NCAA Tournament 2012: Duke and More High Seeds in Danger of Early Upset

Nothing can ruin an NCAA tournament bracket quicker than a high seed getting upset before the first weekend is over. Most people advance the top seeds without even thinking twice, but there's always going to be a few that get knocked off quickly.

Here are three elite teams which should receive high seeds from the selection committee, though they aren't guaranteed to coast into the Sweet 16.

Indiana

Even though Indiana has a gaudy overall record, the Hoosiers only went 11-7 in conference play. That includes losses to Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota. The biggest reason for those struggles were mental lapses on the defensive end.

The Hoosiers are going to be able to score. They have too many weapons to get completely shut down. But sometimes they are equally as bad on the defensive end, which leads to a shootout and those are games are toss-ups.

It's important to check their opponent's offensive efficiency before advancing them on your bracket. If the team has the ability to keep pace with Indiana on the offensive end, they will give the Hoosiers a lot of trouble.

Duke

Duke is another storied program with defensive issues. Rival North Carolina was able to expose those flaws in the regular-season finale, when the Tar Heels posted 88 points. Don't think underdog teams won't be studying that tape.

The Blue Devils' problem isn't ability but rather effort. Guys like Austin Rivers and Seth Curry have the athleticism to be good defenders. They just don't always seem to be fully committed to give 100 percent on that end of the floor.

Just like with Indiana, make sure to examine Duke's potential opponents before quickly moving them to the Sweet 16 or beyond. A team that can knock down outside shots could be the Blue Devils' kryptonite.

Baylor

The Bears were cruising along early in the season, but some potential issues emerged in late losses to Kansas State and Iowa State. The Wildcats and Cyclones combined to drill 16 three-point shots in those two games to upset Baylor.

When Baylor doesn't remain disciplined on defense, they gets burned. The Bears almost have too much athletic skill. Sometimes they become overzealous going for blocks or steals, and therefore leave open looks for their opponents.

The same can be said about the team's offense. They have to run the sets until a good shot becomes available; they can't force it. The type of team that could take advantage of those flaws is one with a lot of senior leadership, so look for that in Baylor's foes.