Sweet Sixteen - Picking the Games

I've reranked the teams, but as we all know, March is made for upsets. Here are my picks for the Round of Sixteen in the 2015 NCAA Tournament.

Kentucky vs. West Virginia

This is the first time Kentucky's guards will have been tested all tournament. Things should be interesting early, especially if the Mountaineers can continue to force turnovers, and continue to score off those turnovers at the clip they have been doing so. That being said, don't expect this game to stay close to deep into the second half. I have the Wildcats winning by a comfortable margin.

Result: Kentucky 72 - West Virginia 59

Gonzaga vs. UCLA

These teams met earlier in the season and Gonzaga won comfortably, even with the Bruins shooting better than 45% from behind the arc. You can expect a similar result, but a larger margin of victory. Gonzaga's offense is just too efficient. It'll take a huge effort from UCLA to keep this one close.

Result: Gonzaga 84 - UCLA 63

Arizona vs. Xavier

Xavier has a great all around game. But the Wildcats are just too well-rounded for this to be close. We have a collision course for a rematch of last years Elite Eight matchup between Wisconsin and Arizona. Arizona has been red hot since the middle of February, and I don't foresee them not making it past the Musketeers. The game will be closer than people anticipate, but Arizona will never really be in trouble.

Result: Arizona 78 - Xavier 67

Wisconsin vs North Carolina

North Carolina has looked great so far. Wisconsin, not so much. Still, North Carolina will face a tremendous task in containing Frank Kaminsky if sophomore Kennedy Meeks can't go. Anything is possible with Marcus Paige on the court. Expect an offensive outburst from him, somewhere in the 28 point range. Still, Wisconsin's offense is just too good.

Result: Wisconsin 81 - North Carolina 72

Louisville vs. NC State

This game could go either way. Louisville is a solid favorite, but this is a team that has struggled with consistency. I look for the Wolf Pack to rattle them early and make a game of it, but Montrezl Harrell and Louisville's defense will wear them down. Rick Pitino is too talented a coach to not have his boys ready to bang inside with a four days of prep.

Result: Louisville 54 - NC State 52

Duke vs. Utah

This matchup is my second favorite of the Sweet Sixteen. I think it will be closer than people realize, particularly with Utah's excellent defense. If they can contain Jahlil Okafor inside this could be a long day for the Blue Devils. It's hard to bet agains Coach K on almost a week of prep. My heart says Utah will win a close game in overtime, but my head says Duke pulls it out. 

Result: Utah 75 - Duke 72 *OT* (looks like my heart won)

Oklahoma vs Michigan State

This is an interesting matchup. Oklahoma has been unheralded much of the year, falling right in the mid to late teens in the AP Top 25. Tom Izzo's squad has lacked the talent of previous teams, but have performed well nonetheless. I just don't think Michigan State's offense will be able to score enough against a stout Sooner defense to pull this one out.

Result: Oklahoma 59 - Michigan State 54

Notre Dame vs Wichita State

This is a pick 'em game. Honestly. Pick one of these teams. That's how evenly matched they are. Entering the tournament, I had Notre Dame making it to the Elite Eight to face Kentucky. The logic then was simple. An extremely talented offense (#2 in the Nation in Offensive Efficiency) coming off an ACC Tournament Title has to win at least three games, right? Especially given that the #2 seed in their region was Kansas. Well, Wichita State is an entirely different beast. Given Notre Dame's abhorrant offense in the tournament thus far, I think the Shockers have enough offensive firepower to pull off yet another tourney upset. This squad has Final Four experience, and know they agony of being upset, a deadly combination.

Result: Wichita State 77 - Notre Dame 72

How Sweet It Is - Reranking the Sweet Sixteen

With the opening weekend of the 2015 NCAA Tournament in the books, the field of contenders for this years tourney are beginning to take shape. Despite upset losses by top seeds Villanova and Virginia in the East region, the selection committee has done quite a good job at seeding. Outside of 11th Seed UCLA, who some could argue are only into the Sweet 16 by virtue of facing 14th seeded UAB, the field of sixteen is filled with top seeds. Even lower seeds Xavier and Wichita State have experienced success in March in recent years, and you can never sell coach Tom Izzo's Spartans short during the NCAA Tournament. But where would do the teams stand now? Here is a reranking of the teams remaining based heavily on their performance in the first weekend, and the potential on their roster.


