The State of College Basketball: Trending Up or Down?

It's the most dreadful time of year for a college basketball fan. March Madness has come to a close, the game is absent from the sports world, and along with that, underclassmen begin to declare for the NBA Draft later in June. Spurning one to three more years of college for the chance at fame and millions of dollars seems like a no-brainer, and the amount of young men who choose that path illustrate that thinking. But while players sign agents, fans are left with the changing landscape of college basketball.

Is the game improving? Quite simply, it is not. A case could be made that the game has been stagnant, but it's difficult to argue that college basketball has improved in the last decade. Choppy gameplay due to fouls, conference realignment, coaching changes and early draft entries have affected the game negatively and continue to do so.

The national championship game between North Carolina and Gonzaga was difficult to watch despite the close score. 44 fouls meant constant stoppages, which led to poor shooting and no rhythm in gameplay. The final 20 minutes seemed to take a lifetime as it became a free throw contest. 52 free throws were shot before the end of the night and both teams were in the bonus with 13 minutes left. In the second half alone there were 27 fouls and it sent nearly every big man for both teams to the bench in foul trouble.

Unfortunately, the national championship was not an anomaly. UCLA, a run-and-gun team that featured quality shooters, versatile big men and Lonzo Ball to orchestrate it all, was a breath of fresh air during a season that would frequently feature games in the 60's.

Four different conferences were represented at the Final Four this season (ACC, SEC, WCC, PAC-12), but not one of those conferences has had the same members for longer than five seasons. Football and the pursuit of the almighty dollar for television networks has led many conference to shift and change over the years. This is nothing new, but it's reached a new level in this decade. It's taken away fantastic basketball rivalries like Kansas-Missouri, Syracuse-Georgetown and Duke-Maryland.

Instead, fans are treated to games like Missouri-Auburn, Syracuse-Clemson and Maryland-Nebraska. Sure, there are still plenty of great rivalries, but a Missouri fan has lost the two best games of the year. A Maryland fan is watching their team in games with no history or passion. A Syracuse fan is pleased to see games against Duke and Carolina, but it's not Georgetown or UConn. The realignment is not what is best for the game despite being what's best for the bottom line.

Speaking of the bottom line, did you watch ESPN's 30 for 30 One and Not Done on John Calipari? His players have made plenty of money in the NBA and very few of them stuck around for more than a year or two in college. The one-and-done topic has been beaten to death, but despite all the talk, there has been no action to fix what plagues the game and the NBA.

For the college game, it's an issue for the fans and that's it. The teams and coaches must continually replenish their rosters, but that has not been difficult for the game's best. For the fans though, they are watching a revolving door. Players come and go and there is hardly any connection between the player and the university. Kyrie Irving can claim to be a Dukie, but 10 games doesn't mean much in the grand scheme of things.

Consider all the freshmen who have gone through Kansas in recent years: Xavier Henry, Andrew Wiggins, Josh Selby and Josh Jackson. They have all done well in Lawrence, but departed after a year. Perhaps only a Jayhawk fan can truly answer the question, but is that fun? Those players have brought plenty of wins and that's fun, but is it truly fun to root for the program when the best player is someone new every season? There's rarely a long-term connection with stars anymore like J.J. Redick or Adam Morrison. That's why teams like this year's North Carolina and Gonzaga squads should be treasured.

And it's not just players who leave early. Coaches are guilty as well. No one could ever fault someone for moving up in the ranks and bettering their career, but coaches don't last long at one place anymore. Jim Boeheim vs. John Thompson or Gene Keady vs. Bob Knight? Those kind of coaching rivalries are hard to come by now. Is that a death sentence for the game? Of course not. The game can go on without those, but it doesn't make for a better product.

Make no mistake though, college basketball is a great game. March Madness continues to thrill the masses year after year, but that can't be the sole barometer for the state of the game. There are plenty of factors that contribute to college basketball as a whole and as the book closes on another season, it's safe to say there is work to be done.

Bracket Breakdown: The South

The South region is ruled by big men, which makes this particular quadrant of the bracket all the more exciting. The physicality and strength that the top teams in this region provide are sure to provide us with numerous memorable match-ups. Headlining this region is the top-seeded Blue Devils of Duke University and their star freshman center Jahlil Okafor. If Duke hopes to punch a ticket to Indy, Okafor and the rest of Duke's front line will have their hands full with players such as Joshua Smith (Georgetown), Winston Shepard  (San Diego State), and Przemek Karnowski (Gonzaga). But don't be fooled, the back courts in this region aren't pushovers. Yet with such talented forwards and centers, which front court will lead their team into the month of April? Zach was too busy working the Illinois State-Green Bay NIT game. So I'll take this one solo.

General Overview: Duke is number one and Gonzaga is number two. One is looking for redemption after an embarrassing opening round exit to a 14 seed, and the other is looking to advance to their first Final Four in school history. While both teams are clearly talented enough to make it to Indy, a handful of lower seeded teams will make sure that the road to the Final Four is a tough one.

We've said it before, we'll say it again: March is not about who's better on paper, it's about who's on a hot streak at the right time. Two teams in particular are rolling at a time when momentum can sometimes mean more than talent. Iowa State and SMU, both conference tournament winners in their own right, have their sights set on Final Four appearances and are equipped to make those dreams come true. Iowa State has won eight of their last ten games (including five wins over ranked opponents) and have won five straight. Southern Methodist, on the other hand, have won seventeen of their last twenty and have won four straight. Fred Hoiberg and Larry Brown will have their teams ready to roll and, while they'll take it one game at a time, will surely be focused on catching flights to Indianapolis in three weeks.

Upset Alert: You remember them as the Cinderella of 2008. You remember them as the Stephen Curry-led Davidson Wildcats. Yet this year's Davidson squad is not to be disregarded as Curry's team was pre-March Madness. Winners of ten of their last eleven, Davidson has not just beaten their opponents, they've disposed of them. Their average margin of victory is just under fifteen points per game in those ten wins and with the seventh-seeded Iowa Hawkeyes in mind, the Wildcats look to build off of their recent success. What makes this team so special is that four players average double digits in the points category, with Taylor Kalinoski (17 ppg) and Jack Gibbs (16.3 ppg) leading the charge. Even more dangerous than their balanced attack is the depth that Bob McKillop's team has. Ten players average over ten minutes a game which means plenty of fresh legs for the Hawkeyes to keep track of.

Add all of this in with the facts that Davidson's ball movement results in 17 assists per game (good for 3rd in the nation) and their ability to shoot 47% per game enables them to put up 80 points per game (good for 6th in the nation), and you have a force to be reckoned with. Fran McCaffery's team will need to be up to the challenge or an opening round exit is sure to be in store for the Hawkeyes squad that did not finish in the top 50 in points, assists, rebounds, or field goal percentage per game (Davidson was top 35 in three of the four categories). Iowa will not be an easy victory, but if there were an upset in this region that I would pay close attention to, it would definitely be this seven/ten match-up.

Player to Watch: SMU was highlighted earlier in this post, and a big part of their potential for success in this tournament is because of the stellar play of their junior point guard Nic Moore. The Mustangs offense runs through him as he averages 14 points and 5 assists per game. Aside from the numbers he puts up, Moore's mere presence on the floor is also critical for Larry Brown's team. He's the only member of the team that averages more than 28 minutes per game and is on the court for 34 and a half minutes, on average. The question remains if Moore can bounce back from a sub par performance in the American Conference championship (11 points on 3-14 shooting, 1-7 from three point range), but if he returns to form in their opening match-up against the UCLA Bruins, SMU might ride the coattails of Nic Moore deep into the tournament.

