NCAA Tournament: Weeding Out the High-Seeded Frauds

While all the so-called bracketologists are trying to predict the brackets, I wanted to get a little ahead of the game and project some Top 16 teams who appear vulnerable.

Here's my list for most likely to pull a Bob Huggins—or in other words "most likely to get a top four seed and not advance to the second weekend":

GEORGETOWN

The Hoyas have a similar ranking entering the NCAAs as they did last year but I can't help but get the feeling that this is a six seed masquerading in the form of a two or three. 

No team has had a luckier string of wins than the Hoyas: three games have been won in the final seconds on close official calls (Nova, @WVU, @Marquette) and two others were pulled out of the fire at home (Cuse, UConn). 

It's a testament to their experience and guile that they've pulled so many close ones out, but I can't help but think that the law of averages will catch up with these guys.

STANFORD

Because they're Stanford and that's what they do. How many times have we seen this before? Stanford flies under the radar, secures a Top Three seed in the West region and misses the Sweet 16.  The 2007-2008 version doesn't have a single non-conference win that impressed and the fact they are overly-reliant on frontcourt scoring is worrisome.

UCONN

Jim Calhoun's team has made a quantum leap from last season and has overachieved, but not by UConn's typically high expectations, when you consider how fall they had fallen last year. Remember, this group didn't even make the NIT last year.

They've had a terrific regular season but are not the powerful juggernaut type that Calhoun has brought to many NCAA tournaments in years prior.  This team tends to struggle guarding good perimeter shooters and I could see a Drew Neitzel type haunting them in a Round Two 4/5 type of game. 

INDIANA

Even after the Sampson scandal has come and gone I've seen many pundits still talk about IU's potential to make a Final Four run.  In addition to the question mark about the interim head coach, two other issues I have: an over-reliance on Eric Gordon and a somewhat suspect D.

I'll find my Final Four dark horse elsewhere, thanks.