Top 25 Teams - 2009

Player to watch-Hansborough and Lawson have had those “that dude is still there”-type of careers and should be able to produce at the next level, but freshman forward, Ed Davis might be the one most coveted by NBA scouts. Long, lean, and affective at 6-10 and 215, Davis can score from several spots on the floor, defend in a Tayshaun Prince manner, and control a game around the hoop like few in the nation.

Key wins-A neutral site win over Michigan State at Detroit’s Ford Field (site of Final Four) spotlights a decent resume. A win in Reno over UNR and wins at Duke, Florida State and Virginia Tech round out the team’s success away from Chapel Hill.

2. Pittsburgh (#1 seed) - This is a team that should be in a position to finally get through their personal demons and make a Final Four appearance. Yes, they have historically played into the tournament’s second week, but have yet to, in Head Coach Jamie Dixon’s tenure, seriously contend for a national title. Led by a balanced attack of experience and youth across the board, the Panthers even enjoy the depth that few teams can boast. Senior guard LeVance Fields is the nation’s most efficient floor general (tops in assist/turnover) and with senior Sam Young on the wing and sophomore bruiser, DeJuan Blair down low, few teams can match their fire power.

Player to watch- Due to his importance on the floor as both a distributor, scorer, and defender, Fields will make or break this team’s postseason fortune. A late-season back issue adds another variable to the equation for the diminutive wrecking-ball of a player. BIG EAST TOURNEY HEALTH UPDATE.

Key wins-In addition to that impressive slug-fest win on the road at conference rival, UConn, the Panthers have quality road/neutral site wins over Louisville, Villanova, West Virginia and Florida State.

3. Connecticut (#1 seed) - The Huskies come into the tournament one-man-down. Despite still enjoying an extremely successful regular season, the season-ending knee injury to guard Jerome Dyson has left the team without one of their most integral contributors. Luckily, for Head Coach Jim Calhoun, his team is still led by senior point guard, AJ Price and the frontcourt tandem of power forward Jeff Adrien and the physically imposing 7-3 center, Hasheeem Thabeet. The latter, just a junior, is in his last collegiate season, as he will hear his name called early in this year’s NBA Draft. Gifted physically in both size and athleticism, Thabeet is still learning the game and his ability to impose his will on a game might be integral for a Final Four run.

Player to watch- While you won’t miss the size and strength of Thabeet and Adrien, the departure of Dyson might put more pressure on freshmen stud, Kemba Walker. The New York City-native has been great all year, but his maturation just might fill the aforementioned void.

Key wins-Going through the gauntlet that is the Big East should be plenty, but the Huskies have had success against formidable opponents from around the country. Road wins against Wisconsin, Gonzaga (Seattle is not neutral), Louisville, and Marquette nicely accentuate a neutral site win over Miami (FL)

4. Oklahoma (#2 seed) - This was obviously a team that was headed to a #1 seed before the concussion of All-American Blake Griffin derailed their immaculate season. Four losses since the late February injury have placed the Sooners on a “watch list,” and despite losing two of those with their star forward on the bench, there is still some concern around Norman. Griffin’s supporting cast is stellar and in addition to his Blake’s older brother Taylor (who has emerged as a viable scoring option), experienced guards Austin Johnson and Tony Crocker give Jeff Capel’s team an outside presence. The “x-factor” for the Sooners, however, might be the play of precocious freshman, Willie Warren, who is athletic, can score, and has a toughness to him that perfectly accentuates his teammates’ play. Can this team recover from their tough last month and be a viable threat for the Final Four? I think so. Kansas City and Memphis will be where there games will take place and an Elite 8 match-up with Carolina looms.

Player to watch- Blake Griffin, Blake Griffin, Blake Griffin. Best player in the country, will the #1 pick the NBA Draft. Stud. If you haven’t watched him play an entire game, please do. You’ll understand all of the hype.

Key wins- Although they have been given grief for not playing the toughest schedule, the Sooners do have home wins over Davidson, USC, Utah, Texas, and Texas A&M, not to mention their neutral site wins over UAB, Purdue, and VCU.