1. Kentucky 
Overall number one seed Kentucky has lived up to it's billing so far, dispatching both Cincinnati and  Hampton handily. Kentucky has forced teams to work for a full 35 seconds on offense, often even just to get into their half-court set, or take a contested shot. Additionally, their ability to come at teams in waves has allowed them to open games up in the second half. That's before you mention that the Wildcats' best player so far, Willie Cauley-Stein, doesn't even have the highest ceiling on the team. There's a reason that the Wildcat's are at even-money.

 2. Arizona
Arizona was equally impressive in the Tourney's opening weekend, heightening the anticipation for a potential Final Four matchup of Wildcats. After early stumbles against UNLV, Oregon State, and Arizona State, Sean Miller's squad is absolutely rolling. A less than spectacular showing by the Wisconsin Badgers means a Final Four appearance is within reach.

 2a. Duke
Call it a cop-out, but it comes down to a judgement call between the Blue Devils and the tournaments other Wildcats. I only give the nod to Arizona because they are more promising on the defensive end. Freshman phenom, Jahlil Okafor is a man among boys, and quickly solidifying his stock as the potential top pick in the NBA Draft. Duke's offensive has been dominant, but watch out for a Elite Eight matchup with Gonzaga, who has been operating just as well offensively. Duke has struggled this season with teams who can work it on the offensive side of the ball.

4. Gonzaga
The Zags round out the last of the new top seeds in the Sweet 16. Unfortunately, they share Southern bracket with Duke, so a Final Four appearance will be a tall order. Lucky for them, they should able to handle UCLA. Experience should be an advantage for Gonzaga with Junior forward Kyle Wiltjer and senior guards Kevin Pangos and Byron Wesley leading the way.

5. Wisconsin
The Badgers haven't impressed so far, but their regular season results give them the edge over their upcoming opponent. They need to run the offense more effectively through Wooden Award favorite Frank "the Tank" Kaminsky or they'll find themselves watching the Elite Eight from Madison.

6. North Carolina
The Tarheels have looked solid so far, leading to a much anticipated matchup with Wisconsin on Thursday Night. When Marcus Paige and the offense are firing on all cylinders this team is tough to beat. Consider this, besides a tough loss to Pittsburgh, all of UNC's losses this season have come to Tournament teams. They also managed to reach the conference tournament final in a grueling ACC. Look for their length to give Wisconsin problems inside.

  7. Oklahoma
  Oklahoma has lived up to their seeding, and with losses by Villanova and Virginia the East Region is ripe for the taking. Their defensive efficiency and rebounding ability leaves them as a tough opponent going forward, but I see Final Four as the limit for every team left in the East.


8. Wichita State
Wichita State's upset of Kansas should be taken with a grain of salt, as the Jayhawks 2-seed was based more on an inflated view of the Big 12 than actual performance. Still, the Shockers have the experience to make a run. Unfortunately, they'll have to unseat Kentucky to progress further than the Elite Eight. Though not as dominant as last years squad, the upper class-men trio of Ron Baker, Fred VanVleet, and Tekele Cotton will look to make a return trip to the Final Four for the second time in three years.

 9. Utah
 Utah has flown under the radar, despite a stellar regular season and tournament performance so far. Defense is their strong point, and coupled with their offensive-efficiency they could provide some problems for Duke. Still, I would be surprised to see the Utes advance, but anything can happen in March.

10. Michigan State
Tom Izzo will go down as one of the greatest postseason coaches in NCAA history. Led by senior guard Travis Trice and junior guard Denzel Valentine the Spartans will look to re-up on the Final Four appearance that last years seniors missed out on. Execution has been on point, and MSU is two winnable games away from heading relatively close to home, Indianapolis. 

11. Notre Dame
Notre Dame has just not performed on the defensive end. Their offense is as good as any in the tournament, but despite an ACC tournament championship, the Fighting Irish just haven't lived up to their billing to rank them any higher. I still expect them to beat Wichita State, but unless they can fix their defensive lapses, they won't get past Kentucky in the Elite Eight.

