NCAA Tournament 2011: Who Is the Best of the Sweet 16 Teams Left?
NCAA tournament 2011 is in full swing, heating up with upsets aplenty and some teams that have come out of the woodwork to show they belong in March Madness.
The biggest surprise of the tournament has undoubtedly been the VCU Rams, who drew backlash for even being admitted into the field of 68.
Well, it turns out the Rams can dish it as well as they can take it, surprising three teams, including Purdue, in their rise to the Sweet 16.
But there have been more surprises in this tourney. Oh, have there ever.
Notre Dame got embarrassed in the Round of 32 by Florida State, Marquette upset Syracuse, Butler uprooted Southeast No. 1 seed Pittsburgh, BYU obviously doesn't care it lost Brandon Davies to suspension and Morehead State shocked Louisville before falling to Richmond, who shocked Vanderbilt.
This brings us to the Sweet 16, starting March 24.
Here are my Power Rankings of the Sweet 16 teams, complete with expert analysis to back up my analysis.
Read on fellow college basketball fans.
16. Marquette Golden Eagles
1 of 16
The Marquette Golden Eagles certainly proved they belong in the NCAA tournament after knocking off Xavier and, particularly, Syracuse.
They have a Big Three of Darius Johnson-Odom, Jimmy Butler and Jae Crowder; these three can certainly score.
But as a team the Golden Eagles don't score enough and it took a late three-pointer from Johnson-Odom to down the Orange.
In a breakdown of the Sweet 16 by FOXSports' Jeff Goodman, he addresses why the Golden Eagles will lose to the North Carolina Tar Heels by one word: "Overmatched."
The Golden Eagles have gotten to where they are with lockdown defense, but its only a matter of time before a more offensively talented team like the Tar Heels knocks them out of the tourney.
15. Butler Bulldogs
2 of 16
The Butler Bulldogs can obviously be considered a Cinderella team after their upset of Southeast No. 1 seed Pittsburgh.
But although they haven't gotten to where they are through dumb luck, Pittsburgh's play was more alarming than Butler's.
The Panthers were largely considered the worst No. 1 seed in the tournament, and the Bulldogs simply proved it.
Shelvin Mack is a big part of this team, and as FOXSports' Jeff Goodman puts it, "The Bulldogs just don't have enough for him to struggle against Wisconsin."
And as ESPN's Pat Forde points out, "They're nowhere near as good as last year's national runner-up squad."
Cinderella?
Yes.
Deep run?
I don't see it.
14. Richmond Spiders
3 of 16
The Richmond Spiders were a lot of experts' upset picks coming into the NCAA tournament, led by senior forward Justin Harper, who is just starting to be recognized for the game-changing player that he is.
Not to mention Kevin Anderson.
But the truth is, as a whole the Spiders aren't as talented as a lot of teams in the Sweet 16, and that will show itself against Kansas.
But as ESPN's Jay Bilas points out, "Richmond is not the type of team you can play tight against. If they get the lead, Kevin Anderson is the type that can control the ball," adding Kansas has to "throw a knockout blow early."
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13. VCU Rams
4 of 16
What can you say about the Virginia Commonwealth Rams, except that we were all wrong about them?
The blowout of Purdue was the final nail in the coffin to let everyone know the Rams are here to win.
Led by Jamie Skeen, Bradford Burgess and Brandon Rozzell, this team has surprised virtually everyone.
The Rams clearly have an offense capable of scoring against the big boys, but against Florida State that offense may have trouble scoring.
But as ESPN's Eamonn Brennan points out, "The NCAA tournament is all about timing. VCU is the hottest team in the country.
"Take one look at VCU and try to convince yourself that team can't go to the Final Four -- they upset high-seeded home favorites in front of partisan crowds on their way to unlikely appearances in the Sweet Sixteen."
The Rams aren't one of the best teams, but they could be right now.
12. Kentucky Wildcats
5 of 16
Sure, Brandon Knight has been great, and Terrence Jones is showing signs of being the dominating player that his talent allows, but as FOXSports' Jeff Goodman points out, "Itโs a new crop of young kids for Calipari, and this one doesnโt have the overall talent of last yearโs group. It also lacks in the leadership department."
The team also doesn't have as much depth as previous squads, and I see this coupled with Jones' youth as not making the Wildcats as strong a team.