5. Memphis (#2 seed) - Memphis-Although a few players do return from last year’s runner-up (Damn you Mario Chalmers!) team, the look of the flow of play is strikingly different. When last year they had Derrick Rose and Chris Douglas-Roberts shooting, driving, and scoring with Joey Dorsey cleaning up the messes, this year’s side is all about defense. Pressure, energy, commitment, and athleticism. Bruce Bowen… I mean, Antonio Anderson is playing at a quality level in a support role of freshman, Tyreke Evans. Coach John Calipari’s defensive weapons are robust in size and number and might just let his guys slide unnoticed towards another Elite 8 run.

Player to watch-Evans gives your heart that thump with his burst of basketball brilliance, but the play of Robert Dozier often dictates how threatening this team can be. The 6-9 senior poses match-up issues from the 3-point line in, but his activity on the defensive end often leads to easy buckets for his backcourt buddies.

Key wins-At the Spokane Arena (not the Kennel on campus) against Gonzaga was one of the best played basketball games by any team at any time this season. They took a talent-wise similar (or better) team and made them look like the JV side (held the Zags to 50). Defense, defense. Their early season loss in a neutral site to Xavier holds less water as this young team looks and plays entirely different than they did back in November. Their resume also includes wins at Tennessee and UAB and an overtime loss at Georgetown.

6. Louisville (#1 seed) - Rick Pitino’s team has had a topsy-turvy kind of year, but find themselves in as good as position as any to make a run for a national title. While there is much talent at Pitino’s disposal, the Cardinals’ success is based largely on the play of guard Terrance Williams and forward Earl Clark. Both as physically gifted as any player in the country, Williams is the steadier of the two and Clark can explode at any notice for a dominating performance. Freshman center Semardo Samuels has been great at times, average at others, but gives this team the inside punch and muscle they lacked during their Elite Eight run of a year ago (with all due respect to David Padgett’s injury-riddled senior season). Although their draw looks favorable in nearby Ohio and Indiana, I can’t imagine they are too excited to possibly face the red-hot Buckeyes in their home-state in a second round game.

Player to watch-While there are several players that might catch your eye during any Louisville game, Williams is one of those guys that is just a pleasure to watch. He plays with heart, intensity, athleticism, and a stubbornness. He has willed his team to victories at times this year, and gives them consistent effort and production, every night.

Key wins-This is a sticky area for me about the Cardinals. Aside from the recent Big East Tournament, their only real neutral site games were losses against Western Kentucky and Minnesota and their only quality road wins were a one-pointer at Villanova and one at the Carrier Dome against Syracuse. Louisville’s inability to win away from Freedom Hall might give me some reason for caution.

7. Gonzaga (#4 seed) - After doing a pre-season feature on these guys for SLAM Magazine I became an even bigger fan than usual of this team from Spokane, Washington. They are loaded to the gills with size, speed, experience, and athleticism, but have endured some bumps through their challenging pre-conference road. I’ll put it this way. This team should have been able to put themselves in a better position for a higher seed, but they can beat any team at any point, in any gym/arena/dome. Final Four should be in their sites after getting large (and confident) off their disappointing conference foes, especially with the continued dominating backcourt play of senior Jeremy Pargo and junior Matt Bouldin. The committee made up for last season’s embarrassing placement of the Zags in Carolina against Davidson by placing them in the Portland sub-region with two winnable games. A potential Sweet 16 game in Memphis against Carolina might be one of the most exciting earlier-round games.

Player to watch-Sophomore Austin Daye is a rare mix and talent, length, speed, and game. He can score from any angle, is an intimitading defender, and has become a quality rebounder. His pro future is not in question and now that he is getting some meat on his almost 7-feet of bones he should be more ready for the physical grind of the next level.

Key wins-Still owners of 26 wins on the season, the Zags’ resume is loaded with challenging opponents away from the Kennel. They lost both games in Washington to Memphis (blown-out, embarrassed) and a game they let get away (and into OT) against UConn in Seattle, but they do have neutral site wins over Maryland, Oklahoma State, Tennessee and an additional win in Knoxville, as well. Their road defeats are worth mentioning in losing at Arizona and Utah.

8. Duke (#2 seed) - This is a team that has been up and down like a roller-coaster this year. One minute, they are flying high, bagging impressive wins, and seemingly a true title contender; the next minute, they are just another average team from a really good conference. Kyle Singler and Gerald Henderson are the muscle that runs the Blue Devil machine and when these two are aggressively attacking the basket and hitting their perimeter shots, they can be downright unstoppable. I was leery of this team before the brackets came out (sub-region in Greensboro) which should give them an easy pass into Sweet 16.

