Reasons to smile

Good morning! Transfers are still on the move, which means we still have news to cover before diving into Peach Jam coverage later this week.

Let’s get to it.

1. Two under-the-radar tourneys to love

Is it wrong to be irrationally excited for the Paradise Jam bracket? Nah, not with three potential NCAA Tournament teams in the field. Those include UAB, McNeese State, and shockingly, Kansas State.

Programs such as K-State typically haven’t played in the Paradise Jam the last few years because there isn’t a lot to gain if you lose. (Playing some sub-300 NET team might be more beneficial.)

Instead, Jerome Tang is testing his squad with potential matchups against McNeese or UAB.

It’s not so great if the Wildcats suffer an early loss to George Washington, or later to Liberty or Louisiana. But hey, there are ample opportunities to earn Q1 wins during Big 12 play. I’d guess Tang wants his team jell early. Savvy move, Jerome.

They’ll be tested, too.

McNeese State won 30+ games last year and brings in a star-studded portal class featuring high-major imports such as Brandon Murray and Quadir Copeland, plus mid-major studs Sincere Parker and Joe Charles. UAB also made the NCAA tourney last year and brought back over 75% of its production from a team that battled San Diego State until the final whistle.

In other MTE news, how about the Diamond Head Classic? There’s truly nothing better than scarfing down Christmas Day dinner with some beverages and watching the final day of the Diamond Head Classic.

Here’s the list of teams:

Only one high-major program — Nebraska, which should contend for an NCAA tourney bid. But that’s the norm for the Diamond Head Classic. Last year, Georgia Tech represented the big guys, and Nebraska is better than last year’s Yellow Jackets.

For the rest of the field, CAA favorites Charleston, top-3 A-10 team Loyola Chicago, ever-improving Murray State and Oakland — fresh off an NCAA Tournament win — give this tourney some pop.

2. Memphis finally adds a perimeter threat

There was one overwhelming question about Memphis’s roster: Shooting.

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