College Basketball: Michigan State and Other Teams in Need of Big Week

Conference tournament week is a time for bubble teams to make one final case for a bid and top-ranked teams to make an argument for an even higher seed. 

Teams can surprise us like Syracuse did a few years ago with Gerry McNamara's magical run at the Garden, and other times top teams seem to take the tournament week off losing in the first round, but then faring well in the NCAA tournament. 

With Selection Sunday now less than a week away, here are 10 teams that could shake things up this week in the conference tournaments.

Michigan State

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 18: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans talks with Derrick Nix #25 during the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Assembly Hall on January 18, 2011 in Champaign, Illinois. Illinois defeated Michigan State 71

Tom Izzo may be the best coach in college basketball at getting his players ready for March Madness. He has a special ability to take his players' focus from what they did in the season to what they have to do in their six tournament games. 

The problem is, at 17-13, the Spartans are not a tournament-bound team going into the Big Ten tournament. 

I think the Spartans need to win at least two games and probably need a marquee win over Purdue or Ohio State en route to the Big Ten championship game. A first-round exit to Indiana or second-round loss to Michigan and Sparty will be NIT bound. 

If the Spartans do make the tournament, I would not want to be the five or six seed that has to play them in the first round.

Colorado

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 10: Cory Higgins #11 of the Colorado Buffaloes moves the ball against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the first half during the first round game of the 2010 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on Marc

The Buffaloes are 19-12 overall, and 8-8 in the Big 12 conference. They have two wins over Kansas State, one over Missouri and the big one over Texas. 

However, they need to do something in conference tournament week to keep their names fresh in the minds of the selection committee on Sunday. 

This is the type of team I can just imagine Dick Vitale screaming about on the post-selection show that got jipped out of a tournament bid. Digger Phelps will point to their key losses against San Francisco and Oklahoma, and Jay Bilas will finish the conversation with the standard, "Well every year there's always going to be a few teams we can argue all night about that should've been in, the committee did a good job." 

The Buffaloes can not afford to be upset in the first round of the Big 12 tournament and would secure a spot in the NCAA's with two wins this week.

Utah State

Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

BOISE, ID - MARCH 20: Forward Lazar Hayward #32 of the Marquette Golden Eagles fights for position with forward Tai Wesley #42 of the Utah State Aggies in the first round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Taco Bell Arena on March

Utah State is the quietest 28-3 team in the country. Yes, the WAC isn't exactly a basketball powerhouse, but Butler showed us last year that mid-majors who dominate their conference can take that success into the NCAA tournament. 

Utah State's three losses came at BYU, at Georgetown and at Idaho. With the exception of the Idaho loss, the other two are completely understandable. 

If Utah State can win their tournament this week, they may slip into the bracket as high as a No. 5 seed. If they are upset in the WAC tournament, they will find themselves in a much tougher position as a No. 7 or No. 8 seed battling a tough first round opponent than a No. 1 or No. 2 two days later.

Notre Dame

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

LOUISVILLE, KY - DECEMBER 08: Ben Hansbrough #23 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish plays defense during the game against the Kentucky Wildcats in the 2010 DIRECTV SEC/BIG EAST Invitational at Freedom Hall on December 8, 2010 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Pho

A No. 1 seed is theirs for the taking. 

With the Big East likely to send a record 11 teams to the NCAA tournament, it is hard for me to imagine that the winner of this conference tournament will not grab a No. 1 seed. There are exceptions to this, for example if St. John's, Connecticut or Georgetown surprise us and win the crown, they will not land a No. 1. But if Pittsburgh, Notre Dame or even Syracuse does, the committee should reward their efforts with a top spot. 

Notre Dame is 25-5 overall and 14-4 in conference. This is not enough for a No. 1, but three wins this week and it's theirs.

UCLA

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

LAWRENCE, KS - DECEMBER 02: Reeves Nelson #22 of the UCLA Bruins in action during the game against the Kansas Jayhawks on December 2, 2010 at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

The UCLA Bruins are scarier than you might think. 

This team has won 14 of their last 16 games and has signature wins over BYU, St. John's and Arizona. They also took Kansas down to the wire in a one-point loss at Allen Fieldhouse. 

Their early season four-game skid at Villanova, at VCU, at Kansas and at Montana looks better now with Kansas being a likely one seed, Villanova being a top seven seed and VCU/Montana both having a decent shot at winning their conference tournaments. Going to play at VCU or at Montana is the equivalent to a game against a Nebraska or Penn State on the road. 