Player to watch-Henderson is the son of the former NBA champion, Boston Celtic guard of the same name. He is beautiful to watch in the open floor as he is strong, long, and has ample athleticism. When his midrange game is going, he can be an defensive nightmare for the larger share of college players.

Key wins-This year’s Duke team has suffered some bad defeats away from Cameron Indoor and have gotten a bit of a reputation of being only able to win at home. However, with a little memory jarring, they do have neutral site wins over Michigan (a team they later lost to on the road) and Xavier and road wins over Purdue, Florida State, and Virginia Tech.

9. Michigan St (#2 seed) - Coach Tom Izzo will always have good teams (that always seemingly make it to the Final Four) because of his commitment to not only finding great talent, but instructing his team in the ways of defense and rebounding. This year’s team has had a few health issues and faced a tough schedule, but came out healthy and in a position to make a Final Four run. Youthful, experienced, and plenty of size, the Spartans are always a threat and the two Big Ten friendly locales should work just fine.

Player to watch-Freshman Keon Lucas ran the ship of the most effective team in the Big Ten. He is lightning quick, a tenacious competitor, and has an advanced game for an individual of his age. Recently named Big Ten Player of the Year, Lucas will get your attention from the opening tip if we see them deep into the tournament.

Key wins-The Spartans have road wins against Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan, Illinois to go with neutral site wins over Oklahoma State and Texas. Their blow-out loss in Detroit to North Carolina was the backend of a tough stretch when their center was injured, so it can be important, but probably not until they face that caliber of opponent (ie Elite 8/Final Four).

10. Syracuse (#3 seed) - One of the more intriguing teams in the nation is this year’s Orange. Blessed with talent and athleticism up and down the line-up, Coach Jim Boeheim returns to the NCAA Tournament after a rare two-year absence. This year’s squad is especially deep in the backcourt (what many believe is the key to postseason success) with guards Paul Harris, Andy Rautins, Eric Devendorf, and the floor general Jonny Flynn. They can beat you from long-range, off the bounce, or even with their improved inside muscle while still employing their trademark, zone defense. They were obviously impressive last week in their epic run to the Big East Tournament Final, but with the week off, they should be primed, rested, and ready to threaten the second weekend and maybe even the third.

Player to watch-There are many “treats to watch” on this squad (Harris is one of my favorite college players) but the leader, Flynn is the most delectable of the bunch. Speed, strength, heart, leadership, and gumption are integral to Flynn’s success. Those who prefer to see the little guy, this six-foot sophomore will make you want to get off your couch and cheer.

Key wins-The Orange may have one of the most impressive road/neutral site resumes in the nation. In addition to the recent wins over UConn and West Virginia at Madison Square Garden, ‘Cuse can boast road wins over Memphis and a fully-healthy Marquette, not to mention holiday tournament wins over Kansas and Florida (in Kansas City)

11. Washington (#4 seed) - In my pre-season previews for SLAM Magazine, I was not the most promising about this year’s Husky squad. I was wrong. I was more than aware of the physical consistency of senior Jon Brockman and the backcourt stability of Justin Dentmon, but I severely undervalued the impending production of freshman guard, Isaiah Thomas. This year, the Huskies won the PAC-10 regular season title by losing just one conference game at home. Granted this is surely a “down year” in the PAC-10, but this is a team that could cause some noise with a favorable west-coast draw like they got in Portland and a potential regional in the PAC-10 friendly Phoenix area.

Player to watch-The precocious freshman, Thomas (was named after the Piston star of the same name) has been a revelation, scoring, distributing, leading, and hitting big shots for an experienced team. The diminutive dribbler is tough to miss on the court and his ability to stay consistent will go far in determining their ultimate postseason fate.

Key wins-Wins on the road at Arizona State (a team that just beat them on a neutral floor), USC, and Washington State are the most impressive notches on the Huskies’ belt. Unfortunately, all of their early-season tests away from Seattle ended in defeat, including at Portland and an embarrassing blowout loss in KC to Kansas.

