Only three games separate college basketball fans from their national champion as we enter the last weekend of the season. The NCAA and CBS should be extremely pleased with the two matchups coming up on Saturday, but might that be the peak of the Madness?

Two teams from the state of Kentucky came out of the South and West regions of the bracket, and a history of bad blood between their two fan bases should provide enough of a spark to keep fans on the edge of their couches the whole way through. The Kentucky Wildcats came in as the number one overall seed and they have not disappointed. After an almost year-long reign as the undisputed best team in the nation, UK came out and whipped their competition, winning each of their first four games by at least 12 points. Last Sunday they jumped out to a commanding 20-point lead during the first half, and kept the pedal to the metal as they held off a "too little, too late" charge from the 3-seed Baylor Bears. Even a (temporarily) scary knee injury to star center Anthony Davis wasn't enough to derail the Wildcats on their route to a second straight Final Four.

Meeting Kentucky in the semifinals is Louisville, a team who is playing copycat to last year's title-winning UConn team. The Cardinals had an unimpressive regular season, but really notched it up as they won the Big East Tournament and rolled through some tough competition so far in the NCAA tourney. Led by diminutive point guard Peyton Siva and cutthroat head coach Rick Pitino, the Cardinals find themselves on an eight game winning streak.

The real juice to the Kentucky-Louisville matchup comes from the close proximity of the two schools. Though they aren't in the same conference (Kentucky plays in the SEC), fans of each team consider this the bitterest of rivalries. Don't believe me? Then ask the two elderly gentlemen, one supporting the Cardinals and the other for the Wildcats, who resorted to fisticuffs at a Kentucky dialysis clinic earlier this week. When the two teams played in December Kentucky won by 7 on their home court. It will be very interesting to see how the Wildcats handle the matchup on a neutral court, and against a completely reinvigorated Cardinals squad.

The other half of the semis provides intrigue as well, as two historically successful 2-seeds do battle. Similarities between the two teams are plentiful: both beat a 1-seed without one of its most important players in the Elite Eight, both are led by coaches who have been here before and both have a long history of producing talented basketball players. But the real interest for this game will be the head-to-head matchups of big men and point guards. It's no secret that OSU's Jared Sullinger and KU's Thomas Robinson were both thought of as candidates for the Naismith Award during the preseason, but only Robinson came through. As Sullinger looks to continue his nice run through the Tournament (and maybe boost his depleted draft stock some more), we as fans get to witness two future NBA studs do battle in the post. The pairing I'm more interested in watching is at point guard, where whoever wins the matchup will win the game. Tyshawn Taylor had a spectacular season for the Jayhawks, posting 17 points and nearly 5 assists per game. His numbers dwarf his counterpart Aaron Craft's 8.6 points and 4.6 assists, but Craft plays some of the best on-ball defense in the country. If Craft can single-handedly shut down Taylor, then the Buckeyes have enough bodies to throw at Robinson to slow him down.

As great as the Louisville-Kentucky and Ohio State-Kansas games are sure to be, the resulting championship game won't have the same amount of moxie. If Kentucky manages to get past rival Louisville (the Wildcats are favored by 8 points), then they will be expected to take down whichever team comes from the other semifinal. The top overall seed hasn't won the championship since Joakim Noah led his Florida Gators to a second straight title in 2007, but there isn't much standing in the way of Kentucky doing it this year. My advice: enjoy the heck out of two fantastic games on Saturday night, and then temper your expectations before watching Kentucky roll to victory on Monday.

Cinderella stories during the first weekend of March Madness always give us headlines, and 2012 was no exception. Entering this NCAA Tournament, four 15-seeds were able to pull off a first-round upset, only 3.7% of the time since the NCAA switched to 64 teams. Last Friday, Norfolk State and Lehigh did the unthinkable by adding two more colossal upsets to that list. The two tiny schools enjoyed their moment in the sun, but each were bounced two days later.

As we prepare for the second weekend of the 2012 NCAA Tournament, it is quite obvious that Cinderella was not invited to this ball. 14 of the remaining Sweet Sixteen teams are from power conferences, with the Xavier Musketeers and the Ohio Bobcats as the only remaining mid-majors. Xavier, a member of the Atlantic-10 Conference, has reached the Sweet Sixteen in four of the past five years, which partially revokes their "underdog" card. Sure, 11-seed North Carolina State has caught some eyes by upsetting San Diego State and Georgetown, but even they were one of the most popular lower seeds after an impressive performance in the national spotlight of the ACC Tournament.

It's tough to tell whether the chalkiness of this year's bracket is good or bad for college basketball. On one hand, the "big" schools tend to have more followers, so more people are still involved and watching all of the games. The Big Ten, for example, has four representatives remaining, and nearly had a fifth before Purdue choked away a late lead against Kansas.

But on the other hand, we as fans have been robbed of some of the excitement of a true Cinderella story. Last year, the highest ranked team to reach the Final Four was 3-seed UConn. That foursome included Butler from the Horizon League and VCU from the Colonial Athletic Association, two of the most improbable Final Four teams ever. VCU in 2011 and George Mason in 2006 electrified their respective Tournaments, as nearly every fan disregarded their personal brackets and supported the crazy streaks through the field.

The good news is that even without the underdog stories, the second weekend is shaping up for some excellent basketball. Storylines run wild, as "what-if" scenarios dominate the office water cooler talk this week.

What if Syracuse doesn't need Fab Melo?

The Orange looked very shaky in their seven-point, referee-aided victory over UNC Asheville, then settled in and throttled Kansas State. After pundits and fans alike switched them out of the Final Four in the brackets due to Melo's academic ineligibility, 'Cuse now looks like a team that could pick up momentum and sneak out of the East regional.

What if the second of two wrist injuries derails the Midwest region quarterfinals favorite?

UNC was still one of the favorites without forward John Henson, but doom-and-gloom has begun to set in for the Tar Heels now that point guard Kendall Marshall has a broken wrist. Though Harrison Barnes and Tyler Zeller stole the national attention for most of the year, Marshall was the most important guy on that team. He played the role of facilitator, and he was second in the nation with 9.7 assists per game. Barring a miraculously fast healing process, UNC will have some big shoes to fill this weekend.

What if Indiana has Kentucky's number this year?

The Kentucky Wildcats had one of the most impressive regular season runs in recent memory, dropping only one game all season long. They won each of their six games against ranked opponents, and big man Anthony Davis had a season worthy of the Naismith Award. So what's the problem? The problem is that the one loss came in Bloomington, Indiana as the Hoosiers knocked off the top-ranked Wildcats on Christian Watford's game-winning buzzer-beater. We'll have to wait until Friday night to see if UK comes out for revenge or with their Wildcat tails between their legs. Either way, we're in for a great game between two storied basketball programs.

What if Wisconsin and Ohio State meet up for a rubber match in the Elite Eight?

The paths for both teams have been made easier; first, Wisconsin's toughest opponent in Syracuse lost its best big man. Then, 3-seed Florida State fell to Cincinnati, who OSU will play on Thursday. Of the two Big East rivals, the Badgers face a much tougher opponent, but they also have the perfect offense to win that game. Jim Boeheim has Syracuse playing a 2-3 zone, which has always been susceptible to the three-point shot (a Wisconsin specialty). The Badgers and Buckeyes split their two games earlier this year, and each time the road team won. If both teams can win one more game, then they will meet for a third game, this time at a neutral site with a trip to New Orleans and the Final Four on the line.

With the field of 68 now whittled down to just sixteen, many of the nation's elite players find themselves back on campus watching the action, rather than being a part of it. However, while surefire future NBA draftees like Duke's Austin Rivers and UConn's Jeremy Lamb may be done for the season, a bounty of NBA-caliber talent has survived the tournament's first three rounds. We'll take a look at some of the players to keep an eye on this weekend who have NBA GMs salivating at their potential to play at the next level.

Anthony Davis, F, Kentucky

Davis was the top-rated prospect coming into the season and he has, by all accounts, exceeded the massive hype. The Chicago native is averaging fourteen points, ten rebounds, and nearly five blocks per game in just 30 minutes of floor time. He will likely be named National Player of the year, as he has emerged as the best player on the nation's best team - quite a feat considering the Wildcats' star-studded roster. Davis, if he decides to enter this year's draft, is the consensus top pick and has the potential to change the fortunes of a franchise with his defensive prowess and quickly-developing offensive skill set. He has drawn comparisons to another Calipari-coached player, Marcus Camby, who went on to a productive NBA career. While the two are very similar in body style and their ability to protect the rim, Davis already appears to be more of a mid-range/perimeter threat than Camby ever was.

Perry Jones III, F, Baylor

On talent alone, Jones is right up there with Anthony Davis as one of the best pure basketball players at any level in the game today. He is capable of putting up huge scoring and rebounding numbers -- as he did in the Big 12 Tournament -- but is equally capable of disappearing in big games and becoming far too passive for a player with his skill set. As a draft prospect, Jones will hear his name called by Commissioner Stern as a lottery pick whenever he declares, but the question of whether he will develop into the player many scouts think he can be remains unanswered. His wiry frame and potent inside-outside game have drawn comparisons to the Thunder's Kevin Durant, but he appears to lack the competitiveness necessary to achieve superstar status in the NBA.

Terrence Jones, F, Kentucky

Arguably the second-best player on Kentucky's roster, Terrence, like Perry Jones (no relation), has faced questions about his motivation and work ethic. After a strong start to his sophomore campaign, Jones hit a rough patch in which he failed to score in double digits in four consecutive games and appeared uncharacteristically passive and disinterested. However, he has since turned it around and is playing like the Terrence Jones of last season, when he was projected as a lottery pick had he opted to declare. His stock has certainly diminished, but not to the point where he is no longer considered an elite prospect. If he does declare after this season, Jones is projected as a late-lottery/mid-first-round pick. One issue that could potentially impact his stock, however, is his lack of a "true" NBA position. For the Wildcats, he plays a hybrid three/four, but some scouts fear he may not be quick enough to play at small forward in the League, and is not enough of an inside threat to start as a power forward.

