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65 Storylines for the 2010 NCAA Tournament

2010-03-17T21:54:39Z

Only a tournament of this magnitude could offer 65 compelling storylines we're all discussing with amongst ourselves. That might be a stretch, but to really get your palate moist, read through our 65 Storylines for the 2010 tournament. This shit matters, folks!

Whose back hurts more after this tournament: Evan Turner or Scottie Reynolds?
By the end of the month, will the world know about Cornell's Ryan Whitman?
Is everyone just rooting against Duke?
Does San Diego State dispel the belief that teams out west can't travel east and win?
Can Butler's Matt Howard stay out of foul trouble?
Over or under 60 possessions between Notre Dame - Old Dominion?
Over or under 40 turnovers between Clemson-Missouri?
Does UTEP face Murray St. for a trip to the Sweet 16?
What becomes the ubiquitous advertising campaign of the tournament?
Does Syracuse continue its extremely disciplined play all the way to the Final Four?
Will all four #1 seeds get to Indy?
How does Texas respond after a lousy second half of the season?
Does Utah State , the last at-large entrant, prove it belongs?
Can Dino Gaudio shake the "I Can't Coach in the Tournament Label"?
Is Kansas State, a program with only one Sweet 16 appearance in 22 years, a really, like I mean really, a good team?
Will "The Shizz" become the next national dance craze?
Can Georgetown silence the haters who say they're thin, and continue their strong play from the Big East Tournament?
Will I lose my job for giving undivided attention to the field of 65?
Will Georgia Tech's Paul Hewitt lose his job for failing to advance in the field of 65?
Does Clark Kellogg and/or Seth Davis say anything shocking? Just once?
Does DeMarcus Cousins celebrate first and second round victories as though he's just won the Powerball?
Oakland, I still like their style, can they defend just a smidge and be the lowest seeded team to play in the second round?
Remember Michigan State? Does Tom Izzo once again prove he's a premier coach in the month of March?
Can the Pac-10 go 2-0 in the first round?
Will Steve Alford call anyone an asshole?
Does Gonzaga's Elias Harris do something spectacular and turn himself in to a NBA Lottery pick?
Will John Calipari be named "Most Smug Prick in All of Sports" by the beginning of April?
Will everyone love Jennifer Hudson's rendition of "One Shining Moment"?
Can Greivis Vazquez restore a bit of glory in College Park?
Will Saint Mary's Omar Samhan become the most polarizing figure in college basketball this side of Greivis Vasquez?
Does Oklahoma State's James Anderson show the world he's the best two-guard in the country?
Does interest wane on a tournament devoid of UCLA, North Carolina and Connecticut?
Does Andy Rautins make another outlandish fashion statement with his European-themed hairdo?
Will I still have a girlfriend on April 5^th, 2010?
Can Xavier get to their third Sweet 16 in as many seasons?
Will BYU, a team that hasn't advanced past the first round in their last three tournament appearances, put it together and defeat Florida?
Just what will the Texas Longhorns do? Cap off their floundering season with a first round exit, or shock Kentucky in the Second Round?
Will Wisconsin's defense hold up, or will they have to play more than 55 possessions a game?
Does Montana's Anthony Johnson go bonkers against New Mexico?
Will Houston's Aubrey Coleman, the nation's leading scorer, go bonkers on Maryland?
What's the chance BYU and Texas A&M meet for the third year in a row? Zero. That answer is zero chance.
Which conference impresses most?
Which conference makes the committee look silly?
Louisville beat Syracuse twice. Does that mean they're actually a Sweet 16 team?
Or will Jerome Randle run circles around Pitino's press?
How not intimidating is Purdue sans Robbie Hummel?
Could the handful of mis-seeds have a profound effect on how this tournament shakes out?
Are we overselling Baylor? Or are the Bears really Elite Eight contenders?
Are we underselling Saint Mary's? Or are the Gaels just the second best team in the WCC?
How many YouTube Moments does Gus Johnson give us?
Does anyone look forward to potential YouTube Moments from Jim Spanarkel?
Have you ever even heard of Jim Spanarkel?
After winning their first round game the last two seasons, is Siena going to take that next step and reach the second weekend?
Will Georgetown and Ohio State meet for what's undoubtedly the best possible Sweet 16 match-up on paper?
Just how important will Arinze Onuaku be to Syracuse's tournament run?
Who improves their NBA Draft stock by the end of the month?
Who hurts their NBA Draft stock by the end of the month?
Does Ashley Judd skip class to follow Kentucky's run?
Will someone out there pick the perfect bracket?
How will President Obama's bracket look?
Utah State has quite the underrated student section. Will they make the trip up to Spokane?
If Kentucky and Kansas meet in the final, will there be enough seats for all the scouts and NBA front office peeps to get a look the abundance of talent?
Will Kansas win their second title in three years?
If Kentucky wins, will the Commonwealth's birth rate dramatically jump nine months from now?
Is this the last time we fill out a bracket of 65?

Tourney Talk with ESPN's Ryen Russillo

2010-03-17T13:16:34Z

If you're not listening to ESPN Radio from 2-4 EST, there's a gaping hole in your life. Seriously. Scott Van Pelt is flanked by a New England guy with loads of talent and dry humor, and boatloads of basketball knowledge. That guy, Ryen Russillo, was nice enough to answer some of my questions on that big tournament starting tomorrow. Russillo tops off a great series of interviews (Seth Davis too) that went down here this season.

Q&A after the jump.

You’re more of an NBA guy, but give me a few reasons the college game is more entertaining than pro ball. NBA teams generally run the same stuff. College is more diverse offensively/defensively. There is a suddenness to the tournament that is unlike any other event in sports. It is a guarantee that I will learn about about a team or player that today I know nothing about. I also am looking forward to getting ridiculously mad about CBS switching to another game during a shot attempt to tie it with time expiring.

How could the overall college basketball product be reformed? Could it use a 96-team tournament? Would it benefit from the elimination of the NBA age-limit? The age limit helps College basketball more than it hurts it, at least you get John Wall for a year. We pretend we care about graduation rates but as fans we just want our teams to win. 96 teams may be one of those things that we get really worked up about but may not be that big of a deal when it happens, and it is going to happen. I would rather it stay the way it is but I almost want expansion so Joe Lunardi has to break down a team with an RPI of 120 and say that they are in because they went 1-4 vs the Top 100 RPI.

If we can have curling on for 30 days straight during the Winter Olympics there has to be a way to get games on multiple channels without having to buy a package.

