March Mayhem just around the bend!

[Senor Capper]

Feb. 11, 2003

It's that time of year!
The college basketball season is heading into the home stretch, and "March Mayhem" is on the horizon. Which means that from this point forward, the NCAA Tournament will become the major talking point of the college basketball campaign.
For the past several years, I've believed a mid-February look at teams vying for potential NCAA invitations to be a worthwhile exercise. Knowing where teams fit into the postseason puzzle can be useful handicapping information this stage of the campaign.


For some (the "bubble" teams in particular), it's desperation time, with the result of each game possibly affecting postseason hopes. For others with bids securely in hand, their approach might be altogether different (especially in conference tournaments), where staying healthy and developing some added depth and poise in preparation for "March Mayhem" becomes paramount.

Still others might be looking to drive through the tape for the best possible postseason seed while generating momentum for tourney play. Following is a look at the major conferences and their chances of sending multiple entries to the NCAA Tournament. The teams have been divided into three categories -- Secure, Looking Good, and Bubble.

Secure is self-explanatory. Looking Good teams can expect an NCAA invitation as long as they don't hit a slump in the coming weeks. Bubble teams, however, have more work to do, and need every win to impress the NCAA Selection Committee.

Keep in mind that every Division I team in the country (save for those in the Ivy League) can qualify for an automatic NCAA bid via their conference tourney route, and the number of upsets in those various competitions can alter the look of the "Big Dance." Also included below are conference tourney sites and dates; Conference Power Ratings (thru Feb. 8); and last year's postseason participants.

Conferences in order of Conference Power Ratings

SEC-Secure...Kentucky, Florida, Georgia.

Looking Good...Mississippi State, Alabama, Auburn.

Bubble...Ole Miss, Tennessee, LSU.

Conference Power Rating-1st.

Notes...Tourney March 13-16 at Superdome, New Orleans, LA.

Last Year...NCAA -- 6 (Kentucky-Sweet 16, Alabama-2nd round, Georgia-2nd round, Mississippi State-2nd round, Florida, Ole Miss);

NIT-3 (South Carolina-2nd place, LSU-2nd round, Vanderbilt-2nd round).

BIG XII-Secure...Oklahoma State, Kansas, Texas, & Oklahoma.

Looking Good...Texas Tech & Missouri.

Bubble...Colorado.

Conference...2nd.

Notes...Tourney March 13-16 at American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX.

Last Year...NCAA-6 (Oklahoma-Final Four, Kansas-Final Four, Missouri-Elite 8, Texas-Sweet 16, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech).

ACC-Secure...Duke & Wake Forest.


Will Georgia Tech (12-8 SU) get to go dancing?(AP)
Looking Good...Maryland, N.C. State, Georgia Tech.

Bubble...Virginia, Florida State, North Carolina.

Conference-3rd.

Notes...Tourney March 13-16 at Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NC.

Last Year...NCAA-4 (Maryland-Champ, Duke-Sweet 16, Wake Forest-2nd round, NC State-2nd round);

NIT-1 (Virginia).

BIG TEN-Secure...Purdue & Illinois.

Looking Good...Wisconsin.

Bubble...Indiana, Michigan State, Minnesota, Michigan, Iowa, Ohio State.

Conference-4th.

Notes...Tourney March 13-16 at United Center, Chicago, IL.

Last Year...NCAA-5 (Indiana-2nd place, Illinois-Sweet 16, Ohio State-2nd round, Wisconsin-2nd round, Michigan State);

NIT-2 (Minnesota-2nd round, Iowa.

Big East-Secure...Pittsburgh & Notre Dame.

Looking Good...UConn & Syracuse.

Bubble...Boston College, Villanova, St. John's, Providence, Seton Hall, West Virginia.

Conference-5th.

Notes...Tourney March 12-15 at Madison Square Garden, New York City.

Last Year...NCAA-6 (UConn-Elite 8, Pitt-Sweet 16, Notre Dame-2nd round, Boston College, St. John's, Miami-Fla.);

NIT-3 (Syracuse-semifinals, Villanova-quarters, Rutgers).

PAC 10-Secure...Arizona.

Looking Good...Stanford, Cal, Oregon.

Bubble...Arizona State.

Conference...6th.

Notes...Tourney March 13-15 at Staples Center, Los Angeles.