Brad Beal, G, Florida

Beal was Billy Donovan's prized recruit entering the season and has put together an impressive freshman season for the Gators, averaging nearly fifteen points per game. He's listed at 6'3", slightly undersized for an NBA two-guard, but possesses exceptional athleticism and is a deadly three-point shooter. He also rebounds well for his size (6.5 per game) and has the potential to be a solid defender. His game has drawn comparisons to that of former UConn, and current Celtics, star Ray Allen - high praise for any prospect. If he decides to come out, Beal looks to be a top-ten pick with all-star potential in the future. He may not be elite to the point where he can carry a franchise, but he certainly appears to be on track for a productive NBA career.

Thomas Robinson, F, Kansas

Robinson represents Anthony Davis' closest competition for National Player of the Year honors, and rightfully so. The junior from DC is averaging eighteen points and twelve boards for the second-seeded Jayhawks and has been their leader all season. While Robinson's ceiling is probably the lowest of all the prospects we've listed thus far, he has the highest floor. With his sturdy, 6'10" 240 pound frame, he can step in and produce for a team immediately. Some projections have him going as high as second overall in the 2012 Draft (for which it is widely assumed he will declare), while others see him as a mid-lottery pick. If Robinson is able to expand his offensive game beyond the paint, he has all-star potential; but with his current limitations he projects as a durable, longtime NBA starting power forward.

Harrison Barnes, G, North Carolina

Harrison Barnes arrived in Chapel Hill last season as the nation's top recruit and endured a very much up-and-down season. Some nights he looked like a future NBA star, while others made scouts scratch their heads. This season, he has been much more consistent and has emerged as a leader for a dinged up North Carolina team that may face Ohio without three of its starters. As a high schooler in Ames, Iowa, Barnes drew comparisons to Kobe Bryant with his smooth jumper and highly-developed offensive game. While the similarities are there, I believe Barnes projects more closely to the Joe Johnson of the Atlanta Hawks - a scorer who will give you 25 points a night, but doesn't quite have that killer instinct to carry a franchise to the promised land.

C.J. Leslie, F, North Carolina State

A high school teammate of John Wall, Leslie has greatly improved from his freshman season and appears to be much more NBA-ready. He is probably the best athlete in the tournament (no offense, Mike Bruesewitz) and is usually good for a couple big-time throwdowns each game (think Hakim Warrick/JJ Hickson). He is slightly undersized for an NBA power forward, but if he develops an outside game and improves his decision making, he has lottery pick written all over him.

Dion Waiters, G, Syracuse

I've had the opportunity to watch Waiters play several times this season and the more I see him the more he reminds me of former Memphis standout Tyreke Evans. Everything about their game is similar, down to the TMac-esque leg kick jumpshot. Waiters is slightly shorter than Evans, but possesses the same slashing capability and uncanny ability to finish in traffic. If he opts to come out after this season, he would probably be a late first round selection, but I believe the potential for a productive NBA career is there. Waiters comes off the bench for the talented Orangemen, but has the confidence and ability necessary to succeed in the League.

Other Prospects to Watch:

John Henson, F, North Carolina

Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina

Jae Crowder, F, Marquette

Doron Lamb, G, Kentucky

Jared Sullinger, F, Ohio State

William Buford, G/F, Ohio State

Cody Zeller, C, Indiana

Yes, you probably think I'm crazy after reading that headline. The Badgers haven't reached a final four since 2000, which most 90's kids barely remember -- the highlight of 2000 was probably surviving the imminent death of Y2K. Well wouldn't you know it, the world is supposed to end in 2012 as well, and that's just the first reason you should bet on the Badgers to make it to New Orleans. There is something about this team that has me picking them to go to the Final Four. As I first filled out my brackets on selection Sunday I found myself picking Florida State out of the East region. Then, it was Syracuse, but after news broke of Fab Melo's ineligibility, I threw out the Orange's 31-2 record like any rational person and I went with Cincinnati. Next I tried to figure out how to spell Cincinnati. But each time I penciled in a team to make the final four, I found myself sounding like Chris from Parks and Recreation, incessantly saying: no, Badgers. So here are the five reasons you should have picked the Badgers to make the final four.

1) Improved frontcourt play

Ryan Evans has displayed a silky smooth jumper from mid-range lately, allowing him to utilize his pump fake to get to the rim and draw fouls. In the past ten games, Evans has averaged 13.9 points and 7.5 rebounds. Additionally, Evans has been getting to the line about four times per game, second only to Jordan Taylor over this span. Plus, Evans rocks a sick flat top that will undoubtedly intimidate opponents.

Jared Berggren, while lacking an intimidating hairdo, has also shown consistent play. Berggren has asserted himself in the post on defense, notching 7 blocks Thursday against Montana. He has gained invaluable experience from defending some of the top post players in the country in Jared Sullinger, Draymond Green and Cody Zeller. Berggren showed the ability to come through in the clutch as he drained a go ahead three against Ohio State to give the Badgers the victory. Berggren's experience in taking shots under pressure makes him a factor down the stretch, an invaluable tool in the tournament.

Clearly, the ghost of Mike Bruesewitz's hair has been haunting his shooting for most of the season. But there's nothing like a trip to New Mexico, the land of enchantment, to reverse this curse. Even if he's unable to contribute large amounts of offense, Bruesewitz gives the Badgers ample energy and is a rebounding presence inside.

Bruesewitz's energy and intensity could be the difference in gaining a key loose ball or rebound. If he can start hitting threes, he adds another factor to this Badgers squad.

2) Legitimate threats off the bench

Rob Wilson scored 30 points against Indiana. No one saw that coming. Wilson had been seeing increasing minutes recently and been producing during those minutes, but his explosion of points -- a myriad of drives, mid-range shots and threes, showcased the breadth of his game and suggests that Wilson can provide an offensive supplement for the Badgers throughout the tournament.

His outburst has me thinking it's part of Bo Ryan's evil plot to give teams another element to plan for during the tourney.

Although the Badgers aren't deep on the bench, Ben Brust offers another legitimate threat from deep. He showed the ability to light it up from 3-point range early in the season, and if he can get into a rhythm, his marksmanship from deep could provide a spark from the bench that lifts UW through scoring droughts. As the Badgers (hopefully) advance through the tournament, key role players with the ability to hit open threes will allow UW to extend defenses and attack the rim.

3) A good draw in the East region

The East region really lacks any real star power or flash. Without Fab Melo, many are doubting Syracuse's chances to advance deep into the tourney -- evidenced by 16-seed UNC-Asheville nearly knocking off the Orange yesterday, albeit without any help from the refs. Vanderbilt's potent combination of guard John Jenkins and forward Jeffery Taylor, and Ohio State's Jared Sullinger bring great individual play, but many of the teams in the East aren't necessarily favorites to make it to the National Championship. Thus, in this wide open region, if the Badgers can string together complete performances within the framework of their particular roles, I think they can make it to New Orleans.

4) This team has proven its mettle

This season the Badgers knocked off a top ten team on the road in Ohio State for the first time since 1980. The Badgers also garnered road wins over Illinois and Purdue and knocked off Indiana in a neutral, but mostly Hoosier supported crowd at the Big Ten Tournament. These road wins provide a solid basis for a deep run into March. Jordan Taylor's senior leadership and experience could help this team overcome adverse situations as the Badgers face different venues and unique challenges.

Tips for Picking the Perfect Bracket

 

1. When in doubt, go with the hot team

Last year serves as a perfect example, as we saw Kemba Walker lead his streaking UConn team to a national championship. The Huskies entered the Big East Tournament as the ninth-best team in their own conference, and then rattled off 11 straight victories to win both the Big East and the NCAA Tournaments. People don't remember that two of the other Final Four teams (Kentucky and Butler) won their conference tournaments as well, and the fourth (VCU) lost in their conference championship game. Of this year's conference tournament winners, I like Colorado to advance to the second weekend, VCU to have another Cinderella-style run to at least the Sweet Sixteen, Florida State to reach the Elite Eight and Louisville to make the Final Four.

 

2. Follow your upset-hunches for Thursday and Friday...to an extent

In three of the past seven Tournaments we've seen a 14-seed upset a 3-seed in the "first" round games (I don't care about the stupid play-ins, we all know the real first round starts on Thursday). Don't be too quick to dismiss No. 14 South Dakota State and their stud guard Nate Wolters (21.3 ppg) as they do battle with a slumping Baylor squad that's lost five of 11. The 5-12 pairings always seem to provide one or more upsets, so take a long, hard look at VCU, Long Beach State and Harvard. It's important not to go overboard with the upsets, however. Don't get too crazy and select a 16-seed over a 1-seed, because that has never happened in the history of the Tournament (and likely never will). And as a side note, don't buy into the "No. 15 Detroit over No. 2 Kansas" hype, as it isn't going to happen. Jayhawks' Player of the Year candidate Thomas Robinson will have a field day, and KU will win by double digits.

 

3. Don't let your emotions get the best of you

You're trying to pick the perfect bracket, not boost your home team's confidence. Wisconsin has a pretty easy draw up until the Sweet Sixteen, but the Badgers are just too inconsistent on the offensive end to make a deep run into the tourney. It's very possible that they'll lose to Montana in the first round, or to the winner of red-hot Vanderbilt and Harvard (an Ivy League school bounced Wisconsin two years ago, remember). If they squeak past their first two matchups, they almost certainly run into No. 1 Syracuse, a team who can play Badger-basketball even better than the Badgers. The Orange ranks 23^rd in the nation in scoring defense (22 spots behind the top-ranked Badgers), but brings a much more balanced and reliable offense to the table. While I'll be hoping and rooting like everyone else, I just don't see any way the Badgers can make the Elite Eight.

 

4. Chalk, chalk, chalk and more chalk

People love to brag about picking first-round upsets (I still tell anyone who will listen about my No. 13 Bradley pick in 2006), but bracket pools (if they were legal) are won in the later rounds. If you get all of the Final Four teams correct, no one will care that you missed a 9-8 first round upset, or that you didn't get that one Sweet Sixteen Cinderella team. The first thing you need to do is sift through the 1-seeds, deciding who has a deep run in them and who is looking at an early exit. A 1-seed has reached the Final Four in all but two of the Tournaments since 1985 (when the NCAA adopted a 64-team bracket), so you can be pretty sure that one or two more will make it to New Orleans this year. After you decide which No. 1's you like (Kentucky and Syracuse for me), it's time to examine some of the other higher seeds. Only five teams seeded sixth or worse have reached the Final Four over the past 19 years, so there is a slim chance that will happen again.