The initial knee-jerk reaction to Duke’s seeding is that not only were the Blue Devils undeserving of a #1 seed, but they got a real easy run to Indy. Your thoughts? About a month ago you could see that Duke was going to be in the mix for a #1 seed. This team is better than some of the other teams that the last 4/5 years were perhaps over-seeded but this comes down to resume vs. eye test. Their resume is really good, even though the ACC was down this year. I don't see how someone says emphatically that Ohio State or West Virginia is more deserving. Their bracket is far too easy in comparison to what Kansas is facing. Villanova is the weakest #2 seed, they should not be on the other side of Duke. Not debatable.

Do you see any glaring omissions by the tournament committee. Not really, I never understood why Virginia Tech was seen as in. They play no one and also lost every game to the three teams ahead of them in the ACC. Illinois would beat Virginia Tech, but the Illini just had too weak of an overall record. I find it annoying when people in the media act like leaving Tech out this year is the equivalent to stealing from children. If you didnt get in this year, you probably weren't a very good team. The tournament will be okay without Virginia Tech.

Do you see any egregious under/overseeds? Temple should be higher than a 5, Tennessee should be better than a six. Some Big East teams looked like they got hooked up, Pitt as a 3, Notre Dame as a 6.

John Wall and Evan Turner aside, what NBA prospects are you most looking forward seeing in this tournament? Ekpe Udoh's improvement has been terrific at Baylor, I love Greg Monroe's game, I think he will be even better when he gets away from Georgetown's system. Curious to see Darington Hobson from New Mexico in an intense setting. Also curious to see if DeMarcus Cousins does something to lock up the #3 pick or something so crazy he scares everyone off. I don't think that kid gets it.

Are there any players on a non-BCS team with a game that would translate nicely at the NBA level? See Hobson from above, he just does everything, leads UNM in points/rebounds/assists. Love watching Jimmer Fredette play from BYU, white guys always get labeled as slow, I dont think that's the case with him. Fredette is still a reach to think he will stay on an NBA roster, I need to watch more tape on him, he did drop 49 at Arizona this year. Matt Bouldin from Gonzaga is a very smart player, because he has been around for a while it feels like there is no buzz on him but I enjoy his game.

Since you're a University of Vermont alum, make a case for the Catamounts to be the first #16 seed to down a #1. I would have, but Tuesday they did a press release on Coach Mike Lonergan's appearance on my show, but the release only mentioned Van Pelt and not the fact that an alum would be interviewing him. Considering I set up the interview I am now rooting for Cuse.

Because of the name of our blog, we ask all people like you who are nice enough to give us the time of day and answer our questions to name their favorite forgotten college basketball player. Name a few of your favorites who never established themselves at the next level. I loved St. Johns growing up so any Matt Brust update would be appreciated. Brust apparently got a concussion trying to rough up Jordan in a training camp game with the Bulls, shockingly it didn't work. I loved Marcus "Man" Hatten, Willie Glass and of course the original truth, Walter Berry.

Finally, who ya got in the Final Four? Women's or Men's?

Soft Pretzel Logic: Catching up with T.J. Sorrentine

2010-03-17T00:24:05Z

Soft Pretzel Logic: Catching up with T.J. Sorrentine

You can't let a rematch between Syracuse and Vermont pass without catching up with old friends. Jonathan Tannenwald gets a great Q&A in with former Catamounts guard T.J Sorrentine, who still remembers that game, that shot, "like it was yesterday."

2010 NCAA Tournament, East Preview & Predictions: Heard Of This John Wall Fella?

2010-03-16T23:05:35Z

More photos » Mark Humphrey - AP

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Martin Rickman covers the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Blogger So Dear.

The East Regional is not lacking big name teams, that's for sure. But the storylines see many of the teams going in opposite directions. While WVU and Kentucky are coming off of thrilling wins in their conference championships, teams like Clemson, Missouri, Texas and Wake Forest are just happy that the regular season is over.

There are definitely some exciting matchups to keep an eye on in the first round. Clemson and Missouri brace themselves for a wall-to-wall 40 Minutes of Hell for the chance to face Bob Huggins' Mountaineers. Mid-major darling Cornell faces a red hot Temple team. And ultra-talented squads Texas and Wake Forest both try to find a way to regain some of the momentum they lost in the second half of the season.

Get detailed analysis on the East Region, after the jump.

Opening Round Games

1 Kentucky vs. 16 E. Tenn. St.

National Player of the Year candidate John Wall leads Eric Bledsoe, Demarcus Cousins and Patrick Patterson in their quest for the championship. Their first opponent is Eastern Tennessee State, winners of the Atlantic Sun as a five seed. The Bucs, coached by Murry Bartow, are paced by double-double machine Tommy Hubbard, who averaged 14.1 points and 8.3 rebounds on the year.

8 Texas vs. 9 Wake Forest

It's been a six weeks to forget for the Longhorns and Demon Deacons. Rick Barnes' club went 6-6 in their last twelve games, and Wake Forest, after winning four in a row to start February, dropped four of their last five regular season games and were embarrassed by 12th-seeded Miami in the ACC Tournament. It all starts over in March, and both teams are out to prove they can win.

5 Temple vs. 12 Cornell

The Big Red plowed through the Ivy League this year and locked up the first official NCAA Tournament berth behind Ryan Wittman. Unfortunately for Cornell, the Temple Owls were a wrecking crew as well. The Owls finished with a 29-5 record, an A-10 Championship, and a KenPom ranking of 18 to show for it. This proves to be a must-see first round matchup.

4 Wisconsin vs. 13 Wofford

The last time Wisconsin played Wofford, they wore ridiculous socks and smoked the Terriers. It's two years later, but the Badgers are hoping to make a deep run after bowing out in their first round game against Illinois in the Big Ten Tournament. Wisconsin owns wins against Maryland, Duke, Marquette, Ohio State, Purdue and Michigan State, and with Bo Ryan on the sidelines, they are always dangerous.

6 Marquette vs. 11 Washington

These are two teams with a lot of momentum. Washington played their way into the tournament by taking the Pac-10 crown, while Marquette won 11 of their last 14 games, including a statement win against ‘Nova in the Big East Tournament. The Golden Eagles have Lazar Hayward on their side, and aside from having one of the best first names ever, he is a pretty good player to boot, averaging 18 points on the year.

3 New Mexico vs. 14 Montana

Steve Alford has been here before. A three seed while Head Coach at Iowa, the Hawkeyes were shocked by Southland Champs Northwestern State. Now a Lobo, Alford coached New Mexico to a 29-4 record this year, including 10 road wins. Big Sky Champs Montana will need another spectacular performance out of Anthony Johnson, who dropped 34 points in the second half of the Grizzlies' win over Weber State.

7 Clemson vs. 10 Missouri

Both teams better hydrate ahead of time. The committee decided to be cute and match up both Tigers, who just so happen to also press from end to end the entire game. Although Clemson and Missouri didn't exactly finish strong down the stretch, this is sure to be a physical, sloppy and highly entertaining game.

