It doesn’t take a lot foresight to level at a faculty ranked within the Related Press Prime 25 as we speak — seven weeks from Choice Sunday — and declare they’re fairly good and deserve a spot within the NCAA Event.
It takes a little bit extra ability to survey the bubble’s neighborhood and venture which colleges 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 college from every of the 5 energy conferences and inform you why they’re going to make a transfer.
BIG TEN: UCLA (13-6)
For those who haven’t observed, Bruins boss Mick Cronin isn’t blissful except 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 Large Ten video games on the highway.
However you recognize what occurs whenever you play a bunch on the highway? You ultimately get a bunch at house.
The Bruins began a run of 5 house tilts in a six-game stretch with Tuesday’s 69-67 house upset of No. 4 Purdue. They’re favored to win all these house 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 high 20 3-point shooters (48.6%), his return may increase the Bruins’ offensive effectivity from competent to glorious. He’s additionally an above-average defender.
SEC: Auburn (12-7)
Auburn Tigers head coach Steven Pearl coaches towards the South Carolina Gamecocks throughout their Southeastern Convention recreation at Neville Area in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday January 17, 2026. After the SEC dominated school basketball final yr, it’s bizarre to see solely 5 groups within the AP’s Prime 25 and the NET’s high 25 — with No. 15 Vanderbilt one of the best workforce per AP and No. 14 Florida the chief per the NET.
It’s tempting to select Auburn because the SEC college able to make a run, particularly contemplating Steven Pearl’s group has received three of its final 4 — capped by their first highway win of the yr Tuesday at Ole Miss.
However right here’s the catch: the Tigers have a ton of powerful highway 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 of 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 workforce’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 in the course of 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 recreation since 1988, however that is the yr each futility streaks finish.
After beginning ACC play on Jan. 3 with a 14-point house 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 house recreation with Florida State.
Why does that sentence counsel the Mustangs are on the upswing? As a result of they’ve had the hardest ACC schedule thus far. 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 an awesome likelihood to complete sturdy 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 recreation whereas capturing .471/.388/.892.
BIG EAST: ST. JOHN’S (14-5)
Jan 13, 2026; New York, New York, USA; St. John’s Purple Storm head coach Rick Pitino greets ahead Zuby Ejiofor (24) after substituting him out of the sport within the second half towards 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 Purple Storm had 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 dropping to Windfall on Jan. 3 at Madison Sq. Backyard.
Even Pitino complained in the course of the first half of the season about his workforce’s lack of some extent guard. Since these complaints, although, the Purple Storm (14-5, 7-1) have been red-hot.
They carry a five-game profitable streak into Saturday’s Large East recreation 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 towards 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 news: the Mountaineers sit at No. 59 within the NET, so they should make a giant transfer to get into official vary of the NCAA at-large berth that eluded them final yr after they had been No. 51 on Choice Sunday.
The excellent news? First-year boss Ross Hodge’s crew has gone 12-0 at house.
The unhealthy information? Previous to incomes a 12-point win Wednesday at Arizona State, the Mountaineers hadn’t received wherever however house. They went winless on impartial courts (Clemson, Xavier, Wake Forest, Ohio State) and acquired obliterated by 21 at Iowa State and 29 at Houston.
There’s no disgrace in dropping to the Cyclones and Cougars, however they should present extra progress exterior of Morgantown. Saturday’s recreation at top-ranked Arizona could be a good time to show one thing and set the stage for the house stretch.
With good depth and three tremendous 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.
