64 teams get into the most well-known tournament ever, but most are pretenders. They may have got in because they won their weak division, or hit a hot streak when it came down to the conference tournament. Half of the teams in the tournament would get smoked by good teams that got stuck with the NIT. That is the system though, and it seems like most people are happy with it.There are teams every year like Weber State, Vermont, or Cornell that don't stand a chance. There are teams like North Carolina, UCONN, and Duke that are the heavy favorites to reach the title game. But then there are teams that shock the world, and rise from the depths of the College Basketball universe. Last year it was Davidson, Western Kentucky, and Villanova that went way further than they were supposed to. Let's take a look at some teams that I think could be this year's March Madness sleeper.
I am going to try to steer clear from teams that everyone knows has the potential to get to the Final Four. If the bracket was out already, these would be teams in the 7+ seed range. My "projected seeds" are based on if the selection committee was to meet tonight and are simply my opinion on where the team would be placed.
#24 Florida Gators, 17-3 (projected 8 seed)
The Gators used to be a college basketball powerhouse, but now are stuck in "rebuilding". They have surprised a ton of people already. With big wins against Washington and Vandy, the Gators are the front-runner for the SEC Championship and more. This whole season was supposed to ride on Nick Calathes shoulders. He has done a great job; averaging 18 and 7. Let's be real though, Billy Donovan is the leader, the nucleus. Sure, he doesn't average any points, but he is one of the best coaches in the Nation and refuses to lose.
#23 Washington Huskies, 15-4 (projected 9 seed)
The season started rough, to say the very least. The Huskies started out with a loss to Portland for the first game of the season. After that, they fell to a couple of ranked opponents by a combined 28 points. They quickly turned things around after a 2-3 start with huge wins against Oklahoma State, Stanford, Oregon State, USC, and (most recently) #13 UCLA. The years of rebuilding are officially over. The Huskies and Coach Lorenzo finally have a talented team that can contend seriously in the Pac 10.
Missouri Tigers, 17-3 (projected 8 seed)
I know what you're thinking... Of course he is going to put his team on here. Well think again, because the Tigers are for real. I would know, I watch every single game and comb through everything they do. They are very, very, very good. Despite the extremely tough conference with teams like Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Baylor, etc, they will be right at the top of the list come season's end. The have the perfect mix of experience and youth, with players like Lyons, Carroll, Tiller, English, Denmon, MP3, and everyone else. We have one of the (or the) toughest home court to play at in the country. We have not lost a game in our house in a long, long time... Don't expect us to.
#22 St. Mary's Gaels, 18-1 (projected 10 seed)
This is like the Utah and Boise State of College Basketball. They are tearing up the teams they play, but they aren't much to speak of. They remind me of a team called Davidson of last year. I don't want to jump to anything but these guys have something about them. We will see just how good they are when they square off against Gonzaga twice in the next month. Here is a nice way to put it in perspective. Kobe Bryant said, "He is just too quick and too flashy to guard." You know you have something going for you when one of the best players in the world says that about you. Patrick Mills torched the Americans in the Olympics for 20 points. Back for his sophomore year, Mills will once again lead the Gaels into the NCAA Tournament averaging about the same amount of points he dropped on Kobe.
#24 Minnesota Golden Gophers, 17-3 (projected 7 seed)
The Tubby Smith hype seemed a little overblown heading into last season, but the first year coach at Minnesota turned the Golden Gophers into a 20 win team in one season. What did you expect to happen after another offseason? The talent level has increased, the losing mentality is just about completely gone and Coach Smith has a roster that can make a run deep into NCAA tourney. They will be tested, and we will find out exactly what they are capable of as the Golden Gophers host Illinois at home, but then two road games against Michigan State and Ohio State.
Davidson Wildcats, 16-3 (projected 9 seed)
What better way to finish off this list than with the team that defines this list? Last year, the Wildcats advanced to the Elite Eight in the t-ment on the back of sophomore Stephen Curry. Well, this year Curry is a junior and even better. They proved that they can compete with anyone in the Nation when they gave Oklahoma fits in November. Davidson is going to make a run at yet another perfect conference record, and will probably get it. The only thing stopping Davidson from doing things similar to last year, is Curry and his quest to become more NBA-ready. This whole season he has been focused on proving to recruiters that he can be a good point in the next level. I have seen time and time again players get TOO focused on that and cannot take care of what is at hand.
Sure, I do not have every single team that could make a run on here. If you disagree, or maybe I did not list your team that is on the outside looking in... Post your comment below so I can take a look at what you all think.
There may not even be a sleeper team this year. But if there is, I would be surprised if it was a team outside of this list.
Justin Hulsey
StLDieHard24@gmail.com
www.thejaystick.blogspot.com
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