10 College Basketball Teams You Didn't See Coming Until Now

In a college basketball season so full of surprises, it's been easy to lose track of where everyone stands.

New upsets every night. New heroes every hour. Perspective, as one might imagine, has been difficult to come by.

The following 10 teams have been written off or pushed aside at some point this year, only to reemerge as contenders in the late-season melee. For some, a potential upset is in the offing. For others, it's a run to the Elite Eight or beyond.

For all, it's a chance to go further than any of us expected they'd go.

Note: All statistics courtesy of KenPom.com. All information current as of midday March 16, with updates as time allows.

Wisconsin

Record: 23-10 (12-6 Big Ten)

AP Rank: 22

Why It's Dangerous

Wisconsin had the best defense in the Big Ten this year, and it wasn't even close. Bo Ryan's Badgers allowed just .908 points per possession in conference play. Ohio State was next best at .950. On offense, Wisconsin maximizes its efficiency by shooting threes and taking care of the basketball.

Proof Positive

Having been lost a bit in the Big Ten shuffle, Wisconsin broke out with conference tournament wins over Michigan (68-59) and Indiana (68-56). In those two games combined, the Badgers held their opponents to 8-of-30 from three.

Tournament Potential

Ken Pomeroy ranks Wisconsin as the nation's ninth-best team, and while that might be a tad generous, the Badgers are certainly a dangerous draw for whichever top seed they see in the Sweet 16. Wisconsin's defense can be especially flummoxing for teams that feast on turnovers. The Badgers are perennially stingy when it comes to transition defense, meaning opponents have to execute in the half court if they expect to crack the 60-point barrier.

UNLV

Record: 25-9 (10-6 Mountain West)

AP Rank: NR

Why It's Dangerous

Freshman sensation Anthony Bennett is the best player on the court almost every time UNLV plays, and 2012 MWC first-team selection Mike Moser has shown signs of life after a miserable start. If those two get going, good luck trying to keep pace. Dave Rice's team is one of the nation's best on defense.

Proof Positive

The Mountain West is loaded, and UNLV took its lumps midseason. But a 75-65 win over Colorado State in the MWC semifinals was the Runnin' Rebels' seventh in their last eight games. Suddenly the conference's most talented team looks like its hottest as well, even with the subsequent MWC finals loss to New Mexico.

Tournament Potential

Bennett is capable of taking over games late. If he gets a little help on the offensive end, UNLV can ride its A-plus field-goal defense deep into the second weekend.

Saint Louis

Record: 26-6 (13-3 Atlantic 10)

AP Rank: 16

Why It's Dangerous

In a recent Sports Illustrated article, Butler coach Brad Stevens called Saint Louis a "legitimate contender for the whole thing." The Billikens aren't a name program on par with VCU, Temple or Stevens' own Butler team, but Saint Louis has been the best of that bunch this year.

Jim Crews' team plays a bruising style of defense that makes life miserable for opposing guards. The Billikens offense isn't quite as intimidating, but at the very least, their deep, balanced and careful with the ball.

Proof Positive

The Billikens topped New Mexico early and then went on to beat almost everyone in the A-10 worth beating, a list that includes VCU, La Salle, Massachusetts, Charlotte (twice) and Butler (three times!).

Tournament Potential

Who are we to doubt Brad Stevens? Without question, Saint Louis has Final Four potential.

Syracuse

Record: 26-9 (11-7 Big East)

AP Rank: 19

Why It's Dangerous

Syracuse's 2-3 zone is stingy as always, and sophomore Rakeem Christmas headlines a frontcourt that leads the nation in blocked-shot percentage. The Orangemen don't shoot a great percentage on offense, but they make up for it with fantastic offensive rebounding. And when point guard Michael Carter-Williams operates at full throttle, 'Cuse can get easy looks by the bushel.

Proof Positive

Syracuse avenged two earlier losses to rival Georgetown with a hard-fought 58-55 OT win in the Big East semifinals before falling to Louisville in the tournament final. After ending the regular season on a slide, Jim Boeheim's team proved that it belongs among the conference's elite.

Tournament Potential

It'd be a stretch to call Syracuse a lock-stock Final Four contender, but in this crazy season anything is possible. At the very least, the Orange will be a tough second-weekend out thanks to their high-profile athleticism and interior length.

Massachusetts

Record: 21-11 (9-7 Atlantic 10)

AP Rank: NR

Why It's Dangerous

UMass can flat-out score the basketball. Diminutive point guard Chaz Williams has the nation's ninth-best assist rate and might be one of the quickest primary ball-handlers outside the Power Six.

