If you?ve been too busy studying for organic chemistry or
watching ?Lost? on your laptop to catch the excitement of college hoops this
semester, you?ve really been missing out. Although I think you?ve poorly prioritized
your daily schedule, I?m not going to berate or chastise you for missing one of
the most electrifying college basketball seasons in recent history. Instead,
I?m here to inform you: It?s not too late!
The conference championships are already underway and
Selection Sunday ? my favorite holiday of the year ? is only four days away. (I
know, I can hardly believe it either).
So, in case you?ve been in hibernation since New Year?s or
still think the Badgers are an unranked, middle-of-the-Big-Ten caliber team,
I?ll give you my two cents on the teams to keep an eye on before the mayhem
truly begins in eight days.
Championship contenders
No. 5 Kansas
Anyone who watched the Jayhawks demolish (and even that word
doesn?t give the win the justice it deserves) Texas Tech 109-51 on March 3
understands why Kansas is a legitimate title contender.
The Hawks are athletic enough to run with teams like Memphis
and Tennessee, they can shoot the three-ball, and they play tough on the
defensive side of the court.
Junior Mario Chalmers has become one of the top point guards
in the league. He and his backcourt mate Brandon Rush really cause problems for
opposing defenses.
Can KU head coach Bill Self finally get over the hump? Roy
Williams (North Carolina) did it against Self (Illinois) just three years ago.
Anything?s possible.
Kansas is my team to beat.
No. 1 North Carolina
It?s hard to bet against a team with the name Tyler
Hansbrough on the roster. If you look up the word ?gamer? in the dictionary,
Hansbrough?s picture sits alongside the definition.
The Tar Heels looked rejuvenated Saturday night against Duke
with the re-entrance of point guard Ty Lawson into the lineup.
UNC is athletic both around the perimeter and under the rim.
They can shoot from deep, run-and-gun and bang inside. Plus, everyone knows how
important coaching is amidst the madness, and there are few coaches I?d rather
have on my sideline than Williams.
No. 3 UCLA
The Bruins have a combination of talent and experience
(after making it to the Final Four the past two seasons) that could be deadly
come tournament time. Darren Collison runs the point about as well as anyone in
the country, and freshman sensation Kevin Love dominates the glass.
With the parity that currently exists in college basketball,
back-to-back-to-back Final Four appearances is a near impossible feat to
accomplish. Nonetheless, don?t be surprised if UCLA makes the trip to San
Antonio come April 5.
No. 2 Memphis
Tigers? head coach John Calipari has only made the Final
Four one time in his 17-year collegiate coaching career. There?s just one
problem ? because then-UMass Minuteman Marcus Camby illegally accepted money
from an agent, the NCAA doesn?t recognize the team?s 1996 Final Four
appearance, so technically, he?s never made the final weekend of the tourney.
This season, Calipari may just have the team to go all the way.
Memphis is probably the most athletic team in the nation.
The duo of Chris Douglas-Roberts and Derrick Rose is a lethal one. And don?t
think playing in Conference USA hurts the Tigers? chances in terms of season
experience. Remember, they beat UConn, USC, Georgetown and Tennessee this
season.
Under the radar
No. 15 Connecticut
This year?s Huskies team reminds me a lot of last year?s
Georgetown squad. 7-foot-3-inch Hasheem Thabeet ? the best pure shot-blocker in
the land ? is an asset every team would love to have (does last year?s Roy
Hibbert ring a bell?).
UConn has five players who average in double figures. Jeff
Adrien is simply a beast in the paint.
Don?t sleep on the Huskies.
USC
In keeping with the recent-memory theme, this year?s Trojans
remind me a lot of last year?s Texas Longhorns, simply because O.J. Mayo could
very well be this year?s Kevin Durant. That, and their uniform colors are quite
similar.
But seriously, USC is getting hot at the right time. Look
out.
Kansas State
Freshman Michael Beasley: 26.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, 1.7
blocks per game. Fifty-four percent from the field, 40 percent from 3-point
range. ESPN?s Jay Bilas put it best: Beasley?s not a man among boys, he?s a man
among men.
Enough said.
Early upsets?
No. 7 Duke
I have trouble believing a Mike Krzyzewski-coached team can
be eliminated early from the tournament two years in a row (they were ousted by
VCU in the first round last season), but it might just happen. These Blue
Devils rely too much on the 3-pointer. A 10-minute cold streak could end their
season because they don?t have much of an inside presence.
Duke will get by the first round, but don?t be surprised if
the Devils fail to make the Elite 8, or even the Sweet 16.
No. 22 Indiana
The loss of head coach Kelvin Sampson seemed to have taken
all the wind out of the Hoosiers? sails. A near loss to lowly Northwestern and
a loss to pitiful Penn State is unacceptable for a team that talented.
They have the players, but do they have the will to win?
Doesn?t look like it.
No. 17 Purdue
Here in Madison, we all saw what Robbie Hummel and Co. can
do, as the Badgers lost twice to PU. But if the Boilermakers run into a team
with a legitimate big man, they could be in trouble. Plus, their youth and
inexperience may finally catch up with them this postseason.
Keep this in mind when filling out your brackets. Get your popcorn
ready ? it?s madness time!
Derek is a sophomore majoring in economics. Send him your
thoughts about the Big Dance at [email protected].