If the Bruins can win the Pac-10 conference tournament and grab their second win over Arizona on the season, they will climb their way into a favorable spot on Selection Sunday. A No. 5 or No. 6 seed playing in the Anaheim Regional bracket would be the most desirable for this dark horse team.

Oakland

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

MILWAUKEE - MARCH 19: Keith Benson #34 of the Oakland Golden Grizzlies shoots the ball over Gary McGhee #52 of the Pittsburgh Panthers in the second half during the first round of the 2010 NCAA men's basketball tournament at the Bradley Center on March 1

The Summit conference usually doesn't send two teams to the NCAA tournament, so if Oakland doesn't win their conference tournament, they probably will not receive a bid despite their 17-1 conference record.

Oakland played a brutal non-conference schedule. Here's a look at some of their nine losses: 

at West Virginia

at Purdue

at Illinois

Michigan State

at Michigan

at Ohio State

They also have a nice win at Tennessee on their tournament resume. 

With seven-footer Keith Benson giving the Grizzlies 17.7 ppg and 10 rpg, along with speedy guard Reggie Hamilton giving them around 17 ppg, Oakland could pull a first-round upset in the NCAA tournament. 

A first-round upset in the Summit tournament, and they're headed to the NIT.

North Carolina

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

CHAPEL HILL, NC - MARCH 05: Harrison Barnes #40 of the North Carolina Tar Heels celebrates winning the ACC Regular Season Championship as they defeated the Duke Blue Devils 81-67 at the Dean E. Smith Center on March 5, 2011 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

North Carolina won the ACC regular season crown. A tournament championship and they will secure a No. 2 seed with an outside shot at a No. 1. 

I think right now, Ohio State and Kansas have secured No. 1 seeds. Pittsburgh or Notre Dame will grab the third if they win the Big East tournament, and Texas or Purdue are next in line if they can make a run this week. 

However, if Kansas and Ohio State both win their tournaments and North Carolina wins the ACC, the Tar Heels should solidify a No. 1. If Duke wins the ACC tourney, they will grab that No. 1 instead of the late-surging Tar Heels.

San Diego State

Kent Horner/Getty Images

SAN DIEGO, CA - FEBRUARY 26: Coach Steve Fisher (R) speaks with Malcolm Thomas #4 of the San Diego State Aztecs during a time out against the Brigham Young Cougars during the second half at Cox Arena on February 26, 2011 in San Diego, California. (Photo

San Diego can steal BYU's No. 2 seed if they can win the Mountain West Conference tournament this week. 

With the recent BYU suspension, I like the Aztecs chances to win the tournament. However, they need to be careful because teams like UNLV and New Mexico will have nothing to lose and could catch New Mexico off guard in the semifinals.

St. John's

Nick Laham/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 30: Dwight Hardy #12 of the St. John's Red Storm fakes in front of Kyle Singler #12 of the Duke Blue Devils at Madison Square Garden on January 30, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

St. John's could really pad their tournament resume if they run the table this week at Madison Square Garden. Winning the Big East tournament would likely mean the Johnnies would knock off three top 15 teams again between Louisville, Notre Dame and Pittsburgh. 

They could also lose their first game and be a 20-11 team awaiting their less than desirable seeding on Selection Sunday. 

The stage is all set for St. John's. They play their best basketball in the Garden and they've proven they can beat the top teams in the Big East. I see them being able to climb as high as a No. 3 seed or drop as low as a No. 7.

Texas

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

LAWRENCE, KS - JANUARY 22: Tristan Thompson #13 of the Texas Longhorns dunks against the Kansas Jayhawks during the game on January 22, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Texas still has the best win of any team in the country on their resume. 

Winning by 11 points in Allen Fieldhouse alone should keep Texas from falling below a No. 2 seed. They also have wins over Illinois, at Michigan State and at North Carolina. Their two losses at Pittsburgh and at home against Connecticut were by a combined three points. 

There is no doubt Texas is as elite as anybody, but the stunning losses at Colorado and at Nebraska keep them from being a lock as a No. 1. 

Winning the Big 12 Tournament will take them there. As I said before, Kansas and Ohio State hold two of the four spots regardless of what happens this week, the Big East will most likely occupy the third and Purdue/Texas will fight over the fourth before it's awarded to the ACC champion. If it comes down to Texas or Purdue, I think the selection committee will side with Texas.