12. Louisville
Louisville is a tough team to figure out. When they are on they can beat anyone, but inconsistency has been their biggest enemy. Still, they have a better shot of reaching the Final Four than when the tournament began. If junior forward Montrezl Harrell can handle business inside they'll be a tough team to beat. But, if he finds himself in foul trouble early, they could be just as easily bounced by the NC State Wolfpack.

13. West Virginia
The mountaineers are as aggressive a defensive squad you will see. Bob Huggins has fielded consistently competitive, if unspectacular squads, and has the type of team that could bother Kentucky's young guards. After giving a very talented Maryland backcourt problems, look for them to force several turnovers against Kentucky. However, I don't think they'll be able to force enough to tip the scales in their favor.

14. Xavier
The musketeers are a well rounded bunch. Excellent on the offensive side of the ball, the Musketeers have been a solid middle seed in the tournament during the past decade. Unfortunately, Arizona has too much talent, and is playing too well to be toppled.

15. NC State
The Wolfpack get a raw deal in my rerank. After preventing a three Wildcat Final Four with their upset of Villanova, NC State blew the Eastern Region wide open. They've had quality wins, and bad losses in a tough ACC. Fridays matchup with Louisville is a toss up.

16. UCLA
There's not much to say about the Bruins. Many, myself included, didn't think they belonged in the field of 68, but you can't knock results. Helped tremendously by UAB's first round upset, don't expect to see UCLA still around come Saturday morning.

"I'm Back" - Previewing the NCAA Tournament

"I'm Back." It's quite fitting really. Twenty years to the day that Michael Jordan announced his return to the NBA, I'm back. After quite a lengthy hiatus I'm back in the blogoshphere, bringing you my takes on the latest happenings in the wide world of sports. And what better time than now? March Madness is in full swing, and it's time for a preview of this years NCAA Tournament. Here's my article on why UConn could win last years tourney, and did might I add, in case you missed it.

But let's get to this years tournament. Three words. Big Blue Nation. That's it. Kentucky. If you aren't picking Kentucky to win, then you may have lost it. The Tournament's number one overall seed is

Kentucky looks to be only the eighth school to go
undefeated on the way to an NCAA championship

absolutely loaded with talent, height and tournament experience. Let's not forget Kentucky's run to the title game just last year. With the return of key players from last years squad and the addition of freshmen Devin Booker, Karl-Anthony Towns, Trey Lyles and Tyler Ulis the Wildcats have 8 players that any other school in the nation would gladly throw into their starting rotation. And that's before you even consider that they lead the nation in Defensive Efficiency, while ranking 10th in Offensive Efficiency. The rigors of the Big Dance will pose the Wildcats' largest test of the season, but it's been Championship, nay Perfect Season or bust for Kentucky since November. 

But what can we expect in regards to Madness in this years Tournament? Unlike last year, with no consensus favorite, and tons of parity, this years tournament offers a much starker division in quality of team. Top seeds will win. And they will win big. Beyond Kentucky, each of the top three seeds in each region are capable of winning in March, and the lower seeds don't offer the same potential to make deep runs as last years did. That's not to say upsets won't happen; they will. But I would be shocked to see many teams seeded lower than 4th in their region to make the Elite Eight. And now, the moment you've all been waiting for, this years bracket. Enjoy!

 

The House That Calhoun Built - Exploring UConn's Legacy

Kentucky, UNC, Duke, UCLA, Michigan State, Indiana, Kansas. If you were to ask someone to list the greatest college basketball programs of all time you would probably get a list similar to that one. A few others might grace the list, from Louisville to Connecticut, to the occasional Florida and Georgetown or even wildcards like NC State. Yet the discussion on the upper echelon of college basketball is largely set. Connecticut's magical run in this years tournament raises questions of whether they can finally break into the highest tier of college basketball legacy. The guys over at FiveThirtyEight have made it clear UConn's Men and Women's team combine to be the the best program of all time. Yet, given their recent accomplishments, the Men's team alone makes a excellent case for the best program in the last twenty years. Here's why:
   

Jim Calhoun has led the Huskies to three
National Titles and four Final Four appearances

In May of 1986, the winningest coach in Northeastern University basketball history packed his bags for Connecticut. Jim Calhoun would spend the next 26 years coaching the University of Connecticut Men's Basketball team, building the program into, arguably, the best of the past 20 years. During Calhoun's tenure, the Huskies made 18 NCAA Tournament appearances, 13 times reaching the Sweet Sixteen. Combined with nine Elite Eights, four Final Fours, and three Championships, Calhoun built a Hall of Fame career coaching the Huskies. Following Calhoun's departure from the school, former Connecticut guard Kevin Ollie has taken the helm. The success garnered by Ollie in his first two years as head coach, including two 20 win seasons, and an NCAA Championship offers hope for a bright future at Connecticut, assuming he chooses to re-sign.

