With sixteen teams left, who are the big dogs left on the block? This ranking system goes by the individual team and not their likelihood of winning the title.
1-KENTUCKY: The Wildcats have been the most dominating team thus far in the tournament and now the favorites to win the whole thing.
2-SYRACUSE: Aside from Kentucky, the Orange have looked the best of anyone in the tournament. If they can get their big man back, they have a great shot at getting back to the Final Four.
3-WEST VIRGINIA: Well, I had them winning their half of the bracket the whole time. Of course, I had them losing to Kansas for the title and you see how that's turned out.
4-KANSAS STATE: The Wildcats are passionate and have one of the best backcourts left in the tournament. Their possible matchup against Syracuse could be the best game of the Elite Eight.
5-DUKE: The Blue Devils are strong since they have three bona-fide scorers and (finally) enough size to bang with big teams.
6-OHIO STATE: Everything is going right for them right now. They have a star player in Evan Turner, a talented starting lineup and they have that big Kansas fellow out of their way. I know I said that I'm not ranking these teams by their likelihood of advancing to the Final Four, but the Buckeyes get 6th-seeded Tennessee before facing either a 9th-seeded Northern Iowa or a depleted Michigan State squad that they've seen already this year.
7-BAYLOR: I've really been impressed with this team's size and speed in the tournament. Now they get a chance to play in nearby Houston for the opportunity to get to a Final Four.
8-NORTHERN IOWA: The Panthers already toppled the best team in the tournament, so you can figure that they can beat any of the other 15 teams on a given night. The most impressive thing about UNI is that they are so good defensively and they have the ability to get you in their style of play.
9-PURDUE: Just how good is this team? Remember that this was one of the top ranked teams all season long before Robbie Hummell went down. I have a feeling that the Boilermakers can stay with anybody.
10-ST MARY'S: With Omar Samhan, the Gaels have a low post precense that only a few teams remaining have. This is a loose, easy going team that isn't fazed by anything.
11-XAVIER: The Muskies are making their typical tournament run. This unknown team has size and a legit scorer in Jordan Crawford. If they get hot, they can beat Kansas State.
12-CORNELL: What can Red do for you? Cornell has been sweet shooting their way to the Sweet 16 and have the opportunity to pull the next biggest upset.
13-TENNESSEE: You can never count Bruce Pearl out. The fact that this team is in another Sweet 16 is amazing after what they went through in the middle of the season. Still, this team has beaten both Kansas and Kentucky.
14-BUTLER: Sorry, but I'm not as sold on Butler as some of these other teams.
15-MICHIGAN STATE: The Spartans are the only team from 2009's Final Four still left in the tournament. The issue is that their best player, Kalin Lucas, is out. This team was being held together by duct tape anyways.
16-WASHINGTON: The Huskies are coming on strong at just the right time. They can give West Virginia all they want this week.
1-KENTUCKY: The Wildcats have been the most dominating team thus far in the tournament and now the favorites to win the whole thing.
2-SYRACUSE: Aside from Kentucky, the Orange have looked the best of anyone in the tournament. If they can get their big man back, they have a great shot at getting back to the Final Four.
3-WEST VIRGINIA: Well, I had them winning their half of the bracket the whole time. Of course, I had them losing to Kansas for the title and you see how that's turned out.
4-KANSAS STATE: The Wildcats are passionate and have one of the best backcourts left in the tournament. Their possible matchup against Syracuse could be the best game of the Elite Eight.
5-DUKE: The Blue Devils are strong since they have three bona-fide scorers and (finally) enough size to bang with big teams.
6-OHIO STATE: Everything is going right for them right now. They have a star player in Evan Turner, a talented starting lineup and they have that big Kansas fellow out of their way. I know I said that I'm not ranking these teams by their likelihood of advancing to the Final Four, but the Buckeyes get 6th-seeded Tennessee before facing either a 9th-seeded Northern Iowa or a depleted Michigan State squad that they've seen already this year.
7-BAYLOR: I've really been impressed with this team's size and speed in the tournament. Now they get a chance to play in nearby Houston for the opportunity to get to a Final Four.
8-NORTHERN IOWA: The Panthers already toppled the best team in the tournament, so you can figure that they can beat any of the other 15 teams on a given night. The most impressive thing about UNI is that they are so good defensively and they have the ability to get you in their style of play.
9-PURDUE: Just how good is this team? Remember that this was one of the top ranked teams all season long before Robbie Hummell went down. I have a feeling that the Boilermakers can stay with anybody.
10-ST MARY'S: With Omar Samhan, the Gaels have a low post precense that only a few teams remaining have. This is a loose, easy going team that isn't fazed by anything.
11-XAVIER: The Muskies are making their typical tournament run. This unknown team has size and a legit scorer in Jordan Crawford. If they get hot, they can beat Kansas State.
12-CORNELL: What can Red do for you? Cornell has been sweet shooting their way to the Sweet 16 and have the opportunity to pull the next biggest upset.
13-TENNESSEE: You can never count Bruce Pearl out. The fact that this team is in another Sweet 16 is amazing after what they went through in the middle of the season. Still, this team has beaten both Kansas and Kentucky.
14-BUTLER: Sorry, but I'm not as sold on Butler as some of these other teams.
15-MICHIGAN STATE: The Spartans are the only team from 2009's Final Four still left in the tournament. The issue is that their best player, Kalin Lucas, is out. This team was being held together by duct tape anyways.
16-WASHINGTON: The Huskies are coming on strong at just the right time. They can give West Virginia all they want this week.
No comments:
Post a Comment