Major-conference tournament sleepers

There's still a little time left before college basketball's Championship Week, a pleasant prelude to the NCAA Tournament.

By now we know who the favorites are in the major conference tournaments: ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Pac-12 and SEC. But what about the underdogs, teams on the bubble or those squads we still can't quite figure out? All have shown glimpses of being worthy of an invite to the Big Dance at some point this season but still likely have some work left to be done.

The college basketball postseason is one of the most exciting times of any sports season, and the conference tournaments get it all started. So here's a look at 10 major-conference sleepers or under-the-radar programs that might be poised for a deep or surprising run in their respective tournaments.

Alabama
The Crimson Tide are an NCAA Tournament bubble team at the moment, so a nice run during the SEC Tournament would reinforce their case. Alabama already has wins over Kentucky, Mississippi and Mississippi State, so it should not be intimidated by anyone. Plus, the Tide have an impressive one-two scoring punch in Kira Lewis Jr. and Donta Hall. Don't forget: It's also easy to get motivated to play for coach Avery Johnson, meaning Alabama is certainly a team to watch in the postseason.

Baylor 
It looked as if the Bears would be in trouble when big man Tristan Clark suffered a season-ending knee injury in early January. However, Baylor is 10-4 minus Clark, with wins over ranked Texas Tech and Iowa State. The Bears overcame an 11-point halftime deficit to beat Texas in overtime this week, so it's possible they can be a factor in the Big 12 Tournament — especially, if 6-foot-7 swingman Mario Kegler stays hot.

Florida
If there's a second-tier SEC team that can challenge Kentucky, Tennessee and LSU for the conference tournament title, it might be the Gators. Winners of a season-high five in a row, Florida is getting it done with defense at the moment (allowing an average of 60.4  points in the last five games). The Gators look good for an NCAA Tournament spot, and senior guard KeVaughn Allen is someone worth watching in the postseason.

Indiana

Let's put this under the category of "things can only get better." The Hoosiers have been one of the most disappointing teams in the nation, but they did just outlast No. 19 Wisconsin in double overtime for only their second win in 14 contests. Perhaps, that's the jump-start Indiana needs to turn things around and make a run at the NCAA Tournament. The Hoosiers still have two of the country's top players in Romeo Langford and Juwan Morgan. Sure, they'll probably need to win the Big Ten Tournament to reach the Big Dance, but maybe the late wake-up call has been answered.

Florida State
Yes, the Seminoles are ranked, but are they really good enough to crack the top four in the ACC? Florida State will be dancing come the middle of March, but it could help its NCAA Tournament seed with a nice run, preferably to the semifinals of the league tournament. Winners in nine of the last 10, the Seminoles are playing well when it matters most, and they should be motivated after falling just short of the Final Four in 2018.

Mississippi State
Like Florida State, the Bulldogs won't be sneaking up on anybody during the SEC Tournament, especially if they are able to extend their current five-game winning streak. Mississippi State is 8-4 in neutral court and away games, but the most significant of those victories came at Ole Miss. The key for the Bulldogs is going to be consistency, something they have at the moment but can't afford to lose when the games really matter.

Oregon State
The good news for the Beavers is that they've already secured their first winning season since 2016, the last time they reached the NCAA Tournament. They'll need to go the distance at the Pac-12 Tournament to return this season, so nobody seems to be giving them much attention. Maybe we should. Oregon State is a top four Pac-12 squad at the moment and ranks among the league leaders in shooting. The team also boasts one of the nation's top shot blockers in 7-footer Kylor Kelley.  

Penn State
Following Wednesday's 78-61 home win over No. 17 Maryland, the Nittany Lions have posted three victories over ranked opponents this season. With a 12-16 record, Penn State needs to run the table at the Big Ten Tournament, which will be a tall order even though it's won three in a row. What the Nittany Lions can do in Chicago is spoil the hopes of other NCAA bubble teams. Who knows? It was in 2011 that Penn State reached the tournament final as the No. 6 seed. What we know about the postseason is that anything truly is possible.  

St. John's
Shamorie Ponds alone gives St. John's a chance in every game it plays. But if Justin Simon and Marvin Clark can provide some consistent offense down the stretch and in the Big East Tournament, then the Red Storm should have a chance to make noise in that event and, thus, will firmly secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament. St. John's has beat both Marquette and Villanova this season, so one would believe the Red Storm are thinking of themselves as more than just a postseason sleeper.

Xavier
The Musketeers are playing perhaps their best basketball of the season at the moment. That's important because they'll need to keep surging if they want to be part of the NCAA Tournament field. Xavier knocked off Seton Hall and Villanova in back-to-back games and needs to stay hot through the Big East Tournament to have a chance at an NCAA bid. Some improved defense has been key of late for the Musketeers, who held opponents to an average of 61.3 points and 36.9 percent shooting during a four-game winning streak.