After last year's NCAA Tournament, following VCU's run from "They don't deserve dancing shoes" to the Final Four, after Butler bucked the odds, yet again, to reach the title game with one NBA player and a bunch of no-names who wouldn't start on most BCS teams, after watching game after game that went down to the wire in every round ...
You didn't think we could get a crazier men's basketball postseason.
In November, that seemed to be the forecast for this season. With several underclassmen scared by the impending NBA lockout into returning to the blue bloods, it looked like the 2011-12 season would return to form — a handful of the traditional big boys would dominate throughout the year and enter postseason play as clear favorites to reach New Orleans.
Well, that's been anything but the case.
In fact, as I watched yet another team that I really like, the Marquette Golden Eagles, overcome a first half without half of their team to win at hostile West Virginia and its fans — who were ready to literally bludgeon Buzz Williams after he did a little jig to Country Roads — I thought to myself, Man, this is gonna be one brutal year for filling out brackets.
I'll be honest (don't lie, kids): I've only watched maybe a half of Murray State basketball and I haven't sat down and watched tape of any of these teams — if only I had time to watch basketball game tape! — but I believe at least these 14 teams have a chance to cut down the nets in 'Nawlins:
No. 1 Kentucky — They've got the most talent, the national player of the year, the best shot-blocker since Shaq...
No. 2 Syracuse — Depth, depth, depth. Chemistry. Cohesion. Defense. Toughness. Need more?
No. 3 Duke — This team is incredible in how many times it's come back to win games at the end. Closing out games? Kinda important in March.
No. 4 Kansas — No one in the country has a bigger heart than Thomas Robinson. He could pull a Kemba Walker and will this team to a championship.
No. 5 Michigan State — Tom Izzo is, hands down, the best tournament coach. And this year, he could be national coach of the year. The Spartans defense is suffocating.
No. 6 North Carolina — Don't sleep on the preseason favorites. They still have the twin towers down low, the best assist guy in the business, and maybe the best scorer in the country. Enough?
No. 7 Marquette — This group comes at you. Their pressing style puts all kinds of pressure on opponents, and they have a handful of guys who can get to the basket.
No. 8 Missouri — What wins in March? Great. Guard. Play. Missouri has phenomenal guard play.
No. 9 Murray State — Question the Racers if you like, but any team that goes through a season with one loss — and demolishes a good St. Mary's team — has to be considered (especially considering Butler's success recently).
No. 10 Baylor — The Bears have been shaky lately, but with Perry Jones and the twin Quincys (Acy and Miller), they have as tough of a trio to handle as anyone outside of Chapel Hill or Lexington.
No. 11 Ohio State — Whoa ... how the previously top-ranked Buckeyes have fallen. But are you telling me a team with Jared Sullinger, William Buford and Aaron Craft doesn't have a shot?
No. 12 Georgetown — I never would have thought this in November, but this Hoyas team has gelled into one of the nation's best defensive, balanced squads. Not pretty but effective.
No. 13 Florida — The Gators were a shot here or a defensive stop there from reaching the Final Four last year. They lost close to no one. They have an experienced backcourt. They have a two-time winning national championship coach. Rule them out? No thanks.
Unranked Vanderbilt — No unranked team is more dangerous than the 'Dores, who took Kentucky down to the wire not once, but twice. Watch out for them in a couple weeks.
*Wild card: Wichita State — I haven't watched the Shockers, but the way they're tearing apart the Valley, they might just 'Shock' some people come Dancing time.
Wow. Let the madness commence.
Good stuff, Jake. Only "change" I'd make is to eliminate Florida completely. Lost a big-time player in Yeguete for the season. That plus streaky 3-point shooting makes me skeptical. Love Wichita State though. Nice list.
ReplyDelete