6 Things to Watch in College Basketball

Russ Smith of Louisville

Last night I was sitting on my couch and engaged in a conversation with a roommate about college basketball and the upcoming season. In my excitement for the season to begin I rushed to the store and bought the newest college basketball preview magazine. What entailed was four hours of poring over endless material for what is sure to be a dynamite season all around.

Change is abound in college hoops and the landscape of the game was drastically altered on July 1 when conference realignment was officially implemented. Say hello to a new Big East and welcome in the American Athletic Conference. Say goodbye to some of the game's best rivalries such as Syracuse-Georgetown and bid adieu to Conference USA as a "power conference" (sorry Middle Tennessee and Old Dominion).

Yes, change is the theme of this year in college basketball, but there's no sense in complaining anymore. This is the way it is. So rather than getting your panties in a bunch about the breakup of the Big East, focus on the new great rivalries that realignment has given us. Notre Dame, Syracuse and Pittsburgh joining the ACC creates some enticing matchups as does Butler, Xavier and Creighton joining the Big East.

Don't feel bad if your head is spinning from all these changes. It's hard to keep up anymore, but here are six things to watch for this upcoming season.

1. Can Louisville repeat as national champions?
No team since Florida in 2006 and 2007 has repeated as national champions, but the ingredients are there for Rick Pitino's Cardinals. Nearly every major piece returns and the big one is Russ Smith. The 6-foot dynamo flirted with the NBA, but opted to return. That means Louisville has it's leading scorer (18.7 ppg) back to go with a great frontcourt. Luke Hancock was the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player and Wayne Blackshear started 34 games last season. Chane Behanan and Montrezl Harrell are two physical presences as well. Kevin Ware, barring any setbacks in his rehabilitation process, should be available by October.

2. Kentucky's freshmen class for the ages
We have grown accustomed to watching John Calipari win with a host of freshmen on his Kentucky roster, but last year his young crop of talent didn't possess the brains or the heart to get the job done. This year, six McDonald's All-Americans enter Lexington in hopes of bringing the national championship back across the state. Some media outlets have pegged Andrew Harrison and Julius Randle as All-Americans and Calipari has mentioned his aspirations of going undefeated. Stay tuned.

3. Can Tom Izzo win another title?
I hate to give Tom Izzo grief for only having one national championship to his name, especially because he has been to six Final Fours. However, his 2000 team is the only one that has hoisted the trophy and that's surprising with how much talent has gone through East Lansing. Like Louisville, Michigan State has several key pieces returning, most notably Gary Harris. Harris is versatile on the offensive end and gets after it on defense. Keith Appling is back to run the point and Adreian Payne will anchor the frontline. There's no reason these Spartans shouldn't be in Dallas.

4. How will Creighton, Xavier and Butler do in the Big East?
All three teams have had plenty of success in recent years, but let's not forget that just two years ago Butler was competing against the likes of Cleveland State. Sure, the Bulldogs had great tournament runs, but can they have success throughout the season playing teams like Marquette and Georgetown? Don't expect much from Butler this season, but Doug McDermott and Creighton could contend for the title. Xavier will most likely be middle of the pack.

5. The inaugural season of the American Athletic Conference
The funny thing about the inaugural season for the AAC is that it's going to look different next season. Louisville and Rutgers are members for this year only and then they will depart for the ACC and Big Ten respectively. Tulsa, East Carolina and Tulane will fill the void and the conference will rely on Cincinnati, Memphis and UConn for national exposure. For this year, the renewal of an old rivalry between Louisville and Memphis should be fun to watch, but again, it won't be here for long.

6. Freshmen sensations Jabari Parker and Andrew Wiggins
Much has been made about these two players. Parker will suit up for Coach K and Duke after leading Simeon (IL) to four straight state titles. He is smart player who is versatile at the forward position. Wiggins is enrolled at Kansas and was regarded as the nation's top player. Many believe that he will be the number one pick in next year's NBA Draft, but he has the ability to take KU deep into March despite being a freshman.

Yes, college football just started, but it's never too early to prepare for March Madness. There are plenty of storylines as the season commences. Kentucky will be number one in most polls, but there is plenty of experience on the Michigan State and Louisville rosters. Coach K will have Duke primed for a title run and Arizona has a nice mix of new recruits and old veterans.

It may only be September, but it's never too early to let the Madness begin.

Louisville Set to Make History

Louisville fans across the nation have been dancing the night away lately, both literally and figuratively. The Cardinals have reached the title game in both men's and women's basketball which has given the program that has always been in the shadow of Kentucky something to brag about. With all of the pandemonium surrounding these two Louisville teams, however, comes two very special, and in one case horrific, reasons for their inspiration.

 Griner struggled against Louisville's physicality

The women's team at Louisville began the tournament as a disregarded five seed who finished in a three-way tie for third place in the Big East. With a 29-8 record at the end of the regular season, the Cardinals were pitted against Middle Tennessee. After disposing of the Blue Raiders by 25 points, Louisville moved to the second round where they took down the fourth-seeded Boilermakers of Purdue. The Cardinals now faced the biggest challenge of anyone in the tournament and that was to take on the powerhouse Baylor team from Waco, Texas. Led by national standout and dominating force Brittney Griner, the Lady Bears were riding on a 32-game win streak and the hopes of what was sure to be another national championship. Yet after a gritty and very physical performance from the underdog Cardinals, the Lady Bears found themselves on the losing side of an 82-81 final, snapping their winning streak and their title hopes.

So Louisville's magical run was now in full swing; they had taken down two teams that were higher seeds than they were and one of which was equipped with quite possibly the greatest women's college basketball player of all time. March Madness at it's finest, right? What more inspiration and encouragement could you want after taking down the top ranked team? But the Cardinals weren't done. While some teams, in any sport that is, tend to have "big game hangovers" Louisville took down two number two seeds in a row to advance to the national championship. With those two wins over Tennessee and Cal, the Cardinals are looking at possibly capping off what has been an unbelievable tournament run.

Pitino is one of the best in the Sweet 16

And with all that has been going on in the women's game, the same excitement has been present in the men's game. Louisville came into the tournament as the number one overall seed and was playing unbelievable basketball. The Big East champions cruised through the first two rounds, taking down the sixteenth-seeded Aggies of North Carolina A&T which was followed by a 26-point routing of the Colorado State Rams. That brought the Cardinals into the round that Rick Pitino might as well call home: the Sweet 16. Pitino boasted an unbelievable 10-0 record in the Sweet 16 and had won those ten games by an average of 22 points, a stat that didn't bode well for the twelfth-seeded Oregon Ducks. However, Oregon came out and gave the Cardinals everything they wanted before eventually falling short 77-69, sending Louisville dancing into the Elite 8 to face Mike Kryzewski's Duke Blue Devils.

As if being the number one overall seed and being ousted in the Final Four last season wasn't enough inspiration, this particular Elite 8 game provided Louisville with more reason to win than any team in the tournament. It doesn't need to be relived or explained, we all saw it. Kevin Ware's gruesome and horrific leg injury is one that will go down as one of the worst injuries in sports history and will be a defining tournament memory whether the replay is shown or not. The image of the Louisville players falling to the floor and crying showed just how close this team is and how sincere these athletes are toward each other. With Ware being taken to the hospital, Louisville came out with a tenacity and an urgency that Duke, quite simply, had no chance against. The Blue Devils fell 85-63 which left Louisville just two games away from completing their season with a championship.