12. Missouri (#3 seed) - This is a team that started slowly, but built major momentum all the way until this past weekend’s Big 12 Tournament Championship. The Tigers are a fast-paced, (40 minutes of hell-type) full-court pressing team that can score, but also take great pride in their defense. Oddly enough, for a team of this style, they are led by their frontcourt tandem of Leo Lyons and DeMarre Carroll. Five guards, however, do score over six points a game for a team that averages over 81 points/game. I like their draw as a three-seed getting a depleted Marquette in the six-spot.

Player to watch-Carroll is the teams’ leading scorer and rebounder and has even added more consistency to his perimeter game. At 6-8 and 225, Carroll is big enough to battle down low, but quick and athletic enough to go around or over an inferior opponent.

Key wins-Aside from a neutral site win over Southern Cal and the recent Big 12 Tourney in OKC, the Tigers have little to show. Although road wins at Texas and Oklahoma State surely were integral in their high #3 seed.

13. Wake Forest (#4 seed) - This extremely young team put forth a fabulous regular season and despite a middle stretch where they struggled to win just four of nine games, the Deamon Deacons are in a position to make a run for the national title. They have several guys that are both athletic and offensive, but their production is based largely on the three-headed-attack of sophomores Jeff Teague and James Johnson and the freshman, Al-Faroq Aminu. Aminu and Johnson might be the most athletically forceful frontcourt tandem in the nation and Teague just might be the nation’s best backcourt leader. Just getting out of the first two rounds with the likes of Cleveland State, Utah, and Arizona to deal with might prove pretty challenging. (Although the ACC locale of Miami should be to their liking)

Player to watch-Teague is a pleasure to watch play the game of basketball. He is always a threat to score at any time and he is efficient from long-range. He plays well off of his front-court duo not only setting those guys up, but also getting easy hoops of them, as well. Much like his aforementioned forward friends, Teague has a nice professional career ahead of him.

Key wins-Aside from a win over Clemson in South Carolina, Wake did not have great road success in the ACC. I am impressed by their win in Provo over BYU (which snapped a huge streak of wins for the Cougars), but other than a win over Baylor in southern California, not much else was accomplished away from home.

14. Villanova (#3 seed) - What this team lacks in depth (temporary, though, they are bringing in one of the nation’s best recruiting classes, next year) they make up for with experience and toughness. They have also had the luxury of “flying under the radar” in a stacked conference. In any other year/league/dimension, a team with 25 wins and 13 in conference would be given much more national run. Inside, the Wildcats are led by (seemingly ninth-year) senior, Dante Cunningham; outside, Scottie Reynolds does most of the damage. But is the flexibility of this team to either outscore you in an up-tempo game and or grind out a slug-fest might make them the most enticing while filling out your bracket. It also doesn’t hurt that they get to play their first two games in Philadelphia

Player to watch- While the junior Reynolds does have help with the sophomore backcourt Coreys, Fisher and Stokes, Scottie is the real star of this team. He controls the pace of the game and with the ball in his hands for large stretches of games, he directly influences the outcome of many games.

Key wins-Jay Wright’s team does not have a signature road/neutral site win other than a victory over Rhode Island (one of the nation’s hotter teams now) but even that game was an off-campus one in Philly over Thanksgiving. But anytime you sweep your Big Five games, you got those bragging rights.

15. BYU (#8 seed) - I will start by adding a disclaimer that I am downright a fan of this year’s BYU team. Historically, I am the farthest thing from a Cougar supporter, but I love watching this collection of players play the game of basketball. They have depth, play at a high speed, shoot the ball well from the perimeter, and play with an energy that is fun to watch and I would assume, play. Last year’s MWC POY, Lee Cummard did more than enough to deserve a repeat award, but had to settle for First-Team MWC honors alongside sophomore point guard, Jimmer Fredette. While this tandem is the heart and soul of the 25-win team, guards Jonathan Tavernari and Jackson Emery can fill it from long-range. Again, I may be biased, but this team plays the way, for a lack of better term, you need to, in a survive-and-advance situation. Getting a #8 seed against a scrappy Texas A&M side should be winnable before they lock up with UConn in the second round.

Player to watch-While Fredette is a high-speed, high-control point guard that can score, Cummard is another “treat” to watch play. In addition to doing all the little things correct, “Spiderman” can score, rebound, pass, and defend. Despite his slight frame, I have no doubts that there is a pro future ahead of Cummard and whenever a perimeter player shoots over 50% from the floor for his entire 1600-point career, you know you have someone special. Oh, and if given the opportunity, the 6-7 190-pound guard will dunk on you, hard.