However, what has been most impressive about the Huskies over the last twenty years has been the era in which they've played. Without taking anything away from the great John Wooden UCLA teams, or any team to win consistently before the 1980s, the Huskies have accomplished more than anyone else in, arguably, the most balanced era of college basketball. Since the '94 tournament, the Huskies have appeared in 9 Elite Eights, and 5 Final Fours, while posting 16 twenty win seasons. Over that span, the Huskies have never had a losing season, and won 30+ games eight times. In an era where twelve programs have won an NCAA Championship in the past twenty years, Connecticut leads the pack with four titles, followed by Kentucky with three and Duke, North Carolina, and Florida with two. Yet despite their on the court excellence, for many, UConn doesn't fit the bill as an elite college basketball program. Perhaps this years championship can change some minds. 

UConn Wins Defensive Slugfest, Headed to Final Four

Connecticut coach Kevin Ollie has his team headed
to the Final Four in his first Tournament appearance

It seemed to be poetic justice when Niels Giffey's first of two free throw attempts rolled around the rim before dropping, all but sealing a UConn victory over the Michigan State Spartans. The Connecticut senior swingman struggled from the field, seeing many of his five missed three point attempts rim out following good looks. The dream run Shabazz Napier has the Huskies on has shades of Kemba Walker's 2011 run to an NCAA Championship. The Connecticut team is headed to it's fifth Final Four since 1999, and first under new coach Kevin Ollie, in his first NCAA Tournament appearance. When asked on court after the game, Ollie described the feeling; "Terrence [has] to slap me to make sure I'm not dreaming."
In a game which saw neither team shooting more than 40% from the field, turnovers ended up costing the Spartans, who saw a nine point lead evaporate midway through the second period. UConn got off to a hot start, building a 12-2 advantage early, while holding Michigan State to one made field goal in the first eight minutes of play. But the Spartans would counter with a stretch of great transition offense, taking their first lead of the game, 22-21, following a made three by sophomore Gary Harris, with 3:27 to go in the first half. MSU would end the first half on a 9-0 run to take a four point lead into the locker room.

Scrappy Defense by both side dominated much
of Sunday's Elite Eight matchup at the Garden

The Spartans carried that momentum into the second period, until Connecticut senior Shabazz Napier ended a 16-2 drought with a three pointer at the 16 minute mark. Michigan State turnovers, combined with a staunch UConn defense took away the transition game that the Spartans had built their lead upon. For lengthy stretches in the second half, the Spartans were forced to settle for contested shots late in the shot clock. Despite shooting 5-22 from 3-point land, the Huskies built a 10-point 49-39 lead with 6:30 to go, on clutch 3-pointers from Napier and Ryan Boatright, separated by a Niels Giffey run-out dunk. Napier all but sealed the win by making three of three free throw attempts following Michigan State senior guard Keith Appling's fifth foul with 30.6 seconds remaining in the game. The Connecticut senior collected 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists, while going 9-9 from the charity stripe. Next, the Huskies will take on the Florida Gators, who they beat early this season on a Napier buzzer beater, in the National Semifinal on Saturday in Arlington, TX.

Daniels Goes Off As UConn Survives Iowa State

The energy was palpable at tip-off for what would be the first NCAA Tournament game at Madison Square Garden since 1961. The Huskies capped a five point victory by making 15 straight free throws down the stretch in a game in which they trailed for only 34 seconds. Connecticut's defense held Iowa State to 33% shooting in the first half, while holding the Cyclone's DeAndre Kane and Melvin Ejim to 23 points on 9-31 shooting.

