College Basketball: Michigan State and the Slumbering Giants of the First Month

So far this season, the college basketball world has focused itself around a few elite programs, analyzing and predicting their future possibilities deep into March. This is natural, considering writers, analysts and the entire sports community are drawn toward excessive talent and potential.

However, we—like all of the rest before us—have once again neglected to notice the explosions from some lesser-known squads. Some giant ripples are being formed, and they will affect the outcome of this year significantly.

The "sleeping giant" term is overused and more than cliche, but in this case it fits the scenario perfectly. The following 10 universities have started to show up as powerful adversaries for the big shots on the top of the rankings and will provide ample competition for them in the coming months.

Watch out for these "slumbering beasts" as the season progresses.  

Murray State

The 10-0 Racers are looking strong so far. Their undefeated record is impressive, with their signature win coming over Memphis last Sunday away.

Holding first in the Ohio Valley Conference, their schedule won't be considerably tough throughout the season.

However, an undefeated record is a statement, and if Murray State can stay that way, they may be looking at a great seed in the Big Dance.  

Minnesota

Sitting at 11-1 and third in the Big Ten, the Golden Gophers are a force to be reckoned with. Their senior forward, Trevor Mbakwe, leads the team in both rebounding and points scored, and the rest of the conference needs to take heed of his strong performances up to this point. 

With only a singular loss earlier this year to Dayton, their biggest wins so far this season have been over USC and Virginia Tech. They start off their conference schedule with huge games at undefeated Illinois and two-loss Michigan. Wins there would really put the Gophers on the map. 

Georgetown

Georgetown is traditionally a very strong squad, but this year the Hoyas have received less attention than usual.

This Big East powerhouse sits at 8-1 with their only loss coming to a strong Kansas team. Senior guard Jason Clark and freshman forward Otto Porter lead the team in points and rebounds, respectively, and will be a huge part of their success in their extremely tough conference.

Georgetown takes on undefeated Louisville to kick off their Big East schedule in what should be a giant test for the Hoyas.  

Indiana

This Indiana squad is for real, and so far they have only had one real night in the spotlight. Their huge win over top-ranked Kentucky stands out on their undefeated record, but victories over N.C. State and Butler are big time as well. 

The Hoosiers aren't getting the kind of attention their certainly deserve out in the Big Ten. Freshman forward Cody Zeller is dangerous, leading his squad in both points and rebounds. Indiana may be the surprise squad of the year if they can continue their on-court success. 

Virginia

The Cavaliers have come out of the gate strong, but have received no attention. The ACC is dominated by Duke and UNC, so anyone else doing well is hidden by the clout of those two big-time squads.

Virginia, however, sits at a solid 8-1 with a signature win over Michigan. 

Their lone loss to TCU was only by two points, making it look more or less like a fluke. As they approach their conference schedule, Duke is their second matchup in early January. A huge win there would turn all eyes to Virginia.

Marquette

The 9-0 Golden Eagles could surprise the Big East in a huge way this season. Most analysts have been focused on the defending champs from UConn, Syracuse and their ACC move, and Louisville with their undefeated record, but Marquette is a force that needs some attention.

With a huge win over Wisconsin early on, they finish their non-conference schedule with Vanderbilt and then take on a tough three-game stretch against Villanova, Georgetown and Syracuse. If the Golden Eagles can take down three of those four squads, this team will start to grab some of the spotlight from some of the other big-time teams in their conference.  

Illinois

The Fighting Illini are tied for first in the Big Ten and sit at an undefeated 10-0 record. So far, their strongest wins have been over Gonzaga and Maryland, but with their visit to Top 10 Missouri approaching fast, Illinois will have the opportunity to prove itself as one of the best in the nation.

Staring off their conference schedule with a game against 11-1 Minnesota, watch out for this Fighting Illini squad. Guard D.J. Richardson and center Meyers Leonard have been sharing the points all season, so look for that to help them keep their team undefeated.   

Texas A&M

The Aggies have exploded out of the gate to begin their season, going a strong 8-1 with a loss to a strong Mississippi State squad. With their strongest win so far coming over St. Johns in the Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament, A&M has been able to succeed without their injured superstar, Kris Middleton. 

Taking on Florida later this week will be huge, giving Texas A&M a shot to match up against a Top 15 squad. Big 12 conference play begins soon after that, and the Aggies first visit the undefeated Bears in Waco to really test their might. 

Mississippi State

Mississippi State has been excessively impressive this season.

Huge wins over Texas A&M, Arizona and West Virginia have this 10-1 squad tied for the top of the SEC. Led by senior guard Dee Bost and junior forward Arnett Moultrie, this squad is one to be reckoned with. 

The Bulldogs actually have more than a shot to challenge Kentucky this year for top of the conference, as they are loaded down with some experienced talent. Taking on a Top 10 Baylor squad at home will be a great test for MSU, and watch for some fireworks in the SEC this season. 

Michigan State

Starting the season off with two tough losses to UNC and Duke, the Spartans have surged back and won eight straight, including a big victory over Gonzaga.

Tom Izzo and MSU may have started off the season slowly, but watch for this storied team to play a huge part in college basketball this year. 

Michigan State knows how to win. They top this list easily, as their talent and potential exceed what their record shows for the time being. As conference play approaches, MSU will start off against undefeated Indiana at home, which will be a great measure of how good they will be later on this season.