Key wins-This team might have more quality losses out of conference than wins. They lost a one-point game at the buzzer in Phoenix to Arizona State, held a late-game advantage to Wake at home but also beat Tulsa, Utah State and Weber State away from Provo. They lost in overtime at Utah while getting road wins at San Diego State and Wyoming.

16. Utah (#5 seed) - The Runnin’ Utes are one of the most falsely advertised teams in the entire nation. They run very little as a team, instead opting to grind it out on defense and throw the ball inside to their 7-2 senior Aussie center (and Mountain West Player of the Year) Luke Nevill. Around the big man in the middle is a nice mix of size, speed, and shooting. Guards Lawrence Bohra, Tyler Kepkay, Luka Drca, and Carlin Brown are all steady, strong, experienced players that can defend or score twenty if needed. Senior Shawn Green has been the Utes star for the past couple seasons and this year has taken on the role as a glue-guy, but one that can get twenty any night, as well. The Utes took home not only a share of the regular season title but won the conference tournament in the ultra-competitive MWC. They play defense, have experienced guard play, have a dominant center and are one of the nation’s top free-throw shooting teams. Looks like the perfect combination for postseason success, although they have a tough draw in an inconsistent, but potent side from Arizona far from home in Miami.

Player to watch-Nevill has been a steady presence since he first stepped foot in the SLC, however, this year, he has emerged as a true star. Able to pass, score over either shoulder and even able to step out to hit the elbow jumper, Nevill is more than just really tall. He has had some moments where he can disappear, but with his supporting cast, his points aren’t always needed. His defense and rebounding, however, are essential.

Key wins-Aside from their recent tourney run in Las Vegas, the Utes have been pretty average away from Salt Lake. Out-of-conference losses to Oklahoma, CAL and Utah State can be somewhat ignored when coupled with their wins over Gonzaga, Mississippi, a 30-point beatdown over LSU, and home wins over all the Mountain West heavies (SDSU, BYU, UNLV, New Mexico).

17. West Virginia (#6 seed) - An up-and-coming team that is probably one more year away from being serious players (for real, WVU is going to be legit for years to come) has gotten hot at the right point of the year and is in a position to make a move for the second weekend, again. This team has experience in the backcourt molding an exciting freshmen point guard in Darryl Bryant to go along side a pair of long, talented, and major potential in forwards Devin Ebanks and Kevin Jones. They are battle-tested from the conference schedule alone, and will a be team that should be considered for a potential sleeper. At 6-7 225, Da’Sean Butler is one of the best wings in the nation on both sides of the court

Player to watch-Ebanks is the gem of the group in most scouts’ estimation. Listed at just 6-9, but seemingly about a half-foot taller on the court, the freshman more than delivered in the first season of major college hoops. He produced in the box score and on the defensive backboards and with continued development, he could be a major player in an NBA Draft of the very near future.

18. Arizona St (#6 seed) - The James Harden-led Sun Devils have been another one of those tough teams to figure out. They have not been immune to tough stretches, but do come into the tournament on the heels of a nice Pac-10 tournament. They are a slowed-down, defense-first team that can defend and score, which doesn’t always make for aesthetically pleasing basketball, but it can sure be effective. In addition to the sophomore sensation, Harden, ASU is paced up front by Jeff Pendergraph, a long, athletic and consistent forward, and the long-range bombing of foreign import, Rihards Kuksiks. With Herb Sendek’s style of defense and ball-control, this just might be a team that could surprise some and make an extended tournament run.

Player to watch-This one is easy, James Harden. A 21/6/4 guy, Harden does a bit of everything for the Sun Devils and is largely considered one of the elite guards in the nation. Before he can become a first-round NBA draft pick, he needs to assert himself a bit more in crunchtime of games; nothing like a national audience to put those skills on display.

Key wins-Road wins at UCLA, San Diego State, and Arizona are impressive. They snuck out of their nearby (Glendale, AZ) game against BYU when a buzzer-beating Cougar shot was disallowed.

