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.

A Rare Final Four Caps College Basketball Season

And now for the grand finale. In a season of twists and turns and unpredictability, the NCAA
Tournament has fit right in with the regular season's drama and rollercoaster ride. The dust has now settled after two weekends of bracket busting and the Final Four is set with blue-blood North Carolina, basically first-timer Oregon and newbies South Carolina and Gonzaga.

Raise your hand if you picked that Final Four.

This Final Four feels different than most and that's because it is. Final Fours like this one don't come around often. In fact, they are so rare that the younger generation has never seen anything like this before. It's been 20 years since two teams west of the Mississippi River qualified for the national semifinals. The last time it happened was 1998 when Mike Montgomery and Rick Majerus took Stanford and Utah, respectively, into San Antonio. Enter Oregon and Gonzaga.

The Ducks have flirted with the Final Four before under Dana Altman's watch and after toppling Kansas in Kansas City, they seem primed for a title run. All that stands in their way is North Carolina, a team on a mission after last year's heartbreak courtesy of Kris Jenkins and Villanova. The Tar Heels survived a scare from Arkansas in the second round and Luke Maye carved out his spot in Carolina lore with his game-winner against Kentucky in the Elite 8. Mission nearly complete.

The two will fight for the right to move to the title game. North Carolina has been to the Final Four six times since 2000 and won two titles in the span. The last time Oregon was in the Final Four the championship game was played in Evanston, Illinois, FDR was only halfway through his Presidency and the Yankees were starting a World Series season with featured superstar Joe DiMaggio. Oregon won the title during that 1939 season, which was the first NCAA Tournament ever held.

On the other side it's a whole new world for both programs. South Carolina came out of nowhere, defeating Duke in the second round and defeating Florida in the Elite 8. Frank Martin has the Gamecocks playing lockdown defense, but they will have to handle a Gonzaga team that has only one loss this season and finally broke through after years of second weekend exits.

In 1999, Gonzaga made a run to the Elite 8 as a 10 seed and since then they have appeared in seven Sweet 16's and two Elite 8's. Mark Few now has the Bulldogs in the Final Four with a legitimate shot at a national championship. This is for all the former lovable Zags who came up a bit short (Casey Calvary, Dan Dickau, Derek Raivio, Adam Morrison, Jeremy Pargo).

This Final Four is college basketball parity at its finest. Duke, Kansas, Kentucky and others are watching at home while three new teams take the big stage. Complain if you want that South Carolina is unappealing to watch, Gonzaga got an easy road or that Oregon's jerseys are too much for the eyes. The point is this: this Final Four sums up why March Madness is just that - madness.

Significant history will be made and college basketball is a winner once again. In a season that has given us so many surprises, what else did you expect out of the tournament?

5 Things to Watch Before March Madness

Cleanthony Early of Wichita State

It doesn't seem that long ago that we were full from the Thanksgiving feasts and settling in for a day of hoops on television during the Maui Invitational. Nor does it seem that long ago that a trio of freshmen introduced themselves to the nation at the United Center in front of a worldwide audience on ESPN. However, that was November and the Madness is quickly approaching.

Plenty has happened since the beginning of the season: Duke and Syracuse have treated us to a couple of thrillers, Jim Boeheim lost his mind and couldn't get his jacket off, Sean Miller has Arizona rolling out west and those Wichita State Shockers have a goose egg in the loss column. Still, there are still some things to keep an eye on before Selection Sunday. Here's a few storylines to watch before The Big Dance.

1. Can Wichita State enter the tournament undefeated?
The Shockers are a win against Missouri State away from finishing the regular season undefeated. No matter what conference a team is in, that is an unbelievable accomplishment. But can Wichita State enter the tournament undefeated? Thinking back to 2004, the St. Joseph's Hawks, led by Jameer Nelson and Delonte West, completed the regular season undefeated, only to lose in the Atlantic 10 tournament. The Shockers will have to win three games in the Missouri Valley tournament to enter the tourney with an unblemished record. Wichita State winning the conference tournament also has an effect on the NCAA Tournament because if they were to lose then that would mean another MVC team who wouldn't be getting in now would steal a bid from somebody.

2. How will Oklahoma State finish the season?
It's been a rollercoaster ride for Travis Ford and the Oklahoma State Cowboys this season. At the beginning of the season many people, including us at The World of Wadley, though the Pokes would unseat Kansas from the Big 12 throne, but they have been dreadful since late-January, going 2-7. OK State is currently 18-10 overall, but just 6-9 in the Big 12. Still, the conference is so balanced this year, the Cowboys will most likely make the tournament. There's no room for slip-ups though and that is a tall task. The remaining three games on the regular season schedule are Kansas, Kansas State and Iowa State. Good luck with that.

