These are teams that will obviously have to win their conference tournaments to get into the Dance, but if they do, they have the recipe to potentially give higher seeded teams problems in the NCAA Tournament...

George Mason Patriots (22-7) - Currently 2nd in the A10 (13-3)

The Patriots may be the owners of the most notable Cinderella story in NCAA  history, when they made a Final Four appearance as an eleven seed in 2006. Winners of 12 of their last 14 games, another NCAA appearance may be in store. George Mason ranks as the 12th best scoring defense in all of college basketball while being led by Darius Maddox (13.4 ppg) and Jalen Haynes (13.2) on offense. Like all the teams on this list, the Patriots will need to win their upcoming conference tournament in order to have a chance to dance this March. 

North Alabama Lions (23-9) - Currently tied for 1st in the ASUN (14-4)

Previously a Division II school until 2022, Northern Alabama has made a name for itself in the ASUN. Junior Jacari Lane is the sole of this team, scoring nearly 17 points a game, coming off a 31 point outing vs Austin Peay on Monday. Notably, four other North Alabama players average double figures to balance out a high scoring attack. The Lions will play Queens University in the ASUN semifinals on March 6th.  

High Point Panthers (26-5) - Currently 1st in the Big South (14-2)

High Point has a deadly scoring trio of Kenza Giffa, D’Maurian Williams, Kimani Hamilton who all average over 13.8ppg. Riding an eleven game winning streak, this Panthers team would be disappointed to miss the NCAA tournament. They are currently projected a 13 seed by ESPN and may be a popular upset pick no matter who they matchup with in the field of 68. High Point will start their Big Sky tournament on March 7th. 

McNeese Cowboys (25-6) - Currently 1st in the Southland (19-1)

A seeming shoe-in for a NCAA tournament bid, McNeese still needs to take care of conference business, but is projected as a 12 seed currently. Of course the 12 vs 5 matchup never disappoints and the Cowboys will get to play spoiler as one of the best Mid-Major schools in the field, assuming they make it. In their two matchups against ranked appointments, they only lost to number 2 ranked Alabama by 8 points and number 25 ranked Mississippi State by 3 points, showing they can at least hang with elite competition while destroying almost all lesser teams.  

Utah Valley Wolverines (21-7) - Currently 1st in the WAC (13-1)

Fresh off their 100 point outing and demolition of Southern Utah, Utah Valley has now won 16 of their last 17 games after a rocky start to the year. A current projected 14 seed, the Wolverines have three scorers averaging over 12.6ppg. Grand Canyon poses the biggest threat to Utah Valley with the teams splitting their two conference matchups and GCU being the only team to beat the Wolverines since December 14th. Watch for a third likely matchup on March 15th in the WAC Championship.