19. Butler (#9 seed) - The Bulldogs are another of the teams in the tournament that are largely committed to defense. Although I am not a fan of it in an aesthetic fashion, I realize that defensive-oriented teams often make Sweet 16 runs, regardless of talent. This squad is really young and was not expected to be the big dog on the Horizon block this year, but again over the course of the year they were the best, losing to Cleveland State in relatively meaningless (home) tournament final at Hinkle Fieldhouse. I like this team a lot, maybe next year, or the following when sophomore forward Matt Howard is a senior.

Player to watch-Freshmen guard Gordon Haywood has been a bit of a revalation for the Bulldog fans in Indy. At 6-8 he is taller and longer than most of his opponents, but he has a nice sense of the game (and his place within Coach Brad Stephens’ system) and has shown flashes of being a dominant player. (Just ask the players, coaches, and fans at Davidson about how Haywood almost single-handedly deflated their season on BracketBuster Saturday?)

Key wins-Wins at Cleveland State and Drake are nice. At Xavier in Cincy is really nice, but there isn’t much else there. A 3-point loss in Columbus to Ohio State shows guts and an ability to play the bigger teams at their level.

20. Kansas (#3 seed) - Last year’s NCAA Champs are back but look nothing like the team that won six straight games last March and April. Five guys were drafted last spring (for real, FIVE were chosen in a 60-selection draft) and Bill Self returned basically point guard Sherron Collins and young center Cole Aldrich. The returning letterman have given the Jayhawks one of the nation’s better inside-outside combinations and the sudden dearth of scoring and bodies were replaced by several high school All-Americans. Not much of this team was thought back in November, but a great Big 12 season (if you ignore that egg laid in Lubbock) has them back in the national discussion. This team might still be a year away from threatening for another Final Four.

Player to watch-Aldrich is not the smoothest, prettiest, or physically intimitading big man in the nation, but he might be one of the most effective. An absolute after-thought on last year’s team (until he exploded by punking Tyler Hansborough and Carolina in the national semifinal), the Minnesota native has averaged a double-double and become one of the more consistent shot-blockers around. Shooting 60% from the field and 80% at the line make for a nice 7-foot luxury.

Key wins-Kansas has been tested and despite some early hiccups (remember, their youth) they have some quality wins. At home, they were able to get wins against Siena, Temple, Tennessee, and Texas. Away from Allen Fieldhouse, the Jayhawks weren’t bad either, getting neutral site victories over Washington, while dropping an overtime-game to Syracuse.

21. Tennessee (#9 seed) - Like many of the recent Volunteer teams before them, this year’s UT side is fast, long, athletic but not overly tall. They have eight to ten players that shut you down with tenacity right from the belly of their coach, Bruce Pearl. These very same players might score 25 on you too, if not careful. Without a true great bigman inside (Wayne Chism would rather troll around the perimeter) or the backcourt leadership of a year ago, the team has been inconsistent--exciting and flashy, but ultimately a bit disappointing. A track meet should be expected when they hook up with Oklahoma State in the first-round.

Player to watch-Tyler Smith has been the Volunteers best all-around player for the past couple years and this year he has played even better. His role has certainly changed, but his motor still has not stopped. He plays with an intensity and passion that are not rivaled in the entire nation. He can knock down shots, lock you up, then start the break on the other end making him involved in much of the action.

Key wins- Tennnessee had one of the most brutal pre-conference schedules in the nation. Here we go: Gonzaga, Kansas, Marquette, Temple, oh Gonzaga again, Siena, Georgetown, and Memphis, all before starting the (luckily) down SEC play. Winners of only three of the aforementioned games, but also winners at Vandy, South Carolina, and Florida make this team more than ready to play for the second weekend.

22. Clemson (#7 seed) - This is an intriguing team in my estimation. The Tigers play a full-court, fast-paced, type of game and are therefore able to score a lot of points. When their press in most effective, they are getting turnovers and cashing them into easy baskets, but lately they have struggled to defend. After winning their first 16 games, they have lost six of their last ten games and played the season’s second half at below .500. With this in mind, you would hardly say they are “peaking at the right time.” Oliver Purnell’s team is led by senior KC Rivers, junior bruiser Trevor Booker and sophomore sharp-shooter Terrence Oglesgy. Depending on their seed, this Tiger teams could make some waves and make a run into the second weekend or they could make like last weekend’s ACC tourney and get beat in the first round by an inferior opponent.