Junior DeAndre Daniels (2) erupts for
27 points and 10 rebounds in win

The atmosphere in the Garden elicited the feeling of a Huskies' home game, given the mere 139 miles between the stadium and UConn's campus in Storrs, Connecticut. Trailing 2-3 in the first half, Shabazz Napier hit a fadeaway three at the 18-minute mark and never looked back. Napier would hit his first four shots, all threes, but the star of the show for UConn offensively was DeAndre Daniels. Daniels got it going early hitting a three pointer followed by a spinning fadeaway jumper with 4:30 to go in the first half. Daniels would finish the night with 27 points and 10 rebounds on 10-15 shooting from the field, including a three that pushed the lead to 17 with 14:17 to play in the game. With 9:44 to play, Iowa State's chances to comeback looked bleak after senior Mevlin Ejim picked up his third and fourth fouls on consecutive possessions. However, the Cyclone's wouldn't go down without a fight. Led by DeAndre Kane and Dustin Hogue (who scored a game high 34 points), Iowa State got to within 4 points, but couldn't overcome the Huskies 90.9% mark from the charity stripe. Connecticut will face the winner of Michigan State-Virginia on Sunday night at the Garden.   

Sorting Out the Sweet Sixteen

With the second weekend of the 2014 NCAA Tournament fast approaching, the field has been narrowed to sixteen teams. The field features three 10-plus seeded teams, and five 7-plus seeded teams. Overall number one seeded Florida is still around, as are two of the three other top seeds in Virginia and Arizona. Let's take an in depth look at each region of the bracket.

Senior Scottie Wilbekin (5) speaks with
Head Coach Billy Donovan

South Region - Memphis, TN
What more is there to say about the Southern Region. Overall number one seed Florida has the easiest path of any team remaining to make it to the Final Four. Led by senior guard Scottie Wilbekin, the Gators have lost only two games this year, both to ranked non-conference opponents. They'll have a tough test in UCLA, but head coach Billy Donovan has two NCAA Championships to his name (back-to-back in 2006-2007). So far their defense has looked fine in the tournament, but they have had difficulty this season when Wilbekin has gotten into foul trouble. The 10-11 matchup between Stanford and Dayton is a toss-up, and the winner will have a tough task in facing the winner of UCLA-Florida, but crazier things have happened in march.

Favorite - Florida

East Region - Madison Square Gardens, New York, NY

The Fourth Round matchup between Virginia and Michigan State will likely determine the winner of the East Region. MSU is playing terrific basketball, and with a healthy roster are showing why they entered the season ranked so highly. Virginia has struggled at times in the tournament so far, but the one consistency has been their defense. Connecticut is winning for all the reasons I mentioned earlier this week (in case you missed it) and could give the winner of MSU-UVA a run for their money. Shabazz Napier has been huge, and the bench for UConn has played surprisingly inspired basketball. Iowa State has a talented team, but the loss of sophomore forward Georges Niang will be difficult to overcome. I also question Iowa State's top end size to match up with the bigs of UConn. One thing that could give Connecticut the edge in both games is location. Madison Square Gardens is as close to a home game as you can get, especially for Brooklyn natives Terrence Samuel and Omar Calhoun. Alas, Michigan State still sports the most talented roster, and has legendary coach Tom Izzo to boot. 

Favorite - Michigan State

Senior guard Xavier Thames drives to the
rim against University of Arizona

West Region - Anaheim, CA

Two compelling games top the bracket in the West Region. Baylor has been playing lights out in the first two rounds, and their size and athleticism will be a handful for 2 seed Wisconsin. If the Wisconsin team that showed up in the second half of their matchup with Oregon shows up to play they should be able to cover the Bears. The 1-4 matchup between San Diego State and Arizona could likewise go either way. These two teams met early in the non-conference schedule this year, with Arizona pulling out the nine point win. Arizona has the talent to take out SDSU, and handle the winner of Wisconsin-Baylor. However, SDSU has a stifling defense, and senior guard Xavier Thames has been a stud in the tournament so far.
Favorite - Arizona