Fans have adopted the slogan "Win For Ware"

Peyton Siva and Co. would then face the pesky Shockers from Wichita State in the Final Four just this past Saturday. Trailing much of the game, the title hopes for Louisville seemed to be dwindling. Yet with the help of their famed aggressive full court pressure, the Cardinals came roaring back to beat the Shockers by four, placing them in the championship against the red hot Michigan Wolverines. The championship game is to take place tonight in Atlanta.

There has been a lot to cheer about if you're a Louisville fan. Nothing short of good basketball has been played this March and if the Cardinals can come out on top these next two nights they will be the first program to win both a men's and women's NCAA division one basketball championship since Emeka Okafor and Diana Turasi led the UConn Huskies to the same achievement in 2004. Ironically enough, the Louisville women's team will have to beat the Huskies this year to take the crown. On the other hand, Louisville has its hands full with the tenacious inside game of Mitch McGary and the outstanding shooting Trey Burke, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Nik Stauskas bring to the table. A chance at history is just hours away, best of luck to both Louisville squads.

Duke-Louisville Elite 8 Preview

Cook and Duke will have to handle Siva and Louisville's pressure defense

It's a rematch of titans and one that is worthy of being the national championship game. On one bench sits Mike Krzyzewski, the greatest coach since John Wooden, and on the other is Rick Pitino. Pitino is highly successful and his Louisville squad is the overall number one seed. Standing in their way of the Final Four is Krzyzewski's Duke team that has finally regained full health and has been playing tremendous basketball. Both teams won by double digits in the Sweet 16 and now Duke is looking for its 16th Final Four berth while Louisville is looking for its 10th.

This weekend I have been volunteering at the Midwest Regional in Indianapolis and have had the opportunity to work closely with the media, watch the games and sit in on press conferences with players and coaches. I figured that since I had the All-Access pass in Lucas Oil Stadium I might as well use it to get a little work done on the blog and so today I sat in on both teams' press conferences and the quotes and comments used are directly from today's press conferences.

The key to tomorrow night's game will be Louisville's Gorgui Dieng. The 6'11" center from Senegal averages 10 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, but did not play due to injury in the November 24th match up in Atlantis in which Duke won 76-71. Dieng's rebounding and shot-blocking will be key to the Cardinals' game plan as they prepare to face Duke's talented front line of Mason Plumlee and Ryan Kelly.

"With Gorgui back in the lineup, it definitely gives us another dimension to the game," said Louisville point guard Peyton Siva. "You can never really replace Gorgui. He's playing good right now and is definitely going to help us out a lot."

There's no doubt that Dieng does give Louisville another dimension to the game, and Duke realizes that he will be a game-changer and they respect his talent.

"He's one of the best players in the country," said Krzyzewski. "I think it helps their defense to have a great rim protector, because they hit you with different types of defenses, and you can be even more aggressive knowing that your basket is protected. I think any team in the country would love to have him."

"I think he does the best job on their team of protecting the rim," added Duke center Mason Plumlee. "Obviously blocking shots, but also altering shots. I think he gives them a different dimension."

On the Duke side the focus will be on Seth Curry. The senior shooting guard was lights out against Michigan State in the Sweet 16, hitting 6-9 three-point field goals and scoring 29 points. However, Curry has struggled in the second game of stretches with quick turnarounds and in the third round game against Creighton he was just 2-9 from beyond the arc. Despite the numbers, no one on Duke seemed concerned and Curry was optimistic that he would be at his best tomorrow night.

Curry and the rest of the Dukies must be on top of their game if they are going to handle the pressure that Louisville will bring at them. The long, athletic Louisville squad forced 14 Duke turnovers back in November and nine of those were committed by the starting guard trio of Curry, Quinn Cook and Rasheed Sulaimon.

"We know how they are defensively, and we know one of the big keys of the game is to handle that pressure," said Sulaimon. "It's very hard to prepare for a team like Louisville, but knowing that we played them earlier in the season does help a lot."

"I think they're a better team now and they're playing the best basketball in the country, especially with Dieng there," added Cook. "We didn't see how they played with Dieng so I know our coaches are doing a great job preparing for those guys and I think we'll be ready."

Obviously there are plenty of story lines surrounding this game and one of the major ones is the fact that this is the first time Krzyzewski and Pitino have met in the tournament since the 1992 East Regional in which Christian Laettner hit the famous turnaround game-winner from the free throw line to send Duke past Kentucky. Both coaches were eager to reflect on that game and say that sharing that moment has actually strengthened their relationship.

"Rick and I are real close friends and I think he's one of the best ever," said Krzyzewski. "Our relationship was good before that game and after the game it's grown exponentially."

Pitino also had high praise for his counterpart saying, "I think it was such a high-scoring game with so much perfection in the way the players passed and shot the ball, that's what made it stand the test of time. That was fun to be a part of, and I've always loved Coach K from before that moment to today. I think he's everything our game stands for in a good way."

The other story line attached to this showdown is the looming conference realignment that will put Louisville in the ACC along with Duke. Pitino is reluctant to look into the future and comment on what that change will bring, but Krzyzewski sounded anxious to have the ACC add so many quality programs and voiced his opinion that, with the additions, the ACC could be the best basketball conference of all-time.

For now, Louisville and Duke will meet as non-conference foes with a trip to the Final Four on the line. Duke won the first match up of the season, but things are different now and the stakes are higher. If Duke wins then Krzyzewski will tie Wooden for the most trips to the Final Four, and if Louisville wins it will be their second straight trip to the Final Four.

If the game lives up the hype then it will be one of the best games of the season. Tip off from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis is scheduled for 5:05 ET on CBS.

Reaction to March Madness: Day 2

FGCU took G'Town completely out of their game and moved on

Day two of March Madness provided plenty of down-to-the-wire finishes, but with those finishes came poor decision making and even worse free throw shooting. Cincinnati and Kansas State are going home early and it's because they didn't execute. Georgetown is heading home because they ran into an ultra-athletic Florida Gulf Coast team that took it to them from the start. Iowa State was very impressive and the Bill Self-Roy Williams match up is on. Here are six observations from Day 2.

1. Free throw shooting is arguably the most important team skill
Cincinnati and Creighton was a close game throughout and that could only mean one thing: free throw shooting would be key. The Bearcats found themselves behind late in the game and had multiple chances at the line to bring the game closer and they failed to do so. With 53 seconds remaining a flagrant one foul was called on Doug McDermott, but Shaquille Thomas missed two crucial free throws that proved costly down the stretch. If you need one stat to see why Creighton won the game then look at free throw shooting. The Blue Jays were 22-25 and Cincinnati was just 4-9.

2. The rules about throwing elbows have to change
Staying in the same game, the play that McDermott received the flagrant one foul for was terrible. I completely understand the NCAA doesn't want players throwing elbows, but it's getting ridiculous. Cincinnati was pressing and they brought an excellent trap at McDermott with 53 seconds left. McDermott didn't really throw an elbow, but he attempted to clear space so that he could advance the ball either by a pass or dribble. However, the referees got him for an elbow and it nearly changed the course of the game. This is a rule that the NCAA will have to look at because I understand it's about player safety, but the rule is far too strict. The ball handler must be able to clear space and that requires him to be strong with the ball and natural strong elbow swings.

