The Biggest Weakness of Every Top 10 Team as March Madness Looms

Parity has been a word used a lot to describe the 2012-13 college basketball season.

When you look throughout the country, there are teams from every conference that could win it all—but even the best teams have shortcomings, imperfections and blemishes.

As March Madness looms, here is a lightning-fast look at the biggest weakness of every Associated Poll Top 10 team.

10. Ohio State Buckeyes (Downtown Dislike)

Two seasons ago, Ohio State was the best three-point shooting team in the nation, hitting over 42 percent from beyond the arc.

Where has Jon Diebler, William Buford and David Lighty gone?

This year, the Buckeyes aren't shooting a bad percentage (35.7 percent), but they just don't shoot the long ball as much as they did in 2010-11.

As they move through the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments, they need to pull the trigger more frequently.

Lenzelle Smith Jr., the team's best three-point shooter, should be the one who carries most of the increased load.

9. Miami Hurricanes (Flawed FTs)

For all of Miami's strengths, the Hurricanes are not a good free-throw shooting team.

They don’t get to the line often, and they don’t knock down their freebies when they get there.

On the year, the Canes are hitting only 67.1 percent of their free throws (No. 248 in the nation).

Kenny Kadji goes to the line more than anyone else on the team, but he only hits at 67 percent.

Miami has had an exceptional season without doing well from the charity stripe, but it is in the postseason where knocking down free throws in close games can be the difference between winning and going home.

8. Michigan State Spartans (Three-Ball Phobia)

There aren't too many teams that shoot from beyond the arc less than the Spartans.

In the regular season, Michigan State only let it fly from long distance 451 times (No. 308 in the nation). To compare in the Big Ten, Illinois has put up 773 threes. 

It’s not like MSU doesn’t have any shooters who can knock down shots from downtown. Gary Harris and Travis Trice both hit 42 percent from the field.

Spartans coach Tom Izzo just needs to give them the green light, and I’m sure they’ll be more than willing to oblige.

7. Kansas Jayhawks (Loathing the Long Ball)

Since Kansas has one of the best pure shooters in the game in Ben McLemore, why doesn't the team put up more threes?

McLemore hits 43.4 percent, and Travis Releford (44 percent, slightly better than Air McLemore) more than holds his own when it comes to beyond-the-arc shooting.

The answer to why the Jayhawks don't put up more shots from downtown is that they don't have nearly the inside-scoring presence they've had in past seasons. When they were feeding the ball into Thomas Robinson or the Morris twins, other teams had to double down in order to keep these excellent post scorers in check.

But this year, Jeff Withey and Kevin Young don't garner nearly the respect, so teams can be out at the arc, challenging or preventing KU's three-point shots more effectively.

6. Michigan Wolverines (Timid About Taking It to the Hole)

Michigan has little trouble putting points on the board. The Wolverines average over 75 points per game (No. 23 in the nation).

They are a top-10 shooting team, knocking down 48.7 percent of the shots (No. 8).

If there is one knock on John Beilein’s ballers, it's that they just don’t get to the line very much.

This year, Michigan has only gone to the line 507 times (No. 308 in the nation). To compare, Indiana leads the Big Ten in FT attempts with 807 (No. 3 in the nation).

Without going to the line, the Wolverines forfeit the most efficient way to score.

Also, by not being more assertive with the ball around the basket, Michigan surrenders the best opportunity to limit its opponents’ best players’ minutes by getting them in foul trouble.

Even Trey Burke, the Wolverines' most aggressive player with the ball, only gets to the line about four times per game.

5. Georgetown Hoyas (Going Light on the O-Glass)

Georgetown is one of the most balanced and solid teams in the country.

The Hoyas shoot the ball well from both the field and from downtown, and they freely share the ball.

But what they don’t do much of is crash the offensive glass.

This season, Georgetown has only pulled down 262 offensive rebounds, good for No. 320 in the nation.

To compare, Minnesota is tied for No. 1 in offensive rebounds with 491.  

The problem with not being strong on the offensive glass is that you can have a lot of one-shot possessions. If you miss the shot, the action is going in the other direction.

Because Hoyas head coach John Thompson III uses a variation of the Princeton offense, which creates a lot of perimeter motion and movement, Georgetown is not in a great position to grab offensive rebounds.

4. Louisville Cardinals (Putting Up Bricks from Beyond the Arc)

Louisville is one of the most tough and gritty teams in the nation.

The Cardinals apply pressure on both ends of the court, and they don’t stop until the final buzzer.

One definite drawback for the Cards is their long-distance shooting.

This year, Louisville has struggled again to connect from downtown, only hitting 32.3 percent.

Luke Hancock is the best three-point shooter on the team with a lukewarm 37 percent. Ouch!

Don’t be surprised going forward if teams pack the lane and try to tempt Rick Pitino’s pack to launch a bunch of bombs.

3. Indiana Hoosiers (Blocked-Shot Beginners)

Indiana is playing at a very high level. The Hoosiers are one of the best offensive teams in the country, and this season, Tom Crean’s crew has discovered the “other end of the court.”

They challenge shots near and far, but one thing they don’t do much of is block shots.

The Hoosiers only deflect 3.7 shots per game, which puts them in the middle of the pack.

Cody Zeller leads the team, but doesn’t even block 1.5 shots per game.

Not every team has to intimidate its opponents by throwing back a bunch of shots.

Good thing for IU.

2. Duke Blue Devils (O-Board Omissions)

Duke seems to be peaking at the right time, playing excellent ball after Ryan Kelly's return.

The Blue Devils are scoring in bunches, defending like crazy and winning like a team that wants to cut down the nets in Atlanta.

One area that Duke has struggled with throughout the season is offensive rebounding, as it plays four-out, one-in.

This offensive scheme takes advantage of the team's advanced perimeter skills, but leaves Mason Plumlee to fend for himself down low.

That's been a good thing in terms of letting him go to work on the block.

It's not so good when you're the only guy going to the O-glass.

Even when Duke beat Miami recently, the Blue Devils only grabbed four offensive rebounds.

1. Gonzaga Bulldogs (Rejection Rejects)

Watching Gonzaga gain momentum this season has been fun.

Rather than playing the role of underdog or mid-major outsider, the Bulldogs are proving to simply be one of the best teams in the country—hence the No. 1 ranking.

With Kelly Olynyk and Elias Harris down low, head coach Mark Few has one of the best frontcourts in the country.

It was surprising to find out that the Zags only block 2.8 shots per game.

That's about two shots less than Nerlens Noel was blocking before he went down to a season-ending injury.

Can Gonzaga make a deep run without blocking more shots per game? Sure.

Would the team be even better if it could throw back a few more of its opponents' shots? Possibly.