Player to watch-Booker is the inside muscle (and surprising athleticism) that gives this up-tempo team some grit. He is an almost guaranteed double-double each night and has this year added a little perimeter game. In addition, he has drastically improved his free-throw shooting which has allowed him to score a few more points a night.

Key wins-Nice neutral site wins over Temple and TCU compliment wins on the road at Illinois, Virginia Tech, and Boston College.

23. Marquette (#6 seed) - This is probably the most unfortunate team to break down, as they are a shell of their former selves, after losing their leader and point guard, Dominic James during the last month for the season. Since then, the Golden Eagles have struggled to find consistency, with only two (Wesley Matthews Jr. and Jerel McNeal) of their three-headed guard attack. This is surely not the nation’s biggest team and they have had issues with tall teams in the past, but they still have the services of underrated forward, Lazar Hayward. Lost behind the enormous shadow cast by his guard triad, Hayward does the dirty work down low and can also step out to hit the perimeter shot. His ability to pick up the needed slack will be integral for Marquette to make the second weekend. Before the injury, I thought they had a Final Four make-up.

Player to watch-McNeal is the true star of this team and has a great future as an NBA combo-guard. He can score from anywhere on the court, has lightning-fast quickness, and is one of the most annoying defenders in the land. The senior struggled a bit down the stretch as he figured out what his James-less role should be on the team, but make no mistake, if his team is to advance, he must increase his shooting percentage while still keeping the opponents in check.

Key wins-Not much stands out in terms of wins away from Milwaukee. Marquette struggled a bit on the road in the Big East and wasn’t able to beat either Dayton or Tennessee in neutral site games. They were able to beat the MVC Champs, Northern Iowa by 30 in November, but with what this team has gone through, that seems like years ago.

24. Ohio St (#8 seed) - The season’s true roller-coaster! One minute, the Buckeyes are up and playing some of the best ball in the nation, the next, they can’t get out of their own way. Luckily for Thad Matta, the month of March has been one of the good ones, as they have rebounded from a miserable February with beautiful recent play. They have the talent to be relevant in the tournament’s second weekend, but like the aforementioned inconsistency should suggest, just not in long stretches. They have perimeter shooting (John Diebler and Williams Buford) interior defense (BJ Mullens/Dallas Lauderdale) and a bona fide superstar player in sophomore Evan Turner. Although an 8-seed usually means second-round trouble, this bracket has them potentially meeting Louisville just up the street in Dayton.

Player to watch-Evan Turner has some beef about the Big Ten Player of the Year award eluding his grasp. The Chicago native played a beautiful season, leading his team in the big three statistical categories. He was consistently a threat to score, he rebounded tough, and was the team’s best playmaker, at 6-7. I love this guy’s NBA potential if he stays for just one more year.

Key wins-Preseason wins included a road win over Miami (FL) and a neutral site victory over Notre Dame. The Buckeyes unfortunately struggled a bit on the road in conference, only able to bag one in Ann Arbor over Michigan.

25. UCLA (#6 seed) - Not only is this NOT your grandfather’s UCLA Bruins, this year’s team won’t remind you of LAST year’s team. Gone are several professionals and Ben Howland’s squad has struggled to find both an identity and consistency throughout the season. Darren Collison and Josh Shipp are back for their senior seasons, but without a real inside presence, they have struggled to attain the level of play that has yielded three straight Final Four trips. They were able to have some success down the stretch (minus the cross-town loss in the P-10 Tourney) and the 13 conference wins are hard to ignore alongside another 25-win season. This might be the worst draw for a ranked team (somewhat reminiscent of Gonzaga travelling last year to Carolina to play the lower-seeded Davidson team) has they not only have to travel cross-country, but are facing a challenging mid-major team from Virginia Commonwealth

Player to watch-Collison and Shipp are constants in Westwood, but with out any help from Cameroonian senior, Alfred Aboya, there may be no second weekend for Bruins’ fans. Aboya has emerged as a major contributor in his final season and his monster games have coincided with key UCLA wins. If Aboya shows up and plays big, the Bruins might have more to give than expected.

Key wins-There is not much to get excited about on UCLA’s road/neutral site resume. I can really only find one quality win, that being in Berkeley against the Cal Bears (an ESPN GameDay event). Early in the season, they were unable to best both Michigan and Texas away from Pauley Pavilion.