NCAA Bracket 2012: Power Ranking the Teams Still Dancing

With the 2012 NCAA tournament flying by, it’s time to keep the madness going as long as we can. We have brackets that still need to be busted.

All of the following teams have danced their way into the Sweet 16, but only a select few will be good enough to make it on to the Elite Eight and beyond.

1. (1) Kentucky

The Kentucky Wildcats came into this year’s tournament as the overall favorite to win it all, and they have ridden freshman forward Anthony Davis all the way to this point. The ride will continue as they advance past Indiana.

2. (1) Michigan State

With a coach like Tom Izzo and a star forward like Draymond Green, the Michigan State Spartans are one of the toughest tests any team will face. They will hold true to their No. 1 seed and slide into the Elite Eight.

3. (2) Kansas

The Kansas Jayhawks will look to the pair of forward Thomas Robinson and guard Tyshawn Taylor to get the job done against NC State. They will come up big in a hard-fought game—as they always do—and advance to the next round.

4. (1) Syracuse

Even without shutdown defender Fab Melo, the Syracuse Orange have remained very impressive. Head coach Jim Boeheim has his boys playing solid defense and shooting the lights out.  If they hold up, they can advance.

5. (2) Ohio State

The key to any success for the Ohio State Buckeyes is forward Jared Sullinger. If the Buckeyes want to get past a tough Cincinnati team, they need to get more than 15 points a game out of Sullinger.

6. (4) Louisville

Any team coached by Rick Pitino that gets to the Sweet 16 becomes a serious threat to win the National title because of his demeanor under pressure. While other teams start to falter, Pitino will have the Cardinals calm and cool.

7. (11) North Carolina State

The NC State Wolfpack look to continue their unlikely run with a war against Kansas. If the Wolfpack can stick to their defensive plans like they have up to this point, they have a serious chance to walk out of this weekend headed for the Final Four.

8. (1) North Carolina

With John Henson coming off a wrist injury and Kendall Marshall possibly out with a broken wrist, I think the Tar Heels make it past Ohio but fall to in-state rival NC State.

9. (3) Baylor

The Baylor Bears will look to ride the wave guard Brady Heslip created against Colorado when he scored a career-high 27 points. While Xavier is tough, Baylor will advance.

10. (4) Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Badgers have gotten this far in the tourney and were this successful all season because of stellar defense. As good as they have been, the Syracuse Orange have too powerful of an offense.

11. (4) Indiana

This matchup with Kentucky has all the makings of a Final Four given to us a week early. While I think Indiana is way better than 11th, their loss to Kentucky on Friday will have them heading home.

12. (6) Cincinnati

After upsetting the NCAA sleepers, the Florida State Seminoles, the Bearcats look to make another example out of the Ohio State Buckeyes. If they shut down Sullinger, they walk away victorious.

13. (7) Florida

The Florida Gators are a point-scoring machine that will look to drive the basket and dish to the open man when needed. They are facing a tough Marquette team in a game that could go either way.

14. (3) Marquette

As good as the Marquette Golden Eagles have been this season and during the tourney, the superior defense of the Gators will have them on the losing end of the Sweet 16.

15. (10) Xavier

While the Musketeers had an amazing season, star guard Tu Holloway won’t be enough to put Xavier over Baylor in the Sweet 16.

16. (13) Ohio

While you have to give the Ohio Bobcats credit for a nice run, they will be bounced easily by the No. 1-seeded UNC Tar Heels.

Check back for more on the NCAA Basketball as it comes, and check out Bleacher Report’s College Basketball Page to get your fill of college basketball.

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