2 West Virginia vs. 15 Morgan State

Bob Huggins looked about as emotional as we've ever seen him after the Mountaineers' win over Georgetown at Madison Square Garden on Saturday. Da'Sean Butler played out of his mind and hopes to carry that momentum over into the Dance. Morgan State earned their second straight NCAA Tournament berth after defeating South Carolina State, and their senior-laden club will try to give the Mountaineers all that they can handle.

Best Opening Round Game

This part of the bracket has some of the best first round games in the entire Tournament, but one game stands out: Temple vs. Cornell. This is a chance for two mid-majors to duke it out and both teams are certainly deserving of their seeds. The battle between Cornell's Ryan Wittman and Temple guards Ryan Brooks and Juan Fernandez is definitely one to watch.

Best Chance At A First Round Upset

Calling Cornell over Temple wouldn't be an upset, even though it is billed as a 12-5 game. So it's time to look at one that might not happen, but is intriguing nonetheless. Wofford comes into the Tournament winning 19 of their last 20 games. The Terriers played Pittsburgh right down to the wire way back in November, beat South Carolina and Georgia, and played Michigan State tough-so they've shown they won't be scared of the Badgers.

Dream Game

It's a cop-out, but #1 vs. #2. Seeing Kentucky against West Virginia, Huggins vs. Calipari, Wall vs. Butler would be incredible, especially if Gus Johnson were somehow involved.

Final Analysis

It's a complete mess trying to pick the games here, but I'll give it a shot. While the middle of the region is a toss-up, I think the bookends of UK and WVU will be able to hold their seeding and meet up for a chance at the Final Four. There are some definite contenders, but I'm not convinced that any of the teams have enough to take the Wildcats and Mountaineers down.

Ticket Punching: Morgan State Bears

2010-03-16T18:54:44Z

Repeat MEAC Champion Morgan State enters the tournament having won 19 of 21 games and looking to pull off an improbable win as a 15-seed. They played tough with Louisville and Minnesota early in the year, and they've got the conference hardware to boot. The MEAC Player of the Year, Defense Player of the Year, and Rookie of the Year are all Bears. Here's a few kernels of wisdom on Morgan State:

1. You could really put a team named 'Morgan State' anywhere in the US and it would never make any logical sense, but this school is located in Baltimore, MD

2. They are just another tournament team whose nickname has something to do with a bear (Baylor, California, Cornell, Montana, Oakland, Sam Houston State) are the others.
3. The 10th leading scorer in the nation, Reggie Holmes, is arguably Morgan State's 2nd-best pro prospect.

The Bears plowed through the conference almost untouched this year thanks to an offense that averages 77 points per contest, and rebounding ability that rivals some of the nation's top teams. But remember fans, it's still the MEAC.

Top Player: Reggie Holmes (21.8 PPG).
Need to Know Stat: PF Kevin Thompson shows up against top competition, averaging 13 PPG and 14.5 RPG v. (Louisville, Arkansas, Minnesota, Baylor).
Projected Performance: Who do they think they are, the 2001 Hampton Pirates? Like Dr. Stu eloquently said in "The Hangover," West Virginia says, "byeeEEE".

For more knowledge on the Morgan State Bears, head over to StatSheet.com.

Ticket Punching: Lehigh Mountain Hawks

2010-03-16T00:11:24Z

It's already starting. Just one day after being paired with top-seeded Kansas, local reporters and journalists in the valley region are already making note that in 2005, Patriot League champion Bucknell offed the mighty Jayhwaks in dramatic fashion. Yes, both the 2010 Mountain Hawks and 2005 Bison hail from the same small conference, but by no means can you draw parallels between their personnel. The Jayhawks will win...although these seven nuggets of info are like, really, really weird.

Lehigh, in short, is just happy to be here. Their trip to the Big Dance should be viewed as a reward for setting a program record with 22. We should take note of freshman C.J. McCollum. As the league's POY and top scorer among all newcomers in the country, McCollum will have the green light the entire game, and should offer a peek of what he capable of doing for the following three season. He is deadly from long range, and averaged 25 points a game during the team's final nine contests.

Top Player: C.J. McCollum (19 points/game; 46.6 FG percentage)
Need-to-know Stat: Guard Marquis Hall average nearly six assists a game and boasts a 2.6/1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Projected Performance: Something that their parents will be proud of, nothing more.

Get even more fun information on the Lehigh Mountain Hawks at StatSheet.com.

2010 NCAA Tournament, South Preview & Predictions: Don't Sleep On Baylor Bears

2010-03-15T22:36:39Z

More photos » Gerry Broome - AP

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From Peter Bean* of SB Nation's Burnt Orange Nation.

It's never a shock to see Mike Krzyzewski's squad as one of the top seeds in the tournament, and the 2010 Duke Blue Devils -- winners of both the regular season and ACC Tournament titles -- are the No. 1 seed in this year's South Regional. The high seed is no surprise, but Duke enters this year's tournament having failed to reach the regional finals in each of the past five tournaments. And which No. 2 seed do the Blue Devils find themselves paired with this year? None other than the same Scottie Reynolds Villanova team that destroyed them by 23 points in last year's Sweet 16.

*A much more efficient writer than myself. This is a great comprehensive look at the South Region, after the jump.

To be sure, neither team appears to have a cakewalk to the Elite Eight. The South Regional features arguably the deepest pool of teams in the bracket this year; at least by one measure (Ken Pomeroy's advanced ratings), the South Regional's Top 14 seeds are the best of the bunch. Those who followed the Big 12 closely this year won't hesitate to assert the Baylor Bears, at their best, capable of beating any team in the country.

The winner of Richmond and St. Mary's opening round game won't be an easy out going forward. Notre Dame finished the year on fire, but they might struggle to get past a fearless Old Dominion, who dispatched of Georgetown on the road earlier in the year. Either Mike Montgomery (Cal) or Rick Pitino (Louisville) will stand in Mike Krzyzewski's path in the second round. And a Robbie Hummel-less Purdue team might be the least threatening among the superb bracket trio of Texas A&M, Utah State, and Siena.

In a year defined by the relative lack of strength of the overall pool of teams, many of the most dangerous and interesting squads in the field wound up together in the South Regional. Fans attending virtually any of the 15 games that will be played should be treated to a compelling battle.

FIRST ROUND MATCH UPS

(1) Duke Blue Devils vs (16) Arkansas Pine-Bluff/Wintrhop Winner

SB Nation sites: Duke Basketball Report

I go back and forth and whether or not I think the two teams that find themselves paired in the play-in game should feel pleased with the draw. On the one hand, they get the national spotlight to themselves for one night and one of the two picks up a win in the NCAA Tournament. At the same time, there's something insulting about being forced to play for the right to join the other 63 teams in the regular bracket. And especially in a year with a weak group of teams on the bubble, it's easy to see it as preferable the tournament leave out one more at-large team, to allow each of the conference representatives their chance to battle in the full field of 64.

