NCAA Bracket 2012: Baylor and the 10 Most Dangerous Teams in NCAA Tourney

The beauty of the NCAA tournament is that it is, essentially, a completely new season.

With this clean slate comes the opportunity for those teams that did not dominate in the regular season to peak at just the right time and bring home to the most coveted honor in all of college basketball: the NCAA National Championship.

Everyone expects Kentucky, Syracuse and company to be dangerous in the tournament, but these teams have also shown that they can make the run deep into March.

The following may not be a group of No. 1 or No. 2 seeded teams, but they are still extremely dangerous. 

For your printable bracket for the 2012 NCAA tournament, click here

Baylor Bears

Seed: No. 3, South Region

Analysis: The Baylor Bears impressed the nation when they amped up their play in the Big 12 Conference tournament.

The Bears handled the Kansas State Wildcats before beating the Kansas Jayhawks in a classic game of college basketball.

In the end, Baylor could not pull out the championship against a very good Missouri team, but the Bears created the type of confidence that can be the catalyst for a deep run.

With Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year Perry Jones III in top form, one of the nation's best guard sets and an incredibly deep roster, Baylor will not falter. 

Look for the Bears to make a deep run in March and turn a few heads along the way.

Cincinnati Bearcats

Seed: No. 6, East Region

Analysis: Cincinnati is a very interesting team in terms of statistical versus performance breakdown.

In games against the RPI top 25 the Bearcats went 5-3, a very respectable number for a team with an RPI of 41. Then again, in terms of performance, the Bearcats simply did not show up in some games.

The Big East championship against Louisville is a good example: Cincinnati only put up 44 points.

Offensive output like that is not going to get the job done in the NCAA tournament, but if the Bearcats can get Yancy Gates on top of his game and make him more assertive, they have the potential to go far. 

Detroit Titans

Seed: No. 15, Midwest Region

Analysis: Not many people knew about the Detroit Titans, as is the case with many mid-major teams, until they took it to Valparaiso in the Horizon League championship game.

Now, the Titans are going to be dancing for the first time since 1999 and are hoping that the history of the mid-major underdog repeats itself. 

With two key game-changers in Eli Holman and LaMarcus Lowe, Detroit can put up serious points off of second-chance balls and play hard-nosed defense on the other end of the floor.

It is not going to be an easy road for the Titans, especially against a very good Kansas team in the second round, but do not be surprised if Detroit gives many teams a run for their money.

Florida State Seminoles

Seed: No. 3, East Region

Analysis: Dick Vitale put it best when he said, “How many teams can claim to have beaten Duke and North Carolina within 24 hours of each other?”

With a win in the ACC championship game, the Florida State Seminoles did just that.

The Seminoles were finally able to get over the hump and get out of the shadow that they have been under for quite a while.

With the attitude and confidence that this team plays with, it's clear that head coach Leonard Hamilton who has worked magic with his squad this year.

Florida State has already been through the wringer and, arguably, a quasi-NCAA tournament run by playing through the ACC tournament. This team is primed to make waves in the coming days.

Georgetown Hoyas

Seed: No. 3, Midwest Region

Analysis: This season, the Georgetown Hoyas found themselves in the same boat as Marquette as a good team that flew under the radar for a good portion of the season.

The problem that the Hoyas will have to overcome is their youth. This is a very young team with little postseason experience and, in some years, experience is the difference between a win and a loss.

That said, do not be surprised if the games featuring the Hoyas are low-scoring affairs that frustrate opposing teams, as the Hoyas are a very good defensive team.

If Georgetown's offensive output can match its defensive talent, the sky is the limit. 

Harvard Crimson

Seed: No. 12, East Region

Analysis: Every NCAA tournament features a Cinderella team, and Harvard could be that team this year.

It may not have had the most difficult schedule in the country, but Harvard has one shot at making history: Keith Wright.

Wright is one of the best rebounders in the country, currently ranking at No. 15, but if he can step up on the offensive side of the ball the Crimson will be a difficult team to handle.

The odds are long, but do not discount the ability of the Crimson to make a serious run, especially if this team gets going early and knocks off another dangerous team in Vanderbilt. 

Kansas State Wildcats

Seed: No. 8, East Region

Analysis: The Kansas State Wildcats went on a big run toward the end of the conference season, beating both Baylor and Missouri on the road.

Then again, Baylor would come back and beat Kansas State in the Big 12 tournament, knocking them out of the quarterfinals. 

Head coach Frank Martin is one of the most animated personalities in all of sports, but he does know how to get his team going when it matters most.

For a team that does not boast any nationally known players, the Wildcats have utilized their talent to the best of their ability and, when on fire, can defeat most teams in the country. 

Louisville Cardinals

Seed: No. 4, West Region

Analysis: It might be cliché to simply look at a school’s head coach to determine its chances in the big dance, but Rick Pitino of Louisville is just that impressive.

Pitino has a history of excellence in his coaching career, including being the only head coach to lead three teams (Providence, Kentucky and Louisville) to a Final Four appearance.

With the motivation and inspiration that Pitino gives to his players, the Cardinals may have just enough to bully through the brackets.

After knocking off the Marquette Golden Eagles, the Cardinals were able to outlast the Cincinnati Bearcats in one of the toughest defensive games this year. 

Marquette Golden Eagles

Seed: No. 3, West Region

Analysis: The funny thing about Marquette is that even though it has consistently sat in the top 10 teams in terms of national rankings, it has flown under the national radar for quite some time.

That was until the Golden Eagles were shocked by Louisville in the Big East Conference tournament and the nation took notice.

Despite their upset loss, Marquette is still an extremely dangerous team with legitimate Final Four chances.

If the Eagles can get Jae Crowder and Darius Johnson-Odom on point early in the NCAA tournament, Marquette should stomp its way into the Sweet Sixteen and could power its way into the Final Four. 

Vanderbilt Commodores

Seed: No. 5, East Region

Analysis: Vanderbilt’s biggest issue this season has been finishing in big games.

With their run in the conference tournament, the Commodores showed the nation that they are, in fact, a dangerous team that can send many good groups packing.

Do not underestimate the experience of this squad, which will use the SEC championship as a launching pad for the NCAA tournament.

One thing is for sure with the Vanderbilt Commodores: They are playing not for individual glory, but for the program as a whole. Seniors Steve Tchiengang, Brad Tinsley and Aaron Noll are determined to lead Vanderbilt to glory with the time they have left.