3. Who will come out on top in the tough Big Ten?
The Big Ten has been a tough conference to figure out this season, but figures to get about six teams into the Dance. As of now, Michigan is atop the standings at 12-3, but Michigan State is one game back at 11-4 and Wisconsin is still in the hunt at 10-5. Michigan has a pretty favorable schedule with home games against Minnesota and Indiana and a road contest at Illinois. Wisconsin's is also favorable with games against Penn State, Purdue and Nebraska. Meanwhile, the Spartans must finish the year with Illinois, Iowa and Ohio State. It would appear that Michigan could and should win the Big Ten title.

4. Pay attention to the Mountain West Conference tournament final
This is assuming a lot of things, but if the top two teams in the conference square off for the conference tournament title then it will be a dandy between San Diego State and New Mexico. The Aztecs are 23-3 and have spent some time in the top 10 this year. New Mexico, under first year coach Craig Neal, are 23-5 and defeated SDSU back on February 22. That game was in Albuquerque and got a little chippy after the final horn. It's worth noting that these two teams finish the regular season with a game in San Diego on March 8. Potentially two more games between these two is a real treat for college basketball fans.

5. Watch the Missouri-Tennessee game on March 8
Both the Tigers and Volunteers are bubble teams and finish the regular season with a head-to-head matchup in Knoxville. In Joe Lunardi's latest Bracketology he has Tennessee as one of the last four in and Mizzou as one of the first four out. Obviously, both teams need to take care of business before this game and, if they do, their matchup will have a big effect on the NCAA Tournament. Both teams are more than capable of winning a game in the Dance.

Appreciate the Under-Appreciated: AJ McCarron Takes His Final Bow

He's won three National Championships, but he doesn't have the personality to earn him twenty minutes of air-time on an hour-long Sportscenter. He finished second in the Heisman voting this year, but you wouldn't find him speaking out to reporters. He's AJ McCarron, and he's as professional as they come. So why has the Alabama quarterback seemed to come and go without ever really getting the recognition he deserves? Don't be fooled, he's been on national radar as one of, if not the best, quarterbacks in the country and has led the Crimson Tide to historic success. He has not flown under the radar completely, but he's not as popular to the press as the colorful Johnny Manziel or the young phenom Jameis Winston. I'm sure if you asked him, he wouldn't care one bit. But it's time for us as football fans to care, because tonight will be the final time we'll have the chance to watch one of the best quarterbacks in Alabama history don the crimson and white.

McCarron has enjoyed stellar success at Alabama

With the Sugar Bowl only minutes away, take the time to notice just how fun it has been to watch McCarron these past few years. He led the SEC in pass completion percentage in 2011, boasting a 66.8%, and, not counting tonight, has completed 67% of his passes throughout his collegiate career which places him third all time in the SEC. To put that in perspective, McCarron has attempted over 305 passes each of the past three years. Efficient might be an understatement.

But with all that in mind, AJ McCarron has never really racked up gaudy numbers. He's only ever led the conference in passing efficiency rating and adjusted passing yards per attempted, both of which he finished first in 2012. Yet people have tended to get so caught up in the individual statistics nowadays. All the talk about Johnny Manziel's numbers compared to his numbers from last year is justifiable and well-deserved. After all the kid IS one of the best quarterbacks in the game, but what has his TEAM done? Texas A&M did not reach a BCS bowl game and finished outside of the top 20. AJ McCarron's team? Just barely missing yet another National Championship yet boasting a 36-3 record with McCarron as its starter. What McCarron has done at Alabama is nothing short of amazing and should be treasured while it culminates with yet another BCS bowl appearance tonight.

The AJs of Alabama

Yet it's more than football when it comes to McCarron's career. And no, that's not a reference to his relationship with Katherine Webb. In a special segment done during the pregame just minutes ago we had the chance to see the relationship McCarron has with the team's assistant equipment manager, AJ Starr. Their friendship started when Starr missed a campus shuttle in 2011, only to be asked by the starting quarterback if he needed a ride. With so many school records, and so many people wanting to talk to McCarron, their was no sense of ego and no sense of misplaced pride. Starr, who lives with cerebral palsy, noted in the segment that it was tough for him to make friends while at school and yet it was the most popular kid on campus who finally reached out to the struggling Starr. It presented the college football world with an image of McCarron that was grounded and human. It's more than just football, it's more than just sport. AJ McCarron is someone that should be remembered just as much for his character and professionalism as he should for his historic performances on the gridiron.

So with that we come to tonight. The stage is set for the 2013 Sugar Bowl where McCarron will suit up one last time for Alabama as they attempt to take down the Sooners of Oklahoma. It's just one more game for McCarron to prove he's one of the best to ever play in an Alabama uniform and another three hours of must-watch television. AJ McCarron's as good as they come and whether you're a fan of Alabama or not, you have to appreciate the player that McCarron has been. We may not see another winner like this young man for quite some time.