3. Wisconsin puts on a clinic for bad offense
Bo Ryan and the Badgers win and no one can dispute the fact that he has built a great program. However, Wisconsin is not built for March because of their inability to score the ball. The suffocating defense is great, but it only goes so far when the team fails to score the ball. Watching Wisconsin try and come back in that game hurt. Like it was mind-numbingly bad how poor they played at the offensive end. They shot 15-59 from the field, 7-30 from three and only Sam Dekker scored in double figures. Wisconsin deserves respect for sticking to their system, but they must find some players who can score the ball or they will continue to exit the tournament earlier than they want.

4. Illinois vs. Colorado was about who wanted to lose more
Have you ever seen so many droughts in one game? It was unbelievable to watch both teams struggle to score a basket. Illinois won the game even though they played bad. It just so happened that Colorado played even worse. Illinois lived by the three, died by the three and then was resurrected by the three late in the game. That's not exactly the recipe for success, but in the tournament it doesn't matter how you win as long as you get the win. Neither team deserved to win the game and the Illini have their work cut out for them against Miami. Another shooting performance like this one will send them home to Champaign.

Howland's days in LA may be over

5. Georgetown is not a safe bet when playing a double digit seed
The Hoyas lost to Florida Gulf Coast who, just three years ago, couldn't even qualify for the tournament. The Eagles didn't just beat Georgetown -- they completely dominated them for much of the game. In the second half the lead was double digits and the Hoyas were never able to make a comeback until the end. It's the fifth year in a row that Georgetown has lost to a double digit seed and it's a disturbing trend for John Thompson III. Florida Gulf Coast was unbelievably athletic and didn't back down from the spotlight. Instead, they took right to G'Town and the Hoyas were the ones who seemed like they weren't ready.

6. It may be time for Ben Howland and UCLA to part ways
Ben Howland had a magnificent run at UCLA for awhile, but times have changed drastically. After two poor seasons the Bruins had something of a revival, but they still underachieved. Howland brought in a dynamite recruiting class and the freshmen did live up to the hype but UCLA was bounced in the second round and ultimately it's a disappointing end to the season. It may be time for Howland to go in a different direction and UCLA may want to start fresh. It seems the success is in the rear view mirror and all is not well in Westwood.

The second round is in the books and it did not disappoint. Harvard and Florida Gulf Coast are the tournament darlings and the West Region is all sorts of messed up. The one seeds are alive, but they all face tough challenges in the third round. Also don't bank on the two seeds all advancing. Duke and Ohio State have very difficult games and the unpredictability is the beauty of this tournament. Also, get yourself prepared for the VCU-Michigan showdown in the morning as it should be something special.

Take Your Pick: NCAA Player of the Year

As we head into the final Saturday of the college basketball regular season there are more question marks than certainties. No team has separated themselves as a dominant force and upsets are a weekly happening. However, six individuals have separated themselves from the rest of the nation and are near the top of the Player of the Year race. Still, there is plenty of uncertainty as all six make a good case. Doug McDermott and Kelly Olynyk have dominated the mid-majors with their inside-out games. Otto Porter has done the same, but against stiffer Big East competition. Mason Plumlee averages a double-double for a Duke team that looks like a championship contender and Victor Oladipo has done it all for Indiana. Also in the Big Ten, Trey Burke has been the best point guard in America all season long. So who wins? Here's a case for all six...then you decide.

Doug McDermott -- Forward -- Creighton Blue Jays
McDermott showed up big in arguably the biggest game of the year for the Jays last Saturday against Wichita State. The junior shot 15-18 from the field and finished with 41 points. On top of that, he grabbed six rebounds and three assists. Throughout the game McDermott showed what makes him special, breaking down defenders with a plethora of moves both inside and out. He bullied opponents in the post on one possession and then hit step back threes in their face the next. He's averaging 23.4 points and 7.6 rebounds per game for Creighton and if you are not convinced yet then consider this: against Wisconsin McDermott dropped 30 points and grabbed eight rebounds and against Cal he scored 34 points while grabbing nine boards. He can compete with the big boys so don't hold the Missouri Valley Conference schedule against him.

Kelly Olynyk -- Forward -- Gonzaga Bulldogs
The Zags have reached the top of the mountain, at least on regular season terms, with the school's first number one ranking in history. Olynyk has been the driving force behind Gonzaga's stellar season and currently averages 17.7 points and seven rebounds per game. He also averages almost two assists per game and 1.2 blocks per game. The big man is able to step out and hit a jumper and he shoots 67 percent from the field. Olynyk posted 16 and eight against Illinois and 14 and seven against Butler. On New Year's Eve he went for 21 and nine against Oklahoma State. Much like McDermott, he comes from a small conference, but he has produced against elite competition. Couple that with the fact that he is one of the main reasons that the Zags are 21-2 and you have a legitimate PoY candidate.

Otto Porter -- Forward -- Georgetown Hoyas
The Hoyas were playing some of the best ball in the country before a slip up at Villanova and much of the team success can be credited to Porter. He has flown under the radar for much of the season, but no longer. It's hard to go unnoticed with numbers like Porter's: 16.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. The sophomore burst onto the national scene with an incredible put-the-team-on-his-back performance against Syracuse back on February 23rd. Porter played a full 40 minutes, scoring 33 points while grabbing eight rebounds and tallying five steals. Porter leads his team in nearly every major statistical category and he has shot a remarkable 44 percent from three point land (40-90). He will determine how far the Hoyas go in March and it may just be Atlanta.

Mason Plumlee -- Center -- Duke Blue Devils
Plumlee came into the season with big expectations and he has lived up to them. Going into the final game of the regular season he averages 17.0 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.9 blocks per game. He made sure the Dukies stayed near the top of the polls when Ryan Kelly went out with an injury and he has raised his numbers in every category since last season. Plumlee has posted 16 double-doubles this season and has saved some of his best games for opponents from the nation's best conference, the Big Ten. Against Minnesota he went for 20 and 17 and against Ohio State he had 21 and 17. He is arguably the best big man in the country and he has the numbers and big game performances to prove it.

Victor Oladipo -- Guard -- Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana came into the season and the number one team and Cody Zeller was the face of the franchise. Zeller has been great just like we expected, but Oladipo has been even better. A dominant force on both ends of the court, Oladipo has caused fits for Big Ten opponents this season. While his season averages of 13.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.3 steals may not look like they stack up to the other players on this list, consider that he plays on a very balanced team and also look at his big-game performances. In two games against Michigan State this season he went for a combined 40 points, 16 rebounds, 11 steals and four blocks. When the Hoosiers went into #10 Ohio State he tallied 26 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals. His defense directly translates into his offense and he is one of the best wing players in college basketball this season.

Trey Burke -- Guard -- Michigan Wolverines
It's appropriate that the Big Ten would have multiple players on this list since it is the toughest conference in the nation. It's odd that Burke is the only point guard on the list though, considering that the NBA is such a point guard-dominated league. Unquestionably, Burke is the top floor general in college basketball and, with a showdown against Indiana looming, he averages 19.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game. He has improved on his decision making and is much more under control this season. Should he decide to leave for the draft he will be a lottery pick, but he may take the Wolverines all the way before that. He's that good. In his last five games he's averaging 24 points, 3.4 rebounds and 6.8 assists. He's playing some of his best ball of the season right now and that's scary for whoever stands in his way.