11. Arizona Wildcats
6 of 16
The Arizona Wildcats can pass the ball, they can shoot the ball and what places them ahead of Kentucky in my mind is Derrick Williams, a true superstar who continues to impress throughout the tournament.
But they've also gotten some breaks during the tourney, and overall they're not one of the big boys as a collective team.
But they can be beat on the defensive side of the ball and that is a reason why they could lose to Duke according to Jeff Goodman:
"Duke slows down Williams and the Wildcats donโt have an answer defensively for (Nolan) Smith and (Kyle) Singler."
10. BYU Cougars
7 of 16
It's frankly remarkable what Jimmer Fredette and the BYU Cougars have done without the help of the suspended Brandon Davies, a key player for the team.
I expected them to beat Wofford, but I certainly didn't see them blowing out Gonzaga.
Fredette is obviously carrying this team on his back, maybe more than any other player in college basketball, and surprising contributions have come from several BYU players.
But I ultimately see the Cougars luck running out. They can't get contributions like this from the other players on a game-by-game basis. They aren't talented enough as a whole.
Plus, as Jeff Goodman of FOXSports points out in his assessment of the Cougars matchup with Florida, the Cougars' lack of size without Davies will be troubling with the more physical teams:
"Can this group, which lost starting big man Brandon Daviesย because ofย an honor code violation, hold its own with the bigger, stronger Florida front line?"
9. Wisconsin Badgers
8 of 16
The Wisconsin Badgers were looking good until their 33-point outing against Penn State.
I think it's safe to say their offense is back on track, with 142 points in two games in the NCAA tournament.
This team's defense can carry it as far as its offense comes along.
SI.com's Luke Winn has the Badgers going to the Final Four:
"This is Ryan's year to break through to a Final Four, as he finally has a big-game point guard (Taylor) surrounded by a stellar crew of shooters, hustlers and interior battlers. No team values every offensive possession like the Badgers do, and while they don't have a lockdown perimeter defender to bottle up The Jimmer in the Elite Eight, the Cougars don't have the size to deal with the Leuer-Nankivil-Breusewitz-Berggren quartet, either."
Winn brings up another good point: this team's size.
Size can be a distinct advantage in the physical play of March Madness.
8. Florida State Seminoles
9 of 16
The Florida State Seminoles have gotten to where they are now because of their defense, accentuated by their beatdown of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
I was a big fan of Notre Dame coming into the tournament, based on their ball movement and the play of Ben Hansbrough, but the Seminoles shook me to my core...then shook me some more, just for good measure.
As SI.com's Andy Glockner puts it, "Their defensive prowess and overall athleticism are imposing for just about any team in the land."
The Seminoles not only got past the Fighting Irish, they did so with basically nothing coming out of star Chris Singleton, who still appears banged up.
But if Singleton gets it going, there's no telling what else this team can accomplish on the roll it currently is on.
7. Florida Gators
10 of 16
Florida has proven it belonged as the No. 2 seed in the Southeast (maybe the No. 1), with a solid performance against the UCLA Bruins.
With Chandler Parsons, and a backcourt of Erving Walker and Kenny Boynton, it's no wonder they are a solid team.
As Mark Schlabach of ESPN points out, "Florida guard Erving Walker isn't as small as he looks...If the game is on the line, Walker wants the ball in his hands."
But the Gators will only get far in the tournament with more help from the Big Three's teammates, as Jeff Goodman of FOXSports notes:
"Why they lose: The Jimmer does what he does โ and Floridaโs backcourt of Boynton and Erving Walker tries to match him and forgets about their teammates."
6. Connecticut Huskies
11 of 16
With the recent play of born-pro Kemba Walker lately, you almost forget that the Huskies actually put five guys on the floor at one time.
But a big reason why the Huskies aren't just a one-man show lies in the play of Alex Oriakhi and the emerging Jeremy Lamb, who's had a combined 30 points for the Huskies as a role player in the NCAA tournament.
It is because of this new development that the Huskies are shining bright.
Walker's continual sizzle with his team by his side make the Huskies scary right now.
Says Andy Staples of SI.com, "UConn hasn't stared elimination in the face in the final minutes. The Huskies still haven't cooled from the hot streak that began with their five-wins-in-five-days run through the Big East tournament. Does that make the Huskies the favorite? Probably not, with all the firepower headed to Anaheim, but UConn coach Jim Calhoun seems confident in his team's chances."
