2011 NCAA Tournament: The 68 Teams Playing For March Madness Glory

The apocalypse has come. The perfect part of the year, the ultimate sports experience, the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, has been corrupted.

This year is uncharted territory for basketball enthusiasts. The NCAA has expanded the tournament to 68 teams from the mark of 65 a season ago. Although this even number does make a little more sense than an odd numbered tournament, it takes away from such a perfect number of 64. The symmetry was so aesthetic; it was a geometric masterpiece.

Alas, the magnificent tourney is now a thing of the past. Instead of reminiscing on things that won't be a part of my life again, I might as well predict what the future will hold. Specifically: how this season's tournament will shake out.

Now, the NCAA has been rather unclear how this new 68 team format will look come March. The only thing they've revealed is that the last four teams to be included will be playing each other, and the last four "automatically qualifying" teams will play each other in a round of games called the First Four. These games will be held on the Tuesday or Wednesday after Selection Sunday.

There is no indication where these games will fit into the bracket so I've organized this preview as follows: The Royalty, The Rocks of Gibraltar, The Trapeze Artists, The Snakes In The Grass, The Bulls In China Shops, The Bubble Busters, The Automatics and The Last Four

Note: Teams with conference names in parentheses are predicted to win the conference.

The Royalty

These teams should rule over the country as the dominant forces this season and the front-runners for the championship trophy. Will one of them win it? Only time will tell, but these teams definitely have the ability.

Duke (ACC): With freshman Kyrie Irving and transfer Seth Curry, plus Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith returning, this year's Blue Devil team may be even better than last year's title team. 

Michigan State (Big Ten): Only losing two players from last year's Final Four team, Sparty is looking for another great season under Tom Izzo.

Kansas State (Big 12): The beard is back in Manhattan, as Jacob Pullen and the Wildcats are very capable of making a deep run into the tournament.

Pittsburgh (Big East): Impressive in their first two games very early in the season, Brad Wanamaker and Ashton Gibbs have already shown the Panthers have one of the best backcourts in basketball.

Ohio State: Although without Evan Turner, the Buckeyes are still just as strong with sure-to-be freshman sensation Jared Sullinger.

Villanova: Without Scottie Reynolds, the deep Wildcat backcourt anchored by Corey Fisher should shine in Jay Wright's guard oriented offense.

The Rocks of Gibraltar

These teams might as well make hotel reservations now; they'll be strong and steady all season long, straight into the tournament.

Syracuse: The Orange lost a lot of talent, but just restocked and developed their current talent into a tournament ready team headed by one of the best coaches in history, Jim Boeheim.

Purdue: Without Robbie Hummel the Boilermakers are hurting, but Matt Painter's team is still one of the country's most talented.

Florida (SEC): The Gators are a young team, but their play down the stretch last year proved that they can play with the best of them.

Illinois: Demetri McCamey returned to school to prove that he could win. Expect to see just that from the Fighting Illini this season, as they return a great supporting cast as well.

Brigham Young (Mountain West): Although they might not be seeded high because of SOS issues, Jimmer Fredette alone could make the tournament.

Washington (Pacific-10): A lackluster conference schedule should ensure that the Huskies make the tournament with plenty of breathing room this year.

Butler (Horizon): Losing Gordon Hayward had much less effect on this team than many may have thought...and they play in the Horizon League.

Georgetown: Although some people may think they're overrated, the presence of John Thompson III and star guard Antonio Freeman guarantee an invite.

Gonzaga (West Coast): Mostly alone in the conference again, Elias Harris and Stephen Gray should shoulder the Zags to their 13th straight appearance in March.

Temple (Atlantic 10): The Owls have been the constant in the A-10 for the past couple of years. With Juan Fernandez running the point and Lavoy Allen dominating in the paint, don't expect an owl-shaped absence in the tourney come March.

The Trapeze Acrobats

These teams have the potential to shock and awe everyone in the country, but like the circus acrobats, if one thing goes wrong, they all come toppling down. However, in college basketball, there aren't always nets to catch you.