 

5. Experience and head coaching rules all

Just like the rest of John Calipari's teams, Kentucky looks to buck this trend. Outside of Coach Cal, it's no coincidence that Tom Izzo, Roy Williams and Jim Boeheim coached the teams that were awarded the 1-seeds. Each coach already has at least one NCAA Championship under his belt, so don't be surprised if they have their teams ready to play. Izzo, in particular, has a lot of tourney success. In each of the three seasons that his Michigan State teams have earned a 1-seed he's led them to at least the Final Four (winning the championship with Mateen Cleaves running the point in 2000). Other strong, veteran head coaches to look out for: Duke's Mike Krzyzewski, Connecticut's Jim Calhoun, Florida's Billy Donovan and Kansas State's Frank Martin.

 

6. Get ALL of your schoolwork done by Wednesday night

The first weekend of the March Madness Tournament is devoted entirely to basketball, so make sure that your only obligation is watching the games. Once the first game tips off on Thursday morning (at 11:15 AM Central), the brackets will lock and all the pre-Tournament anxiety should wash right out of you. At that point it's time for you to grab a comfortable spot on the couch, email your professors to let them know that you're sick, and then enjoy roughly 12 straight hours of college basketball (then lather, rinse, repeat for another marathon of college hoops on Friday).

SOUTH

No. 1 Seed: Kentucky

Potential Cinderella: No. 12 Virginia Commonwealth

The South is the consensus toughest quarter of the bracket, with three teams (UK, Duke, Baylor) who spent most of the year inside the top ten of the polls. The selection committee didn't do Kentucky any favors, at least with their possible Elite Eight matchup with one of those powerhouses. Before that, UK might have to go through VCU. The Rams are one year removed from one of the most impressive underdog runs we've ever seen, as head coach Shaka Smart led them to the Final Four as an 11-seed. They're regular season résumé is just as unimpressive as last year, but there's no reason to think they can't make another deep run into the Tournament. Heck, we just saw Butler make the championship game two years in a row, why not VCU?

WEST

No. 1 Seed: Michigan State

Potential Cinderella: No. 7 Florida

This section has the makings of several third round (formerly second round) upsets, with No. 4 Louisville, No. 6 Murray State, and No. 7 Florida all coming in under-seeded. Louisville scorched through the Big East Tournament, winning four games in four days and bringing back memories of eventual-champion UConn's five-in-five run last year. Murray State romped over inferior competition on their way to a 30-1 record, but don't rule out the Racers for a couple of early-round wins. And the Gators have more than enough talent to raise a ruckus against Mizzou in the third round. They lost by less than 7 to three top 4 teams over the year, so they are certainly capable of hanging with the big dogs.

EAST

No. 1 Seed: Syracuse

Potential Cinderella: No. 8 Kansas State

The good news is that Wisconsin got a relatively easy draw of teams in their "foursome." None of Vanderbilt, Harvard or Montana should be able to adjust to the Badgers' extreme slow-down game. After that, however, the Badgers would need a miracle to oust top-seeded Syracuse. 'Cuse had just one loss during the regular season, and made it through the entire Big East Conference schedule unscathed (until the Big East Tournament). On the lower part of the East bracket, Ohio State and Florida State have a relatively easy road to their Sweet Sixteen matchup, but that should be one of the best games of the whole Tournament.

 

MIDWEST

No. 1 Seed: North Carolina

Potential Cinderella: No. 11 North Carolina State

In what looks like the weakest (and probably the most boring) quarter, there seems to be little resistance to a looming UNC-Kansas Elite Eight matchup. The selection committee played a cruel trick on NC State, as they were the very last bid announced Sunday evening. The Wolfpack came out of their semifinal loss in the ACC Tournament with a spark, so hopefully they can provide some underdog magic in the first couple rounds. Another intriguing storyline could come this Sunday, if UNC and No. 8 Creighton take care of business in their first games. Swingman Harrison Barnes of the Tar Heels played alongside Bluejays' star Doug McDermott in high school, winning two Iowa state championships. Now Barnes is a future NBA lottery pick and McDermott posted more than 23 points and eight rebounds per game this year. It would be very interesting to see these two sharing the same court again.

Every year the number grows, but in 2011 it was estimated that companies nationwide lost nearly $200 million in employee production due to the NCAA Tournament. People watch games on their office computers, take frequent bathroom breaks to check the scores and their brackets, or else just play hooky from school or work to pack arenas.

No other month-long sporting event attracts as much attention, and yet there seems to be a constant push by the NCAA to alter one of the most important pieces of its Tournament, the number of participants.

The first NCAA Men's Division 1 Basketball Tournament was held in 1939, and only eight teams were invited. The number of teams gradually increased over the years, until it held constant at 64 from 1985 until 2000. In my opinion, the expansion should have stopped there.

The entire point of having a bracket-style playoff is to determine the ultimate "top-dog" from that particular season (a novel concept that college football just now seems to be considering). With some notable exceptions, the teams that end up playing in the Final Four are always higher seeds, and one could argue that shrinking the bracket would actually be a better way to find the best team.

The number is trending in the opposite direction, however, as greedy NCAA representatives and television networks try to bleed even more money out of the (supposedly) unpaid athletes who actually play the games. From 64 teams there came 65 in 2001, with the addition of one play-in game between the worst two teams in the Big Dance. Then just last year the NCAA added three more berths, to make it a 68-team tournament. Besides being a ridiculously awkward number for a playoff tournament, is adding those last four teams really necessary? What are the odds that one of those last bubble teams to get in the tourney is going to make a seven-game run and win the whole shebang?

Last year we saw 11th-seeded VCU win their opening play-in game against USC, then make a Cinderella run to the Final Four. This seems like damning evidence against the 64-team Tournament, but further research shows just how unlikely that feat was. In the 27 years since there have been at least 64 teams, a "bubble" team with an 11 seed or lower has reached the Final Four exactly three times. So less than 3% of all of the Final Four teams were on the bubble, and of course none of those ever advanced to the championship game.

The latest discussion is whether or not the NCAA should expand to 128 teams. This would allow more than one-third of the 344 total D1 teams to make the Tournament, which would essentially render the regular season pointless. Any middling team from one of the six power conferences that posts a winning record would be invited, and that means a lot of bad teams as the lower seeds.

For example, the 2012 Minnesota Golden Gophers have an RPI around 90th-best in the country. At 18-13, with one quality win (over Indiana) and several bad losses, the Gophers would probably be invited to participate in the most prestigious college sports tournament. Is that what we as college basketball fans really want? A mediocre Minnesota team playing on the biggest of stages?

Everyone loves the first round of the Tournament because of the rare upset possibilities, but we forget that the underdogs we root for usually have won their conference tournaments and earned an automatic berth. The extra 60 teams won't be riding such a hot streak, and sloppy first round games will lead to a quick exit for most of them. While upsets might still happen with 128 teams, the obvious drop in quality of play for the first round is not worth whatever extra dollars the Tournament would net.

The schedule-makers are college basketball fans' best friends this time of year. They always purposely load up the last weekend of the regular season with matchups between powerhouses, in the hopes that creating the NCAA Tournament becomes more clear-cut.

As March 11th's Selection Sunday nears, the top eight teams can realistically settle anywhere from a #1 seed to a #4 seed depending on how they finish their seasons. No one is safe, and even one-loss teams Kentucky (28-1) and Syracuse (29-1) could fall from the top with a couple slip-ups over the next couple weeks.

Here's a preview of the five most important games coming up this weekend:

No. 12 Georgetown at No. 7 Marquette (Saturday, 1 PM)

Marquette always seems to be hanging around in the top 25 polls, but they haven't made a deep run into the NCAA Tournament since 2003, when Dwyane Wade led them to the Final Four. The Golden Eagles find themselves knocking on the door of a #1 seed, but that would still require a big win against the up-and-down Hoyas on Saturday, as well as a string of victories in the Big East Tournament. Senior Darius Johnson-Odom (18.4 points per game) looks to win his last game in the Bradley Center, where the Golden Eagles are 14-1 this season.

Prediction: Marquette 76, Georgetown 65

No. 18 Louisville at No. 2 Syracuse (Saturday, 3 PM)

On December 26th, Louisville found themselves at No. 4 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll, with a perfect 12-0 record to boot. That would turn out to be the apex of their season, and they've since lost seven of 17 games. No one is expecting much of a tussle in the Carrier Dome this weekend, but the Cardinals played the Orange tough just a couple of weeks ago, falling 52-51 on February 13th. Louisville has the make-up of a team that could catch fire at the right time and run deep into March, but the ball has to get rolling this Saturday against Syracuse.

Prediction: Louisville 61, Syracuse 58

No. 6 North Carolina at No. 3 Duke (Saturday, 6 PM)

The Blue Devils have "backed into" the No. 3 slot, as they're essentially the only team (besides Kentucky and Syracuse) that hasn't lost in the past few weeks. They look to prove that their buzzer-beating, one-point victory at Chapel Hill in early February wasn't a fluke, but keep in mind the Tar Heels controlled that game for almost the entire second half. A late barrage of threes, including freshman Austin Rivers' dagger as time expired, let Duke steal a big win, but you can be sure that Carolina will be out for revenge on Saturday night.

Prediction: North Carolina 81, Duke 73

No. 1 Kentucky at No. 13 Florida (Sunday, 11 AM)

Since they are the only two ranked teams in the SEC, I guess you would have to call this the best matchup that conference has to offer. However, when they played in Kentucky on February 7th, Florida left with their Gator-tails between their legs after a 20-point blowout. Kentucky, winners of a nation-best 20 games in a row, is hitting on all cylinders right now. Even Florida's home-court advantage won't be enough to slow freshmen Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.

