By Ben Arthur |
It’s that time of year again, folks.
The regular season is winding down and college basketball fans begin to wish they could add ‘Bracketology’ as a science credit class. The excitement is growing for college basketball fans as the start date for the NCAA tournament draws nearer.
The Madness will begin March 15.
If the way the regular season has unraveled is any indication of how the “Big Dance” will play out, expect there to be a lot of surprises.
We have witnessed one of the most unpredictable seasons in recent memory. It has thrown twists, turns and curveballs that almost no one saw coming.
Duke fell out of the AP Top 25 for the first time in eight years earlier this season. Just last Wednesday, three of the top five teams in the nation lost their games. The next night, No. 6 Maryland was toppled by a Minnesota Golden Gophers squad that hadn’t won a game since December.
Both tournament regulars and mid-major hopefuls will continue jostling for position until the field of 68 is officially announced on March 13th.
But one of the greatest challenges in predicting a favorite this year is that there is no clear No. 1 seed.
Six different teams have held the top spot in 2015-16.
“Everybody has a lot to prove because no one has it figured out,” ESPN’s Jay Bilas said. “No one has established themselves as a No. 1 or 2 seed.”
Regardless of the constant shifting at the top, one team stands out to me: North Carolina.
The Tar Heels boast one of the most balanced offenses in the country. Guards Joel Berry III and Marcus Paige are an undersized, but potent backcourt. They combine for nearly 25 points and eight assists per contest, solidifying the Heels as the ACC’s top team.
But the X-factor for their deep run will be forward Brice Johnson.
Johnson has the ability to drastically impact the game on both sides of the floor. His incredible length and athleticism in the paint anchors UNC’s defense and rebounding. He has also shown the ability to put up monster numbers (poured in 39 points and snagged 23 rebounds against Florida State on Feb. 17). If Johnson plays well and stays healthy, the Heels have a shot of making it to Houston, Texas for the Final Four.
UNC is guaranteed to make the tournament, but there are a number of teams clawing for a spot.
The most fiercely debated of these “bubble teams” is Louisiana State University.
The Tigers will have to settle with an NIT berth if they don’t win the SEC tournament for the automatic bid.
It’s a bizarre thought that they would not make an appearance, considering the Tigers have the likely No. 1 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, freshman superstar Ben Simmons.
They missed a golden opportunity to beat then No. 1 Oklahoma on their home turf in January. Their win against previously ranked Texas A&M is insignificant considering how poor the Aggies have played in February.
Although they are in second place in the SEC, they don’t have enough quality wins to garner serious consideration for the tournament field. Their best victory was against No. 14 Kentucky.
Coincidentally, their best chance to go dancing is to beat the Wildcats again in the season’s finale. The Tigers breezed to a double victory over them in Baton Rouge in January, but it will be tougher in front of Big Blue Nation. Not to mention, Kentucky is not the same team they were a month ago.
They’re one of the hottest teams in America right now.
But that can change at any moment.
If this year has told us anything, it’s that college basketball is unpredictable. A lot can change in the last few games of a season. We can’t read the minds of the selection committee. We’re left guessing the teams and seedings until they are officially announced.
That’s just how we like it when post-season comes around though, isn’t it?
Let the madness begin.
Ben Arthur is a Sports Reporter for The Beacon. He can be reached by email at arthur17@up.edu or Twitter @KingArthur_425