All six players have a solid chance of winning NCAA Player of the Year. They all play on successful teams, average big numbers and have played well against other top competition. It's likely that we could see multiple players from this list playing in the Final Four and that would be a treat. For my pick it's hard to go against Otto Porter. He does the most for his team and is the complete package. There is not one thing that he doesn't do well and he has shouldered the load for a very dangerous Georgetown team. Vote on the poll to voice your opinion and comment below with your thoughts!

NCAA Basketball Postseason Awards

It is officially March Madness and if you were watching Gonzaga vs. St. Mary's or Davidson vs. Western Carolina you know this to be true. Both games went needed extra time to find a winner and Davidson and St. Mary's punched their tickets to the Big Dance. It is the most exciting time for college basketball, but let us not forget about the regular season. It was, in my opinion, one of the best regular seasons in a very long time. There has not been any one team separate themselves from the mix and there have been several instant classics. We have seen the resurgance of Indiana basketball, the final conference game between Kansas and Missouri and have watched some of the best freshmen dominate the game. Here are the World of Wadley postseason awards for the 2011-12 college basketball season.

First Team All-Americans

Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas: There is not a more dominant big man in the country than Robinson. The Kansas forward posted averages of 18.0 points, 11.9 rebounds and nearly two assists per game, while leading his team to another Big 12 title. His rebounding average is second in the nation and he ended the season with four straight double-doubles. Robinson showed up in the biggest games, scoring 28 points and grabbing 12 rebounds against Mizzou on February 3rd. He also scored 27 points and hauled in 14 rebounds against then #3 Baylor in January.

Green

Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky: Davis is well on his way to being the first to shake David Stern's hand on draft night in June. The fab frosh has shown all facets of his game, averaging 14.4 points, 9.8 rebounds and 4.7 blocks per game. He recently won the SEC Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year and some speculate that he could sweep all of those awards at the national level as well. His intimidating presence around the basket has been the anchor of UK's defense.

Draymond Green, SF, Michigan State: Green is the best do-it-all man in the country. The senior is aiming to make it to one more Final Four before his career in East Lansing is over and he carried the Spartans to a 24-7 record. He finished the regular season with averages of 16.2 points, 10.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. For his career he has gone over the 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds marks. His leadership and all-around game have helped Tom Izzo and the Spartans stay near the top of the polls.

Davis

Marcus Denmon, SG, Missouri: Nobody expected the Missouri Tigers to be in the Top 5 and fighting for a number one seed, but here they are. They are such a well-balanced team but Denmon is the key man. He is the team's leading scorer at 18.0 points per game and also grabs 5.1 rebounds per game along with 2.2 assists. On top of that he averages 1.5 steals per game and shoots high percentages from three point land and the charity stripe. His biggest moment came in the first meeting against Kansas when he led the Tigers back in the second half, finishing the game with 29 points and nine rebounds.

Isaiah Canaan, PG, Murray State: Canaan is the main reason the Racers have been in the Top 10 most of the season. The little guy can fill it up, averaging 19.2 points per game and he also grabs 3.3 boards and dishes out 3.7 assists per game. For the season he is shooting over 48 percent from the field and over 47 percent from long distance. He has led Murray State to a one loss regular season, but now the question is how far can he take them in March?

Second Team All-Americans
Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina: 16.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, 54.9% FG
Doug McDermott, F, Creighton: 23.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 61% FG
Jae Crowder, F, Marquette: 17.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 2.4 assists
Kevin Jones, F, West Virginia: 20.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Darius Johnson-Odom, G, Marquette: 18.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.0 steals

Best Moment of the Year

Is this even a question? Without a doubt the moment of the regular season was Christian Watford's buzzer-beater three against Kentucky. The win signaled the return of the Hoosiers and is also the only thing keeping the Cats from a perfect season. Bloomington was in a frenzy that night as students rushed the court, creating a mass that blocked reporters from getting to the postgame press conferences. The shot is now used for an ESPN commercial and the clip is not hard to find on Youtube. Indiana is the only team to take down Kentucky so far this year and Tom Crean and the Hoosiers could possibly be looking at a top four seed depending on how the Big Ten tournament goes.

Game of the Year

Robinson

There were several good games this season, but again I don't feel like this is a hard decision. Missouri and Kansas are huge rivals and it's a shame that they will no longer play in the same conference. However, they played two of the best games ever this season and the matchup at Allen Fieldhouse was an instant classic. The Tigers had a huge lead before Thomas Robinson and the Jayhawks came storming back, forced overtime and then won the game. Michael Dixon Jr. was unable to get a shot off at the end of the game and KU, once again, took the Big 12 title. It would be nice to see this matchup one more time for the Big 12 conference tournament title.

Player of the Year

This is a close race between Anthony Davis and Thomas Robinson, but Robinson gets my vote. Take him off the Jayhawks roster and they do not win the Big 12 and are looking at a much lower seed in the NCAA Tournament. Take Davis off of Kentucky and they still win the SEC and at worst are looking at a 3-seed. They have that much talent. That's not to say Kansas isn't loaded, but Robinson means that much to the Jayhawks. He has had an incredible year and is a lock to be a lottery pick in June, should he decide to enter the Draft.

Ten Things to Watch Before March Madness

It's been such an interesting season of college basketball thus far that March Madness will surely be one of the wildest we have ever seen. Will it match last year's craziness with two mid-majors in the Final Four? Probably not, but teams like Murray State and St. Mary's have looked fantastic and could be poised for a run deep into March. You could argue that Kentucky has separated themselves as the clear title favorite, and it seems John Calipari will surely get his mitts on the trophy this season, but besides the Cats there has not been a team that has stood out. Yes, there are several great teams such as Syracuse, Kansas, Missouri and North Carolina but all of those teams have shown weakness somewhere along the line. UK has had some close games during the season but they are a complete team with a loaded roster. Calipari has been thwarted twice from winning a title in Lexington, but odds are he and his group of talented freshmen will finally get one this season. However, before Selection Sunday here are ten things to keep an eye on in the college basketball world.

1. Who will win Player of the Year?

Right now it seems that there are two contenders for the Player of the Year award. Anthony Davis, the talented freshmen from Kentucky, has put up incredible numbers but Kansas big man Thomas Robinson has carried the Jayhawks to a 25-5 record while averaging 17.8 points and 11.8 rebounds per game. It's a toss up between those two but in my opinion I would have to give Robinson the award. Davis has had an amazing season but he has several other lottery picks on his team. Without Robinson KU would be in deep trouble. He is their best scorer and rebounder and there isn't any other player who could shoulder the load. All that said, the most interesting aspect of the PoY debate is that Draymond Green is hardly being mentioned. 16.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists isn't a bad season at all but Green hasn't been given his due. Much like Robinson and Kansas, Michigan State would not be a top team if they did have Green. He is an invaluable player. Recognize his game before the senior departs for what is sure to be a solid NBA career.

2. Who will win the Big Ten regular season?
On Sunday at 4:00 ET make sure you are sitting in front of your television because the Big Ten regular season championship will be decided in East Lansing, Michigan. The Spartans come in at 13-4 while the Ohio State Buckeyes currently stand at 11-5, should be 12-5 if they beat Northwestern tonight. Michigan State won by 10 earlier in the year when the two clashed in Columbus and this game should be even more intense with the conference title on the line.