Prediction: Kentucky 70, Florida 62

No. 11 Ohio State at No. 5 Michigan State (Sunday, 3 PM)

This matchup lost a bit of its luster since OSU dropped three of its past five games, but it's still a battle between the top two teams in what is widely regarded as the best basketball conference in the nation. Michigan State, led by senior Draymond Green, looks to rebound after a tough loss at No. 20 Indiana on Tuesday night. Perhaps the Spartans have the Buckeyes' number this season; a couple weeks ago Sparty laid the smack down in Columbus, winning 58-48. Another win over a ranked opponent and the selection committee will have to give them serious consideration for a #1 seed.

Prediction: Michigan State 60, Ohio State 58

With Selection Sunday less than three weeks away, it's time to start studying up for college basketball's bracket season. The end-of-year conference tournaments always give us a surprise or two (who predicted UConn defeating five Big East teams in five days last year?), but the top seeds are nearly set in stone by now. With that being said, let's take a look at a few of the teams vying for one of the four #1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament:

Team: Kentucky Wildcats (27-1)

Bio: They're a buzzer-beating three-point shot in Bloomington, Indiana away from a perfect season, and you could argue this is John Calipari's most talented team he's ever had. Led by freshman Anthony Davis and his remarkable defense, the Wildcats have dispatched each of their four ranked opponents. However, it must be noted they are very young, as is usually the case with Coach Cal's teams. Youth almost always causes problems during March Madness, so watch out.

Title Chances: 3 to 1

Team: Syracuse Orange (27-1)

Bio: If Kentucky is the unquestioned best team in the nation, then Syracuse is definitely number two. So far they've withstood the rigors of the Big East conference, and that tough schedule has prepared them well for the Big Dance. Surprising as it may be, the Orange are without a true "star" player, but they make up for it with a very deep bench--10 players average at least 10 minutes per game. As with the rest of the top teams, 'Cuse' has a top-notch coach leading the way. Jim Boeheim already has one championship (2003) under his belt, and this Orange team gives him a good chance at another.

Title Chances: 6 to 1

Team: Duke Blue Devils (23-4)

Bio: After the NBA snatched up Kyrie Irving, Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith, it seemed this Duke team would be very different from previous seasons. Coach K typically relies on veteran leadership to make deep runs in the Tournament, but big man Miles Plumlee is the only senior on the roster. A lot of young talent has filled the empty slots, none more impressive than freshman Austin Rivers. If Rivers and Co. can deliver another win over UNC in a couple weeks, Duke should all but lock up a #1 seed.

Title Chances: 10 to 1

Team: Michigan State Spartans (22-5)

Bio: MSU has pretty much come out of nowhere, never cracking the top 10 in the polls until their big win over Ohio State two weeks ago. But now they have some serious momentum, after winning at No. 3 OSU, at home against No. 15 Wisconsin and at Purdue in consecutive games. MSU currently leads the nation in victories over ranked opponents with six, a stat that is obviously of great significance for the later rounds of the Tournament. Head coach Tom Izzo always seems to have relevant teams in March, and it wouldn't be surprising to see another unflashy, yet solid, Spartans squad in the Final Four.

Title Chances: 12 to 1

Team: Kansas Jayhawks (22-5)

Bio: Player of the Year candidate Thomas Robinson has the Jayhawks rolling down the stretch, but they have one of their biggest tests this Saturday against Missouri. KU fell to Mizzou just three weeks ago, and the Jayhawks will have their hands full as the Tigers look to bounce back from a rough loss to unranked Kansas State.

Title Chances: 15 to 1

In 2005, the NBA decided to raise its minimum age from 18 to 19. This rule change required everyone (except that one loop-holer, Brandon Jennings) to attend at least one year of college before entering the NBA Draft. At the time, this was a huge issue; some people argued against it, saying that über-talented players could get injured during their year of college basketball, and then miss out on the opportunity to make a fortune while playing professionally. The other side of the coin says younger guys aren't physically or mentally mature enough to live the NBA life, both on and off the court.

Kentucky freshman Anthony Davis is a perfect representative of why the rule change was a good move. Davis left his Chicago high school as a raw, gangly, unibrowed big man, a perfect recipe for someone who would not be able to make the adjustment from high school ball to the NBA. We saw it happen so many times in the early 2000s that we all knew the story: an 18 year-old gets eaten alive by the tougher competition, doesn't develop his game properly, and within a couple years has been labeled as a bust (See: Brown, Kwame).

It's clear that Davis won't go down the same career path, especially after thriving on a team full of future pros (at least four besides Davis, by my count). Kentucky is the top-ranked team in the nation, and Davis is their unquestioned statistical leader. He paces his team in points, rebounds, steals, blocks and also leads with 11 double-doubles. The common belief is that the Naismith Award for the best NCAA basketball player will go to either Davis or Thomas Robinson, a junior from Kansas.

What separates Davis from other dominant young big man is his defensive presence around the hoop. Most players in the NBA have a niche, whether it's spot-up shooting, rebounding or distributing the ball. If you had to choose one of Davis' skills that will translate well to the NBA, it would have to be his ability to block shots. Davis currently leads the nation with 4.9 blocks a game, and he recently topped former LSU standout Shaquille O'Neal's record for blocks in one season by an SEC freshman (in eight fewer games, no less).

What's even better is that Davis' numbers aren't a product of padding his stats against bad teams. In the Wildcats' four games against ranked opponents (all wins), Davis has averaged 13.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.8 blocks, including a 14-6-7 line in a dominant win over Robinson and the Jayhawks.

At this point there isn't much more for Davis to prove on the college level. He's faced some of the best of his peers and come out on top each time. Davis' first (and probably last) year of college basketball has helped him harness his freakish athleticism and unparalleled talent, to the point where he'll probably be selected first overall in a VERY deep 2012 NBA Draft. While there is a decent chance he would have been a high draft pick right out of high school, there's no way his game would have been as fine-tuned as it will be after this one season. He's flourished while playing the best athletes college basketball has to offer, and has now proven he is ready for the NBA.

It's been 36 years since Bobby Knight's Indiana Hoosiers squad went 32-0, the last perfect season in NCAA men's basketball. Since then three teams have posted perfect regular season records and lost in the NCAA Tournament, but none since UNLV did it in 1991.

Well we finally have another contender for a perfect season. The Murray State Racers have started the 2011-12 season with 21 straight wins, and have soared into the top 10 in each of the major national polls. The Racers play in the less-than-intimidating Ohio Valley Conference, but that doesn't detract from the impressive streak of wins. Hardly anyone knows of them, and even fewer people give them a chance to run the table. But even more important than an undefeated regular season record, why couldn't they make some noise during the March Madness tournament?

If Murray State wants to keep continue this hot streak, they will have to follow the play of their leader, junior point guard Isaiah Canaan. Canaan leads the team in points, assists, and minutes per game. He also dropped a heroic 36 points in one of the Racers' defining victories this season, a double-overtime thriller against Southern Mississippi.

That win, which came on the Saturday after Thanksgiving in the title game of the Great Alaska Shootout, was one of two big triumphs for the Racers this season. Southern Miss (17-3) has climbed all the way up to the 11th best RPI in the nation, all but guaranteeing a spot for themselves in March's 68-team tournament. The other significant "W" came in early December, when Murray State upended an athletic Memphis team on the road. At the time Memphis was ranked 21, but they've since slipped all the way out of the polls and are currently unranked. Regardless, ESPN's Joe Lunardi has both Southern Miss and Memphis making the tourney in his most recent edition of Bracketology.

Unfortunately for them, the Racers' other wins haven't been much to talk about. Non-conference victories over teams like Morgan State or Tennessee Temple hardly get the juices flowing, but Murray State also suffers from a lack of strong competition within their conference. The OVC ranks 21st out of 32 Division I conferences in RPI, and that takes into account the Racers' undefeated record. The Murray State players surely would love to go into the record books with an undefeated regular season, but with only two games against decent opposition, they would likely bow out quickly in March.

They caught a break, however, when ESPN's BracketBusters set them up for one more chance to test themselves against a good opponent. For each of the past 10 seasons, ESPN has paired tournament-hopefuls up for a slew of nationally televised games in late February. It takes a bit of maneuvering about teams' schedules to set up a game midseason, but the idea is to separate the contenders from the pretenders for those basketball higher-ups who actually construct the brackets. This year the top game will be between the undefeated Racers and the St. Mary's Gaels (21-2). Both teams are midmajors who have made the most of their relatively weak schedules, and the matchup currently sets up #9 vs. #16 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll.

Although it's a home game for Murray State, it still serves as a great way to test out their true worth against one last good team before the March Madness tournament. After St. Mary's comes to town, it's nothing but Tennessee-Martin's and Austin Peay's before the OVC tournament (which is more of the same) in early March. If Murray State wants to push deep into the NCAA Tournament, then they need to keep their attention off of the glitz and glamour of the undefeated season and focus instead on playing the best basketball they can possibly play.

Time for some weekend hoops today, as the No. 14/16 Wisconsin Badgers (7-2) host the Nevada-Las Vegas Rebels (9-1) at the Kohl Center. The Badgers are coming off a 70-42 win over in-state rival Green Bay Wednesday night, while the Rebels trounced Cal State San Marcos 94-50 in Las Vegas that night.

The two teams met last year in Vegas, where UNLV won a back-and-forth affair 68-65. Both teams also have a common opponent this season in North Carolina, which UNLV beat four days before Wisconsin nearly did the same Nov. 30.

I'll be here all game long alongside fellow Herald Sports editor Elliot Hughes to deliver all the action to you on the live blog below. Thanks for following, and have a great weekend.

In mid-November, thousands of people packed Madison Square Garden to witness history. Two powerhouse college basketball programs were meeting at one of the grandest stages in all of sports. Although a game between Michigan State and Duke usually carries significance, this one meant more than that. It was Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski's shot at the record books--his 903 win, the most of all-time. Unfortunately for the Spartans, this was Coach K's night. He surpassed the all time lead set by his former mentor Bob Knight, who happened to be on scene to watch his protégé break his record setting mark.

Knight and Krzyzewski have much in common. As coach of Indiana, Knight amassed three national championships, eleven Big Ten championships, and was named coach of the year four times. Krzyzewski has won four national titles, twelve ACC championships, and coach of the year three times. On paper, they are very similar, but make no mistake: Coach K is the better coach.

