NCAA Basketball: 9 Teams to Remember Come Tournament Time
Now that calendar has officially turned to March, we are one step closer to one of the best events in sports: March Madness.
We still have a few steps ahead of us before tournament play gets under way, like conference tournaments and Selection Sunday, but we are now two weeks away from what many of us wait all year for. That alone is reason for celebration.
So as the tournament draws near and the field of 68 begins to take shape, it is time to buckle down and get ready to fill out our brackets.
Here are some teams that you may want to keep an eye on in both their conference tournaments and the NCAA tournament. Some of them will be unfamiliar, while others are no strangers to the tournament.
If at some point these teams break your heart, don't say you weren't warned.
Oakland
1 of 9
The Golden Grizzlies are for real.
In Keith Benson, Oakland has one of the best big men in the country that very few people have heard of. The future pro is averaging 17.7 points and 10.2 rebounds per game for the Summit Conference leaders.
They also have excellent guard play, led by junior Reggie Hamilton who leads the team with 5.3 assists. He, along with fellow guards Larry Wright and Travis Bader, can also shoot the lights out from three-point range, combining for over six makes per game.
Their record stands at 22-9, 17-1 in conference.
The Grizzlies are also battle-tested, having played six teams in the RPI top 50, including games against West Virginia, Purdue, Illinois, and Ohio State. Furthermore, Oakland only lost by one point to Michigan State and beat Tennessee in Knoxville. Yes, they only came up with one win from all these games, but they challenged themselves.
That experience could pay off come tournament time.
Baylor
2 of 9
The Bears have been limited by inconsistency, but have the potential to play and beat any team in the country.
LaceDarius Dunn is one of the best guards in the country and is a threat to score from anywhere on the court. Dunn is averaging 20.2 points per game on the season, including 3.4 three-pointers made.
The team also has a future lottery pick in Perry Jones, who has had a very good freshman season. Just a freshman, it remains to be seen how he will handle the pressure of the NCAA tournament assuming the Bears make it.
The Bears have had some bad losses including a game against Texas Tech, and don't have many impressive wins aside from a season sweep of Texas A&M. Nevertheless, this is a roster that is loaded with talent. They are also just a year removed from an Elite Eight run and return numerous players from that team.
They are a team to keep an eye on simply because of their potential and scoring ability. Their battle will be actually making the dance.
Should they do so, watch out.
UNLV
3 of 9
Due to the fact that they are in the same conference as BYU and San Diego State, the Runnin' Rebels don't receive too much attention.
However, make no mistake about it: they will be in the field of 68, and they will do some damage.
This is a very deep team that has showcased a balanced scoring attack. Tre'Von Willis leads the team with 13.0 points per game.
The Rebels boast wins over Wisconsin and Virginia Tech, as well as a win at Kansas State. The Wildcats, however, were without star guard Jacob Pullen in that game. It was still an impressive performance for UNLV though.
This team has been consistent all season long and have no real bad losses to their name. They play as a team and at their own pace.
They will also have a good chance of winning the Mountain West Conference tournament, as they will be hosting the event and playing their games on their home court.
The Mountain West just isn't about Jimmer.
Michigan State
4 of 9
At 16-12, Michigan State has had a very disappointing season. Although they have played the sixth toughest schedule in the country, that is not the record people are used to seeing next to the Spartans' name.
Still, at the end of the day, Michigan State has Tom Izzo as their coach. Sometimes, that is all they need.
They have two key components to winning in March: experience and excellent coaching.
Izzo is 35-12 in NCAA tournament games, routinely taking teams with little expectations to the Sweet 16 and beyond.
If the trio of Kalin Lucas, Draymond Green and Durrell Summers can all bring their play to a high level, then another run is not out of the question.
Through and through, never doubt the Spartans.
College of Charleston
5 of 9
We have seen a mid-major with an elite scorer make some noise in the tournament before. Stephen Curry, anyone?
Coincidentally, the Cougars are from the same conference, Southern, that Curry's Davidison WIldcats were from.
The elite scorer I am referring to is senior guard Andrew Goudelock, who is averaging 23.0 points per game. In the team's win at Tennessee earlier this season, Goudelock scored 31 points, including six three-pointers.
Due to Goudelock, the Cougars will have a chance no matter whom they play.
Kansas State
6 of 9
The Wildcats have finally hit their stride, winning seven out of their previous eight games including a win at Texas on Monday night. They are now a virtual lock for an at-large bid.
How far the Wildcats can go in the tournament will be entirely up to guard Jacob Pullen, who is hands-down one of the best players in the country. At 19.7 points per game, he can score the ball. However, he can also do other things include get his teammates involved as well as help out on the boards.
With Curtis Kelly and Jamar Samuels, the Wildcats are also very solid up front.
This team is hot, led by a superstar, and has big-game experience. They are a team that no one will want to face when the tournament begins.
Utah State
7 of 9
For a team with only three losses, the Aggies don't get much love.
Some of that can be attributed to the fact that they haven't played too many good teams. Their current strength of schedule is 103, and they lost to both BYU and Georgetown. However, they only lost to the Cougars, a potential No. 1 seed, by six points.
This is another well-balanced team that likes to slow the pace down to where they feel most comfortable. Their style of play could frustrate a number of teams.
Keep an eye on the Aggies.
Cleveland State
8 of 9
The Vikings are a team that will probably have to win their conference tournament to get a bid to the dance.
Should they get there, however, watch out for point guard Norris Cole, who is one of the more exciting players to watch. Cole is averaging 21.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game this season.
He is the type of player who can put a team on his back and carry them to the tournament's second weekend.
Murray State
9 of 9
We have finally arrived to my favorite sleeper of them all: the Murray State Racers.
A year ago, the Racers upset Vanderbilt in the first round before coming within a possession of beating Butler and moving on to the Sweet 16.
Their body of work will likely limit them from getting a good seed, but I am going on record as saying I will be picking them no matter where they are seeded. That's right, even if they are a No. 16 seed.
The NCAA tournament is dominated by guard play, and the Racers have three outstanding guards in Isaiah Canaan, B.J. Jenkins and Isacc Miles. They all average double figures in points and all shoot 40 percent or better from beyond the arc.
Jenkins, in particular, has caught fire. He has scored over 18 points in each of his last four games.
The Racers also can get up and play defense, as they have held their opponents to just under 43 percent shooting for the year.
Meet your 2011 Cinderella team.
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