Pretty much everyone knows that Miami and Gonzaga are unbeaten in conference play, but the top five duo comprise just 1/3 of the total number of teams who can (honestly) make the same claim. Let’s take a look at all six of the squads seeking perfection.
Will any team finish the season unbeaten in conference play?
With just three weeks in college basketball’s regular season remaining, six teams in Division-I own perfect records in conference play. Can any, or all, of them run the table?
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Miami (22-3, 13-0 ACC)
Remaining Conference Schedule:
At Wake Forest (2/23)
vs. Virginia Tech (2/27)
At Duke (3/2)
vs. Georgia Tech (3/6)
vs. Clemson (3/9)
The toughest stretch of the season is behind the Hurricanes, but the toughest single game - a March 2 date at Duke - still lies ahead.
Odds: 6/1
Memphis (22-3, 11-0 Conference USA)
Remaining Conference Schedule:
vs. Houston (2/20)
vs. Southern Miss. (2/23)
At Central Florida (3/2)
At UTEP (3/5)
vs. UAB (3/9)
The Tigers do have games remaining against the three best teams in the league outside of themselves, but with the state of C-USA being the way it is this season (awful), that’s not exactly asking them to climb Everest.
Odds: 5/2
Akron (21-4, 12-0 Mid-American)
Remaining Conference Schedule:
At Ohio (2/27)
At Buffalo (3/2)
vs. Miami (3/5)
vs. Kent State (3/8)
The pressure of finishing the MAC slate undefeated doesn't seem to be phasing the Zips, who have won five of their last six games by eight points or more. Win the showdown at 10-1 Ohio, and this probably happens. I think the Bobcats are the superior team and hold serve at home though.
Odds: 5/1
Norfolk State (17-10, 12-0 MEAC)
Remaining Conference Schedule:
At Delaware State (2/23)
vs. Bethune-Cookman (3/2)
vs. Florida A&M (3/4)
vs. North Carolina A&T (3/7)
Kyle O’Quinn is gone, but the Spartans are making another big time postseason push. They’ll be tested on Saturday at 7-4 Delaware State, and then finish the season with three home games against teams from the middle to the bottom half of the conference.
Odds: 3/1
Gonzaga (25-2, 12-0 WCC)
Remaining Conference Schedule:
vs. Santa Clara (2/20)
vs. San Diego (2/23)
At BYU (2/28)
vs. Portland (3/2)
The Zags have the added target of a top five national ranking, but that doesn’t change the fact that they are five or six tiers above every other team in the West Coast Conference this season. Their only remaining road game is at BYU, which needs the win to have any shot at the NCAA Tournament. Still, the Bulldogs are the first choice in this race.
Odds: 2/1
Louisiana Tech (23-3, 14-0 WAC)
Remaining Conference Schedule:
vs. Utah State (2/28)
vs. San Jose State (3/2)
At New Mexico State (3/7)
At Denver (3/9)
More so than any other team on this list, the Bulldogs are up against it. Three of their final four conference games are against teams in the top four of the league, including consecutive road tilts at second-place Denver and third-place New Mexico State to end the year.
Odds: 15/2
Predictions
Will run the table: Memphis, Gonzaga and Norfolk State
Won’t run the table: Miami, Akron and Louisiana Tech
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