(It should be mentioned that this year's play-in contest features an undeniably compelling mascot battle: the Eagles of Winthrop versus the Golden Lions of Arkansas-Pine Bluff. It's difficult ever to bet against eagles, the most fearsome predators of the skies, one type of which -- the muscular bald eagle -- serves as our national mascot. Except that here we're not just talking about any old lion -- Winthrop's not up against Loyola Marymount or Penn State, for crying out loud -- but about Arkansas State-Pine Bluff... the golden lions. Among those who outperform most of the rest of us by picking brackets based on the mascots, this year's play-in game will cause as much consternation for them as the 8-9 games do for everyone else.)

Though neither squad has anywhere near enough offensive skill to give Duke trouble, this year's play-in game (Tuesday at 7:30 PM ET) will feature two interesting, defensively-strong squads. Winthrop, who Madness fans may remember from their first round upset over Notre Dame in the 2007 NCAA Tournament -- won the Big South Conference Tournament with a very athletic squad that smothered opponents defensively, consistently forcing turnovers and clearing the defensive glass.

Though the Eagles will be the slight favorites, there are three reasons I'll be rooting for Arkansas-Pine Bluff to win. First, though the Golden Lions were edged out by Southern (a team they beat twice) for the regular season title, in pulling together to win the SWAC Conference Tournament, the 2010 Arkansas-Pine Bluff basketball team became the first in school history to make the NCAA Tournament.

Second, not only did the conference tournament championship secure the school's first ticket to the Dance, but this was the last best shot for most of the kids on this year's team, which includes an incredible six seniors among the eight who regularly play.

Third, and most impressively, this group of seniors did it the right way, giving themselves the best chance to achieve their post-season goals by scheduling the third-toughest non-conference schedule of any team in the country. Eleven games, all on the road, including 8 teams that would finish the year in Ken Pomeroy's Top 100. Though the Golden Lions would lose all 11 of their non-conference contests, by an average of nearly 15 points, there's no doubt the Golden Lions early-season games against UTEP, Oklahoma State, Georgia Tech, Missouri, and Kansas State are a big reason they join each of those schools in this year's NCAA Tournament field.

(8) California Golden Bears vs (9) Louisville Cardinals

SB Nation sites: California Golden Blogs and Card Chronicle

Neither team put it together all season, but both were better than most realized. Cal has been deemed by many guilty by association -- with the Pac 10, that is, which struggled to get two teams into the NCAA Tournament field, in an atypical down year. Meanwhile, were it not for the Cards' unforgettable Freedom Hall closer over Syracuse, Louisville fans would have been nervously watching on Selection Sunday, while regretting a season of close calls and near-misses. The key for Cal will be taking care of defensive rebounds, something they've struggled with all year, and which an average shooting Louisville team needs to score consistently.

(5) Texas A&M Aggies vs (12) Utah State Aggies

SB Nation sites: I Am The 12th Man

Though for this Longhorns fan, one set is usually one too many, I'll be tuning in attentively to this festival of Aggie. Though Texas A&M finally managed to avoid BYU in the first round, they once again draw a tricky team from Utah -- in this case, one that beat BYU in the regular season. One of the last four teams in after being upset by New Mexico State in the WAC Tournament, Utah State had won 17 straight before that thanks to one of the nation's very best offenses. Sharpshooting guards Jared Quayle and Tyler Newbold (both better than 42% from downtown) anchor a backcourt that rarely turns the ball over, passes exceptionally well, and shoots the ball brilliantly, both inside and out. The deciding factor in the game may be whether Utah State can keep Texas A&M from getting to the line, which they do better than almost everybody, and on which their offensive efficiency depends. Staying out of foul trouble, and in front of the outstanding Donal Sloan, will be critical for Utah State to advance.

(4) Purdue Boilermakers vs (13) Siena Saints

SB Nation sites: Hammer And Rails

With Robbie Hummel, Purdue's not only a clear favorite over Siena, but perhaps the favorite to have closed out the season as Big 10 champs. It wasn't long ago that the Boilermakers were being discussed for a No. 1 seed. As it happens, they'll face one of the toughest 13-seed draws possible, facing an athletic, aggressive, and confident Siena squad that won't be happy just to be there. They'll believe they can win, and very well might if Purdue is uncharacteristically sloppy with the basketball. If there's a silver lining here, it's that Purdue is disciplined and controlled in a way that may frustrate the Saints from getting into the high-intensity, turnover-fueled mayhem they rather enjoy.

(6) Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs (11) Old Dominion Monarchs

SB Nation sites: Rakes of Mallow

It's difficult for me to say which I loathe more -- Mike Brey's wardrobe or the annual embarrassment that is his panty-waist non-conference scheduling.

Mike Brey dresses like he schedules: unspeakably bad.

Indeed, so bad was Mike Brey's non-conference slate that the Fighting Irish receiving a No. 6 seed strongly suggests the Committee cared a whole lot more about how teams finished the year than they did how they scheduled or performed in the non-con season. Notre Dame limped through a pitiful slate of opponents that included just one Ken Pomeroy Top 100 team (#77 Northwestern, to whom the Irish lost) as well as a terrible home loss to lowly Loyola Marymount. As recently as late February, Notre Dame was 6-8 in the Big East and very much on the wrong side of the NCAA bubble.

To their credit, the Irish closed as strong as anyone, winning six of their final seven games, including victories over Marquette, Georgetown, Connecticut, Seton Hall, and Pittsburgh (twice). Though my personal preference is to punish weak non-conference scheduling with lower NCAA seeds, the Committee apparently decided that this year's rash of teams fading down the stretch justified disproportionately rewarding teams that closed out the year well.

All that said, whatever favors the Committee gave Notre Dame with a No. 6 seed, they most certainly didn't by pairing them with Old Dominion, a long, athletic squad that combines tough, hard-nose defense with impeccable rebounding. In what I view as one of the tournament's most compelling first-round match ups, I'm eager to see how well Notre Dame's experienced, execution-oriented team fares against an Old Dominion team whose skill and athleticism will surprise those who haven't seen them play. The Monarchs dispatched of Georgetown at McDonough earlier this year with excellent defense, superb rebounding, and minimal fouling -- three factors which, if replicated in the first round match up, lead me to believe Notre Dame would struggle. How much and well All-Big East forward Luke Harangody plays is more pivotal against ODU than many other opponents the Irish might have drawn.

