

• John Fanta: Texas Tech
• Terrence Oglesby: Houston
• Rob Dauster: Houston

∎ Bleacher Report: Iowa State

Kerry Miller writes, "They went just 8-7 down the stretch, but they were absent at least one of Keshon Gilbert, Curtis Jones or Milan Momcilovic for six of those seven losses. In fact, when all six of their leading scorers have been available this season, the Cyclones have gone 19-2."

SEC

∎ ESPN: Auburn or Florida

• Borzello: Florida
• Lunardi: Auburn
• Medcalf: Auburn
• ESPN analytics: Auburn

Borzello writes, "Given how good the top of the SEC has been this season, it doesn't seem like the favorite will cut down the nets in the conference tournament."

∎ The Field of 68: Experts split

• John Fanta: Florida
• Terrence Oglesby: Auburn
• Rob Dauster: Kentucky

∎ Bleacher Report: Florida

Kerry Miller writes, "One of the four teams with both a double bye and a shot at a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament will emerge with the trophy. And the hottest of that bunch has been the Florida Gators. ... That even includes a road win over Auburn and a road win over Alabama. ... Not only are the Gators winning on a regular basis, but their offense has been absolutely relentless."

Big East

∎ ESPN: UConn or St. John's

• Borzello: UConn
• Lunardi: St. John's
• Medcalf: St. John's
• ESPN analytics: St. John's

Borzello writes, "I'll go with UConn because it would make for some great narratives entering the NCAA tournament. If Alex Karaban can find his shot consistently, I think the Huskies can make a run."

∎ The Field of 68: Experts split

• John Fanta: Xavier
• Terrence Oglesby: St. John's
• Rob Dauster: UConn

∎ Bleacher Report: St. John's

Kerry Miller writes, "The Red Storm always found a way, and they ought to do it again this week with quite possibly the No. 2 seed in the East Region hanging in the balance. What a major development that would be: Big East tournament at home, first-round and second-round games in Providence (Rick Pitino's former stomping grounds) and second-weekend games in nearby Newark. If they win the Big East tournament, chances are they'll go almost a month without needing to get on a plane."

American Athletic Conference

∎ ESPN: Every expert picks Memphis

ESPN's college basketball panel of Jeff Borzello, Joe Lunardi and Myron Medcalf, as well as ESPN analytics, all chose Memphis to win the 2025 AAC tournament.

Lunardi writes, "The Tigers have been largely routine in league play, but they haven't needed more than that against a diminished American slate. North Texas presents at least an on-paper challenge in the conference tournament, but Memphis remains a healthy favorite."

∎ Bleacher Report: Memphis

Kerry Miller writes, "Given their M.O. all season long has been playing up or down to match the level of competition, goodness knows it'll probably come right down to the wire if they do make it to Sunday's championship game. ... Give us the Tigers, though, who are beyond sick of hearing that they aren't actually that good and having their middling KenPom ranking thrown in their face."

∎ VSiN: North Texas

Zachary Cohen writes, "The reality is that North Texas is right on par with Memphis defensively, and the team should be able to rise to the occasion offensively in a more favorable setting. Motivation will also be on the Mean Green’s side, as they need to win this tournament in order to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

Atlantic-10

∎ ESPN: Every expert picks VCU

ESPN's college basketball panel of Jeff Borzello, Joe Lunardi and Myron Medcalf, as well as ESPN analytics, all chose VCU to win the 2025 Atlantic-10 Conference tournament.

Medcalf writes, "The Rams lost only (twice) this calendar year and have ascended to the top of the A-10, one game ahead of George Mason. They also own a 16-point victory over the Patriots, a good sign of their postseason potential."

∎ The Field of 68: Experts split

• John Fanta: George Mason
• Terrence Oglesby: VCU
• Rob Dauster: Saint Joseph's

∎ Bleacher Report: VCU, but bid thieves are lurking

Kerry Miller writes, "With Dayton, George Mason, Saint Joseph's and Saint Louis all lurking as viable threats in a league where VCU is the only great at-large candidate, the probability of another A-10 bid-stealer is pretty high. The Rams have lost just two game since New Year's, though, and had to shoot a combined 10-for-61 from three-point range suffer that fate."

Mountain West Conference

∎ ESPN: New Mexico or Utah State

• Borzello: Utah State
• Lunardi: Utah State
• Medcalf: New Mexico
• ESPN analytics: New Mexico

Medcalf writes, "Rick Pitino isn't the only member of his family who deserves national coach of the year buzz. Richard Pitino, his son, lost top scorer Jamal Mashburn Jr. and standout JT Toppin in the transfer portal over the spring, and yet the Lobos ended February atop the Mountain West standings. Donovan Dent (20.0 PPG) anchors a team that plays top-25 defense, too."

∎ The Field of 68: San Diego State or Colorado State

• John Fanta: San Diego State
• Terrence Oglesby: Colorado State
• Rob Dauster: Colorado State

∎ Bleacher Report: Utah State

Kerry Miller writes, "Aside from the Big Ten, this might be the most wide-open tournament of them all this year. From New Mexico as the No. 1 seed down to Nevada as the No. 7 seed, anyone could win it. Utah State has been on a bit of a schneid since Valentine's Day, losing three straight road games against New Mexico, Boise State and Colorado State. But give us the Aggies getting back on track in Vegas and winning their first MWC tournament since 2019."

West Coast Conference

∎ ESPN: Gonzaga or Saint Mary's

• Borzello: Gonzaga
• Lunardi: Gonzaga
• Medcalf: Saint Mary's
• ESPN analytics: Gonzaga

Medcalf writes, "The Gaels swept the regular-season series over Gonzaga. That feels like compelling evidence to make them the favorites to win the WCC championship. Augustas Marciulionis and Co. held the Bulldogs to under 100 points per 100 possessions in the first game and recorded a 44% offensive rebounding rate in the second."

∎ Bleacher Report: Gonzaga

Kerry Miller writes, "Tough to ever bet against the Bulldogs in this tournament, as they've played in the championship game in 27 consecutive years, winning 20 of them. Maybe the Gaels sweep the three-game series, though."

∎ VSiN: Gonzaga

Zachary Cohen writes, "If the team does end up facing Saint Mary’s in the final, you won’t catch Few’s group sleepwalking and thinking about the NCAA Tournament. He’ll have his guys fired up and ready to get some revenge. It’s also just hard to overlook how strong the team’s statistical profile is. Gonzaga is seventh in the nation in KenPom’s adjusted offensive efficiency rankings, and the team is decent enough defensively."

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