Who is winning the American regular season conference title?

[FadedCrown]

Projected records are per Barttorvik.

[Dan]

The next 3 games will tell us if we’re a contender. This will be the 3rd time this season where we come into a crucial stretch of games. 3 games vs the top 3 teams will tell us a lot about who we really are.

[ShockAzs]

The next 3 games will tell us if we’re a contender. This will be the 3rd time this season where we come into a crucial stretch of games. 3 games vs the top 3 teams will tell us a lot about who we really are.

Indeed. Fitting that the results will be truly telling. If we fall 2 of the next 3, then we finish around where we were predicted I'm the preseason.

If we win 2 of the next 3, then I predict we tie for 1st with Houston.

[Stickboy46]

The next 3 games will tell us if we’re a contender. This will be the 3rd time this season where we come into a crucial stretch of games. 3 games vs the top 3 teams will tell us a lot about who we really are.

Houston and Cincy also play on Saturday .. so we will learn a lot all around

[Aargh]

It's good to be in a league that actually prepares a team for the NCAA tourney - and weeds out those who probably can't make a run in the tourney any way.

[Maizerunner08]

Wonder if we can get 4 bids. Houston, WSU, Cincy, Memphis

[JVShocker]

I voted Houston. Same team I predicted to start the season (had to go back and check). I also had 2. Memphis 3. WSU 4. Cincy.

Don't know if Memphis is gonna pull off a #2.

[WstateU]

While winning a conference title would be nice, I just don't want to be 'shocked' on Selection Sunday.

[JVShocker]

Agreed.

[kcshocker11]

Can't vote against our Shocks!

[Dan]

Houston is on another level athletically. I don't think we match up against them at all. We have to play a near flawless game and hope they are cold to win in Houston.

[Cdizzle]

It's good to be in a league that actually prepares a team for the NCAA tourney - and weeds out those who probably can't make a run in the tourney any way.

Was WSU unprepared for the NCAAT from 2013-2017?

Did the AAC prepare WSU for the NCAAT in 2018?

I agree it's nice being in a league where quality wins are available to help your resume, I'm just not sure I buy this particular reasoning.

[Kel Varnsen]

Was WSU unprepared for the NCAAT from 2013-2017?

Did the AAC prepare WSU for the NCAAT in 2018?

I agree it's nice being in a league where quality wins are available to help your resume, I'm just not sure I buy this particular reasoning.

Bingo. There's no correlation between playing a tougher schedule and success in the tournament. The strongest correlation is between team quality and success in the tournament.

[Topshock]

The AAC's unbalanced schedule may come into play this year.

The games left against each other of the above 6 named teams:

WSU - 7
Houston - 7
Cincinnati - 5
Memphis - 5
SMU - 4
Tulsa - 4

This will devalue a conference championship for some teams and make it more impressive for others.

[Cdizzle]

Bingo. There's no correlation between playing a tougher schedule and success in the tournament. The strongest correlation is between team quality and success in the tournament.

I'll disagree/nuance with this just a little bit. A tougher schedule is more likely to get you a better seed, which does correlate to better success. So there is some merit to tough schedule helping tournament results, but I contend by virtue of improved seeding and matchups, not preparing a team for the tourney.

Still, I think we agree that the overriding factor is team quality.