March Madness has the feel of another round of upsets.
Sure, Kentucky looks dominant. Syracuse has been impressive in winning the Big East. North Carolina and Duke are, well, North Carolina and Duke. Kansas and Missouri played a game for the ages in Lawrence, both showing how tough an out they'll be next month.
Nevertheless, it's that time of year. And, similar to last year, there's a lot of teams lurking in the shadows that could bask in the tournament spotlight. Who will be shredding nets and office brackets in a few weeks? Here's your list of the leading candidates...
1) Wichita State (26-4, 16-2 MVC)
Murray State is ranked higher than the Shockers, but Wichita is better equipped to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament. They've won eight in a row and 15 of their last 16. They have a barrage of good shooters, including a center who can hit from behind the arc. They have veteran leadership, especially with Joe Ragland running the floor. They sit in the top four in their conference in every positive statistical category. They don't get into much foul trouble and rarely beat themselves. They also have the best coach few have heard of in Gregg Marshall. I've followed Marshall since he took his Winthrop team to Springfield, MO, in an ice storm so bad that he held a practice session in an airport hangar, and still walked out with an impressive win over a good Missouri State team. The guy is a consistent winner and will be the hot name in the offseason. The Shockers are going places, and it shouldn't surprise anyone.
2) Murray State (28-1, 15-1 OVC)
Two things that need to be of note. One is that, while the first team All-American list will likely not have Isaiah Canaan's name on it, he should be under some consideration. He is, without question, one of the best players in college basketball. Secondly, I was sickened at the fact that people were questioning whether the Racers could make the Big Dance as an at-large if they lost one more regular season game and didn't win their conference tournament. I don't want to see the seventh place Big East or Big Ten team in at the expense of Murray State. If you finish that far back in your conference, any conference, you don't need an at-large bid. So, while the Racers should win the Ohio Valley tournament, if they don't, they better be an absolute lock … and not in a play-in game, either.
3) Temple (22-6, 11-3 Atlantic 10)
Yes, the Owls are coming off a loss. Yes, other teams are ranked higher. But winning 10 of your last 11 does say you're playing some of your better basketball right about now. The Owls have a terrific backcourt attack with Ramone Moore, Khalif Wyatt, and Juan Fernandez. While there's a little concern that Temple's frontcourt packs a much smaller punch, teams that go deep in the tournament always have loaded backcourts, and Temple's can match up with most any team in the country.
4) Creighton (25-5, 14-4 MVC)
After a somewhat puzzling three game skid, Creighton seems to be back on track as they've won their last four heading into Arch Madness in St. Louis. While Doug McDermott continues to be the workhorse of the Bluejays, Creighton's incredible shooting percentage as a team makes them a threat in every game they play in March. It's hard to stop a team that shoots lights-out on a regular basis, and Creighton seems to have found their touch. That, and their ability lately to win close games (Long Beach State and Evansville, notably) have them suited for a possible nice run in the Big Dance.
5) Drexel (25-5, 16-2 Colonial)
The conference that's sent George Mason and VCU to the Final Four now brings us the Drexel Dragons, who haven't lost a game since January 2nd. Drexel features a smaller lineup with balanced scoring (four players average double figures scoring-wise), but their calling card is in playing suffocating defense. Teams are averaging just a shade over 55 points a game against Drexel. with Cleveland State and Virginia managing to put up only 49 against the Dragons. If Drexel can keep the game low and slow, they'll make some noise.
6) VCU (25-6, 15-3 Colonial)
Shaka Smart's got his team on fire right now. The Rams have won 14 of their last 15, including a dominating performance over George Mason last weekend. VCU is winning games in the same fashion as last year, which makes them difficult but also makes them a major target. No one will let the Rams slip quietly past them this year. However, watching Darius Theus play is worth the price of admission all in itself.
7) Iona (24-6, 15-3 MAAC)
Haven't heard of the Gaels? They almost beat Purdue, throttled Maryland and basically cruised to a conference title. Their easy win over Nevada in BracketBusters definitely raised an eyebrow or two, as well. Keep an eye on Mike Glover, who is averaging close to a double-double a game (18 ppg, 9 rpg).
8) UNLV (24-6, 8-4 MWC)
UNLV is a solid team that won't be an easy out. However, going 3-3 in the last six games doesn't exactly say that they're peaking at the right time.
9) San Diego State (22-6, 8-4 MWC)
San Diego State is a solid team, with a solid coach, that won't be an easy out. However, like UNLV, going 3-3 in the last six games doesn't exactly say that they're peaking at the right time.
10) St. Mary's (25-5, 14-2 WCC)
St. Mary's finally broke the Gonzaga streak, which demands some recognition. However, in big games outside of the conference, the Gaels seem to struggle. For them to be considered for a deeper run, they've got to show they can win the big game outside of conference play.
Other Teams to Watch: Long Beach State (21-7), Long Island (22-8), George Mason (23-8), Oral Roberts (26-5), Belmont (24-7)
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