Midwest Region - Indianapolis, IN

Russ Smith (2) lays it in against Southern
Methodist University during AAC play

Perhaps the most highly anticipated Sweet Sixteen matchup of all time will pit 4th seed Louisville against, heated rival, 8th seeded Kentucky. Both John Calipari and Rick Pitino have ample tournament coaching experience, and the winner of this matchup stands a great chance of advancing to the Final Four. Kentucky's super talented roster, led by freshman forward Julius Randle, is finally figuring things out, while Louisville can rely on seniors Luke Hancock and Russ Smith to contribute heavily. Experience may end up reining supreme if freshman twin guards Andrew and Aaron Harrison can't handle the high-pressure defense Louisville will unleash. Michigan would roll past Tennessee on any given day, but Tennessee recent stretch of excellent basketball will make things tough. Either way, the winner of Louisville-Kentucky should be the favorite to advance from the Midwest.
Favorite - Louisville

Napier, Bench Fuel UConn Win Over Villanova After Early Deficit

With 12:09 left in the first half of Saturday's third round matchup with Villanova, UConn's tournament hopes looked to be fading fast. Senior point guard Shabazz Napier had just picked up his second foul of the night, one that would cause head coach Kevin Ollie to pull him for the remainder of the half, and the Huskies found themselves in a 16-9 deficit. That deficit quickly became ten points when Villanova junior guard Darrun Hillard hit a 3-point jumper at the 11:30 mark. But that's when things began to click for a Connecticut squad appearing in their first NCAA Tournament under new head coach Kevin Ollie. Tough defense off the bench from freshman center Amida Brimah, combined with an offensive outburst from reserves Lasan Kromah and fresman Terrence Samuel helped the Huskies build a five point lead over Jay Wright's Wildcats. The Huskies would enter halftime with a 25-24 advantage, achieved with Napier on the bench. 

Heading into the half, Coach Kevin Ollie spoke of his
squad's heart claiming "We're going to win this game"

Entering the second half with a one point lead, the Huskies never looked back. Senior guard Shabazz Napier put on a show, hitting a pair of back to back deep 3 pointers to extend UConn's lead to eleven with 9:00 left in the contest, and another step-back three with 5 seconds on the shot clock at the six minute mark. The dribble-drive penetration by starting guards Ryan Boatright and Napier allowed Connecticut to pick apart the defensive pressure that Villanova employed for much of the second period. In a game where senior sharpshooter Neils Giffey went 1-3 from the field and failed to hit a three pointer the Huskies went a combined 9-20 from beyond the arc. Villanova's cold streak from downtown continued as they went 11-31 as a team, and tied an NCAA Tournament record low for two-point field goals made with seven. Connecticut's bench outscored Villanova's 26-5.

Trainer's work on Napier late in second half

After reaggravating a calf/ankle injury sustained on an un-called foul in the early minutes, Napier left the game inside of four minutes. The senior would later return, only to add to his "Mr. Clutch" MO with a driving windmill-layup to put the Huskies up nine with 2:17 to go. The time off will be beneficial for Napier's recovery. The Huskies will face the winner of the Iowa State - North Carolina at Madison Square Gardens on Friday March 28. (See limited highlights and analysis of the game here.)

7 Reasons UConn Could Win It All

Call me a homer all you want, but people tend to forget the Connecticut Huskies have already beaten Tournament overall number one Florida this year. The Huskies have as good a chance as anyone to win the NCAA Championship in this years tournament. Without a true favorite to win, any team who gets hot and has the proper credentials could make the six game run to a National Championship. Here are 7 reasons the Huskies could be that team.

2011 NCAA Championship Team (Napier far left)

Championship Experience

Connecticut's magical run in the 2011 Tournament can serve as more than motivation for Kevin Ollie's squad. The 2014 Huskies boast 3 senior holdovers from the squad that made an improbable run to the Championship in 2011. Shabazz Napier and Niels Giffey play big minutes for this years Connecticut team, while the third championship holdover, Tyler Olander, provides spot help and rest for the younger bigs on the roster.  

Poise

The backcourt leadership from Shabazz Napier and Ryan Boatright play a big role in the poise this years team continues to show. They've had their hiccups along the way, including embarrassing losses to Houston and Louisville, but more often than not they've stayed in games mentally even when down. Thursday night's comeback win over St. Joseph's offers a prime example of the Huskies ability to stick to playing fundamentally sound basketball when behind, rather than forcing shots and making critical mistakes on defense. Without poise, no team can make it through the grueling six-game tilt that is the Big Dance.

