2011 NCAA March Madness: 5 Questions To Be Answered Before Selection Sunday

With a little less than a month before Selection Sunday (March 13, 2011), there are still a ton of questions to be answered.

Very few conferences' races are set in stone.

While six or seven teams seem to be ready to hit the tournament running, many more are wondering if they are going to be in the mix.

Here are five questions still to be answered before the names are announced and the brackets are established for this year's March Madness.

5. Will Anyone from the SEC West Be Dancing?

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NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 12: Jamychal Green #32 of the Alabama Crimson Tide posts up against the Kentucky Wildcats during the quarterfinals of the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at the Bridgestone Arena on March 12, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by

Florida, Kentucky and Vanderbilt are all solid in terms of Selection Sunday, but they are all from the SEC East.

Barring a miracle run through the conference tournament, Alabama seems to be the only SEC West team with much of a chance to make this year's NCCA Tournament.

The Tide have beaten Kentucky and Tennessee, but other than those victories, Alabama doesn't have many "quality wins."

4. Who Is the Best in the West?

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LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 05: Jimmer Fredette #32 of the Brigham Young University Cougars drives against Oscar Bellfield #0 of the UNLV Rebels during their game at the Thomas & Mack Center January 5, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. BYU won 89-77. (Photo by Et

The landscape of college hoops has changed considerably over the last few years.

In the not-so-distant past, we were used to hearing about traditionally-strong programs dominating out West—programs like UCLA, Washington, Utah and even mid-major competitor Gonzaga.

As the 2010-11 season stands, none of those teams are currently ranked in the Week 15 ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll. 

If you are strictly looking at this poll, five West teams are currently ranked in the Week 15 Top 25: San Diego State (6), BYU (8), Arizona (13), St. Mary's (23) and Utah State (24).

Not exactly the college hoops version of the 1927 Yankees Murderer's Row (four of the first six batters were eventual Hall of Famers).

BYU and San Diego State still square off (Feb. 26). Arizona faces Washington (Feb 19). The winners of these games will go a long way to determining who will be the best in the West heading into Selection Sunday.

3. Will the ACC Have Any More Than Two Teams in the Tournament?

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CORAL GABLES, FL - FEBRUARY 13: Nolan Smith #2 of the Duke Blue Devils goes to the basket against the Miami Hurricanes on February 13, 2011 at the BankUnited Center in Coral Gables, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)

Duke and North Carolina are locks for Selection Sunday. Anyone surprised?

Amazingly, depending on how the last games go in the regular season, plus how the conference tournament turns out, the ACC could have only those two schools representing when it comes to Selection Sunday.

I would like to think Florida State will be in, but if they falter down the stretch without their best player (due to injury), Chris Singleton, the Seminoles could end up on the outside looking in.

Anyone after that will have to have an incredibly strong finish to the season.

Virginia Tech has a decent record, but lacks quality wins.

Clemson and Boston College will have to finish strong just to make it into the field of 68.

Duke and North Carolina will represent the conference well.

But it is strange to think that they could be the only ACC representatives. 

2. Will Anyone Survive the Big East?

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WASHINGTON, DC- JANUARY 12: Ashton Gibbs #12 of the Pittsburgh Panthers dribbles around Vee Sanford #11 of the Georgetown Hoyas during a college basketball game on January 12, 2011 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. The Panthers won 72-57. (Photo

Just going through the week-to-week schedule in the Big East is brutal.

Currently, the Big East has seven teams in the Top 20.

Somehow, Pitt has only lost two games the entire season and only one in conference play (to Notre Dame).

Notre Dame, second in the league, has surprised many by winning their last seven games in a row.

Before losing to UConn this week, Georgetown had stacked up eight straight victories.

Two weeks remain in the regular season, and absolutely anything can still happen.

And that is even before the Big East tournament begins on March 8 at Madison Square Garden.

Prediction: Pitt wins both the regular season and league tournament.

1. How Will Jared Sullinger Perform When the Lights Are the Brightest?

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COLUMBUS, OH - FEBRUARY 15: Jared Sullinger #0 of the Ohio State Buckeyes drives against Adreian Payne #5 of the Michigan State Spartans during the second half on February 15, 2011 at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State defeated Michigan State

Ohio State's super freshman, Jared Sullinger, has been pretty much outstanding this whole season.

He is averaging nearly 18 points and pulling down 10 rebounds per game.

Can he and will he continue to perform at such a high level in this year's NCAA Tournament?

In the Buckeye's most recent game, Sullinger scored 11 points on three-of-eight shooting, and only grabbed two rebounds, his season low.

One game does not mean that he is struggling, but Ohio State needs him to be strong if they are going to make a serious Final Four run.