North Carolina: The Tar Heels have lots of talent, including an amazing freshman class, but as we saw last year, talent doesn't necessarily translate to wins.

Kansas: Their season may hinge on the status of freshman Josh Selby. They're definitely a tournament team regardless, but they are a title contender with Selby.

Kentucky: Calipari can definitely recruit and coach, and his players can definitely ball. But the real question is whether they can play together, or (in Enes Kanter's case) play at all.

Baylor: Like the previous two entries in this list, players off the court is an issue for the Bears. LaceDarius Dunn was cleared to play by the NCAA, but he's been suspended indefinitely by the team. Quincy Acy and Perry Jones can only do so much without a solid guard to back them up.

Memphis (Conference USA): Josh Pastner brings in a fantastic recruiting class, but like Kentucky, we don't know how such an inexperienced team will fare. Admittedly, they do play in Conference USA.

Tennessee: As their game on Monday so aptly demonstrated, the Vols have some work left to do before they're ready to compete in March. Scotty Hopson really needs to show why he has been so highly praised for so long.

Texas: The Longhorns definitely have the talent to be a big favorite this March, but they had the talent last year as well and that didn't exactly work out for them. Hopefully, the young talent of J'Covan Brown, Jordan Hamilton, Cory Joseph and Tristan Thompson can buoy the boys in Austin.

The Snakes In The Grass

Many of the teams that make the tournament are looked over at the beginning of the season. These sneaky predators might catch some stronger prey unaware this season.

Missouri: Despite being one of the most talented and exciting teams in the Big 12, Mike Anderson and Co. still aren't getting much love. Sure they're ranked 15th, but no one is talking about them. Beware of Kim English and Marcus Denmon, one of the most dangerous guard tandems in America.

Virginia Tech: If Virginia Tech doesn't make the tournament this season, we may have to keep Seth Greenburg from strangling the selection committee. Malcolm Delaney may be the most underrated player in America; he's put up stellar numbers his entire career, but now he just needs to win.

Georgia: Mark Fox has done an outstanding job of resurrecting this program in his two-year tenure. POY candidate Trey Thompkins and the "Human Highlight Reel Redux" Travis Leslie are a one-two punch that not many SEC teams will be able to handle. Georgia may be an outside shot at SEC champions this season with any luck.

Wisconsin: Why people ever underestimate Bo Ryan is a mystery to me. Despite not grabbing the best athletes or shooters, Ryan still brings Wisconsin to a superb level every year. Big man Jon Leuer is now a senior and is a multi-dimensional threat. They may not be on the radar now, but come February watch the Badgers slide into the Top 25 right before the end of the season.

North Carolina State: Although my allegiances lie with the Tar Heels, I can't help but like the Wolfpack this year (And it's not like they don't let us beat them every year). Freshman C.J. Leslie is an instant game-changer and Tracy Smith could earn All-ACC honors this season. If Sydney Lowe can't make the tourney this year, he needs to be fired.

San Diego State: The Aztecs slid under the radar last season and made the tournament as an 11 seed. Kawhi Leonard is a possible All-Conference selection and may bring the Aztecs into the forefront this season.

West Virginia: Although they lost a lot of talent from last year, the Mountaineers shouldn't be counted out. One of the most experienced backcourts in the country leads a bunch of fresh faces in the frontcourt. Senior Joe Mazzula needs to have an outstanding season, but he won't need to do it all. If none of that does it for you, Bob Huggins is usually a solid coach to bet on anyway.

Florida State: After a somewhat surprising last season, star forwards Chris Singleton and Solomon Alabi are in prime position for an even better one this year. With the backcourt extremely improved, the two defensive stoppers may both make it onto the ACC Defensive Team.

Murray State (Ohio Valley): Murray State is certainly more than a one-and-done tournament team. They return three starters from their team that beat Vanderbilt and took eventual runner-up Butler to the buzzer in the tournament. The Racers should repeat in the Ohio Valley Conference, but a weak non-conference schedule may lead to another upset team in the tournament this season.