3. Can Missouri keep beating teams with better post players?

Nobody expected Frank Haith's Missouri Tigers to be playing this well, but here we are just a few weeks from Selection Sunday, and Mizzou is in line for at least a 2-seed. The backcourt is scary with Phil and Matt Pressey, Kim English, Marcus Denmon and Michael Dixon. The guards have been phenomenal and shoot extremely high percentages. Ricardo Ratliffe has played well inside and Steve Moore has been solid. Still, without Laurence Bowers the Tigers are missing their best inside player. Everytime they go against Baylor or Kansas I think there is no way they should win, yet they do. Will the guards be able to carry them through Big 12 tournament play?

4. Will the Pac-12 team get more than one team in the Big Dance?
Now this seems like a silly question. The Pac-12 was arguably the best conference in basketball just a few seasons ago, but this season has not been kind to the conference. Washington or California should win the conference tournament and receive the automatic berth, but neither team has any good non-conference wins to state their case for the committee. It's worth that mentioning that Arizona and Oregon also have records worthy of the tourney but they are both in the same boat. The Pac-12 simply hasn't won any good non-conference games.

5. How will Indiana fare away from Assembly Hall?
At Assembly Hall the Hoosiers are an impressive 17-1. When they are on the road though they are just 6-6. One of those wins came on a neutral court, but the point is that Indiana does not play as well away from home. They have some very good wins this year against #1 Kentucky, #2 Ohio State and #5 Michigan State, but all of those came at home. They have road losses to teams like Iowa and Nebraska. I believe the Hoosiers are a good team and a force to be reckoned with come tournament time, but after Sunday's game against Purdue they will not play in Bloomington any more this season.

6. Can North Carolina steal the ACC title in Durham on Saturday?

Is there a better scenario than this? North Carolina and Duke should meet on Saturday night for a winner-take-all matchup for the ACC crown. If UNC can beat Maryland tonight then the two teams will have identical 13-3 records for Saturday's game. Duke came away with a buzzer-beater victory after Austin Rivers nailed a three in Tyler Zeller's face earlier in the year and now the Dukies will get UNC in Durham in front of the Cameron Crazies. Safe to say the odds aren't in the Tar Heels favor.

7. Will Xavier make the NCAA Tournament?
Remember Xavier and Tu Holloway? They were supposed to be the mid-major that was going to take everyone down and make a deep run in March. All that changed though when the brawl broke out on December 10th against Cincinnati. The Musketeers won that game to advance to 8-0 but since then they have gone just 10-11 and are in no position to receive an at-large berth. The only thing they can do is win the Atlantic-10 conference tournament, which will not be an easy task with teams like St. Louis and Temple in their way.

8. How many teams will the Big East send to the NCAA Tournament?
We have grown accustomed to seeing a large number of teams from the Big East in the Big Dance and this year should be no different. However, the number could be lower than in recent years. In my mind there are six locks and then a host of bubble teams. Getting only six of sixteen teams in the tournament would not be a good year on the Big East's terms.

9. Are the defending champs going to be unable to defend their title?

There has been alot go wrong in Storrs, Connecticut and the Huskies are in danger of not being invited to the NCAA Tournament. After starting off in the Top 5 in most preseason polls and 12-1 for the season, they have limped to a 17-12 record with a poor 7-10 record in Big East play. A team with sure-to-be 2012 lottery picks Jeremy Lamb and Andre Drummond should not be having the problems they are. Yet they are going to have to make a Big East tournament run like last year to get in the tourney. Someone get Kemba a jersey quick.

10. Who will win Coach of the Year?
By now the candidates have basically all separated themselves with their team's play. In my eyes I believe Frank Haith or Mike Brey has to win the National Coach of the Year award. Haith was seen as a 'bad hire' for the Missouri Tigers and upon arriving in Columbia he lost his big man Laurence Bowers for the entire season. Didn't matter. His Tigers are a Top 10 team. Brey's situation is different. He lost several quality players from last year's team and then his best player this year, Tim Abromitis, was lost to injury. Despite that, Brey has led the Irish to a 20-10 record and should have them dancing.

I firmly believe there is no postseason better than college basketball. Conference tournaments will begin next week and then March 10th is Selection Sunday. If some of these questions are answered then filling out a bracket will be much easier. However, the unpredictability of the tournament is why we call it March Madness. So let the Madness begin.

Top 5 Toughest College Basketball Venues to Play In

If I were to take a poll of all the athletes in high school or older, and ask them if they’d rather play a home game or away game, almost 100% would say that they would rather play in their own house. It’s a no-brainer; you know the playing surface better, and you don’t have to deal with any traveling. Yet, for me, and the conference I play in, possibly the most intimidating factor of an away game is the student section that shows up. I’ve played in gyms where there were 600 students yelling right in my ear and riding me the whole game. Say what you want about “blocking out the crowd”, but after awhile you can’t help but hear them try to get under your skin.

You see it all the time in college sports as well. The Cameron Crazies, the Izzone, and many other student sections around the nation instill fear in every team that comes into their gym or arena. Chants, trash talk, and just general hysteria can affect a player. Here’s a look at the top five venues that I believe are the toughest to play in if you’re an NCAA college basketball player.

1. Cameron Indoor – 737-150. That’s the record the Duke Blue Devils have accumulated since Cameron Indoor opened in 1935. One of the most storied programs plays in one of the smallest gyms. It also is home to the Cameron Crazies who don’t hesitate make sure their presence is felt the minute warm-ups start. Everyone’s decked out in Duke gear and even some of the alumni come back and fill the seats behind the hoops. The hardest part of playing their might have to be taking the ball out of bounds on the sideline where the Crazies are standing. The minute you cross that sideline, hundreds of hands are pointed right at your face, as close as mere inches behind your head while their voices are ringing in your ears. The Crazies give their players that much more confidence and clearly cement their spot as being part of the number one venue that’s toughest to play in.

2. Allen Field House (The “Phog”) – The Big 12 as I knew it doesn’t really exist anymore, but back when it did, Kansas was nearly unbeatable at the Phog. Losing only twice in 45 games hosted by the Jayhawks, the Phog has become a place few athletes on visiting teams enjoy playing in. Banners from recent years fill the rafters and the students all around the arena are screaming out the “Rock, Chalk” chant. It’s one of the most original and impressive chants college basketball has to offer and it’s tough to top the tradition that the Jayhawks have created in the Phog.

3. Rupp Arena – I’ll be the first to say that I’m not a fan of Kentucky at all. They’re stubborn and make excuses for everything that doesn’t go their way (stereotypically speaking). But those darn Wildcat fans know how to get the job done. Rupp Arena’s been open for 35 years now and the Wildcats have lost 65 games while winning 465 and John Calipari has yet to lose a game in the storied arena. Blue banners line the rafters of the arena and a sea of blue circles the hardwood. Loud from start to finish, UK fans arrive early and stay late. They’ll bash anybody they can whether it’s opposing players, opposing coaches, or the refs. They’ll chant what they want, when they want, and don’t care about anything but the Wildcats coming out on top. Combine that with the swag that Kentucky’s young team plays with and you’ve got an arena that’s not easy to play in.

4. The Kohl Center – Surprised? Wisconsin’s not a perennial top 10 team, they haven’t been to a Final Four in 11 years, and they won’t lead the nation in scoring, rebounds, or assists. So what makes Wisconsin so tough to play against at home? Try the record of 155-12 that Bo Ryan has racked up since taking over the Badgers. At one point, back in 2008, the Badgers had a home win streak of 38 games. The Badgers simply don’t lose at home. They’re fans are there and support the team, but they aren’t necessarily anything special, not when compared to the Cameron Crazies or the students of KU. However, Wisconsin is guaranteed to put on a show for their hometown fans which means the visiting team better be ready for a fight.