As a college coach, you represent your university. Krzyzewski not only characterizes the Cameron Crazies and anything basketball related, but also Duke in general. Here is where he distances himself from Bob Knight. Coach K never tossed a fold-up chair across the hardwood when he disagreed with a ref's call. He never belittled his players in an attempt to inspire them. And he never was arrested for assault. Say all you want about Bob Knight's knowledge of the game of basketball, but he failed as a representative of the Indiana basketball program and the university.

Krzyzewski will be remembered for winning championships, teaching the game of basketball, and leading the country in player graduation rates. Guess what? Bob Knight did all that too. Yet, the first thing people will recall about Bob Knight will be something like, "Isn't that the crazy guy who hurled a chair onto the court?" Krzyzewski, meanwhile, understands the multiple dimensions that define a great coach. He is an intelligent basketball mind, but also a leader and a role model, and because of this, will go down as one of the greatest college basketball coaches ever.

Time for some hoops! I'm Mike Fiammetta, and I'm here with fellow Herald Sports editor Elliot Hughes at the Kohl Center, where the No. 14/16 Wisconsin Badgers (6-2, 0-0 Big Ten) will host the in-state rival Green Bay Phoenix (4-4, 2-0 Horizon League). After two consecutive losses to North Carolina and Marquette, Wisconsin is especially eager for a win tonight.

While the loss to the No. 1 Tar Heels came in Chapel Hill, N.C. and was hardly a surprise, falling to the Golden Eagles here at the Kohl Center was stunning. Marquette's certainly a very talented team this year, but Wisconsin had won 23 consecutive home games and had no reason to expect that streak to be snapped against MU.

Nevertheless, that's the situation the Badgers find themselves in tonight. We'll be here all game long, bringing you all the action on the live blog below. You can also follow along on Twitter @BHeraldSports. Have a great night.

Welcome to the Herald Sports live blog of the No. 7 Wisconsin men's basketball team versus No. 16 Marquette at the Kohl Center in Madison.

Separated by 75 miles, this marks the 117th meeting between the two in-state rivals, a series in which Wisconsin owns a 64-53 record. The Badgers (6-1) are looking to rebound after visiting No. 5 North Carolina Wednesday night and coming away empty-handed in a 60-57 loss. The Golden Eagles, meanwhile, have gotten off to a perfect 6-0 start with its latest victory coming from an 88-56 win over Jacksonville on Monday.

Follow along with Associate Sports Editor Ian McCue and Extra Points Editor Nick Korger as they bring you today's action.

It'll be a while before I stop saying it -- finally, it's time for some hoops again.

Tonight at the Kohl Center, the No. 13 Wisconsin Badgers (1-0) will host the Colgate Raiders (1-0) of the Patriot League in each team's second game of the season. Wisconsin, of course, is fresh off a resounding 85-31 victory over Kennesaw State in the season opener Saturday. The Badgers were led in that game by a pair of sophomore guards, Josh Gasser and Ben Brust, with 14 points a piece. Star senior point guard Jordan Taylor finished with 11 points and a game-high seven assists, along with four rebounds and two steals.

Arguably the highlight of the opener, though, was the Badgers' defense, which limited the Owls to just eight points at halftime.

The Raiders, meanwhile, enter this game after winning their first season-opener in three years, a 78-74 win over Binghamton Saturday.

I'm live here at the Kohl Center with fellow Herald Sports editor Elliot Hughes, and we'll be keeping you updated all game long on the live blog below. Thanks for following, and have a great night.

College basketball is here. From Blue Devils to bracketology, Tar Heels to the tournaments, the next five months will not disappoint--culminating in perhaps the greatest tournament in sports. Here are my top 16 teams arranged by projected seed in the big dance:

One seeds

North Carolina-ACC

The Tar Heels enter the season as the number 1 team in both the AP and ESPN polls and with good reason. They return big men John Henson and Tyler Zeller and most importantly, player of the year candidate Harrison Barnes. Roy Williams has directed national champions before, so look for this veteran, star-studded team to be the favorites heading into March.

Player to watch: PG Kendall Marshall

As a freshman last year, he really heated up at the end of the season finishing with 6.2 assists per game. Don't be surprised to see him in the All-American discussion.

Ohio State-Big Ten

Thad Matta and company earned a 2 seed last year, but will strive for the top behind forward Jared Sullinger, who dominated the Big Ten last year as a freshman.

Player to watch: PG Aaron Craft

This sophomore needs to step up and lead the team for a shot at the national championship. As one of the better defensive players on the Buckeyes, he'll try and fill a hole vacated by David Lighty.

Kentucky-SEC

John Calipari has established a unique system of coaching--recruit the elite players to form one of the most talented teams in the country before they all leave for the NBA. Year after year, he develops a young team but they always seem to fall short of winning it all.

Game to watch: December 3rd vs. UNC

The winner here could establish themselves as the team to beat for the rest of the season.

UConn-Big East

Uconn is the defending national champions, but head into 2012 without star player Kemba Walker who left for the NBA. If a repeat is possible, it'll be because Jeremy Lamb establishes himself as a top five player in college basketball.

Game to watch: UConn vs Syracuse on February 25th

The winner may earn the number 1 seed heading into the Big East tournament in this top tier end-of-the-season matchup.

Two seeds

Duke-ACC

They lose starters Nolan Smith, Kyle Singler, and number one pick Kyrie Irving, but don't expect a rebuilding year on Tobacco Road. Brothers Mason and Miles Plumlee will dominate the low post while shooters Seth Curry and Andre Dawkins can light it up from the 3-point arc.

Player to watch: Austin Rivers

The young freshman will have to become an immediate scorer for Duke to reach the Final Four.

Vanderbilt-SEC

The Commodores aren't your usual basketball powerhouse but might have the most reliable backcourt in the nation. Brad Tinsley, John Jenkins, and Jeffery Taylor all averaged double-digit points last year. The trio are all upperclassmen as well--a rarity in today's game.

Player to watch: Forward Festus Ezeli--The Nigerian Center faces a 6 game suspension, but if he plays like last year upon return, (13 ppg, 6 rpg) Vandy will have a strong starting five.

Syracuse-Big East

Expect the Big East to have numerous teams with high seeds before teams such as Syracuse leave for the ACC. The Orange return four starters and will be led by seniors Kris Jospeh and Scoop Jardine.

Player to watch: Fab Melo

As a freshman last year, the 7'0 Melo disappointed. However, if he can reach expectations this season 'Cuse will have a strong chance of winning the Big East.

Kansas-Big 12

Kansas only returns senior guard Tyshawn Taylor, but they should still be the kings of the Big 12. The biggest question for the Jayhawks is who can replace the Morris brothers in the frontcourt.

Game to watch: Kansas vs. Kentucky Nov. 15

Can the upperclassmen from Kansas school Kentucky's young stars?

Three seeds

Louisville-Big East: Peyton Siva will make his case as Big East player of the year.

Florida-SEC: Guards Boynton and Walker will need to score plenty to make up for the loss of SEC player of the year Chandler Parsons.

Baylor-Big 12: The Bears may have the most athletic team other than Kentucky.

Pittsburgh-Big East: Coach Jamie Dixon and the Panthers will look to shake the label that they can't win in the tournament behind the play of senior scorer Ashton Gibbs.

Four seeds

Wisconsin-Big Ten: The Badgers always seem to be in rebuilding mode but end up in the NCAA tournament every year. This season Wisconsin will look to rebuild their frontcourt, but some of that pressure will be lifted having a preseason All-American in PG Jordan Taylor.

Xavier-Atlantic 10: Consistently one of the best mid-majors, this year should be no different as Tu Holloway could put up 20 points per game.

Arizona-Pac 12: They'll struggle without Derrick Williams, but if they can win the subpar Pac-12, they should manage a 4 seed.

Memphis-Conference USA: It's now or never for 3rd year coach Josh Pastner (who replaced Calipari) as he returns three starters. Will we see Memphis in the Big East soon?

Finally, time for some hoops.

After an 80-54 tuneup victory over UW-Stevens Point in an exhibition last Saturday, No. 14 Wisconsin hosts Kennesaw State at the Kohl Center for both teams' regular season opener.

I'm here by myself today, as Elliot and Kelly have embarked for Minnesota to cover the Battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe at 2:30 p.m. today. Keep it here on the live blog, as I'll make sure to keep you updated all game long.

It seems like we go through the same cycle every year with Wisconsin men's basketball.

The team comes into the season underrated nationally, but they continue to finish in the top three or four of the Big Ten. The Badgers rarely lose at home, but struggle against top conference competition away from the Kohl Center. Then come tournament time, the Badgers seem to have a favorable road to an elite eight or final four appearance, but only manage to win a game or two.

Badger fans really can't complain about this yearly trend for men's basketball. They've consistently been a top team in the Big Ten for the past decade.

Head coach Bo Ryan is 242-91 (.727) in his ten seasons at Wisconsin. Every one of those years the Badgers have made the NCAA Tournament and they've never had a lower finish than fourth place in the Big Ten.

The next chapter for Bo Ryan and the Badgers begins this Saturday when their season tips off against Kennesaw State. However, this time rather than being disrespected and underrated entering the season, Wisconsin is ranked No. 14 nationally and is viewed as one of the top teams in the Big Ten.

The main contributor to Wisconsin's unusually high preseason ranking is starting point guard Jordan Taylor. Taylor is just the second player in Badger history to be an AP preseason All-American. It's a huge honor and essentially means Taylor is projected to be the best point guard in the NCAA. Last season Taylor averaged over 18 points a game and was phenomenal in three-point land, shooting .429 percent behind the arc. But the Badgers lost a handful of key seniors including current Milwaukee Buck Jon Leuer, Keaton Nankivil and Tim Jarmusz. The three combined for an average of 32 points per game last season.

This leaves a ton of pressure on Taylor this year. Typically the Badgers don't have star players who carry the load but it seems that may be the case with Taylor. Ever since he blew up with 27 points in the victory against top-ranked Ohio State last year, Taylor has been highly regarded by the national media. Taylor has the talent to back up the hype but he's going to need lots of help offensively for the Badgers to live up to their preseason ranking.

