1. Arizona

2. Kansas

3. Michigan State

4. Wichita State

5. Oklahoma State

6. Kentucky

7. Florida

8. Syracuse

9. Iowa State

10. Villanova

 

Sleeper: Creighton

 

 

Those are my picks.

 

 

 

Arizona is the best team I've seen play so far this year. Don't know how much you all see them. I get Fox Sports Southwest, which they've been on some, and I think they are real this year.

 

Have watched a few Kansas games with a friend whose a KU alum. They are extremely talented. I'd describe them as good and getting better.

 

Michigan State is a veteran team who, if healthy, is going to be extremely dangerous.

 

Kentucky has tons of talent and upside, but could be destroyed by a bad shooting night or running up on a veteran team who grinds the game out and capitalizes on their mistakes.

 

Wichita State has the core of last year's team back. They can still make noise-- they are just a bunch of kids who know their roles, play them well, and don't try to do anything they can't.

 

Oklahoma State is extremely athletic and Smart can carry them through games. I really like what I've seen from them so far, but admittedly, I've only seen them 2-3 times.

 

A lot of analysts are starting to jump on the Florida bandwagon and while I like them, I don't love them (at least that much).

 

I don't like Syracuse and rank them so low because I think that, at the end of the day, there are too many ways to attack a 2-3 zone, no matter how many variations of it they throw at you. Kids have been playing against that defense too long once they reach that level and it isn't going to be effective when you have to rely on it to win four games to get to the Final Four.

 

Iowa State is surprisingly good. They could do some real damage in the right bracket. It appears they've been building something nice since UK fans last saw them (in the 2012 tournament).

 

Villanova has some talent, but I'll reserve judgment on them until I know more. I'll admit I don't have enough on them right now to form a solid opinion.

.......

 

Interesting thread topic. On January 27th, my 10 would look like this:

 

1. Arizona (PAC 12)

2. Syracuse (ACC)

3. Michigan State (Big 10)

4. Kansas (Big 12)

5. Wichita State (MVC)

6. Michigan (Big 10)

7. Florida (SEC)

8. Wisconsin (Big 10)

9. Villanova (Big East)

10. Kentucky (SEC)

 

Sleepers, so to speak: Virginia (ACC) and Oklahoma State (Big 12).

 

Three Big 10 teams in the top 8, of my very unscientific ranking, points to how good that league is this year.

Mine would look something like this...

 

1. Kansas

2. Michigan State

3. Arizona

4. Wichita State

5. Florida

6. Syracuse

7. Kentucky

8. Louisville

9. Duke

10. Cincinnati

 

11. Oklahoma State

1. Syracuse

2. Arizona

3. Kansas

4. Florida

5. Michigan State

6. Wichita State

7. Oklahoma State

8. Iowa

9. Villanova

10. San Diego State

Syracuse will probably be playing close to home throughout the tournament and I like their weapons. Cooney is a favorite of mine.

 

They have to be in the top 3-4 of making the Final Four.

Kansas

Arizona

Syracuse

Wichita St. Experience main reason

Florida

 

I see alot of teams that can make a run.

Arizona

Syracuse

Kansas

Kentucky

Wichita State

Florida

Oklahoma State

Michigan

Michigan State

Wisconsin

 

I may be a tad over optimistic about Kentucky's prospects but I believe they will continue to improve every game right up to the post season tournaments. I think they have more upside than any team in the NCAA.

I see alot of teams that can make a run.

 

This is a popular sentiment this year, and I see a lot of teams that can win two games in the Tournament, but I'd bet a heap of cash that my list of 12 in post #2 is at least 3 of the Final 4....if not all. Teams that can win two games and get into S16 are plentiful, I agree with you, but teams that can win 4 (or 5) and make F4 are very limited, in my opinion.

This is a popular sentiment this year, and I see a lot of teams that can win two games in the Tournament, but I'd bet a heap of cash that my list of 12 in post #2 is at least 3 of the Final 4....if not all. Teams that can win two games and get into S16 are plentiful, I agree with you, but teams that can win 4 (or 5) and make F4 are very limited, in my opinion.

 

Sorry, but how can you not have UofL, Duke, or UC as capable? The type of defense Cincinnati plays makes them a serious threat to get there IMO.

Sorry, but how can you not have UofL, Duke, or UC as capable? The type of defense Cincinnati plays makes them a serious threat to get there IMO.

 

UC doesn't have enough offense as it stands to win 4 games. Could be a different story if Shaq Thomas continues to progress like he has shown the past two weeks or so to give them a legit third threat. You have to be above average on both ends to get the the Final Four, and they aren't there yet...

This is a popular sentiment this year, and I see a lot of teams that can win two games in the Tournament, but I'd bet a heap of cash that my list of 12 in post #2 is at least 3 of the Final 4....if not all. Teams that can win two games and get into S16 are plentiful, I agree with you, but teams that can win 4 (or 5) and make F4 are very limited, in my opinion.

 

I agree to an extent; we'll have to look back at this in a couple months.

UC doesn't have enough offense as it stands to win 4 games. Could be a different story if Shaq Thomas continues to progress like he has shown the past two weeks or so to give them a legit third threat. You have to be above average on both ends to get the the Final Four, and they aren't there yet...

 

Is Jackson's injury a serious one? That would be a big blow to their chances if he misses substantial time.

.......

 

Interesting thread topic. On January 27th, my 10 would look like this:

 

1. Arizona (PAC 12)

2. Syracuse (ACC)

3. Michigan State (Big 10)

4. Kansas (Big 12)

5. Wichita State (MVC)

6. Michigan (Big 10)

7. Florida (SEC)

8. Wisconsin (Big 10)

9. Villanova (Big East)

10. Kentucky (SEC)

 

Sleepers, so to speak: Virginia (ACC) and Oklahoma State (Big 12).

 

Three Big 10 teams in the top 8, of my very unscientific ranking, points to how good that league is this year.

 

Of those on your list who is most likely to be upset early? Nova?

Of those on your list who is most likely to be upset early? Nova?

 

Nova, Wisconsin, or Michigan IMO.

Nova or Wisconsin I believe off that list.