5. Carrier Dome -- Doubling as a football and basketball facility, the Carrier Dome on the campus of Syracuse University is one of the largest college basketball venues. The Dome holds the college basketball attendance record of 34,616 back in 2010 when Syracuse defeated Villanova. With orange everywhere and so many people, 'Cuse is hard to bring down on it's home court. Although much of the space in the Dome goes unused during basketball contests the place can still be deafening and the sheer size of the building is intimidating. There are plenty of tough places to play in the Big East but the Carrier Dome is at the top.

There are many more arenas that are difficult to play in, but these five are the toughest and the teams have demonstrated it with their records. The unique thing about college basketball is that the arenas are indoors and the seating is close to the floor. Unlike football, the student sections are right on top of the players, and because it's indoors, the noise is contained inside. This is a topic that could be debated hard so if you have a different take feel free to comment with your thoughts.

Doing the NCAA Conference Shakeup

Texas vs. Texas A&M could be another rivalry lost

Have you ever played the game of Dominoes? Line them up, push one over and watch them all fall down. None of them will be left standing. With Texas A&M's recent announcement, it seems the Big 12 conference has become a game of Dominoes. Colorado was the first, then Nebraska and now the Aggies are determined to get out. They have set July 2012 as their deadline to leave and the preferred destination would be the football juggernaut, SEC. With only nine teams left, the most pertinent question is not where will A&M end up, but what will happen to the Big 12 conference? It is one of the most storied conferences in America and is rich with rivalries and great teams, both in basketball and football. One rivalry (Oklahoma-Nebraska) has already been lost and, with A&M's departure, it seems that the century-old Texas-Texas A&M in-state battle will be lost. The Big 12 isn't the only conference that has seen change, but it has taken the hardest hit from all the shuffling. The madness has to stop somewhere but the end doesn't seem to be near.

Money is the driving factor in all these conference moves. It's sad that rivalries and tradition seem to be lost and conferences really mean nothing anymore. Nebraska-Indiana will be such a good rivalry and everyone will want to watch that game. Yeah right. Take a look at the Huskers football schedule this year and you won't see Oklahoma. The two teams first played each other in 1912 and it developed into one of the biggest rivalries in the Midwest. Last year was the last meeting between the two and now Nebraska will begin their inaugural season in the Big Ten conference (which has 12 teams). Sure, the Huskers matchups against Wisconsin, Ohio State and Michigan are appealing but it's not the same as games against Texas, Oklahoma and Missouri.

Go ahead and quiz your parents and see if they can name all the schools in the six major conferences. Things have changed so much I doubt anybody could do it. The Big Ten has twelve teams while the Big 12 currently has ten teams. The Pac-10 is all of a sudden the Pac-12 and the ACC went from nine to twelve teams a few years back. The Big East now has 17 teams that somehow all fit into one division. Talk about a scheduling nightmare for some poor guy. And then there are the geographical head scratchers that these moves have done. Here are a few for you to ponder:

• TCU recently joined the Big East despite being located in Fort Worth, Texas. They will now have to travel 1,700+ miles to Providence, Rhode Island to play the Friars.
• The Pac-12 used to be made up of teams that were located on, where else, the Pacific Coast. Now it stretches all the way to Boulder, Colorado
• The Atlantic-10 actually consists of 14 teams and stretches all the way to Saint Louis, Missouri
• Louisiana Tech is in the same conference as Hawai'i which makes for one of the farthest travels in college sports

Some of these things just make no sense at all. Why the changes? If it ain't broke don't fix it. Yet these schools feel the constant need for change and it hurts the game. Notre Dame has rejected offers from the Big Ten multiple times to join the conference as the 12th member and I, personally, applaud them for that. They can stay independent for football and maintain all their rivalries they have today. It's better for them and it's better for their opponents. It's too bad schools like Nebraska and A&M don't see that way.

I can't say I'm excited about any of these moves but this is the way it is so here is what I propose. The Big 12 needs to dissolve because there aren't three teams out there in a smaller conference worthy of the Big 12. Utah, TCU and Boise State would be the only ones but they have all recently moved and are under other contracts. Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma will move to the Pac-12 giving it 16 teams and Missouri, Iowa State, Kansas State and Kansas will go to the Big Ten, giving it 16 teams as well. That leaves Baylor to find another conference and who knows what that will be. It's all a jumbled mess and it's taken some of the magic from college football and basketball. Good thing I can flip on ESPN Classic to see the past that I loved.

Final Four Promises to Be Wild

Shaka Smart and VCU

With Kentucky's victory over North Carolina, the 2011 Final Four has been set and, boy, is it a wild one. There has never been a field like this, without a 1 or 2 seed, and the overall seed number is 26. Two mid-majors will play each other and the other game will feature two traditional powers. The Final Four will be filled with great players and, if the first four rounds have proved anything, the remaining three games should be crazy. Connecticut is entering their third Final Four since 1999 while Kentucky is in their first since 98, the longest draught in school history. Everyone knows the story of Butler from 2010 and here they are again for the second year in a row, something a mid-major hasn't done since UNLV in the early 90's. Perhaps even more surprising than Butler's story is the unbelievable run of VCU. The Rams were blasted when they got an at-large bid because people thought they shouldn't even have made the tournament but, five games later, they have punched their ticket to Houston.

It's an odd bracket because one game is two powerhouse schools who are no stranger to the Final Four. The other game is two mid-majors who have beaten teams from power conferences and proved the talking heads wrong game after game. Kentucky and Connecticut is a game of two very athletic teams with point guards that are playing great at the moment. Kemba Walker has been Top Dog all year for UConn and in tourney time he has flourished, averaging 27 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists. You can go ahead and hand him the Player of the Year award now. Kentucky's point guard is making his name known as well though. Freshman, Brandon Knight, has knocked down two game-winners and dropped 30 points in the Cats win over West Virginia. That will definitely be a matchup to watch. For UConn they will need to keep going to their bread and butter of Walker and freshman, Jeremy Lamb. Those two have combined to score 70 points of the team's points in the last three games. Nobody has stopped them yet but UK has plenty of time to gameplan for them. For Kentucky, they need Knight to have one of his better scoring games and Josh Harrellson to keep playing at the high level he is. The senior had 12 points and 8 rebounds against North Carolina in the Elite 8 and he brings the energy to a young Cat attack.

Butler celebrates

Raise your hand if you had VCU and Butler playing in the Final Four...that's what I thought-not a soul. Who could have predicted this? Both schools took down a number one seed and now they will meet in Houston for the right to go to the championship game. For once, people may pick Butler to win the game but not so fast. Shaka Smart and the Rams aren't just beating people, they are killing them. Every single one of VCU's victories is by double digits except for one. They have won five games so far and have beaten teams from the Pac-10, Big East, Big Ten, ACC and Big 12. Were they to beat Butler and then defeat Kentucky in the championship game that would be seven schools from seven different conferences that they defeated. Yet, the bright lights of the Final Four may be the death of them. It's a hard setting to play in and for a team new to it all it can be hard to compete in that big of an environment. Butler has been there, done that and Matt Howard and Shelvin Mack are playing great at the moment. It's almost strange that Butler isn't the underdog in an NCAA Tournament game. They have been plowing through bigger and better teams for two years now but now they face a team seeded 11th. They have mastered the role of David but how will they be when they have play Goliath?

