03/18/2007
Sports Channel / Bullz-Eye Home
It’s all happening! Although that quote is often credited to Penny Lane, it was actually Polexia Aphrodisia (played by the delightful Anna Paquin) who uttered those words in “Almost Famous.” If you haven’t been paying attention, March Madness has already started with all of the conference tournaments held during Championship Week, and now that the field of 65 is set, we can focus on those that made the cut. These are the teams that will be battling it out in almost a month of uber-intense, single elimination action. If you haven’t already called in sick for Thursday or Friday (or both), go ahead and do so, and then read this countdown to get ready for tip-off.
Davidson
After an inauspicious 4-6 start, the Wildcats have rattled off 22-straight wins en route to a Southern Conference Championship. While they lack a signature victory over a top opponent, three of those losses were against quality opposition. They lost to North Carolina, 72-68, to Duke, 79-73, and to UCLA, 75-63, so Davidson can play with the big boys. Keep an eye on Stephen Curry (son of former NBA player Dell Curry), who almost led the Wildcats to an upset win over Maryland in last year’s tourney. He is averaging 25.1 points per game and is shooting 43.8% from long range, making him one of the most dangerous scorers in the field.
Drake
The Bulldogs shouldn’t sneak up on anyone. They are 28-4 and are ranked #14 in the nation. They outlasted Illinois State and Southern Illinois to finish first in the Missouri Valley Conference and they have several good wins on their schedule, but the win at Butler really stands out. Josh Young leads a balanced attack that features five players who average 8.5 points or more, and the team’s accuracy from the line (75.6%) will help down the stretch in a tight game.
Butler
These Bulldogs are ranked #10 in the nation and they tried to play a tough schedule, beating up on several of the weaker power conference teams like Michigan, Virginia Tech, Texas Tech, Ohio State and Florida State. They are led by senior guards Mike Green and A.J. Graves, along with senior forward Pete Campbell. All three players average double-figures and can hit the three, making Butler a very dangerous early round opponent.
Xavier
The Musketeers almost knocked off the title game-bound Ohio State Buckeyes in last year’s tourney, and this year’s team has a couple nice wins against the likes of Indiana and Kansas State. Xavier is incredibly balanced with six players averaging double figures, which led to the Musketeers being shut out of the Atlantic-10 all-conference team (despite winning the league). I wouldn’t want to play them if I’m an inconsistent power conference team. (Georgia, Purdue and Duke, I’m looking at you.)
Gonzaga
Given the publicity that the program has enjoyed, Gonzaga (our third team of Bulldogs) is probably least likely to sneak up on anyone. They don’t have that signature win, but they played Memphis, Tennessee, Washington State and Oklahoma very tough, so they should be ready to compete in the tourney. They are led by point guard Jeremy Pargo and shooting guard Matt Bouldin, but the Bulldogs feature eight players that average more than 6.2 points per game.
Ty Lawson, North Carolina
Lawson has been struggling with a sore ankle that he injured in February, but he has since returned to the Tar Heel lineup. He is lightning quick and a good distributor, and if he’s healthy, North Carolina is far less likely to lose a close game. Before the injury, he averaged 14.0 points and 6.0 assists per game, but his numbers (including his minutes) are down since his return. The Tar Heels’ tourney chances rely on that ankle.
D.J. Augustin, Texas
Arguably the best point guard in the country, Augustin has helped the Longhorns overcome the loss of Kevin Durant to the NBA by averaging 19.9 points and 5.6 assists per game. Together with shooting guard A.J. Abrams, Augustin gives Texas one of the top backcourts in the country, and since guard play is one of the keys to tourney success, the Longhorns could make a run.
Greg Paulus, Duke
Paulus shrugged off a turnover-prone sophomore season to become one of the best shooting point guards in the country. He is averaging 14.2 points per game over the last six games and if he can continue his hot shooting (20 made threes over that span) in the tourney, the Blue Devils will be dangerous. To win, Duke has to make its threes and it starts with Paulus.
Derrick Rose, Memphis
The freshman phenom has a big job ahead of him. Memphis has all the athleticism in the world, but the team has a tendency to get a little erratic at times. It is Rose’s job to take control down the stretch and make sure that the team gets good shots in the waning minutes. If he joins in the fray instead of controlling it, the Tigers may not get too far.
Kevin Love, UCLA
Sure, with his thin, perfectly trimmed beard, he looks a little like a crystal meth dealer, but the Pac-10 POY can ball. He’s a little doughy and not particularly athletic, but he’s a strong rebounder, capable post scorer and a terrific passer. In fact, he’s one of the best in the game at igniting a fast break with a long, accurate outlet pass.
Michael Beasley, Kansas State
Beasley and Love are the only two freshmen in the country averaging a double-double. Both guys are beasts, but Beasley has the advantage in athleticism. He’s also the better scorer, and has gone for 30 or more points in 13 games this season. In those games, the Wildcats are 9-4, so it behooves defenses to try to contain the big fella. The Wildcats may not last long, so catch Beasley if you can.
O.J. Mayo, USC
His effort is uneven and he’s a bit of a hothead, but Mayo has the innate ability to get to the basket just about whenever he wants to. He has good range on his jumper, which makes his defender vulnerable to the drive, and when he gets in the lane he can finish with either hand. If the game is close down the stretch, he’s the kind of guy that has the confidence to take the big shot, and having that confidence is half the battle.
Memphis
Contrary to popular belief, the Tigers do have a few solid wins on their résumé. They won at Oklahoma and Connecticut, and beat Georgetown, Arizona, USC and Gonzaga at home. Their conference schedule is a bit of a joke and in their only significant game in the last two months, they lost to Tennessee at home. They have a ton of talent, but they lack the discipline and organization to get buckets down the stretch. They want to play at a frenetic pace to take advantage of their superior athleticism, but when the game is tied with two or three minutes to play, a team needs to be able to execute offensively and get good shots. The aforementioned Derrick Rose needs to lead the Tigers in the clutch.
Tennessee
See above. Seriously, the Vols suffer from the same late-game issues as the Tigers. They want to push the tempo for 40 minutes but easy baskets are tougher to come by as the competition gets better, so having a sharp half-court offense is essential. Bruce Pearl runs a loose version of the swing -- the same offense Wisconsin runs -- but he encourages his players to create, and in tight games that can get the Vols into trouble.
Texas Longhorns
Five of the Longhorns’ six losses came on the road (or on a neutral court), so it should help that the South Regionals are in Houston and the Final Four is in San Antonio, which would be virtual home games for Texas. Regular season losses to Michigan State and Wisconsin indicate that the Longhorns have a problem with physical defenses, but unless Michigan State or Pittsburgh are able to upend Memphis in the Sweet Sixteen, Texas shouldn’t face a lockdown defense until the Final Four. Memphis is probably the most vulnerable of the #1 seeds, so all in all, things are looking pretty good for the Longhorns.