Where the Badgers really need production is their frontcourt. Taylor and the talented sophomore guard Josh Gasser will lead the charge in the backcourt, but losing Leuer and Nankivil last year leaves the frontcourt depleted. Big men Jerrod Berggren and Mike Bruesewitz will step into larger roles this season as starters. Their play in the frontcourt will be crucial to Wisconsin's success this season.

Even with Taylor returning, should expectations be higher than usual for Wisconsin?

Probably not.

For as much success as Bo Ryan has had in his tenure at Wisconsin, he's only taken the Badgers to the Elite Eight once. Ryan has never had an AP Preseason All-American, but Ryan will run still run his slower-paced swing style of offense.

Another sweet sixteen appearance for the Badgers would be regarded as a successful season; it's realistic for the Wisconsin faithful to expect that. It's hard to imagine them cracking the elite eight or final four, but it will take a considerable amount of time until we can gauge this team's potential.

The Badgers have a very favorable schedule this season. They face only four ranked opponents, two of which are nonconference games. The Big Ten appears to be extremely weak this season outside of Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Michigan, so Wisconsin has a great opportunity to finish in the top two or three of the Big Ten.

Wisconsin's performance will come down to the production from its frontcourt and role players off the bench. But ultimately Taylor needs to play up to his potential and the hype that has surrounded him. Taylor is clearly the leader of this team, and the Badgers will go as far as he takes them.

During the last month of basketball, we have witnessed the entire spectrum. In the upsets, buzzer-beaters and countless hours spent in front of the television, we saw the good. In the overload of CBS analysts and early shredding of our cherished brackets, we saw the bad. We are only missing one thing--the ugly. Enter the national championship game. For a tournament that delivered entertainment at seemingly every moment, the national title game faltered badly.

The pregame hype and incentives prepared the nation for a dogfight. Following the Final Four departure of the Wildcats and Rams, it was just the Huskies and the Bulldogs, two teams that shared a hotel in Washington D.C. at the beginning of the tournament. College basketball nation was ready for a spirited finale, headlined by dynamic guards and unsung heroes in the post. What ensued was a defensive battle with loose balls bouncing in every direction and shooting percentages that started low and remained that way throughout the contest.

The matchup began with UConn pulling ahead by five midway in the first half before Butler made a late run to take a three-point lead at the break. With the score at 22-19, we had witnessed the lowest scoring first half in tournament history. The game that was supposed to be a shootout in the 70s was bound for the 50s, or even worse. the 40s.

Kemba Walker and Shelvin Mack, the two guards who were supposed to battle on each end of the court, were doing everything but that. Walker, one of the tournament's most electrifying players, ended the half on the bench in foul trouble while Mack had accumulated seven points on just two field goals.

Meanwhile, the post game was just as ugly, with Butler's Matt Howard going 1-of-6 from the field and Connecticut spreading its five layups across four players. It was clearly a first half to forget, but that is why they play two.

Finally, as the second half began, both teams showed some offense. Walker and freshman Jeremy Lamb gave the national audience the idea of a shootout by alternating buckets following a Butler three-pointer to start the half. At this point, the game seemed that is was bound for an efficient, offensive approach, but became just the opposite as the half continued.

Following Chase Stigall's bucket 20 seconds into the half, the Bulldogs didn't make another for seven minutes. Luckily, their defense and UConn's poor shooting kept them within five at 28-33. Then, Butler redefined the word ugly as the Bulldogs managed to put together eight consecutive one-shot possessions, garnering exactly zero points. Nearly six minutes went by between Butler baskets, and the Huskies were soon up 11.

Butler fans watched the remaining six minutes patiently waiting for their team to make a signature last chance run. UConn was having none of that idea, and made their free throws to claim the national title in a rather unexciting way.

The shooting was putrid, with both teams combining to shoot 26 percent from the field. UConn made only 1-of-11 three-point attempts while Butler shot just 12-of-64 from the field on the night. That translates to 18.8 percent, a title game record.

Of the forty minutes played, only a handful would have raised the heartbeat of an unbiased fan. The aforementioned star-powered guards Walker and Mack, who hogged the spotlight before the game, failed to produce the same electricity during the matchup. Matt Howard, regarded by some analysts as the most valuable player in the nation, made just one shot all game. Andrew Smith, who makes his living in the post, made just one layup all night.

It's safe to say that things did not go as scripted for the 2011 season ending game, but in March Madness, nothing is scripted, and Butler's trip to the championship game is a prime example. Though the title game may have come up short in terms of extraordinary theatrics, thinking of the tournament as a whole will remind us that in terms of madness, we got a healthy dose in March 2011.

With Final Four weekend rapidly approaching, college basketball fans all over the country await what promises to be an exciting showcase of the nation's hottest teams. Butler and VCU will square off in the battle of Cinderella stories, while the other game will feature two of college basketball's powerhouses in Kentucky and Connecticut.

Both of these match-ups should provide great games. But for fans who saw their teams get bounced from the tournament early, there's still something else to look forward to. Next season.

Although Wisconsin's basketball season ended just a few days ago, it's never too early for the Grateful Red to look ahead to next year. This offseason, Bo Ryan and the Badgers will look to fill in the holes left by seniors, welcome the incoming freshmen class, and ultimately build on the success of the 2010-2011 season.

There's no doubt that the loss of Wisconsin's six seniors--especially Jon Leuer, Keaton Nankivil, and Tim Jarmusz--will impact the team. Leuer led the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 18.3 points per game and 7.2 rebounds per game. Nankivil added 9.7 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, while also leading the Badgers in blocked shots and three-point field goal percentage. Jarmusz was less of a scoring option, but provided the intangibles like solid defense and timely rebounding that helped win games.

In preparation for next season, the Badgers will rely on establishing other offensive options and developing younger players to fill in the holes left by these seniors.

Junior point guard Jordan Taylor--already an integral part of Wisconsin's offense--will carry the scoring load and hopefully build on his personal success from last season. Taylor had one of the most impressive individual seasons in the country, scoring 18.1 points per game, posting a nation-best 3.9 assist-to-turnover ratio and earning second-team All-American honors.

For the Badgers to be successful again next season, Taylor will not only need to have a huge individual year, but he'll have to make his teammates better as well. Wisconsin returns several players who, with productive off seasons, can establish themselves as offensive threats and complement Taylor's production.

Freshman guard Josh Gasser is one of these players. Gasser showed flashes of his potential last season, recording Wisconsin's first ever triple-double with 10 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in a win over Northwestern. Toward the end of the season, Gasser started to gain more confidence in his jump shot and began knocking down three-point baskets more consistently.

Another huge part of Wisconsin's offseason lies in the hands of 6-foot-6 sophomore forwards, Mike Bruesewitz and Ryan Evans.

Bruesewitz does the dirty work for the Badgers; he's a hard worker, solid rebounder, and tough defender. However, he also has the ability to score on offense, and Wisconsin will rely on him to take on more of a scoring role next season. Bruesewitz has the potential to become Wisconsin's second leading scorer behind Taylor.

Evans is long, athletic and has the ability to change a game with his sheer explosiveness. However, he will have to work hard in the offseason to polish his offensive skill set. If Evans improves his jump shot, works on his post moves and becomes more comfortable with the ball on offense, he could play a much bigger role in Wisconsin's lineup.

Lastly, 6-foot-10 sophomore forward Jared Berggren has arguably the biggest offseason of anyone on the team ahead of him. Berggren has already shown his ability to shoot the three, but the Badgers will need him to work on his offensive post moves and mobility on defense to make him more of an all-around threat.

Along with Wisconsin's returning players, the Badgers will welcome four freshmen to campus next season. Of these high school seniors, two of them--Jarrod Uthoff and George Marshall-- show a lot of potential.

Uthoff, an ESPN top 100 recruit, is an athletic 6-foot-8 power forward from Iowa who rebounds well and has the ability to finish in the paint. He'll need to add some muscle to give him a stronger inside presence the Big Ten, but he has tremendous upside and could contribute as early as next season for Wisconsin.

Marshall is a lightning-quick point guard from Chicago who excels at getting into the lane and knocking down the mid-range jump shot. If he continues to improve his game in the offseason, he could be the perfect backup for Taylor next season.

Wisconsin's talented returning group of players, along with these incoming freshmen, will have the Badgers competing at a high level yet again next season.

If you ever find yourself worrying about Wisconsin basketball, remind yourself of these facts to ease your mind. The Badgers have made the NCAA tournament in each of Bo Ryan's 10 seasons, losing in the first round only once. Of those 10 appearances, Wisconsin has reached the Sweet 16 three times and the Elite 8 once. It seems that no matter who Wisconsin loses every year, Bo will always have his Badgers ready to play.

Far above the present, history is definitely the most important concept in the sports world. Drawing comparisons, breaking records, setting any precedent and preparing for the future are all sports topics involving history that surround barbershops and sports bars around the nation. These days, a true astonishment is hard to come by.

But the 2011 NCAA Tournament is just that, a true astonishment. With very few similarities to any other tournament in history, it is only fitting that the Final Four set up last weekend has four teams with seemingly no similarities. It is only under a stronger lens that it becomes clear that these teams completely contrast each other.

Connecticut: UConn might just be the favorite in this wacky field--after all, they are the highest seed remaining. The Huskies have come a long way from not receiving a vote in the preseason AP Poll, and any accolades they take from the season have come at the hand of one man, Kemba Walker. Kemba was arguably the best player in the nation this season, averaging over 23 points per game while helping win every tournament the Huskies enter.

UConn swept through the Maui Invitational in November and against all odds beat the best from the Big East in the conference tournament. Oh, and Kemba was the tournament's most valuable player every time. It's safe to say we won't be surprised if Kemba would add to those trophies, and in dramatic fashion. Just ask Villanova, Texas, and Pittsburgh, the three tournament teams that were all stung by Kemba's last-second heroics this season.

Kentucky: The Wildcats are the second best seed remaining and certainly deserve their trip to Houston, but their roster is unlike any other. Kentucky and Coach John Calipari have benefitted more than any other school or coach with the "one-and-done" recruit that dominates the college basketball scene for a year before entering the NBA draft.