Can Walker continue his magic?

The best moment caught on camera for this tournament has to be the face of VCU's Jamie Skeen after the final buzzer in the Elite 8 victory over number one Kansas. Skeen is standing there awestruck and can only offer a smile for the camera as he stands there probably pinching himself to make sure it was real. The Rams are the second 11th seed and second Colonial Athletic Association team to qualify for the Final Four since 2006 when George Mason had their incredible run. What's amazing about VCU's path to Houston is that they have looked so dominant. They took it right at Kansas and the Jayhawks played from behind most of the game. Even when KU made a run the Rams didn't falter. They always found a way to pull ahead again and that's the mark of a great team. Their full court press has been deadly for opponents, causing 69 turnovers in five games. Fans may not like that two mid-majors are playing each other in the Final Four but the game promises to be a good one.

Knight and Harrellson

Everyone knew going in that this tournament was going to be unpredictable and if you want proof of how unpredictable it really was then go the NCAA Tournament home page on ESPN.com. Of all the "experts" only Jay Bilas and Jay Williams got a Final Four pick right. Both of them picked UConn. Other than that there were no correct picks. That is why March Madness is, and always will be, the greatest thing sports has. An 11 seed, 8 seed, 4 seed and 3 seed will make their way down to Houston to play in the craziest Final Four in a long time. I'm not going to even attempt to predict who will win these final three games because so far it is just too unpredictable to even make a prediction. However, this much is true, it has been one wild tournament up to this point so the ending should be the wildest of them all.

Breaking Down the Brackets

How late were you up last night? The NCAA bracket was announced and, more than ever, this one will be hard to pick. Much has been said about the selection committee and their logic in letting Virginia Commonwealth and UAB in and keeping Virginia Tech and Colorado. To me, if I could pick one word to describe this tournament it would be mediocre. There are so many mediocre teams and teams with the same talent level that the tournament doesn't have nearly the same star power that it normally boasts. Is that bad? No, not in my mind, because the teams are so evenly matched that there could be more instant classics than ever and people better have some upsets picked because these so-called "big schools" aren't head and shoulders above the mid-majors. Also, there are so many schools from power conferences with low seeds that they may be able to turn it on and win a few games. But, let's take a look at the bracket and I'll tell you what games to watch for, players to keep an eye on, who to pick and who to avoid picking.

Games to Watch

East Region: (6) Xavier vs. (11) Marquette

Marquette comes from the powerful Big East but they barely squeaked in. Xavier has been a power from the Atlantic-10 and despite not winning the conference tournament comes in with a 24-7 record. Marquette is 20-14 but has played a loaded Big East schedule. Both teams play solid defense and we shouldn't expect a high scoring game. Jimmy Butler (16.0 ppg, 6.1 rpg) is superb for the Golden Eagles and Tu Holloway (20.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 5.5 apg) is a dynamite little guard. You can pick either team here and feel good about it because both are solid teams.

East Region: (8) George Mason vs. (9) Villanova

Two teams going in opposite directions in this game. George Mason won 16 of their last 17 games while Villanova lost 10 of their last 15. We all remember George Mason's magical run to the Final Four in 2006 and no one is counting them out this year. Definitely pick them to win this game but it should be a thriller. Nova has had time to practice and coach Jay Wright says they have had good practices and they're ready to go. They better be because Mason is for real.

West Region: (4) Texas vs. (13) Oakland

Texas is playing great basketball right now and I wouldn't expect many people to pick against them. I'm not but I will say this game could be a good one. A scary one too for those who have Texas going deep into the tournament. The Horns are young with several talented players. Tristan Thompson and Jordan Hamilton are hard to stop and Texas has four players who average double figures. For Oakland, keep your eye on Keith Benson who averages a double-double. Three other players are in double figures and this could be a possible upset.

Southwest Region: (8) UNLV vs. (9) Illinois

The Illini limped into the NCAA Tournament and should feel fortunate to be a nine seed. Many were expecting a much lower seed but they do have a very tough opponent in UNLV. Lon Kruger will face his former team and the Runnin' Rebels are favored in this game. They have wins over Wisconsin, Virginia Tech and Kansas State this year and Illinois comes into the game losing four of their last six. Demetri McCamey will have to play well for the Illini to move on, but that's not always a given.

Southeast Region: (5) Kansas State vs. (12) Utah State

Utah State should feel cheated by the seed they received after posting a 30-3 record and winning the WAC but it is what it is and they must prepare for a Kansas State team who, after struggling in the middle of the season, has turned it around and is playing their best basketball. This is probably one of the hardest games to pick but Utah State could be that Cinderella team that every bracket has. Frank Martin will have Jacob Pullen and the Wildcats ready to go and we should be treated to a great game.

Players to Watch

Kemba Walker, guard, Connecticut: We all know about Kemba and there is not a hotter player in the nation right now than him. He led the Huskies through the Big East conference tournament, winning five games in five days. He averaged 38 minutes in the five games and for the year he put up 23 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists.

Jimmer Fredette, guard, BYU: Jimmer-mania could take over March and it will have to if BYU is going to advance past the first weekend. Without Brandon Davies the Cougars rely even more heavily on Fredette but the man just keeps producing. He dropped 52 points in the mountain West semi-finals and in the second round he will need a big effort against either Gonzaga or St. John's.

Jon Diebler, guard, Ohio State: The overall number one seed is the most complete team and Diebler is a big reason why they are winning and winning big. He is such a deadly three point shooter, shooting nearly 50% from deep. His shooting stretches out the defense and allows Jared Sullinger to go to work down low.

Like I said before, this bracket is not a good one. It is filled with bad teams and resembles an NIT bracket but the games should be highly competitive. As always, expect upsets and there really isn't a lock for four Final Four teams. The four number one seeds seem good enough but remember, only one time has that happened. Also, some teams that people would want to pick are not hot at the moment such as Villanova or Illinois. Mid-majors are stronger than ever and this March should be excited. Here are some stats that you may want to know while you pick your bracket. All stats are since 2005 when the Big East expanded

Final Four teams by conference/National Champions by conference

ACC 4/3

Big East 5

Big Ten 5

Big 12 1/1

Pac 10 3

SEC 3/2

Colonial 1

C-USA 1

Horizon 1

Final Four by Seeds

1. 11 teams

2. 5 teams

3. 2 teams

4. 2 teams

5. 3 teams

11. 1 team

3/14 Upsets--3 times  4/13 Upsets--6 times  5/12 Upsets--9 times  6/11 Upsets--9 times

As you can see, people talk a lot about the 5/12 upset but there have been just as many 6/11 upsets. If there were to be any 5/12 upsets this year I would look at Richmond beating Vanderbilt, Clemson over West Virginia or Utah State over Kansas State. Missouri is an 11 seed that could upset Cincinnati at the six spot and be careful of picking Georgetown. USC or VCU could be primed for an upset. We have already mentioned Marquette and Xavier's matchup as well.

As always, it will be an exciting time starting Thursday and people will be mad because their bracket is busted but, hey, this is March Madness and it is the most fun time of the sports year. For my Final Four I have settled in on Ohio State, Texas, Kansas and Pittsburgh but that will probably change before Thursday. That's the fun of it, trying to figure out who to pick. No matter who you do pick though you will always second guess yourself and that's when we say, "Let the Madness begin!"