Early March Madness Continues
As NCAA Tournament looms, college hoops madness builds
Just one month away from college basketball conference tournaments, the excitement for March Madness and the NCAA Tournament is raging.
March Madness is fast approaching, and the college basketball rankings are changing places more often than cars at Daytona. Keeping a careful eye on the NCAA’s top teams, Cinderellas and best players, Suite101 gets you close to the stories that will put the madness into March.
NCAA Player of the Year race
March Madness wouldn’t be complete without a college basketball Player of the Year. Here are Suite101's NCAA POY front-runners.
- Kevin Durant, Texas – Kevin Durant is not just a premium freshman, he’s the best freshman and, arguably, the best college basketball player in the country. Durant can take over a game, as evidenced by his recent 37-point, 23-rebound night against a very good Texas Tech team.
- Alando Tucker, Wisconsin – Plays for one of the top teams in the country, and just gets it done consistently every single night. Perhaps March Madness will be the time for Tucker to elevate his game even more.
- Greg Oden, Ohio State – Greg Oden is the prohibitive favorite to be the first player taken in the 2007 NBA draft. Oden's size, agility, shot-blocking and sheer presence open eyes everywhere.
Who will wear Cinderella's shoes in March?
- Butler Bulldogs -- What would March Madness be without Cinderella? Last year, it was George Mason; this year it is Butler. Okay, we know a top 20 team can’t really be a March Madness, NCAA Tournament sleeper, but Butler is from the Horizon League, and the Bulldogs best player is A.J. Graves, a little guard, who never misses a free throw and drives opponents nuts.
- Southern Illinois Salukis -- We also love Southern Illinois – another relative unknown to college basketball fans. The Salukis return all five starters and play never-quit defense. Whether Southern Illinois wins the Missouri Valley Conference or not, the Salukis will punch a March Madness ticket and likely win a game or two.
NCAA Tournament’s top four seeds
The big questions will be answered when March Madness arrives, but the seeds will make their hay in February. Here’s Suite101's prediction for the NCAA Tournament's four number 1 seeds.
- North Carolina – The Tar Heels should win the ACC, and they have more talent than anyone.
- Florida – The defending NCAA Tournament champion is heating up and might win out, heading into March Madness.
- Kansas – The Jayhawks will win the loaded Big 12, giving them the right to a top seed. Kansas’ top eight players can match anyone, including North Carolina. Only March Madness will tell which team is more talented.
- Wisconsin – The Badgers won a school-record 17 straight, before losing at Indiana. Wisconsin will win the Big Ten and likely have 27 or more wins. Quite a resume for the NCAA Tournament.
March Madness office pool special
Keep an eye on Notre Dame, for your March Madness office pool Bracket Buster. The Irish will probably finish in the middle of the pack in the weak Big East Conference and get land a seed somewhere between 6-9 in the NCAA Tournament.
The Fighting Irish can flat-out play with anyone in the country. Notre Dame is balanced and very deep (10 players get double-figure minutes). Plus, Notre Dame has a very good coach in Mike Brey.
Notre Dame could, with the right NCAA Tournament draw, be an Elite Eight team.