This year is no different for the 'Cats as they are led by three freshmen: Brandon Knight, Terrence Jones and Doron Lamb. Jones and Lamb have had their moments throughout the regular season, averaging 15 and 12 points respectively, but the story for the Wildcats NCAA tournament run revolves around Knight. From the first few hours of the tournament, Brandon has played a crucial role in each Kentucky victory, leaving each opponent with (K)nightmares of his prowess. Game-winning shots against Princeton and Ohio State have been offset by other impressive performances against West Virginia and North Carolina; UConn is next on his list.

Butler: The Butler Bulldogs are clearly the team with the most NCAA tournament experience. With only one freshmen garnering significant minutes, the 'Dogs rotation simply exudes the idea that they've been here before. Just a year ago Butler was inches away from completely shocking the world in the national title game. So, why is the world shocked again that the Bulldogs are back in the Final Four? Minus the departures of Gordon Heyward and Willie Veasely, the same guys and same coach are back at it again. That coach is Brad Stevens, and while he looks young enough to still be paying tuition as a student, he is coaching in his second Final Four, just another trait of Butler's bourgeoning experience.

Virginia Commonwealth: The postseason for VCU is unmatched through the history of college basketball. Following a loss in the Colonial Athletic Association championship game, the Rams were scraping for a tournament bid. When they secured one on Selection Sunday, over the likes of Colorado and Alabama, just about every analyst thought they weren't as deserving. Heavy on hindsight, I think they definitely deserved a chance.

Even with that chance, the Rams have been the underdog in each game, and have arguably performed better than any other team in the dance. Keep in mind, VCU has played an additional game since the tournament began, handling every team in their path. Apart from beating Florida State by one, each victory has been by double digits. The only difficulty for the Rams is that four of their top five players are seniors, so they must keep making the most of that Selection Sunday blessing.

So, Kentucky gains the most from one-and-dones, and Butler is no longer a surprise. Connecticut's coach is older than both Butler's and VCU's combined. VCU has no conscience while Butler looks to win with efficiency. For the lacking similarities in the profiles of each Final Four squad, one similarity they do have trumps all the missing ones. Each of these teams, unlikely as they may be, have the chance to rewrite the ever-important concept called history.

The Big East is the best conference in basketball, right? Pittsburgh is a great bet to reach the Final Four, right? The Pac-10 was not supposed to show up and contend, right? All these things were believed to be true, but all it took was one weekend of madness to prove the contrary. Millions of college basketball fans filled out tournament brackets with confidence that they had college basketball 2011 all figured out. Boy, were we wrong, and the first weekend of the tournament proved it again, teaching many lessons through yet another magical ending. Here's just a few:

The Big East was not everything we thought it was...again. The super conference that seems to dominate the polls and media spotlight during the regular season has struggled thus far in the tournament. With 11 teams in the dance (an NCAA record), the Big East had realistic hopes for a Notre Dame, Pittsburgh Final Four matchup, with maybe Connecticut and Syracuse also in the mix. Unfortunately, only one of those teams will be playing in the second weekend of the tournament.

Nine of the 11 teams were eliminated during the first weekend, raising the question, is the Big East really the best? This is nothing new from the conference consistently dubbed the nation's best. Just last year, only two of the Big East's eight dancers made it to the Sweet 16. Maybe if Charles Barkley had a better track record as an analyst we all would have believed him when he called the Big East overrated. Sorry Chuck.

Brackets are meant to be busted. This becomes the ultimate truth as the tournament proceeds from weekend to weekend and fans quickly reach for their scissors or paper shredders. Louisville, coming off a runner-up finish in the Big East Tournament, was a trendy pick for the Final Four, but a little second round drama with the Morehead State Eagles kept the Cardinals from advancing farther than the opening weekend.

If the Louisville upset didn't set back a particular bracket, look no further than the Pittsburgh-Butler third round game. Pitt, especially point guard Ashton Gibbs, was very confident that they would be making arrangements for Houston and the Final Four, but those ideas came crashing down when Butler hung around and stung the Panthers in the final seconds.

Somehow, if any bracket was still looking decent after those two upsets, Notre Dame and Florida State sure had something to say. Like Louisville, Notre Dame was another trendy squad, and garnered many championship predictions. The best defensive team in the nation, Florida State, stood in their way, however, and sent them home early. Any bracket that survived these three shockers was likely put together with the help of either a blindfold or a dart and balloons.

Pressure is amplified. Like Chris Webber pointed out to the college basketball nation in the 1993 NCAA title game, any pressure witnessed during the regular season simply doesn't compare when the stakes are win or go home. Pitt had a similar moment, obviously not with the championship on the line, when Nasir Robinson fouled Butler's Matt Howard with the game tied at 70 and less than a second to go. It's true, that was a high-pressure situation and a player on one of the best teams in the nation choked. Syracuse also may have let pressure get to a pair of their guards when Dion Waters, the game's high scorer, and veteran Scoop Jardine combined for a turnover on an inbounds pass with less than a minute to go.

Pressure has also increased with the parity of college basketball. Years ago, 1-seeds undertook the great pressure to advance to the Final Four. Nowadays, they're stressing to simply reach the Sweet 16. The aforementioned Butler Bulldogs are the second team in as many years to advance from the 8-9 game and upset a 1-seed. Michigan and Illinois almost followed suit on Sunday, as they both hung around with Duke and Kansas.

It is beginning to seem that the best tactic as a viewer is to expect the unexpected as the tournament begins its second four-day stretch of games. Charles Barkley is sure to make some outlandish statement(s), even more paper brackets will finally rest in peace, and when the games end on Sunday night, we'll be begging for more.

Day Two of the 2011 Big Ten Tournament has seen the No.1 team in the nation nearly lose, a resounding comeback and an inspired performance from a team previously thought to be done.

All that, and the third-seeded Wisconsin Badgers haven't even played yet.

Ohio State escaped Northwestern in overtime in Friday's opener, Michigan overcame a double-digit deficit against Illinois and Michigan State took the day's third game with a resounding victory over Purdue.

The Badgers (23-7, 13-5) will face the sixth-seeded Penn State Nittany Lions (17-13, 9-9) following the conclusion of the Purdue-Michigan State affair. The Nittany Lions defeated the 11th-seeded Indiana Hoosiers here last night, 61-66. Wisconsin and Penn State split the season series, with PSU taking the first in Happy Valley, 56-52, and UW taking the second in Madison, 76-66.

Herald Sports editors Mike Fiammetta and Elliot Hughes are live from Indianapolis, and they'll keep you updated all game long (and for the duration of the Badgers' tournament run). Be sure to follow the live blog below, as well as on Twitter @bheraldsports, @mikefiammetta and @elliothughes12.

March Madness can mean only one thing, the astonishing upsets, season-ending buzzer beaters and scissors slicing nylon during the jubilation of the NCAA Tournament. That's March Madness right?

Well, the 68-team, win or go home contest is actually only part of what qualifies as madness with college basketball teams. The additional and highly overlooked mayhem starts in the beginning of March, and last time I checked, we are already one week deep in this lovely month. It is conference tourney time, where each conference battles it out in bracket format to claim a postseason champion, and the first teams are guaranteed a ticket to the Big Dance.

The regular season closed this past Sunday for the major conferences. However, conference championship time actually began as early as last week, and continues all the way until Selection Sunday. With each conference tournament champion earning an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, it's not only the last chance for teams to snag an automatic bid but also for bubble teams to make their last case for an at-large seeding. Some lucky teams, namely Ohio State and Kansas, have accomplished just about everything they needed to earn a 1-seed during the regular season. Many others, however, have something to prove during the final weekend, and here is a rundown of the teams with the most to prove.

Tennessee: The Volunteers started the year strong winning their first seven games, but are one of the nation's streakiest teams, and eventually faded into mediocrity. Having coach Bruce Pearl back on the sideline has not made much of a difference either, as Tennessee has not had a winning streak since the beginning of February. Two wins over Vanderbilt as well as non-conference victories over Villanova and Pittsburgh have certainly placed the Vols in the conversation, but a first round loss to Arkansas might end that idea.

Michigan State: Entering the season as a top-5 squad, it would have seemed ridiculous to envision Michigan State having to play every game like it was their last. Unfortunately, for this Spartans team, that is exactly how the 2011 campaign has turned out. Lacking a significant non-conference victory and having only one win against the Big Ten elite, the Spartans have been riding the strength of schedule train for far too long and need at least one victory in the conference tournament to solidify any postseason plans.

ACC fourth-sixth spots: Besides Duke, North Carolina and Florida State, no team in the ACC has assured themselves a spot thus far, though the next three in line would all be worthy with a good showing this weekend. Clemson, Boston College and Virginia Tech are all vying for a bid, but all likely won't get one, so their ACC Tournament performance will likely decide whether they're playing in the NCAA or the NIT Tournament.

Borderline 1-Seeds: Apart from Ohio State and Kansas being in a league of their own at the moment, there are still two top seeds to be earned. Its easy to see that Duke, Pittsburgh and even BYU deserve a look for a 1-seed, but North Carolina and Notre Dame might be the two teams most fit to surprise and rightfully earn one of those bids.

Even though the Fighting Irish trailed Pittsburgh for the regular season Big East title, they won their only meeting with the Panthers and have won 11 of their last 12. If the Irish happen to win the Big East Tournament, they might lock up one of those two remaining top spots. The same goes for the Tar Heels. After starting the season slow, point guard Kendall Marshall has helped turn the tide for the young squad who have won 12 of their last 13. If the Heels can convincingly sweep through the ACC bracket, with another victory over rival Duke, they might have the resume needed to snatch the last 1-seed.

Who knows though? UNC might just get knocked out in the first round, and Michigan State might just win the Big Ten Tournament. One thing is certain as these conference tournaments keep us glued to the television set this weekend, and that is that March Madness doesn't start once the brackets are finalized. March Madness has already begun.

Looking to end the regular season on a high note, Wisconsin (23-7, 13-5 Big Ten), looked to improve their Big Ten ranking this week with two key road matchups versus Indiana and Ohio State.

In one of the most dominant performances in UW history, Jordan Taylor put on a show for the ages by dropping 39 points in Bloomington. In leading the Badgers to a 77-67 victory over Indiana (12-19, 3-15), the star guard went 7-of-8 from long distance in one of the most memorable road performances in recent Big Ten history.