Last Year...NCAA-6 (Oregon-Elite 8, Arizona-Sweet 16, UCLA-Sweet 16, Cal-2nd round, Stanford-2nd round, USC);

NIT-1 (Arizona State).

MOUNTAIN WEST-Looking Good...Utah & BYU.

Bubble...Wyoming & UNLV.

Conference-7th.

Notes...Tourney March 13-15 at Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV.

Last Year...NCAA-3 (Wyoming-2nd round, San Diego State, Utah);

NIT-3 (BYU-2nd round, UNLV-2nd round, New Mexico).

C-USA-Secure...Louisville & Marquette.

Looking Good...Cincinnati.

Bubble...Memphis, DePaul, UAB.

Notes...Tourney March 12-15 at Freedom Hall, Louisville, KY. --

Conference-8th.-

Last Year...NCAA-3 (Cincinnati-2nd round, Charlotte, Marquette);

NIT-4 (Memphis-Champion, Louisville-2nd round, South Florida, Houston).

ATLANTIC 10-Looking Good...Dayton, St. Joseph's, Xavier.

Bubble...Richmond.

Conference-9th.

Notes...Tourney March 10 at campus sites (first round); then March 13-15 at Dayton Arena, Dayton, OH.

Last year...NCAA-1 (Xavier-2nd round);

NIT-5 (Temple-3rd place, Richmond-Quarters, Dayton-2nd round, St. Joe's-2nd round, St. Bonaventure).

MAC-Looking Good...Kent State.

Bubble...Western Michigan & Central Michigan.

Conference-10th.

Notes...Tourney March 10 at campus sites (first round); then March 13-15 at Gund Arena, Cleveland, OH.

Last Year...NCAA-1 (Kent State-Elite 8);

NIT-2 (Ball State-quarters, Bowling Green).

WAC-Looking Good...Fresno State.

Bubble...Nevada, Tulsa, Hawaii.

Conference-11th.

Notes...Tourney March 11-15 at Reynolds Center, Tulsa, OK.

Last Year...NCAA-2 (Tulsa-2nd round, Hawaii);

NIT-2 (Louisiana Tech-2nd round, Fresno State).

HORIZON-Looking Good...Butler.

Bubble...UW-Milwaukee & Illinois-Chicago.

Conference-12th.

Notes...Tourney March 4 at campus sites (first round); quarters & semis March 7-8 at Klotsche Center, Milwaukee, WI (home court UW-Milwaukee); title game March 11 at home of highest remaining seed.

Last Year-NCAA-1 (Illinois-Chicago);

NIT-2 (Butler-2nd round, Detroit).

SUN BELT-Bubble...UL-Lafayette.

Conference-13th.

Notes...Tourney March 6-11 at E.A. Diddle Arena, Bowling Green, KY (home court of Western Kentucky).

Last Year...NCAA-1 (Western Kentucky);

NIT-1 (UL-Lafayette).

WEST COAST-Looking Good...Gonzaga.

Conference-14th.

Notes...Tourney March 7-10 at Jenny Craig Pavilion, San Diego, CA.

Last year-NCAA-2 (Gonzaga & Pepperdine).

MISSOURI VALLEY-Secure...Creighton.

Bubble...Southern Illinois.

Conference-15th.

Notes...Tourney March 7-10 at Savvis Center, St. Louis, MO.

Last Year...NCAA-2 (Southern Illinois-Sweet 16, Creighton-2nd round).

COLONIAL-Bubble...UNC-Wilmington.

Notes...Tourney March 7-10 at Richmond Coliseum, Richmond, VA.

Conference-16th.

Last Year...NCAA-1 (UNC-Wilmington-2nd round);

NIT-1 (George Mason).

BIG WEST-Bubble...Utah State.

Notes...Tourney March 13-15 at Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, CA.

Conference-17th.

Last Year...NCAA-1 (UC Santa Barbara); NIT-2 (Utah State & UC Irvine).

 

[Senor Capper]

Special college ticker

Special college ticker

CINCINNATI...Hard-driving coach Bob Huggins, in one of his many efforts to motivate his young team, has banned the squad from the nice locker room facilities at home (he says its because several former players have called to comment the current team hasn?t played well enough to deserve them). Instead, the team dresses in cramped quarters in what is usually the women?s crew locker facilities.