Will the Huskies ever cool down?
They just might, against the San Diego State Aztecs...
5. San Diego State Aztecs
12 of 16
It's the San Diego State Aztecs frontcourt that distinguishes them from most teams in the NCAA tournament.
Led by Kawhi Leonard, the Aztecs have size and rebounding in all kinds of places, including with Malcolm Thomas and Billy White.
They can score from within and beyond the arc, rebound and pass.
They are a complete team, which makes them all the more intriguing.
And coach Steve Fisher is a coach with championship pedigree.
But the team really goes as far as guard D.J. Gay can take itโa player that has the ability to separate the Aztecs from the rest and in the same breath have them crumbling to better opponents.
As Jeff Goodman puts it, "He's the leader of this team. When he plays well, the Aztecs are tough to beat."
ESPN's Ted Miller adds, "San Diego State proved it belonged with a hard-nosed win over Temple...it did show the Aztecs could tough it out against a quality team on a big stage."
4. North Carolina Tar Heels
13 of 16
Let me be blunt...I don't like this team as much as some people do.
They are error-prone, young and sometimes foolish.
But there's no denying they have top-four talent in college basketball, and this very same talent makes it hard for me to place them below San Diego State and Connecticut.
So many players can go off on you on any given night with this team, but as John Henson showed against Washington, they also have the ability to almost lose a game for you with boneheaded plays.
But as ESPN's Andy Katz points out, Henson also has the ability to bring the Tar Heels to the national championship game:
"North Carolina has one of the most disruptive defensive players left in the field in John Henson. His length gives the Tar Heels an added dimension defensively."
Can the Tar Heels play up to their talent and not fumble a game away?
We shall see.
3. Duke Blue Devils
14 of 16
Duke will only get stronger if Kyrie Irving can find a way to get back into the mix without disrupting the flow of a Blue Devils team that is led by Nolan Smith.
With Kyle Singler raining jimmies by their side, the Blue Devils are not only a threat offensively, but defensively as well, a team with the tenacity instilled in it in only the way coach Mike Krzyzewski can.
The team's national championship hopes really could rest on Irving's impact off the bench.
Says ESPN's Andy Katz, "Irving gives Duke a second late-game shot-maker to complement Nolan Smith, as evidenced by his bucket with 32 seconds left, the decisive score in the Blue Devils' win over Michigan."
2. Ohio State Buckeyes
15 of 16
If you saw the Ohio State Buckeyes' 98-66 explosive win against George Mason that sent them to the Sweet 16, you know this team could indeed be the next great team in college basketball...if it isn't already.
Freshman Jared Sullinger is so comfortable on the hardwood that you would think he's a senior.
And the team's starting five is just unfair, with William Buford, Jon Diebler, David Lighty and Dallas Lauderdale rounding it out.
Not to mention Aaron Craft off the bench.
How do you stop them?
SI.com's Andy Glockner has a theory: "A look at the Buckeyes' close calls in wins, though, suggests you are better keeping them in a slowdown, low-possession game (especially if you play an oddball system like Northwestern or Michigan, which played tough in all five combined meetings). Practically every close call the Buckeyes have had this season has come in a game that was in the mid-60s or lower in terms of possessions."
1. Kansas Jayhawks
16 of 16
I've got to go with my national champion pick here, the Kansas Jayhawks, even with Ohio State's massacre of the clearly-outmatched George Mason Patriots.
And what better expert to refer to than President Barack Obama himself, who turns out to have a pretty good eye for picking the NCAA tournament.
Obama picked Kansas to win it all alongside ESPN's Andy Katz because of Marcus and Markieff Morris and the team's depth, and he couldn't be more right.
The Morris twins not only are stars in their own right, they have the size to pose matchup problems for many in their way.
As for the team's depth, you only have to look at one player, Thomas Robinson, to see what President Obama was talking about.
Robinson would start in nearly every team in college basketball, and he only finds himself providing a spark off the bench, because he's behind the Morris brothers.
His ability to score, rebound, block and play defense that can frustrate opponents makes him a nightmare off the bench.
That's why I have the Jayhawks winning the national championship...oh yeah, and there's that starting five, too.
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