College Basketball: 5 Teams Flying Below The Radar

1: University of Miami

I can understand why some people would have problems with this choice as a team that is flying under the radar. They finished in the Associated Press top 25, made it to the second round of this year's NCAA Tournament, and took Texas to the wire before bowing out.

But my sentiments are that this Hurricane team was knocked as overrated all season long, and they really didn't deserve the label.

They beat Duke, showed they could hang with Texas, a trendy Final Four pick, and won 23 games, good for 5th in the ACC.

Most analysts have serious doubts about the mettle of this Miami team. Are they really that good or was the non-conference schedule soft? Did they get lucky against Texas and Duke or are they capable of beating ranked teams regularly?

The answer to all of these questions will be answered next season with a resounding yes.

The team loses four seniors, and only two of them were regular contributors, Anthony King and Raymond Hicks. Both players were solid, but certainly not spectacular.

More importantly, the team regains the services of assasin Jack McClinton, a 1st team All-ACC performer who flirted with draft before declaring he would return to scorch the nets in Coral Gables for one more season.

Throw in the fact the team also returns both point guards (Eddie Rios and Lance Hurdle), a big man who showed flashes of brilliance all season (Dwayne Collins), and the addition of a Rivals.com Top 100 small forward, DeQuan Jones, who comes to South Beach with the reputation of being able to score in bunches.

All of these factors, combined with an influx of young talent in the front-court, and the Canes are poised for another NCAA tournament berth, and a run at a Top 3 finish in the ACC.

2: University of Illinois

I know they lose two of their top 3 scorers in Shaun Pruitt and Brian Randle, but this team is finally getting old enough to make the leap out of the bottom half of the Big 10 and they showed why in their run in the Big 10 tournament.

The glaring weakness for the Illini in 2007-2008 was their inability to score. Bruce Weber coached teams always play with a sense of defensive urgency, but this team lacked a consistent scorer all season, some one who they could turn in crunch time.

This problem should be alleviated with the coupling of University of Kentucky transfer Alex Legion, and the return of troubled but talented junior Jamar Smith, a key player who was forced to sit out last season with legal issues.

Add in that the Big 10 conference aside from Michigan State and Wisconsin looks rather vulnerable, and the Illini could surprise some people if they continue to improve.

Trent Meachem, Calvin Brock, and Chester Frazier all return to give Illinois senior leadership, and rising sophomore point guard Demetri McCamey showed flashes of brilliance with 31 points against Indiana in early February, and 26 against Purdue in the middle of March.

Most importantly for this team is their coach. Bruce Weber has become maligned in recent years for his inability to recruit top-tier talent to Champagne. I really don't see the issue. So he lost out on Eric Gordon, he wouldn't have him next year anyways. He couldn't keep Derrick Rose in state. He wouldn't have him either.

Weber is a great coach because he maximizes potential and preaches fundamentals. His players stay in school for more than one year and while that may not provide instant results, Illinois does have a solid foundation of youngsters for the upcoming season, and 5 players in the next two seasons who have rated as a 4-star or higher by Rivals.com.

I understand this has no bearing on next season, but Weber has been patient, and built a nuclues that will propel Illinois back to the NCAA tournament next season, or at least to the top half of the Big 10.

3. Arizona State

Every year coach Herb Sendek looks smarter and smarter for leaving Tobacco Road in favor of sunny Tempe, and he should continue to see his switch pay dividends next season.

Lost in the Kevin Love/Oj Mayo Lovefest was James Harden, who only averaged 17.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists for the season which is comparable to Mayo's numbers on the season.

Well, he decided to go against the grain and remain in school for another season, and seriously who wouldn't when they go to Arizona State. Coupled with rising senior Jeff Pendergraph they should be a Top 3 team in the Pac-10, if they play up to expectations.

They lose one senior who was a non-factor during the season, and welcome in two freshman, John Coy and Taylor Rohde, both of whom add size and depth to this already deep team.

The year of the freshman has past, and the Pac-10 is now Harden's playground to with what he pleases. His maturation and the emergence of point guard Derek Glasser will make the Sun Devils tough to play with, especially in a young Pac-10.

Keep in mind this team won 20 games and was on everyone's snub list come tournament time. They don't lose anyone, and their freshman will only get better.

Expect the student body to be dancing in Tempe come March.

4. Marquette

The question here is simple. What has happened in Marquette's world since Tom Crean took the job at Indiana? The answer is equally as simple. Jerel McNeal, Dominic James, and Wesley Matthews are all returning...or in other words, 39.1 points per game, 9.6 assists, 12 rebounds, and 5 steals.

Did I mention Maurice Acker and emerging star Lazar Haywood will also be back for the Golden Eagles?

Listen, Crean was a good coach, maybe even a great coach, but Marquette basketball returns more than enough talent for Buzz Williams to quite possibly have walked into the best possible situation he could have.

Haywood might be the best player on this basketball team considering his significance in the front court and his versatility. He had 16 points and 7 rebounds in their first round victory over Kentucky in the NCAA tournament, and although he won't have Ousmane Barro to play alongside, he should have his best season yet.

The return of the big 3 is the most important part of this team. Just watch Jerel McNeal play basketball, he is literally all over the court for 40 minutes. Just ask Stanford, who watched him match Brook Lopez shot for shot scoring 30 points, grabbing 8 rebounds, and leading the team in angry glares. He has a very similar style of playing as Mario Chalmers of Kansas.

Dominic James is the most athletic of the group. He really needs to improve his foul-shooting, his shot selection, and his decision-making. Otherwise, James has the potential and ability to take over any game he so chooses.

Wesley Matthews is that "glue guy" everyone loves to talk about. He is the definition of a combo guard. 6'5'', 215 pounds of muscle. He is a lights-out defender, just like McNeal, and was the team's 4th leading rebounder, a number he should improve upon in '08-'09. He may not take over, but he is equally important.

Unfortunately for Marquette, the Big East is going to be stacked next season, and although they should easily crack the Top 7, they will be forced to play a lot of good teams twice during the season, something that can have it's disadvantages.

5. San Diego

The Toreros were not exactly the pushovers everyone thought they would be in the NCAA tournament against UConn. Granted the Huskies lost A.J. Price, but they still should have beat the upstart Toreros, except San Diego has talent.

Did I mention they return all of it?

That was not an exaggeration, San Diego literally returns every player on their team. Brandon Johnson, last season's leading scorer will be a senior. So will tournament revelation Gyno Pomare to anchor the front court.

Rob Jones was a key part of the team last season, averaging 9 points and 6 rebounds as an under-sized freshman forward alongside Pomare. Expect Jones to continue to grow and his level of play will do the same.

De'Jon Jackson started every game for San Diego in 2007-2008. He may not stuff the box score, but he is still an important part of the team as a reliable defender and occasional three-point threat.

I think the Toreros will be better than St. Mary's this coming season as the WAC continues to emerge into a 2-team conference for the NCAA tournament. These guys won the WAC tournament in convincing fashion. They were not lucky.

Although Gonzaga will be much improved as well this coming season, San Diego has the perfect mix of youth, and experience that the fight for the top will be a fun one to watch.