This week on the Respect the Hustle Podcast, national college basketball analyst William Whelan takes a look at conference races throughout the country and makes his calls, including a shocker in the SEC and a return to the throne in the ACC.
First though, he goes on a mid-major tour, discussing some his favorite conferences like the MAAC, Patriot League, and the Horizon League. Which projected winners from those conferences do you need to know come Selection Sunday so that you can make plans accordingly? He makes his call.
After sweeping from coast to coast, William settles briefly out west, where Oregon has pulled away from the rest of the Pac-12 with seemingly little national fanfare. Are people sleeping on the Ducks and just how good can this team be once Selection Sunday rolls around? Thanks to Pac-12 POY favorite Dillon Brooks, Whelan thinks they can be as good as anyone in the country. In the Big 12, he thinks Oklahoma, led by POY favorite Buddy Hield, is the best bet to hold on to their standing near the top of the conference.
Things get interesting in the Big 10 where Maryland has hung around despite not getting the same kind of love as Iowa or Michigan State. Can the Terps do that just long enough to win the conference title? That’s the question everyone seems to be asking.
Whelan gives the nod to Villanova in the Big East before taking a few minutes to think about the SEC and ACC, where a mix of upstart dark horses and returns to power have shaken the foundation of the leagues this season. Who does he ultimately pick? Give the podcast a listen and find out.
Tune in next time to see what predictions and expectations our host will put out there for the next Respect the Hustle Podcast.