CONNECTICUT...HC Jim Calhoun is expected to miss a few weeks after disclosing he will undergo treatment for prostate cancer, discovered in its early stages. Replacing him is top assistant George Blaney, a former HC (most prominently at Holy Cross & Seton Hall) who has 459 victories is 30 years at the helm. Starting PG Taliek Brown suffered broken finger in Feb. 5 loss at Virginia Tech and is expected to miss another 3-5 weeks. Top shooter soph G Ben Gordon will see more time at the point (20 pts. 7 assists in 84-68 victory at Providence); Huskies are deep, but young, on the perimeter.



GEORGETOWN...Hoyas (5 straight losses through Feb. 10) with be without 6-11 starting C Wesley Wilson (12 & 6 LY; down to 6.6 ppg & 4.9 rpg TY in only 16 mpg) indefinitely (personal leave of absence from school following locker room altercation Feb. 1). He has not been kicked off the team.



GONZAGA...Improving 6-5 juco G Troy Skinner (8.7 ppg in 24 mpg, 39% treys) DNP in 78-63 Feb. 5 victory at frontline-shy Pepperdine or surprising loss three days later at Loyola.



INDIANA STATE...Soph PG Lamar Grimes (Sycamores third-leading scorer with 8 ppg) is out indefinitely (academics).



IOWA...6-11 starting C Jared Reiner (8.1 ppg, team-leading 8.8 rpg) missed Purdue, Penn State, and Michigan games (knee), but is getting close to returning (check status).



MARSHALL...6-10, 260 starting C Ardo Armpalu (from Estonia; susp. part of LY; 9.6, 4.1 TY) DNP in Feb. 3 loss at EMU due to an ankle sprain, and played only 18 mins. off bench in 79-75 loss two days later at WMU and was still limited (5 pts., 2 rebs. in 22 mins.) two days later in narrow 56-54 victory over Bowling Green.



Michigan State's Alan Anderson (dislocated finger) could be out until March. (AP)
MICHIGAN STATE...Versatile 6-6 sr. F Alan Anderson (No. 2 scorer) is expected to miss up to four weeks with a dislocated finger. Anderson missed Feb. 8 OT victory at Indiana, but HC Izzo had a chance to give more playing time to young but very promising bench, especially 6-10 frosh C/F Paul Davis (Mr. BKB of Mich. LY).



NEVADA...Emerging 6-9 soph F Kevinn Pinkney (7.2 ppg & a valuable 6.2 rpg) missed 5 straight games thru Feb. 8 victory at UTEP due to a deep thigh bruise.



TEXAS-EL PASO...Promising 6-8, 240 frosh John Tofi has returned to action following injury, collecting 13 & 8 off the bench in disappointing 76-63 home loss to Fresno Feb. 6, but at least giving giving HC Gillispie 9 players to work with.



TULSA...Sr. PG Antonio Reed, a DD scorer & clutch shooter in the past, has been dismissed from the team.



UNLV...Rebels blew out Colorado State 90-57 Feb. 3 without top shooter Demetrius Hunter (strained Achilles; day-to-day), a transfer who formerly started at Georgetown. But they could have used his fulltime services in 98-73 Feb. 9 home loss to Southern Cal, as he played only 15 mins. (12 pts. off bench on 4 of 5 treys). Trojans were especially fired up after Vegas PG Marcus Banks said, ?I?m not being cocky, but not any of those guys really impress me.? Banks ended up with 8 pts. & 10 assists.



VANDERBILT...UPD 6-5, 230 soph starting G Corey Smith (9 ppg), who has missed the last 3 games thru Feb. 5 with a hand injury, returned to score 8 pts. off the bench in Feb. 8 84-72 home loss to South Carolina. VIRGINIA...Soph PG Keith Jenifer has been suspended indefinitely (?conduct detrimental to the team?).



WESTERN KENTUCKY...7-1 C Chris Marcus, a preseason All-America who has been in and out of the lineup all season (mostly out), has withdrawn from school in order to focus completely on rehabbing the stress fracture in his ankle and prepare for the NBA draft.

 

[genosays]

Good info Senor Capper .... our Jayhawks looked pretty good last night although it was just Baylor. Like the way Nash and Lee are coming on for Kansas while Simien is out and if he does come back look out!!!

 

[broondog]

Senor, as usual, you've gone above expectations. Thanks for this and continued informational posts!!:clap: :hail