Wisconsin--aware of its highly anticipated matchup in Columbus Saturday--didn't want this to become an unfortunate trap game, as their matchup with Iowa several weeks almost was.

By dropping 39 points in a mere 53 possessions, Taylor showed to the nation that he should have been among the finalists for the Bob Cousy Award, given to the nation's top point guard at the end of the season. Not only should Taylor have been considered a viable candidate, but he might have had a legitimate opportunity at bringing the award back to Madison.

UW was able to withstand a few runs by Indiana and hand the Hoosiers their eighth consecutive defeat against the Badgers, and went into Ohio on a high note, looking to win their fifth consecutive game to close out conference play.

On Feb. 12, Ohio State (29-2, 16-2), came into Madison undefeated and were well on their way to an undefeated season. After building an impressive 15-point second half cushion, the Buckeyes suddenly collapsed, and UW--led by 12 points from Jon Leuer, a brilliant display of shooting from Taylor, and some clutch baskets from Mike Bruesewitz--was able to claw back and hold on to a stunning four-point victory.

The Wisconsin/Ohio State rivalry is slowly but quickly becoming a fierce one. As the Badgers strolled into Columbus looking to continue their recent dominance over OSU in both on the field and the hardwood, a lot of pride was on the line for the Buckeyes. However, after defeating Ohio State in football last fall, OSU was able to handedly defeat the Badgers this time around.

Star freshman Jared Sullinger even explained prior to the game that he would love to beat Wisconsin by 50 points. Heading into the matchup with that mentality seemed to help Ohio State, as they built an impressive 15-point halftime lead on their way to a dominating 93-65 statement victory.

In the game, Ohio State put on one of the greatest displays of shooting in Division I college basketball history. Led by three-point specialist Jon Diebler, who shot 7-of-8 from three-point range, Ohio State literally shot the lights out on the way to an absurd 14-of-15 performance from behind the arc. If the Badgers want to make a run in the conference tourney as well as in the NCAA Tournament, they cannot afford the defensive lapses that were on display all 40 minutes on Saturday.

Taylor, who was able to continuously score on OSU freshman guard Aaron Craft during the first matchup, was completely shut down this time around. If the Badgers want to make a strong run late in the season, Taylor needs to be on the top of his game night in and night out. In giving up 93 points, the usually reliable Wisconsin defense is in definite need of some tuning up.

After the embarrassing defeat at the hands of Ohio State, the Badgers dropped to No. 13 in the AP poll this week. According to ESPN Bracketologist Joe Lunardi, UW looks to be on their way to holding a No. 4 seed in the March Madness Tournament.

Wisconsin kicks things off in the Big Ten Tournament on Friday versus either Penn State or Indiana in the quarterfinals.

The Wisconsin men's basketball team capped off a perfect week in Big Ten play by defeating Northwestern 78-63 at the Kohl Center on Sunday night. Wisconsin's six seniors--Jon Leuer, Keaton Nankivil, Tim Jarmusz, Wquinton Smith, Brett Valentyn and J.P. Gavinski--left Madison in a big way, knocking off the Wildcats to finish a perfect 16-0 at home this season.

Leuer led the way for the Badgers, pouring in a game-high 26 points and grabbing six rebounds. Junior point guard Jordan Taylor scored 16 points and dropped seven assists, while Nankivil added 15 points for the Badgers. Wisconsin set the tempo early with hot shooting, which helped them jump out to a quick 9-0 lead just four minutes into the game. The Badgers continued to knock down shots throughout the first half and carried a 43-30 lead into halftime.

The second half saw a similar story, as the Badgers continued to have their way on offense. With a little over sixteen minutes to play, Leuer snatched a cross-court pass from Taylor and converted a two-hand reverse dunk that energized the crowd and extended the Wisconsin lead to 51-35.

Just as the game appeared to be over, Northwestern caught fire and used a wave of hot shooting to cut the Wisconsin lead to 58-55 with 7:14 left to play. Michael Thompson carried the offensive load for the Wildcats, scoring 19 points and shooting a near-perfect 5-for-6 from beyond the arc. John Shurna, the Big Ten's most accurate three point shooter, converted 4-of-7 three pointers and added 14 points for Northwestern as well.

However, the Wildcats' late surge wasn't enough to overcome Wisconsin's lead. Jordan Taylor drilled a couple of huge three-pointers--one with 5:35 remaining and the other with three minutes left--to nullify Northwestern's hot shooting and distance the Badgers from their opponent. Wisconsin held off Northwestern down the stretch to ensure an undefeated record at the Kohl Center and provide a perfect send-off to its six seniors.

Wisconsin's victory over Northwestern was solid, but nowhere near as dramatic as the Badgers' win over Michigan a few days earlier. Last Wednesday freshman guard Josh Gasser banked in a game-winning three point shot as time expired in Ann Arbor to give Wisconsin a 53-52 victory over Michigan.

The Wolverines held a 52-50 lead over Wisconsin with 30.8 seconds remaining when Michigan sophomore Darius Morris missed the front end of a one-and-one free throw opportunity. Morris perhaps had a chance to seal the win for Michigan by sinking both free throws and making it a two-possession game. The Badgers, however, received the ball and with it came a chance to win. Michigan had several fouls to give, so in an attempt to disrupt the flow of Wisconsin's last possession, they committed four quick fouls and left Wisconsin with only 5.4 seconds to run its final play.

The last play was designed for Taylor, but two Michigan defenders swarmed him immediately after he caught the ball. Taylor, displaying his calm demeanor and natural instincts, found the open man and whipped a pass to Gasser at the top of the key. Gasser, without time to set his feet or line up his jumper, buried one of the biggest shots of the year for Wisconsin.

Despite the thrilling finish, Wisconsin had to overcome a weak offensive performance to beat the Wolverines. The Badgers shot a measly 36.2 percent from the field and failed to get into a rhythm offensively. Wisconsin shot an inefficient 8-for-29 from beyond the arc, while only getting to the free-throw line three times. Nonetheless, Jordan Taylor still led all scorers with 20 points, and Leuer notched another double-double, adding 12 points and 12 rebounds.

After solid wins over Michigan and Northwestern, Wisconsin gained plenty of momentum heading into the final and most important stretch of its season. With road games at Indiana and Ohio State awaiting UW this week, the Badgers will look to keep their winning streak alive and gain some momentum heading into the Big Ten Tournament.

It's Senior Day for the No. 12 Wisconsin men's basketball team (21-6, 11-4), who will host the Northwestern Wildcats (16-11, 6-10) Sunday afternoon at the Kohl Center.

Seniors Jon Leuer, Keaton Nankivil, Tim Jarmusz, Wquinton Smith, Brett Valentyn and J.P. Gavinski will be honored after the game today, but Herald Sports editors Mike Fiammetta and Elliot Hughes will have you covered all game long. Be sure to follow the live blog below for updates all game long.

The Big East is the country's best, the Big Ten is living up to its preseason hype, the Big 12 is overachieving and the ACC may have the nation's best team. Is there anything missing here? Yeah, the SEC and the Pac-10.

While the first four conferences have solidified themselves as legitimate college basketball contributors, the last two have created questions concerning what exactly they will provide for the 2011 NCAA Tournament.

Let's start with the Southeastern Conference. This is the conference that simply dominates the college football landscape, laying claim to a national champion in each of the past five seasons. Despite the major success on the gridiron, the SEC has failed to translate that success in recent years onto the hardwood. Apart from Florida's two-year stint atop the college basketball peak, the last national champion from the SEC was Kentucky back in 1998. Since Florida's 2006-2007 dominance, there has yet to be an SEC team that made the Final Four. The 2011 Final Four is shaping up to lack any SEC teams once again.

Florida, ranked No. 13 in both polls, is leading the way in the SEC with only two other ranked teams, Vanderbilt (18) and Kentucky (22). All three teams have risen and fallen in the rankings throughout January and early February, but none of them have established themselves as national contenders.

Kentucky had early hopes of being in the mix, but their lacking experience has finally caught up to them during conference play. Despite only two conference losses and beginning the season with top 10 aspirations, Florida slipped up in bad losses to Central Florida and Jacksonville. Vanderbilt, on the other hand, was not ranked in the preseason, but with a respectable non-conference showing has found its way into the national spotlight.

Its obvious that these teams, and a few more from the SEC, will make the dance, but will they have an impact and can they beat the top teams in America? Only Kentucky can boast a victory over a team currently in the top 10, beating Notre Dame at home. If history follows, the SEC will be left waiting for a top tier yet again.

Now onto the Pac-10, where we actually have a top 10 team. That team is Arizona, and without their surprising ascent in the rankings, the conference would lay claim to exactly zero ranked teams. Just a few years back, winning the Pac-10 was just as good as any other conference championship in America. Even though Arizona is ranked tenth, they have only beaten one ranked team, Washington, who has since fallen from the rankings.

That Washington team entered the season as the conference favorite and has underperformed immensely, with its only victory over a ranked opponent coming against the aforementioned Wildcats. There appears to be a circular theme with the Pac-10's top teams beating each other, and seemingly no one else. While Washington is still bound for a tournament birth, any triumphs that follow Selection Sunday will be a surprise.

Then there is UCLA, stuck in between Arizona and Washington, trying to get back to its Final Four form. While UCLA has beaten No. 7 BYU and the Jimmer Fredette show, they have yet to beat either Washington or Arizona, and got tripped up by both VCU and Montana.

Barring a late conference tournament run, these three hopefuls are about all the Pac-10 will bring to the bracket of 68. Similarly, with possibly a few extra bids that include Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama, the SEC won't be sponsoring much more. If they are not careful, two of the so-called "power" conferences may be passed up by some less powerful leagues. One positive thing remains, however, in the fact that any average season can be turned around during the madness that is sure to ensue this March.

After three days off, the No. 10 Wisconsin Badgers (19-6, 9-4) return to action as they host the Penn State Nittany Lions (14-11, 7-7) Sunday evening at the Kohl Center. Wisconsin is coming off a tough 70-62 loss Wednesday at Purdue, while Penn State enters Sunday on a two-game winning streak after knocking off Minnesota 66-63 Thursday night.

Herald Sports editors Mike Fiammetta and Elliot Hughes are live from the Kohl Center, so be sure to follow the live blog below for updates throughout the game.