2010 NCAA Tournament:
Is Your Favorite Team Indy or on the Outsy?
Unlike recent seasons past, the 2010 NCAA Tournament is cloaked in mystery. Gone are the dominating days of UNC in ’09 or ‘05. Instead, we’re living in the times of Kansas State, New Mexico and Vanderbilt. While taking absolutely nothing away from these teams, even their loudest booster would have to admit the numerous flaws on the roster. Kansas and Kentucky are universally accepted as the exceptions here. At press time, each intimidating squad had only two losses and at least three guys destined for NBA paychecks. Still, we’d be lying if we said either really gave us that same feeling of invincibility Florida did back in ’07. We’re not saying the Jayhawks or Wildcats won’t trim the nets on April 5 in Indianapolis. Just don’t call us stunned if Michigan State or Tennessee wound up with the scissors at tourney’s end.
Fab Four
Kansas
Maybe it’s something about the color orange the Jayhawks just don’t like. We can’t come up with another explanation why Tennessee and Oklahoma State were able to beat Sherron Collins and Co. Then again, we can’t think of any decent reasons why they shouldn’t win the whole darn thing either.
Kentucky
If we played the NCAAs strictly on paper, the John Wall- and DeMarcus Cousins-anchored Wildcats would simply dominate. Of course, if we based things strictly off paper, a certain movie about tall, blue people on flying seahorses would have flopped.
Michigan State
INsite might be in the minority with the Spartans as a Final Four fave, but we see nothing wrong with sticking with the team we started the season out with. Besides, last we heard Kalin Lucas and Durrell Summers were still being coached by the incomparable Tom Izzo.
Syracuse
The Orange are arguably the hottest team in the country. With the cool-headed Andy Rautins handling the rock and the cold-blooded Wesley Johnson making it rain from 18 feet, Jim Boeheim’s bunch might be able to weather anything coming their way.
Eager Eight
Duke
We owe Jon Scheyer an apology. For two years now, we’ve discounted the Devil as nothing more than a spot-up shooter. This season he, Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler have morphed into a three-headed monster most teams won’t be able to contain.
Gonzaga
Matt Bouldin and super frosh Elias Harris were good enough to separate the Zags from St. Mary’s and the rest of the West Coast Conference. To become truly elite, the talented twosome must be great for another month.
Kansas State
You didn’t say a thing after the Wildcats beat Dayton in Nov. Not a peep from you after Xavier and UNLV wins in Dec or the Baylor victory in Jan. It’s March now and you’re only starting to talk KSU up?! Sorry, boss, the bandwagon’s full.
New Mexico
How good is this team? Well, UNLV, BYU and New Mexico State only have 20 losses between them. Six of those came from these Lobos. How good is slasher Darington Hobson? He’s top five in the conference in points, rebounds and assists.
Ohio State
The Buckeyes, 7-1 in Feb, are hitting a stride that should scare every team in the tournament. Though OSU’s Jon Diebler and David Lighty score in bunches, it’s safe to say Big Ten scoring and rebounding leader Evan Turner is the one to be feared most.
Tennessee
The Vols are the only team in America that can shout, “We beat Kansas and Kentucky!” To earn their chance to quiet critics who called the big wins flukes, Wayne Chism and Scotty Hopson have to consistently bring the noise.
Villanova
If we were Scottie Reynolds’ advisers, we’d tell the super senior averaging about 19 a night to shake off the Wildcat’s 4-4 February, go for broke in March and pick himself out a nice suit in April for the NBA Draft in June.
West Virginia
Most hoops pundits know there aren’t many sets of forwards better than the Mountaineers’ combo of Devin Ebanks and De’Sean Butler. Only the most oblivious WVU fans think they’ll be enough for a Final Four run.
Sleeper 16
Baylor
LaceDarius Dunn was money in February, with five games of 21+ points. If teams invest too much energy on stopping him, Tweety Carter will make them pay.
California
The Pac-10 was in shambles this season. Still, these Jerome Randle-led Bears somehow clawed through the rubble and came out a threatening postseason animal.
Cornell
Go smarting off about these Ivy Leaguers being in over their head. Alabama and St. Joe’s did the same thing and failed miserably against Big Red.
Florida
If the Gators make the Dance (loses to South Alabama and Georgia hurt now more than ever), they’ll waltz across a few teams of sheer frustration of the season.
Georgia Tech
Win or lose, Derrick Favors and Gani Lawal are headed for the NBA. Lose in the first round and coach Paul Hewitt may be heading towards the unemployment line.
Maryland
The other night Greivis Vasquez, the ACC leader in assists, had 41 points. Any time during the tourney he’s capable of a repeat.
Mississippi State
Wanna know why State lead the SEC in blocked shots and field goal percentage allowed? Jarvis Varnado. Wanna know why State’s a sleeper? You got it…
Northern Iowa
Panthers have a knack for being stealthy predators. This hardwood variety showed the same traits with early wins over Boston College and Iowa State.
Oklahoma State
Though the name James Anderson may not jump off the page, you can bet teams will jump for joy if they avoid seeing the tremendous guard in the opening rounds.
Richmond
With wins over NCAA tournament-caliber SEC teams (Miss. State, Florida), these Spiders prove more than able of getting bigger foes all tangled up.
St. Mary’s
Folks in the Pacific know Omar Samhan leads the WCC in scoring, rebounds and blocks. By month’s end, you will too.
Temple
These Owls aren’t ostentatious. In fact, they’re actually quite old-school in their approach to fundamental offense and a smothering D that has no let up.
UAB
Conference USA has another team, UTEP, capable of ruining a few brackets, but for our $20, we’re betting these Blazers find a way to shock a team or two.
UNLV
The Rebels ran over its last three Feb. opponents (25.6 point win margin). And to think, leading scorer Tre’Von Willis had his foot largely on the break those games.
Utah State
When we last checked, the Aggies had won 14 straight. When we last looked, they were also leading the WAC in field goal, free throw and three point percentages.
Vanderbilt
The Commodores don’t have a single player averaging over 15 points. It’s with a win-by-committee attitude they beat St. Mary’s, Florida and Tennessee twice.
«HOME |
