Conference USA draws from the Southern region of the United States. It has 14 members from 10 states. They include University of Alabama at Birmingham, Florida Atlantic University, Florida International University, Louisiana Tech University, Marshall University,
Middle Tennessee State University, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, University of North Texas, Old Dominion University,
Rice University, University of Southern Mississippi, University of Texas at El Paso, University of Texas at San Antonio and
Western Kentucky University.
This conference used to have a lot of national prestige when they had Houston, Memphis, UCF and SMU. The John Calipari Memphis teams stand out as some of the best in the history of the sport. His 2007-2008 Memphis Tigers team went 30-1 with their lone loss coming in a classic dramatic game to in state rival Tennessee. Future NBA MVP Derrick Rose led the Tigers all the way to the national championship game. However, missed free throws and clutch shooting from Kansas proved to be the undoing for the Tigers.
The 2019 Conference USA Men's Basketball Championship will be held from March 13th to the 16th at a relatively new facility. Dallas Cowboys billionaire owner Jerry Jones recently built a practice facility for his football team. It is known as The Star. Old Dominion University is having a season reminiscent of their winning days in their old conference the CAA.
You don't have to be from the land of sweet tea and rebel flags to appreciate the Conference USA Men's Basketball tournament. Make a wager on the team you think is best equipped to claim the league's automatic bid to March Madness.