Taking Advantage at the Charity Stripe

Few teams in the NCAA shoot better than the Huskies do from the free throw line, at 76.4%. And if Thursday's comeback win, or NC State's utter collapse against St. Louis aren't evidence enough, Free Throw's can be absolutely vital to any Tournament run. Even team worst shooter Amida Brimah (shooting 57.1%) is making his shots, hitting three huge shots in last night's win. With Shabazz Napier leading the way at 85.9% the Huskies can put out a lineup to close out games where everyone on the floor is shooting better than 76.7% from the stripe.

#5 Niels Giffey (Germany) boasts an
unreal 52.5% from beyond the arc

Deadly From 3-Point Range

UConn possesses three players who can consistently hit from beyond the arc in Napier, Boatright and DeAndre Daniels. Daniels' 43.5% mark from beyond the arc adds dangerous versatility to his offensive repertoire. And those three are before you even mention Senior Niels Giffey who is absolutely deadly with a 52.5% 3-Point Shooting Percentage, good for second in the NCAA. UConn's prowess with the three ball allows them to effectively spread the floor to work isolations on the wings, or inside with young big men Amida Brimah and Phillip Nolan.  

Efficient Pressure Defense

The Huskies play an efficient brand of pressure defense that is predicated on quick switches and  their guards putting pressure on opponents before they cross the centerline. This defense forces opponents to make crisp passes to the open man, and hit open shots when they present themselves, a difficult task in a high pressure, tournament environment. This brand of defense often results in turnovers and a high point-off-turnovers differential. If UConn takes care of the ball, they can heavily swing games in their favor.

Exceptional Backcourt Play

One of the most important characteristics of an NCAA Champion is to have, at the least, passable play from the guards. UConn is exceptional in the backcourt with Shabazz Napier and Ryan Boatright leading the way and Omar Calhoun and Lasan Kromah coming off the bench. All four offer great defensive pressure and speed, but what makes this group deadly is Napier and Boatright's ability to turn the corner and get to the rim. This ability was on display Thursday night, and helped to fuel Connecticut's second round comeback.

Mr. Clutch

Napier (13) hits winning shot against Florida on December 2nd

Perhaps the most compelling reason the Huskies are capable of anything is senior point guard Shabazz Napier. Already with AAC Player of the Year, Napier looks to end his career at UConn the way it started, with a National Championship. Napier has shown a tendency to be clutch in crunch time, and no stage has been too big. He hit the game winner at Florida early this year, after missing his first attempt and getting his own rebound no less. Napier has hit more clutch shots than perhaps any player in Connecticut Men's Basketball history. Yes, that is a history that includes the likes of Kemba Walker, Ray Allen, Richard Hamilton, Caron Butler, Ben Gordon and Chris Smith. And by the looks of it, Napier's clutch play is rubbing off on teammates, including Freshman Amida Brimah who's old-school three-point play helped send last nights game to Overtime. 

Upset Alert -- 1 Florida vs 9 Pittsburgh

Senior Lamar Patterson (21) goes for a jam in
matchup with Duquesne on November 30

Many casual followers of the NCAA Tournament will look at Saturdays One-Nine matchup between the Florida Gators and Pittsburgh Panthers as just that, a One-Nine matchup in the third round of the tournament. However, there is no guarantee that the tournament's number one seed, the Florida Gators will make it out of the first weekend of the Big Dance. The Gators potentially face the toughest third round matchup of any of the top seeds. With the efficient offense, and tenacious defense (all four starters outside of big man Talib Zanna notched two-plus steals) unleashed against Colorado on Thursday evening, Jamie Dixon's squad is primed to come into their Saturday matchup firing on all cylinders. Expect to see a heavy dose of Seniors Talib Zanna and Lamar Patterson, as well as a solid backcourt presence from underclassmen Cameron Wright and James Robinson. 