(3) Baylor Bears vs (14) Sam Houston State Bearkats

This one's pretty simple: So long as Baylor doesn't implode, they will roll. The Bears recently finished a torturous (for me) three game sweep of the Texas Longhorns in the span of five weeks, squeaking out an overtime win in Austin before easily disposing of the Longhorns both in Waco and the Big XII Tournament. You've probably heard of the dynamic backcourt duo of LaceDarius Dunn and Tweety Carter, but Baylor's most important asset -- and the reason they've so drastically improved since last year -- is the interior eraser Ekpe Udoh. The junior transfer from Michigan rebounds and blocks shots as well or better than anyone in the country and is being eyed by NBA scouts as a potential high first round pick. When Baylor's defensive focus and intensity on the perimeter matches what they get from Udoh on the interior, the fluid, explosive offense more than takes care of the rest.

(7) Richmond Spiders vs (10) St. Mary's Gaels

A terrific match-up of contrasts, with St. Mary's elite size and skill on the interior pitted against the lethal perimeter play of Richmond's terrific guards. The Spiders aren't exactly a small ball club, but they don't do a great job on the boards, where the Gaels' Omar Samhan makes his living. Your guess is as good as mine how this one plays out, but it's yet another first round match up I'm eagerly looking forward to watching.

(2) Villanova Wildcats vs (15) Robert Morris Colonials

Similar to the skeptical treatment I mentioned giving Sherron Collins in my Big 12 Tournament preview, I've been tough on Villanova, if only to combat what I perceived to be inflated evaluations; at the beginning of February, for instance, I challenged the conventional wisdom that the Wildcats had proven themselves a dominant team when they not only had yet to get into the meat of the difficult portion of their Big East schedule, but most of the teams in the Big East (Nova included) weren't playing any defense. The very next day Villanova lost to Georgetown, and the Wildcats closed out the season losing 6 of their final 10, including a home loss to UCONN.

There's not much about Robert Morris that suggests Villanova will have any trouble in the opening round, but neither has there been much about Villanova to suggest they couldn't be beat by the winner of Richmond-St. Mary's. The fascinating thing about Villanova is that neither would I call anyone crazy who picked them through the South Regional to the Final Four. When Scotty Reynolds and his pals are playing their A-game, they will run teams -- no matter the caliber of opponent -- right out of the gym. If you can't envision Scotty Reynolds as the MVP of the South Regional after an eye-popping four-game run, you've probably not seen him play more than once, if at all.

ODDS AND ENDS

Before making the obligatory predictions, a few quick hitters to wrap the South Regional preview:

Best First Round Game: (6) Notre Dame vs (11) Old Dominion. As discussed already, this is a terrific, evenly-matched contest that I might go so far as to say likely to produce a seeding upset, except that Notre Dame enters the tournament playing as cohesively as any team in the country. All we know for sure is that Mike Brey will be dressed poorly. The rest is up for grabs.

Best Chance At A First Round Shocker: (13) Siena over (4) Purdue. Though I think Utah State could knock off Texas A&M and Old Dominion could advance past Notre Dame, the second-most intriguing opening round game of the South Regional provides the biggest potential upset by spread between seeds. Purdue stumbles into the tournament shorthanded and trending down, to face a fearless Saints team that believes it will win.

Dream Game Fans Should Hope Materializes: (3) Baylor vs (1) Duke. No one will complain if Duke and Villanova meet in the Regional Finals for a rematch of last year's Sweet 16 battle, but much as it pains me to think about being excited for anything positive related to Scott Drew, his basketball team is as dynamic and exciting as any in the country when the Bears are hitting on all cylinders.

A CHANCE FOR ME TO LOOK STUPID

Last, but not least, my obligatory picks of the winners. Given the deep pool of strong teams and competitive games, my first prediction is that I miss the mark badly. My second prediction is that I'll be too busy enjoying the games to care.

FIRST ROUND GAMES

(1) Duke over (16) Arkansas-Pine Bluff
(8) California over (9) Louisville
(5) Texas A&M over (12) Utah State
(13) Siena over (4) Purdue
(11) Old Dominion over Notre Dame
(3) Baylor over Sam Houston St.
(10) St. Mary's over (7) Richmond
(2) Villanova over (15) Robert Morris

ON TO THE SWEET 16

(1) Duke over (8) Cal
(13) Siena over (5) Texas A&M
(3) Baylor over (11) Old Dominion
(10) St. Mary's over (2) Villanova

HEADED TO THE REGIONAL FINALS

(1) Duke over (13) Siena
(3) Baylor over (10) St. Mary's

SOUTH REGIONAL CHAMPION

(1) Duke over (3) Baylor

Ticket Punching: Ohio Bobcats

2010-03-15T18:15:11Z

For all you conference tournament haters out there, I guess this is just more ammo for your argument. If you're one of those haters though, Coach John Groce and his Ohio Bobcats don't care about you because they are in the 'Big Dance'. After finishing the regular season in ninth place, Ohio became the 'Cinderella' story of the MAC beating the first seed Kent State, Miami (Ohio), and then topping the two seed AK-Rowdy in overtime for a trip to their 12th NCAA tournament.

What people don't know is that Ohio had their own version of the Tennessee saga to contend with this year when two of their top six leading scorers, Steven Coleman and Jay Kinney were suspended indefinitely midway through the year. The Bobcats finally recovered and hit their stride when it mattered most. They boast four players who average double figures in scoring and they've got decent size on their front line 6'8''/6'10''.

With several scoring options, one would think that balance is what led Ohio to their surprise tournament birth. Not the case. Lately, for the Bobcats, it's been give the ball to Armon Basset, get the heck out of the way, and let him pour in 25+ every night. They'll need an all-around effort to keep it close, and Basset (the former Indiana University recruit guard who bolted following the Kelvin Sampson saga) might need to go all Steph Curry on us for them to have any shot at a first-round win.

Top Player: Armon Basset (17 points/game 3.5 assists/game)
Need to Know Stat: It's either hit or miss for the Bobcats- Of their 21 wins, only three of them were decided by five points or fewer, and in only six of the wins was the spread less than ten. The other eleven were complete blowouts.
Projected Performance: Thanks for playing Ohio, go back to doing what you're good at.

For more on the Ohio Bobcats, visit StatSheet.com.

Ticket Punching: UC Santa Barbara Gauchos

2010-03-15T17:22:41Z

This is not Pat Forde's uni-watch, but typical gaucho game-wear can be seen here. UCSB will be making their first tourney appearance since 2002, and this is team has been on a roll winning nine of their last ten. The win that punched their ticket? A five point victory over Long Beach State, a team who beat UCSB by twenty in January.

Their leader is unquestionably Orlando Johnson. The 6'5'' red shirt sophomore has notched double figures scoring in every game this season shooting nearly 40% from deep. With starters ranging from 6'2'' to 6'7'', this is not a vertically blessed Gauchos squad. They were second to last in the Big West Conference in rebounds per game. While they lost the rebounding battle in the semifinals and finals of the tournament, it clearly didn't affect the outcome. This UCSB Team can be sure that the rebounding must be shored up against their first round opponent Ohio State.

