It doesn’t take a lot foresight to level at a faculty ranked within the Related Press Prime 25 in the present day — seven weeks from Choice Sunday — and declare they’re fairly good and deserve a spot within the NCAA Event.
It takes a bit extra ability to survey the bubble’s neighborhood and challenge which faculties are ready to make a pleasant leap and advantage some March Insanity.
That’s precisely what we’re going to do right here: choose one faculty from every of the 5 energy conferences and inform you why they’re going to make a transfer.
BIG TEN: UCLA (13-6)
When you haven’t seen, Bruins boss Mick Cronin isn’t blissful until he’s sad. And, to be truthful, he had some extent when he complained about his squad having to play 5 of its first seven Massive Ten video games on the street.
However you recognize what occurs whenever you play a bunch on the street? You finally get a bunch at dwelling.
The Bruins began a run of 5 dwelling tilts in a six-game stretch with Tuesday’s 69-67 dwelling upset of No. 4 Purdue. They’re favored to win all these dwelling video games, which ought to assist them make their present 40 NET rating extra comfy.
One thing else that can assist? Skyy Clark hasn’t performed since Jan. 3, when he injured his hamstring in a loss at Iowa. Contemplating the senior guard ranks as UCLA’s No. 2 scorer (13.5 PPG) and among the many nation’s prime 20 3-point shooters (48.6%), his return may increase the Bruins’ offensive effectivity from competent to wonderful. He’s additionally an above-average defender.
SEC: Auburn (12-7)
Auburn Tigers head coach Steven Pearl coaches in opposition to the South Carolina Gamecocks throughout their Southeastern Convention sport at Neville Area in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday January 17, 2026. After the SEC dominated faculty basketball final 12 months, it’s bizarre to see solely 5 groups within the AP’s Prime 25 and the NET’s prime 25 — with No. 15 Vanderbilt the most effective crew per AP and No. 14 Florida the chief per the NET.
It’s tempting to select Auburn because the SEC faculty able to make a run, particularly contemplating Steven Pearl’s group has received three of its final 4 — capped by their first street win of the 12 months Tuesday at Ole Miss.
However right here’s the catch: the Tigers have a ton of robust street video games remaining. The ruggedness begins Saturday at Florida, which has received 5 in a row, and continues with Tennessee, Arkansas and Alabama, amongst others.
UNLV/George Mason/UCF switch Keyshawn Corridor has been every little thing Auburn hoped, as he averages 20.1 factors and seven.6 rebounds whereas capturing .476/.400/.866.
The trick for the Tigers is getting extra effectivity out of level guard Tahaad Pettiford. Thought-about an All-American candidate within the preseason, he has managed simply 61 assists versus 43 turnovers and shoots 27.0% from 3-point vary. That limits a crew’s upside.
ACC: SMU (14-5)
Jan 17, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; SMU Mustangs heart Jaden Toombs (10) and Virginia Cavaliers ahead Thijs de Ridder (28) battle for the rebound through the first half at Moody Coliseum. Necessary Credit score: Jerome Miron-Imagn Photographs SMU hasn’t been to the NCAA Event since 2017 and hasn’t received a Event sport since 1988, however that is the 12 months each futility streaks finish.
After beginning ACC play on Jan. 3 with a 14-point dwelling win over North Carolina that opened some eyes, SMU has dropped three of its 5 video games to fall to 14-5 total and 3-3 within the ACC heading into Saturday’s dwelling sport with Florida State.
Why does that sentence recommend the Mustangs are on the upswing? As a result of they’ve had the hardest ACC schedule up to now. They’ve been to Duke and Clemson and hosted Virginia (and misplaced all three).
Whereas an intriguing journey to Louisville awaits on Jan. 31, the Mustangs, who sit No. 30 within the NET, have a fantastic likelihood to complete robust as they’re completed with the Tar Heels, Blue Devils, Tigers, Cavaliers and Virginia Tech.
P.S. Fifth-year level guard Kevin “Boopie” Miller, who grew up in Chicago being overshadowed by well-traveled Prime 50 recruit Adam Miller (Illinois/LSU/Arizona State/Gonzaga), is the true deal. Boopie, who started his profession at Central Michigan, averages 19.8 factors and 6.8 assists per sport whereas capturing .471/.388/.892.
BIG EAST: ST. JOHN’S (14-5)
Jan 13, 2026; New York, New York, USA; St. John’s Crimson Storm head coach Rick Pitino greets ahead Zuby Ejiofor (24) after substituting him out of the sport within the second half in opposition to the Marquette Golden Eagles at Madison Sq. Backyard Necessary Credit score: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Photographs St. John’s entered this season with big expectations. Rick Pitino’s Crimson Storm have been ranked No. 5 within the AP ballot and No. 6 by the coaches, however they suffered nonconference losses to Alabama, Iowa State, Auburn and Kentucky. Then they dedicated the sin of shedding to Windfall on Jan. 3 at Madison Sq. Backyard.
Even Pitino complained through the first half of the season about his crew’s lack of some extent guard. Since these complaints, although, the Crimson Storm (14-5, 7-1) have been red-hot.
They carry a five-game profitable streak into Saturday’s Massive East sport at Xavier and have moved to No. 23 within the NET.
St. John’s surge has coincided with Texas switch Dillon Mitchell’s return to the beginning lineup. Over these 5 video games, Mitchell has averaged 9.8 factors, 9.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.2 steals whereas capturing 54.3% from the sphere.
BIG 12: WEST VIRGINIA (13-6)
Jan 21, 2026; Tempe, Arizona, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers ahead Treysen Eaglestaff (52) dunks the ball in opposition to the Arizona State Solar Devils within the first half at Desert Monetary Area. Necessary Credit score: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Photographs West Virginia is a deep-cut choose that simply may go bust.
Right here’s the inside track: the Mountaineers sit at No. 59 within the NET, so they should make an enormous transfer to get into legit vary of the NCAA at-large berth that eluded them final 12 months once they have been No. 51 on Choice Sunday.
The excellent news? First-year boss Ross Hodge’s crew has gone 12-0 at dwelling.
The dangerous information? Previous to incomes a 12-point win Wednesday at Arizona State, the Mountaineers hadn’t received wherever however dwelling. They went winless on impartial courts (Clemson, Xavier, Wake Forest, Ohio State) and bought obliterated by 21 at Iowa State and 29 at Houston.
There’s no disgrace in shedding to the Cyclones and Cougars, however they should present extra progress outdoors of Morgantown. Saturday’s sport at top-ranked Arizona can be a good time to show one thing and set the stage for the house stretch.
With good depth and three nice shooters in Honor Huff (16.6 PPG, 38.9% on 3-point makes an attempt), Brenen Lorient (10.6 PPG, 38.9%) and Treysen Eaglestaff (10.6 PPG, 36.4%), something can occur.