The potential for a third round upset in the Tournament's South Region is deeper than Pitt's stellar second round performance and Florida's escape from their matchup with 16-seed Albany. Pittsburgh has played up to snuff all season long, featuring only one double-digit loss to Duke, at the time ranked 17th in the Nation. Many of the players on Jamie Dixon's squad boasts a Big East pedigree of playing in high pressure situations against incredibly talented teams before their transition to the ACC this year. Florida's journey to the tournament's top overall seed has been far less strenuous, and seeing consecutive tough match-ups could spell the end to their Championship hopes.  If Pittsburgh's front-court can force the issue, and their defense can stay aggressive and under control than Florida is in for a monumental task to advance to the Sweet Sixteen.  

The Calm Before the Storm - 5 Thoughts on This Years NCAA Tournament

Now I would be remised to give thoughts on the NCAA tournament without posting my bracket so here goes:

Why We Love March Madness?

March Madness offers an indelible experience for even the most casual basketball fans. Every year, stories abound of non-fans filling out exceptionally accurate brackets by picking the mascots they like the most. But it's not the fan fare of filling out brackets or flexing ones college basketball knowledge in front of complete strangers that makes the NCAA Tournament one of the best sporting events of the year. Certainly, these things add dimension to the tournament, but what is truly gripping is the "anything can happen" atmosphere. We watch for the '13 Florida Gulf Coasts, '06 George Masons, and '85 Villanovas that defy the odds in exhilarating fashion. The Warren Buffett sponsored billion-dollar bracket challenge brings nice context to the popularity of March Madness; it is almost literally unpredictable.

Unprecedented Parity in the Field of 64

This year's tournament offers an almost unprecedented level of parity, especially amongst the top twenty teams in the nation. Of the top-rated seeds, a championship run from any of the top four seeds in each region would not be surprising. Teams like Kansas and Kentucky offer the high end talent to win it all, but health concerns and lack of consistency would make early tournament exits unsurprising. Several teams in this year's tournament offer exceptional guard play, a strong indicator of post-season performance (Syracuse, Wichita St, every team from the AAC). While, a handful of lower seeds add transcendent players with the talent to lift their teams to the top (see Oklahoma State's Marcus Smart, UConn's Shabazz Napier, Creighton's Doug McDermott). When comparing the preseason and postseason AP polls, the top 20 teams have moved all over the map, leading to a large disparity between talent (perceived or actual) and performance on the court.

A Team Effort

One of the most interesting dynamics to play out in recent years of the NCAA tournament is the rise of Mid-Major teams as legitimate Final Four contenders. This can be attributed to, in large part, by the advent of the NBA's "One Year Rule". One-and-done players are more common than ever before, as the days of the four-year superstar are all but gone (see Patrick Ewing at Georgetown, Chris Mullin at St. Johns, Michael Jordan at UNC for 3 years). Perennial powerhouses with freshman sensations, such as Duke with Jabari Parker and Kansas With Wiggins/Embiid, must match up with well-oiled, senior-laden mid-major squads. The results, as have been the case in many recent years are more upsets and lower seeds advancing than past tournaments. Perhaps the logjam of top 20 teams with legitimate title hopes will stifle this current trend, but expect to see at least one 6+ seed advance to this year's Elite Eight.

Transcendent Talent, No Transcendent Team

This year's tournament offers exceptional talent on the individual level. Freshman phenoms Jabari Parker and Andrew Wiggins lead highly ranked Duke and Kansas, respectively. Despite a disappointing sophomore campaign, Oklahoma State's Marcus Smart has the talent to play at the next level. Senior's Shabazz Napier of Connecticutt and Doug McDermott if Creighton may not offer high-level NBA talent, but both represent their conference's Player of the Year. However, the amount of individual talent in the tournament has not led to a true favorite to win the tournament.

Bracket Bias for Big Conferences?
One thing I noticed when examining this years bracket is the tendency to align big conference teams in a way that gives them the most potential for tournament success. This may or may not be an intentional move by the selection committee to promote exposure for the larger market share the large conferences bring in. When examining the ACC, Big 10 and the AAC for instance, the difference in potential tournament conference success is clear. The ACC boasts 2 teams in each of the South, East and Midwest regions, while the Big 10 boasts 2 teams in the West region and one team in each of the remaining regions. Meanwhile, the AAC has 3 of there 4 tournament teams in the East region. Seeding plays a big role in the location of each team, but the question should be asked, why are big conferences seemingly favored in terms of tournament spread?