Colorado: A big surprise in the Big 12 last year, the Buffaloes are in a great place to make a run at the tournament for the first time since 2003. A lot of this is due to sophomore phenom Alec Burks, who averaged 17.1 points and 5.0 rebounds as a guard last season. The Big 12 is a giant snake pit this season. Don't be surprised to see Colorado take advantage of some tired elites this season.

Richmond: Kevin Anderson and 10 other returning scholarship players make this Spiders squad a very difficult out of the tournament or any other game they're playing in this season. The spiders will definitely compete for the A-10 title this season.

The Bulls In China Shops

These teams are strong, but they're stepping in dangerous territory. They need to put together a solid season with few mistakes to make a solid berth in the tournament.

Arizona: Led by sophomore Derrick Williams, don't be surprised to see an Arizona Wildcats team put together their first really successful season since the departure of Lute Olsen.

UCLA: After a couple of disappointing seasons, the Bruins look to bounce back. The pieces are in place with sophomore Josh Honeycutt leading a young team full of energy. It should be interesting to see how McDonald's All-American Josh Smith plays on the big stage with big expectations.

Xavier: Always a team in the mix of it, the Musketeers have made a tradition of making a run for the title in the A-10. Although they lost Jordan Crawford, the Muskateers are three-time defending conference champs, and senior Dante Jackson doesn't want that to change. Xavier is no stranger to adversity, but their seniors need to step up and fill the gaping hole left from Jordan Crawford.

Minnesota: The best tool that the Golden Gophers have in their arsenal is Tubby Smith. The experienced coach is a huge tool for leading an experienced team into the tournament. They made they tourney without lead guard Al Nolen last season so now that he's back, the Minnesota could easily be dancing in March.

Maryland: Trying to fill the hole Greivis Vasquez left is like trying to stop the Titanic from sinking with bubble gum. No one expects a four seed in the tournament this season, but that doesn't mean it can't happen. No one really knows how the ACC is going to shake out and a big year from sophomore Jordan Williams would do wonders for the rabid fans in College Park.

The Bubble Bouncers

These teams are right on the bubble. If they put together a good season and they're the front-runners for the last few at-large spots in the tournament. The other side of the coin doesn't bode so well for them however. 

Dayton: Chris Wright is a high-Flyer (ha) and part of the A-10's best frontcourt with Chris Johnson, another diminutive winger that has lots of potential. I don't see another NIT Championship for the boys in Ohio. If they can compensate for their depleted backcourt, they'll be in the tournament.

Marquette: Darius Johnson-Odom is in for a breakout season for the Golden Eagles. Along with Johnson-Odom is Jimmy Butler, a prominent force in the paint and genuine scoring threat. If Marquette can shoot like they did last season, they'll be competing for a couple of victories in March.

Vanderbilt: Wing Jeffrey Taylor is a ridiculous scorer, just a little inconsistent. He's even added a jump shot which means that he is the perfect way for the Commodores to move past A.J. Ogilvy. Vanderbilt may rack up a couple extra losses just because it plays in the ridiculously difficult SEC East, but this isn't to say that they're not a team to threaten come tourney time.

New Mexico: New Mexico lost the two pieces of its team that meant the most in Darrington Hobson and Roman Martinez, but they have the rest of the team remaining, including point man Dariese Gary, the only senior. That fact might be the Achilles heel of the Lobos. Can the youngsters step up and attempt another shot at greatness?

The Automatics

Simple. These are the conferences not mentioned above that get just one automatic qualifier. The teams might not be great, but that doesn't mean they don't have some magic up their sleeves. Just ask last year's Ohio team.

Maine (America East): The Black Bears are the front-runners mainly because they lost fewer players than the rest of the best teams in the conference.

Lipscomb (Atlantic Sun): A tough non-conference schedule (UNC, Baylor and Memphis) should tune them up well before a very tight race in the conference.

Weber State (Big Sky): This conference has belonged to the Wildcats for the past decade, it won't end anytime soon. 

Coastal Carolina (Big South): The Chanticleers barely missed the tourney last season, but Cliff Ellis has them ready for another dominant run over the conference.

