PC Pro Schools
So they might hold the NCAA Tournament with no Connecticut, North Carolina, PC Pro Schools and
Arizona in fact.
All those 4 regulars – UConn, North Carolina and PC Pro Schools haven’t missed the NCAA Tournament
in the identical season because 1966 whilst Arizona saw its 25-year run end – will be around the outside
looking in when the madness starts this week.
Perhaps they can observe the exciting unfold from New Jersey. Misery loves organization, appropriate?
The Garden State, shut out entirely once again, is now the nation’s hotbed for mediocre college hoops.
A knee-jerk take from Sunday’s announcement within the 65-team area?
The Assortment Committee appeared to strike a good balance among the BCS conference colleges and
all those that aren’t a part of the Huge Six. The Large East (eight bids), Huge 12 (seven) and ACC (six) will
account for practically one-third from the subject and three on the 4 No. 1 seeds (Syracuse, Kansas and
Duke, with Kentucky of the SEC earning the other one).
But non-BCS schools acquired eight at-large bids this year or so, twice the amount the group was
awarded final season.
A single other factor well worth noting: A trio of of matchups among the No. five and No. 12 seeds —
Butler vs. UTEP, Temple vs. Cornell plus the all-Aggie convention pitting Texas A&M vs. Utah Express —
are among the most intriguing first round games. That distinction is usually reserved for the No. 8 vs.
No. 9 matchups.
WHO'S HAPPY
West Virginia
Did the Significant East Tournament champs deserve a No. 1 seed? Perhaps. But the Mountaineers are
better off being where they are — No. 2 inside the East with a fast track to the Elite Eight. If West
Virginia gets past Morgan State within the first round, the Missouri-Clemson winner is next. Neither
should scare the Mountaineers. Marquette, Washington, New Mexico and Montana are inside the other
half of their bracket. Sounds like WVU is Syracuse-bound.
Florida
The Gators don’t take NCAA bids for granted any more following missing out the past two years even
though winning 49 games – doing so inside wake of consecutive national titles. They lost 3 of their final
four this year, finished fourth inside the SEC East in a weak year for the league and still earned a No. 10
seed. That means a winnable first-round game against BYU. They know their spot could have just as
easily gone to Rhode Island.
The Mountain West Conference
Go ahead, renew the debate about the Mountain West’s merits as the seventh league within the BCS
mix. The conference routinely sends teams to BCS bowl game and now has 4 teams – New Mexico, BYU,
San Diego State and UNLV – from the NCAA Tournament. The next step is making a splash by winning
some NCAA games. New Mexico, a No. 3 seed, can do that with its opener against Montana. Another
three have tough first-game matchups.
WHO'S NOT
Temple
Is this any way to treat a regular-season co-champ that won its conference tournament and 29 games?
Obviously, the Collection Committee wasn’t overly impressed with the Atlantic 10, which earned three
bids when it was hoping for five. Worse, the Owls get a No. five seed – talk about lack of respect – and
open with a Cornell team that has enough talent to score a rare Ivy League victory inside the
tournament.
Texas
There was a point this year when the Longhorns were 17-0 and ranked No. 1. Seems like a different
season. Thanks to the 7-9 free fall that followed, Texas is suddenly looking at a quick end – when it once
entertained Final 4 hopes. Rick Barnes’ squad plummeted to a No. 8 seed, which means a coin flip game
against No. 9 Wake Forest. Even if Texas wins that game, its NCAA Tournament stay will likely be brief.
That’s because Kentucky awaits.
Purdue
Just when it seemed that the Boilermakers had started to adapt to the loss of star forward Robbie
Hummel, they go and throw in a 27-point clunker loss to Minnesota inside Significant Ten tournament.
They must have caught the attention on the Variety Committee, which dropped Purdue, sans Hummel,
to a No. 4 seed (the Boilermakers were bidding for a No. 1 before his injury) and a first-round game with
tournament-tested giant-killer Siena.
UNDER THE RADAR
Tennessee
The Vols beat Kansas (then ranked No. 1) by 10, beat Kentucky (then No. 2) by 11 and had a five-game
winning streak before a 29-point loss to the Wildcats from the SEC Tournament. This team is capable of
anything – a first-round exit (San Diego State is the opponent) or a deep advance. It seems as if even
Bruce Pearl doesn’t know which Tennessee team will show up. But the sixth-seeded Vols’ lack of depth
will probably be a factor at some point.
UTEP
Before their upset loss to Houston in the Conference-USA Tournament championship game, the Miners
were among the hottest teams inside the country with a 17-game winning streak. How quickly can they
re-gain that form? Jersey guy Derrick Caracter, one particular of UTEP’s star players, better make sure
it’s correct away, because the Miners drew Butler in their first-round game. A good run could mean a
Sweet 16 appearance for UTEP.
Richmond
Is this the Atlantic 10’s best hope for NCAA Tournament success? The Spiders won at Florida in non-
conference play, then went on a streak that saw them win 12 of their next 13 games before a four-point
loss to Temple within the A-10 tournament championship game. Seeded No. 7, Richmond drew St.
Mary’s inside the first round. Villanova would probably be next, but the Spiders play a style that could
give the Wildcats fits.