Proof Positive

UMass emerged from the middle of the A-10 scrum to notch a huge conference tourney win over NCAA-bound Temple. Earlier victories over Harvard, Providence, La Salle and Ohio mark Derek Kellogg's team as one to watch.

Tournament Potential

A late entrant into the bubble picture, UMass would be a dangerous first-round opponent for teams on the No. 5 line. Anything after a first-round upset, though, is unlikely.

Creighton

Record: 27-7 (13-5 Missouri Valley)

AP Rank: 23

Why It's Dangerous

Star forward Doug McDermott is the best offensive player in college basketball, and Creighton has one of the nation's best overall attacks. The Blue Jays are particularly adept from beyond, where they combine high volume with stunning accuracy (42.1 percent overall).

Proof Positive

Well represented in the preseason hype parade, Creighton faded from the national spotlight during a bumpy midseason conference stretch. The Blue Jays recovered by winning the MVC regular-season and tournament titles and can point to early-season wins over Cal and Wisconsin as tournament harbingers.

Tournament Potential

Outside Gonzaga, there isn't a mid-major in America with better peripherals. If everything breaks right, Greg McDermott's team can shoot its way to the second weekend and maybe even a regional final.

Kansas State

Record: 27-7 (14-4 Big 12)

AP Rank: 11

Why It's Dangerous

Rodney McGruder and Angel Rodriguez form a fantastic backcourt duo. The Wildcats also rebound well for an undersized team, grabbing a robust 38.8 percent of their own misses.

Proof Positive

Kansas is the bigger national name. Oklahoma State and Baylor have better next-level talent. Yet it's Kansas State that keeps on winning. With an emphasis on guard play and perimeter quickness, the Wildcats posted wins over Florida, Oklahoma (twice) and Oklahoma State (twice).

Bruce Weber's team split the regular-season conference title with Kansas and made the Big 12 championship game for the first time in three years.

Tournament Potential

One wonders if Kansas State has the size and defensive bite needed to make a Final Four push. At the very least, the Wildcats are dangerous. They shoot well from beyond, turn teams over and frustrate even the best teams with their smaller lineups.

Valparaiso

Record: 26-7 (13-3 Horizon)

AP Rank: NR

Why It's Dangerous

With an offense that ranks fifth in effective field-goal percentage, Valpo can score with just about anybody. Senior Kevin Van Wijk is one of the nation's better interior finishers, and Ryan Broekhoff is deadly from beyond. As is true with most upset specialists, the Crusaders play a high-risk/high-reward brand of offense that emphasizes three-point shooting.

Proof Positive

The Horizon League lost some luster with Butler's departure but remains one of the nation's better mid-major conferences. Detroit had its moments. So too did Wright State and Wisconsin-Green Bay. Valparaiso, however, was a cut above, winning the regular season and tournament titles en route to its first NCAA tournament appearance since 2004.

Tournament Potential

Valpo doesn't have enough defensive bite to make a deep tournament run, but if the Crusaders hit their threes, they'll be a handful for whichever top-five seed they draw in the opening round.

North Carolina

Record: 24-9 (12-6 ACC)

AP Rank: NR

Why It's Dangerous

The Tar Heels were up and down early, but since switching to a smaller lineup midseason, they seem to have found their offensive footing. P.J. Hairston and Reggie Bullock are ace outside shooters, and freshman point guard Marcus Paige can be a handful off the bounce.

Proof Positive

Even accounting for an unsightly loss to Duke in Chapel Hill, North Carolina was one of the most consistently high-performing teams in the ACC during the back half of the conference schedule. In its last nine games, Roy Williams' team has handled Virginia, North Carolina State and Maryland (twice).

Tournament Potential

The Tar Heels are young and improving, which suggests that their computer numbers (while solid) might be an undersell. Carolina in its current iteration has a good chance to make the Sweet 16, with Elite Eight potential if the draws break in its favor.

Southern Miss

Record: 25-9 (12-4 Conference USA)

AP Rank: NR

Why It's Dangerous

ESPN's "Giant Killer" recipe loves the Golden Eagles because they're aggressive on defense (ninth-best turnover percentage) and shoot an excellent percentage from beyond. Junior college transfer Dwayne Davis leads an offense that ranks 33rd in adjusted efficiency.

Proof Positive

Southern Miss gave Memphis all it could handle in the conference tournament title game before losing in double overtime. Conference USA isn't what it once was, but it's still a decent league, and Southern Miss was clearly the conference's second-best team.

Tournament Potential

If Donnie Tyndall's team makes the field of 68 (a major if), the Golden Eagles will be well positioned for an opening-round upset. Southern Miss has the athletes and style of play that can wreak havoc on higher-seeded opponents.