UC Santa Barbara (Big West): The Gauchos (formerly the Banana Slugs) look to do what no team in the Big West has done since 2001, repeat trips to the tournament.

Old Dominion (Colonial): The Monarchs are a genuinely scary mid-major, returning four starters and five players that averaged more the 22 minutes per game. These the players that beat Notre Dame in the first round last year.

Princeton (Ivy): The Tigers return all five starters from a 22-9 team last season; with Cornell rebuilding this season, the Ivy League is Princeton's for the taking.

Ohio (Mid American): Ohio beat Georgetown last season in the tournament, and even though they lose their leading scorer, three starters return including DJ Cooper, who lit up Georgetown for 23 points, 8 assists, 3 rebounds and 3 steals.

Fairfield (Metro Atlantic Athletic): After Siena lost three really important players, this door is open for Fairfield to make their move to the tournament.

Morgan State (Mid Eastern Atlantic): Although they only had 10 scholarship players, the Bears still managed to dominate the MEAC last year. They're still the best team in the conference easily.

Wichita State (Missouri Valley): Overshadowed by Northern Iowa last year, the Shockers return a strong team and could surprise some teams come March.

Quinnipiac (Northeast): Returning the deepest team in the conference headed by the reigning NEC Player of the Year Jason Rutty means the Bobcats might finally be able to break through into the tournament.

Lehigh (Patriot): Lehigh seems as likely a candidate as any, given they won the league last year and return Patriot League Player of the Year C.J. McCollum.

Wofford (Southern): The Terriers look to continue their success returning four starters that came within four points of winning their first ever game in the NCAA tournament against Wisconsin last year.

Stephen F. Austin (Southland): The Lumberjacks seem two be in a two-horse race with Sam Houston St. for the league title; I'll take the experience of three returning starters and a conference POY candidate with Eddie Williams.

Oakland (Summit): League MVP Keith Benson should lead the Golden Grizzlies back to the NCAA tourney, where they proved last season they can hang with the big dogs.

Western Kentucky (Sun Belt): Senior leadership will be the key factor for the Hilltoppers this season; if the tandem of Sergio Kerusch and Steffphon Pettigrew can work well then things are looking up.

Jackson State (Southwestern Athletic): Otherwise known as the "No I'll Let You Have This One" conference, Jackson State is quite easily the best team in the SWAC, although only having to sport a 17-13 record to secure the top spot last year.

Utah State (Western Athletic): One of the best mid-majors in the country, the Aggies almost knocked off Texas A&M in the first round of the NCAA tournament last year. Returning four starters doesn't hurt their chances for this year at all.

The Last Four In

These are the teams that will be sweating come Selection Sunday. They'll also be the first ones on the court on Tuesday or Wednesday in March. Of course, these are subject to change, as there are a bunch of teams biting at their heels.

Seton Hall : Sure Jeremy Hazell can score. But is it enough? He'll have to really exceed even his own expectations if the pirates are going to make it to the tournament. New coach may mean newfound success though. This might be a stretch of a pick though.

Connecticut: Jim Calhoun is too good of a coach to miss the tourney two years in a row. His absence last year really took its toll on the Huskies last season. Kemba Walker has flourished into one of the country's best guards and hopefully sophomore Alex Oriaki will help shoulder the load of an entire fan base's hopes and fears.

UTEP: Sensational guard Randy Culpepper helped UTEP cement its position as the best Conference USA team last season, but Butler proved too much for them in the tournament. Culpepper is back for his senior season but UTEP is going to be hard-pressed to repeat that accomplishment with Memphis back to prominence. Culpepper's partner in crime Julyan Stone is back as well and they will be the keys for making another tournament run.

Detroit: SLEEPER ALERT: Detroit may be able to make the tournament this year thanks mostly to freshman All-American Ray McCallum, Jr. The coach's son, McCallum decided to try to make himself a legend at Detroit while turning the program around. His ability to control a game and deal out assists may be the most valuable thing the Titans could have added this season. However, their entire season rides on McCallum's game translating to the college game.