As the “Big Dance” approaches, teams are giving their all in an attempt to gain a top seed. But with so many excellent teams, it’s all up in the air. Here are a few teams to watch come tournament time, likely to make impressive runs deep into March and maybe even early April:
>> Kansas: One of the most complete teams in all of basketball, the Jayhawks can score from both inside the paint and outside the arc. The Morris twins possess spectacular talent, and guard Brady Morningstar should keep this team in line and focused on erasing their disappointing second round exit from last year.
>> Pittsburgh: Playing in the toughest conference in college basketball, Ashton Gibbs and Brad Wanamaker lead the Panthers in the backcourt, combining to average nearly 30 of the team’s 75.4 points per game (ppg). Gary McGhee helps generate the 40.6 rebounds per game (rpg) that falls just short to UCONN for tops in the Big East. With wins at Georgetown and Villanova, this team has faced a rigor matched by only their fellow Big East teams.
>> Kansas State: With Jacob Pullen at the helm, this team has the ability to explode at any moment. But that’s not what Frank Martin is about. He stresses discipline and control (the Wildcats average the longest time of possession of any Division I team). Their resume includes wins against Kansas, a likely top seed, and Texas, the second ranked team in the Big 12. If they keep it up, Frank Martin will be cutting down the ropes come April.
>> Duke: The Blue Devils use experience and leadership to win their games. Players like Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler provide needed intensity balanced with terrific decision making, something that derives from the great Coach K. Watch for Seth Curry to explode throughout the tournament with his confidence and intensity. Even with their weak strength of schedule, you can never count them out, especially since they’re the defending champs.
Besides these teams, other contenders include BYU, Georgetown, Louisville, Ohio State, Purdue, Texas, and Wisconsin. With a top-heavy league, this year’s NCAA Division I Men’s Tournament should feature significant upsets, down-to-the-wire games, and an incredible Final Four. Perfect bracket? Yeah, good luck.