One thing the Gauchos have that many small conference teams don't is a second legitimate scorer. James Nunnally has been that all year long for Santa Barbara, and came up big over the weekend averaging over 19 PPG in the Big West conference tournament.

Top Player: Orlando Johnson:(17.9 PPG, 5.4 RPG), Big West Conference Player of the Year, 'nuff said.
Need to Know Stat: In 12 of their first 13 games, UCSB was a second half team, but in their last 16 games, they scored more points in the second half only seven times.
Projected Performance: 'The Villian' will send them back to So. Cal by halftime.

Information like this and much more on the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos can be found at StatSheet.com.

Ticket Punching: Sam Houston State Bearkats

2010-03-15T17:14:48Z

With a convincing 16-point win over Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston State advanced to just their second NCAA tournament ever. The Bearkats don't have any non-conference wins to show for, however a 102-92 loss to Kentucky in their third game of the season shows that they can shoot it out with anybody.

You fellow history buffs out there know Sam Houston as the 6'6'' 'Tall Texan" and founding father of the 'country' of Texas. Well, the college affectionally named after the great 19th century politicion plays home to another 6'6'' somebody: Gilberto Clavell. For those of you watching on TV, Clavell can be distinguished by his athletic goggles that make him look like David Ortiz during a playoff celebration. The junior Clavell is joined by seniors Corey Allmond and Ashton Mitchell to form a potent offensive trio. Unselfishness is the best word to describe this Bearkat (no typo, bro) bunch- they average over 20 assists per game.

For some schools in the Lonestar state (Texas, Texas A&M, Baylor), stars come, the stars go, and the coach reloads with more stars. For Sam Houston State, a team led by two seniors and a junior, this is their defining moment and a chance to put a small Southland Conference school 'on the map'.

Top Player: Gilberto Clavell (17 PPG, 6 RPG)
Need to Know Stat: All three scorers are capable of monster games. Here is the season high for- Clavell: 35 Allmond: 37, Mitchell: 28.
Projected Performance: Baylor doesn't mind if Sam Houston State can run with them, the Bears will simply jump over the Bearkats.

Get more Sam Houston State Bearkats news than you could ever imagine on StatSheet.com.

2010 NCAA Tournament, Midwest Preview & Predictions: The Toughest Region

2010-03-15T15:22:05Z

More photos » Charlie Riedel - AP

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By Jeremy Mauss of SB Nation's Mountain West Connection:

Everyone is predicting that the Midwest is the toughest of the NCAA Tournament's four regions this year, but remember this is a tournament and only the team in front of you matters and not the whole bracket. The reason this region is being considered so strong is because of the coaching experience and tournament success of those involved:

Bill Self, Kansas- National title for Kansas and led three separate teams to the NCAA tournament.

Tom Izzo, Michigan State- Five final four appearances and one national title, all for Michigan State.

Lon Kruger, UNLV- One final four appearance (Florida) and has guided four teams to the NCAA tournament.

Steve Fisher, San Diego State- One national title as interim coach and three final four appearances as Michigan head coach.

Gary Williams, Maryland- Seven sweet-sixteen appearances, two final fours and one national title.

Thad Matta, Ohio State- National title runner-up and guided three separate teams to the NCAA tournament.

Analysis on each game, upset bidders and a Final Four pick after the jump.

Now onto the actual players on the court, where this region contains three of five Sporting News first team All-Americans with Ohio State's Evan Turner, Maryland's Greivis Vasquez, and Oklahoma State's James Anderson. If that is not enough, Kansas' Sherron Collins is a second team selection and Georgetown's Austin Freeman is a fifth team pick. Even with all of this star power, Turner is the marquee player in this region and has the ability to take the Buckeyes as far as he can.

#1 Kansas vs. #16 Leigh- A sixteen seed has never beaten a one seed and do not expect one here. However, Leigh has a stud player in C.J. McCollum who was the Patriot League player of the year and was named to the Sporting News freshman All-American team.

#8 UNLV vs. #9 Northern Iowa- This will be a contrast of two styles as UNLV will want to run the ball while Northern Iowa is a walk the ball up type of team. Northern Iowa has a gaudy record of 28-4, and they rely on a team effort in scoring while UNLV is lead by Tre'Von Willis and Chace Stanback, but are not as deep as UNI.

#5 MIchigan State vs. #12 New Mexico State- New Mexico State is in because they upset Utah State in the WAC finals. Do not be fooled into picking the trendy 12-5 upset -- Tom Izzo will have his team ready to go.

#4 Maryland vs. #13 Houston- The Terps should win, but they need to watch out for Houston's Aubrey Coleman, who lead the nation in scoring. The good news for Maryland is that they have All-American Greivis Vasquez and Houston is not a good defensive team.

#6 Tennessee vs. #11 San Diego State- This is the game that has the best upset potential. San Diego State is coming off winning the MWC title where they beat a top 10 New Mexico team. Tennessee does have wins over Kentucky and Kansas this year, but also have loses to Georgia and USC. The Aztecs are super athletic, but do not always play the best basketball, however they do have a super freshman in Kawhi Leonard.

#3 Georgetown vs. #14 Ohio- Ohio made a surprise run in the MAC tournament to get this bid, and Georgetown will be too much. The Hoyas are a team that wants to run and are led by Austin Freeman and Greg Monroe who average 16 a game a piece. The downside to the Hoyas is that they go only seven deep which could hurt them down the line.

#7 Oklahoma State vs. #10 Georgia Tech- Oklahoma State has the best player in the Big XII no one knows in James Anderson, and Georgia Tech did make a nice run to the ACC finals only to lose a close game to Duke.

#2 Ohio State vs. #15 UC Santa Barbara- Ohio State has Evan Turner and UCSB has um... well... just the coolest nickname of the tournament in the Gauchos. Seriously, UCSB has Orlando Johnson who is a scoring threat, but they are not deep enough to keep up with the Buckeyes.

Best Opening Round Game

#4 Maryland vs. #13 Houston

Both teams routinely score in the 80's and this game could get well beyond that if either team abandons their defense. Maryland is the obvious better team and will most likely win, but this will be one of the more entertaining games of the region.

Best Chance For A First Round Upset

#11 San Diego State over #6 Tennessee

The Aztecs are an up and down team with a bunch of athletes and if they get going they can play with nearly any team in the country. San Diego State is on a huge hot streak by winning the Mountain West tournament which included an impressive win over New Mexico. Tennessee has beaten Kansas and Kentucky this year, but they are like the Aztecs who play inconsistently. San Diego State is the hotter of the two teams and has a very good shot to win this game.

