The Good:
West Virginia: The Mountaineers have had a storybook season, from a top 25 preseason rank to
a 27-6 record leading into the NCAA tournament. Bob Huggin's squad proved their legitamacy by winning their first-ever Big East championship in a down-to-the-wire battle against Georgetown. As Da'Sean Butler drained a game winning, into heaving traffic jumper, it became obvious that West Virginia is more than just lucky. Look for them to make a run in the Dance.Syracuse: After a preseason loss to Division II school Le Moyne, many doubted whether Syracuse would be a formidable squad. However, Wesley Johnson has lead his team to a 28-4 season and a #1 West bracket bid. With only Gonzaga, Kansas State and a struggling Pittsburg team to contend with in the west, Syracuse has a great chance at the Final Four, if not the Championship.
Kentucky: With a prestine 32-2 record, the Wildcats have secured a #1 seed in the East bracket. Lead by John Wall, Calipari's squad has been looking better and better. However, the 'Cat's my not be invincible. They have struggled against teams like Mississippi State and Alabama, as well as suffering a loss to unranked South Carolina. While the 'Cats may breeze through their bracket, an upset is not unlikely if their playing it too close gets the best of them.
The Big 12 Conference: Last year, the Big 12 served as the biggest suprise in the NCAA tournament. This year, they have kept their tournament presence, sending 7 of their 12 teams (Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Baylor, Texas, Texas A&M and Oklahoma State) to the NCAA tournament. Though usually laughed at when it comes to basketball, if the Big 12 continues to put over half their conference in the NCAA year after year, they may reach the status of the Big 10 or even the ACC.
*Other notables inculde Duke, Kansas, Maryland and New Mexico.
The Bad:
Michigan: Despite optimistic pre-season rankings, the Wolverines have been a major disappointment. Though the Big 10 has been much improved from their mediocracy,
The ACC conference: Ususally one of the best conferences in NCAA basketball, the ACC has been less-than-impressive this year. Though 6 of their teams made the tournament, only 2 (Duke and Maryland) have a serious chance of making the Sweet Sixteen. ACC powerhouse North Carolina failed to even made the tournament, an unheard of occurance that happened only twice in a decade (2003 and 2004).
The Ugly:
North Carolina's season: College basketball simply doesn't get any uglier than it did for the North
Carolina Tarheels this season. The defending champs fell so low throughout the season that they failed to make it to the NCAA tournament they had won the previous season. Though this is not necessarily an uncommon occurance, it is completley out of character for the powerhouse Tarheels, who have been conference champions twice this decade and regular season champs five times in the last decade- dominating their powerhouse conference literally half a decade. Williams' squad has been a complete disappointment this year, and it is not uncommon to see anger, confusion and disorganization among this once-prestine squad. Something that has been uncommon for the Tarheels this year? Wins.UCONN: Without Calhoun, the Huskies were a lighthouse without a beacon, and they were unable to win games even after his return. Connecticut finished at a extremely disappointing 17-15 record and failed to make the NCAA tournament.
So, fill out your bracket, have a little fun, cheer on your team and get caught up in the madness!
*Photos taken from ESPN website.