Dream Game To See

#1 Kansas vs. #2 Ohio State

The best team in Kansas taking on possibly the best player in college hoops in Evan Turner. Kansas has been one of the top teams in the country all year while the Buckeyes have been less consistent, but that has to do with Turner missing some games due to an injury. Kansas has Sherron Collins, but he is no Evan Turner, or at least does not have the hype of Turner. A number one verse a number two for a final four bid would be intense by any measure, but again this is the best team against a team with the best player with apologizes to John Wall.

Final Four Pick

These are my very early and off the cuff reactions, so I am not responsible for anyone who follows this advice and is not successful. The regional final will be Ohio State vs. Kansas and my prediction is for Ohio State to advance to the Final Four in Indianapolis.

2010 NCAA Tournament, West Preview & Predictions: Where We're Covered In Chalk

2010-03-15T14:59:33Z

More photos » Kevin Rivoli - AP

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As I type, Van Halen's "Jump" plays in the background. As you can imagine, I'm getting hyped up. But as I assess the West Region, something tells me the that when (spoiler alert!) Syracuse cuts down the nets in Salt Lake City, it will have been done in a controlled manner. A possible UTEP run to the second weekend aside, don't try and get fancy with this quadrant of the bracket. Keep It Simple, Stupid, and save the classic rock music for another region.

Game previews, analysis, upset bidders and more after the jump.

(1) Syracuse Orange vs. (16) Vermont Catamounts – Don’t even think about unearthing those images and YouTube videos from 2005. Marqus Blakely is a great weapon for the Catamounts, but the ‘Cuse will cruise in their first-round game.

(8) Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. (9) Florida St. Seminoles – There wasn’t much talk about the Seminoles to close out the season, and that’s probably because they were safely in the field of 65 but not really racking up important or highlight-worthy victories. The Bulldogs are probably the most complete eight-seed with good-looking (in basketball speak) guards, and bigs that have improved over the course of the season. Should be fun to see FSU's Solomon Alabi assert himself on D.

(5) Butler Bulldogs vs. (12) UTEP Miners – As a 12-seed who did not win their conference tournament, UTEP and the Utah State Aggies were the last two teams to make the field. That said, the Miners have a clear athleticism advantage and are more than capable of advancing past Butler. One argument I can’t seem to figure out, though: Derrick Caracter will neutralize Matt Howard. Why can’t Howard, assuming he stays out of foul trouble, be the enforcer here and limit Caracter’s production? Regardless, how these two perform could be the difference.

(4) Vanderbilt Commodores vs. (13) Murray State Racers – Ugh. This is a precarious situation for the Commodores. Low-seeded teams that can shoot from all over the floor are always feared, and the Racers are just that with a 59 true-shooting percentage. Vandy will have to defend well for the entire game, as six Murray State players average 9.5 points or more.

(6) Xavier Musketeers vs. (11) Minnesota Golden Gophers – Got to gush a bit here… it’s great to say that my alma-matter has a legitimate shot to earn their third consecutive trip to the Sweet 16. The Golden Gophers snuck in to the field, but it’s highly attributable to getting wins over injury-riddled Michigan St. and Purdue in the Big 10 Tournament. The Musketeers’ Jordan Crawford, Dante Jackson and Brad Redford all shoot at or above 40 percent from behind the arc. Minnesota allowed a whopping 714 deep balls this season. I vote for CBS to make that their "Key to the Game."

(3) Pittsburgh Panthers vs. (14) Oakland Golden Grizzlies – The Golden Grizzlies have a few nice pieces, but because they’re from the feeble Summit League and can really only win by scoring in bunches, they just don’t match-up well against the defensive minded Panthers. Expect Jamie Dixon’s kids to control the tempo in this game, which ESPN’s Dana O’Neil tweeted as "self-cannibalization" in reference to Pitt’s Oakland Zoo.

(7) Brigham Young Cougars vs. (10) Florida Gators – The Cougars were one of those trendy teams during the season, but suddenly they get shafted with a seven seed that makes their road to the second weekend of the tournament fairly difficult. Florida is a team with some nice pieces, but they've been inconsistent and reliable on shots that send people in to hysterics. With Chandler Parsons' penchant for the dramatics (here and here), and the small cult following of Jimmer Fredette, this game should be all things fun.

(2) Kansas St. Wildcats vs. (15) North Texas Mean Green – No, Kansas St. wasn't mistakenly paired with a Lonestar State AAU powerhouse, North Texas is a real college basketball team! Forgive the Mean Green if they're completely overwhelmed by the length and versatility of KSU, they only played five games against the RPI top 150 this season.

Best Opening Round Game: BYU vs. Florida. Aside from Georgia Tech, I think these two teams have more to prove to their fans than any other seven or 10 seed.

Best Chance At A First Round Upset: UTEP over Butler. I would expect everyone to be in full agreement of this.

Dream Game We Hope To See: Perhaps I am mis-interpreting, but Syracuse and Kansas St. are the best teams here, correct? Then by golly they better meet for a trip to the Final Four.

Final Analysis: Syracuse should advance, as all season their 2-3 zone has lured teams into firing away early and making them feel gitty because they have a lead against one of the top teams in the country. The problem with that approach is that hucking three-point shots for 40 minutes rarely earns you a W. Conversely, the potential absence of Arinze Onuaku could doom the Orange if paired with Gonzaga in the second round. Both the Bulldogs’ Elias Harris and Robert Sacre could be future pros, and probably can’t be guarded by only Rick Jackson.

Duke, CBS and the NCAA might be in cahoots

2010-03-14T23:26:25Z

Many moons ago - when my brain was undeveloped and I valued the leadership qualities of Grant Hill and Mike Krzyzewski and the poise of Jay Williams and Shaine Battier - I was completely naive of the love Duke got from the national media. Furthermore, I was ignorant of the puke that the rest of the world wanted to hurl at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Just how could you not love these guys? They're perfect!

But I've grown up and after not going to college in Durham, my fanhood for the Dookies have waned. I see clearly now, and can't bring myself to justify the favorable seeding the Duke Blue Devils received this evening.

Just two ~~weeks~~ hours ago, this was a team jostling with the likes of Ohio State and West Virginia (two conference tournament winners, mind you) for the right to own a #1 seed. Now, as we frantically print brackets and make knee-jerk reactions to what just transpired during the Selection Show, Duke is essentially being deemed as the third-best team in the field of 65. And that is simply ticking a lot of people off.

Consider...

They get to open the tournament against the play-in game winner.
They're followed by a weak #2 seed that have lost five of their last seven (Villanova).
They have a potential Sweet 16 match-up against a team that is hurt and scored nine points in a half yesterday (Purdue).

And, what's crazier, they could potentially play a PAC 10 team in the second round. That's like a second round bye! This sort of favoritism from the NCAA sours my mouth.

I always filled out brackets under the assumption that the four #1 seeds were given that distinction because it was a near consensus belief that each were capable of winning a national championship. Given the 15 teams they've been grouped with, Duke will likely come within a few games of hoisting that trophy. But, in no conceivable way, can the Duke Blue Devils win the 2010 National Championship. Here's to more hating...

The Dagger: Duke's Kyle Singler takes out the wrong ESPN broadcaster

2010-03-14T20:55:11Z

The Dagger: Duke's Kyle Singler takes out the wrong ESPN broadcaster

It's times like this when you are thankful for living in an ACC television-market, and get relief from the uber-hyper Vitale.

Well played, Mr. Jeff Eisenberg. Well played.

Ticket Punching: New Mexico State Aggies

2010-03-14T20:52:02Z

Winners of their last 17, Utah State was just straight chillin, minding their business and playing under the assumption they would be your 2010 WAC winners and earn an automatic berth to the dance. Then New Mexico State showed up in the finals, trailed for most of the game, but went on a 14-4 run late in the second half to steal the automatic bid. It was laudable not only because they came back, but also because they (the Aggies of New Mexico State) were able to play to the pace of their opponent (the Aggies of Utah State) getting only 60 possessions in the game. Gutty way to eek out an upset victory.

They're both named the "Aggies" but only one may be in the field of 65, as Utah State waits with baited breath this afternoon. But that's not our problem.

Top Player: Jahmar Young (20.5 points/game; 73 3-pts made)
Need-to-know Stat: Ever read the book "Seven Seconds or Less"? The Aggies sort of play like that, as they have taken the 10th most three-pointers in the country, but also get 72 possessions per game.
Projected Seed: #13

This was a fairly abbreviated take on the New Mexico Aggies. Learn much more at StatSheet.com.

Ticket Punching: Houston Cougars

2010-03-14T20:02:13Z

To the casual college basketball fan, Aubrey Coleman is an unknown commodity. To dorks like me, he was the mysterious guard who led the country in scoring, on a team who I was unable to watch play because Conference USA basketball is not valued by the big wigs at sports TV networks. Fair enough.

Coleman may have struggled mightily yesterday (13 points on 4-20 from the field) but the Cougars shocked UTEP to steal a bid, and we all get to take a look at this guy who scored in double figures in every game this season, including nine 30+ point performances.

Do keep in mind that Tom Penders' club was unable to post an above .500 record in C-USA, so they really are nothing ore than an opportunistic team; one who caught fire right when they needed to.

This will be the Cougars first tourney berth since 1992. That tournament, they downed Texas to advance to the second round. The Longhorns coach at the time? Ironically, it was Mr. Penders.

Top player: Already been stated
Need-to-know stat: This is an inefficient offensive team. Only one of their rotation players, Maurice McNeil, shoots at or above 45 percent from the floor.
Projected Seed: #14

There's plenty more on the Houston Cougars at StatSheet.com.

Ticket Punching: Vermont Catamounts

2010-03-14T17:47:57Z

One of the more likable teams in college basketball returns to the field of 65, as Vermont is your America East rep. for the first time since 2005. You remember they had some fun during that go around.

The Catamonunts were expected to run through conference play this season, but with four losses they ended up finshing second in the regular season to Stony Brook. They're a good team for sure, but played a fairly weak schedule (# 303 SOS), as their toughest non-conference game was a loss to Cornell. They also took an "L" to Providence but - if you care - did steal a victory against Rutgers at The RAC back in November.

What should we expect out of this club in the tournament? A healthy dose of Marqus Blakely. The 6'5" senior forward is an athletic freak of nature by America East standards, and can matchup with the most versatible players in the country. This team is also playing with a heavy heart, as junior Evan Fjeld (who has started all 34 games this season) tragically lost his mother to cancer on Tuesday.

Top Player: Marqus Blakely (17.4 points/game; 54 FG %)
Need-to-know Stat: If Vermont is going to keep it close against their first round opponent, it will be a slow paced game. The Catamounts get 26 percent of their points from the charity stripe.
Projected Seed: #14

Get more knowledge on the Vermont Catamounts at StatSheet.com.

Week 4.3 Bubble Watch, presented by Microsoft Paint

2010-03-14T17:14:38Z

Here is the bubble, as "last four teams in" becomes "final two teams in plus two pacing frantically up and down various hallways all afternoon" as Washington, Houston and San Diego St. steal automatic bids.

Others will disagree because they've lost six of their last eight games, but Illinois deserves a bid with five wins against top 25 teams. Minnesota controls their own destiny, but they're more deserving of a bid over Mississippi St. (also playing in a conference final this afternoon) because of their four wins against top 25 teams, and they have 12 wins of 19 points or more. The Bulldogs only have five.

Virginia Tech and Florida, you can only hope and pray.

Let's all touch each other...Evan Turner is frieken awesome

2010-03-12T19:55:32Z

Whatever doubt there was circulating through the college basketball landscape that Ohio State's Evan Turner wasn't the best player in the game has just evaporated.

What the hell was John Beilein thinking? Assembling his players in a 1-3-1 zone press that started at three-quarter court might be the worst coaching move of the season. Not only do you not guard the inbound pass, you give Turner all the space he needs to end your season. You can't justify this at all. What a hack.

Ticket Punching: Robert Morris Colonials

2010-03-12T17:05:41Z

After besting rival Quinnipiac on Wednesday night, the Colonials will be making the trip to the Big Dance for the second consecutive season. It has been a roller coaster of a year for Mike Rice Jr. who had to revamp his team after losing two of the top four scorers to graduation. His savior? That would be Karon Abraham, the diminutive freshman point guard and the team's leading scorer. During a miserable 4-7 start to the season, which included a deplorable loss to 7-25 Albany, Abraham bided his time coming off the bench, scoring in bunches in nearly every game to force Coach Rice to plug him into the starting line-up. Game twelve was the turning point for Abraham and the season for Robert Morris. A go-ahead jumper in the last minute by the 5'9'' sparkplug propelled the Colonials to victory and ignited a stretch of 19 wins in 23 games.

Outside of the 23-11 record, Robert Morris looks very average statistically. A 1/1.2 Assist/Turnover Ratio, 43%FG, 66%FT, and 36% from 3-PT all point to a team that lacks real strength offensively. They are 177th nationwide in rebounding, which could pose problems if they get matched up with a Kentucky or Duke team with a bevy of guys that clean the glass.

What Abraham lacks in experience, he makes up with toughness and aggression. The Colonials experience comes from a core of seniors who made the tourney run last year in Rob Robinson, Mezie Nwigwe, and Jimmy Langhurst.

Top Player: Karon Abraham (13.4PPG, 85FT%)
Need-to-know Stat: In their last 15 games, a stingy Robert Morris 'D' has held opponents to 55PPG.
Projected Seed: #16

For more on the Robert Morris Colonials, please visit StatSheet.com.