Johnny Manziel Has Some Growing Up To Do

Johnny Manziel may be the biggest star in the history of college sports. That sounds crazy to say, but it might be true. Tim Tebow was pretty big during his time at Florida, but Johnny Football completely took over the college football universe during his Heisman Trophy-winning freshman season. Since delivering his acceptance speech he has done anything, but fade away from the national spotlight. He has basked in it and become the center of it -- and not always for the right reasons. Once again, Manziel finds himself in the middle of controversy this week and it begs the question: is Johnny Football's star too bright for the college ranks?

Manziel is a 20-year-old sophomore at Texas A&M and burst on to the national scene after a November 10th upset of No. 1 Alabama. Johnny Football carved up the Tide, completing 24 of 31 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 92 yards. The Aggies jumped on 'Bama early, leading 20-0 after the first quarter and then holding off a rally at the end, winning 29-24. The legend was born on the night and Manziel would go on to be the first freshman to hoist the Heisman in New York City.

After winning the award Manziel and the Aggies still had business to take care of against Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl. No problem. Manziel looked like he was on another planet, setting a Cotton Bowl record with 516 total yards and leading A&M to a 41-13 pounding over the Sooners. Manziel didn't just score four touchdowns (two in the air, two on the ground), he showboated his way to all four. With every score the taunting grew and this was a kid who couldn't be stopped.

He also can't be stopped off the field. It's a problem. After winning the Heisman, Manziel appeared at several NBA games courtside and in the locker room with stars like LeBron James and James Harden after the games. There may actually be nothing wrong with that, but it seems highly suspicious. Manziel can't accept any gifts or benefits so, in order to go to those games, his family would have to buy the tickets. That may have happened, but who knows. It's controversy that Texas A&M doesn't want or need.

He also has a June 2012 arrest on his record and has countless photos of his partying stacked up against him. He's a 20-year-old college student. I get that. 20-year-old college students go out and party. However, Manziel is not your typical 20-year-old college student. He's different and he needs to hold himself to a higher standard. That might mean cutting out the partying and avoiding controversy at all costs.

Avoiding controversy for Manziel is no small task though. Earlier this summer he caused a stir by tweeting, "Bulls--t like tonight is the reason why I can't wait to leave College Station... Whenever it may be." The tweet was deleted not long after it was sent, but sources later said it was influenced by a parking violation he received. This past week Manziel was back in the headlines after he left Manning Camp early. Several media outlets reported that he was hungover and had been partying, but the Manning family denied those reports saying he was ill and dehydrated. Manziel has since apologized to Texas A&M for his early departure and was reportedly upset that he had to leave. Again, maybe he really was sick, but it seems highly suspicious. And the only reason it seems suspicious is because Manziel has created his own reputation.

Life is going to change very soon for Johnny Manziel. He wants out of College Station and guess what -- that's potentially just a year away. Then he can go to the NFL, make millions of dollars and either be a star like he should be or fade into obscurity and continue being a clown. A year may seem like a long time, but it's really not when you have as much maturing to do as Manziel does. He's like the real-life Peter Pan -- The Boy Who Never Grew Up.

Let's not give the kid a pass and say, "Well he's just 20 years old. Of course he's not mature yet." How long are we going to make that excuse for him? For his sake when is someone going to sit him down and tell him exactly what he needs to hear? He's not a kid anymore and that's just the way it is. If he doesn't like the spotlight and attention then stop playing football, but as long as he is in the spotlight he needs to grow up and carry himself in a more positive manner.

One of the best parts about Manziel's football game is his ability to scramble out of trouble. It also seems to be a skill he has adapted to his life. Time and again, he scrambles out of trouble, but that isn't going to happen much longer. And when he can no longer scramble out of the mess he's made for himself it could cause him to lose millions of dollars and years of fame and then he will really find out how bright the spotlight can be. It's time to grow up Johnny.

5 Things to Watch Before March Madness

The Madness came long before the calendar even thought about turning to March this year. College basketball has been a roller coaster ride this season with the unexpected happening more often than the expected. Top teams have fallen weekly and the polls are littered with so-called "mid-majors." There is still plenty of time before the actual March Madness starts, but here are five things to keep an eye on as the regular season winds down.

1. Which Big Ten team will be hot at the end of the season?

The Big Ten is hands down the best conference in the nation and it's not really close. They have four teams that could qualify for the Final Four and three more that have the potential to make the Sweet 16. As of now, Indiana and Michigan State are tied atop the standings at 10-2, but Wisconsin (8-3), Michigan (8-4) and Ohio State (7-4) are all in striking distance. The reality is that any team could win the regular season or the conference tournament. They are that even this year. Consider that two weeks ago Michigan was the #1 team in the nation, but Tuesday night they were absolutely dismantled by Michigan State. Indiana has looked great most of the year, but they are vulnerable and it showed in their loss to Illinois. Speaking of the Illini, they are the biggest mystery in college basketball. They have arguably the best set of wins in the country, but they have terrible losses as well. With a conference that is so tough the team that is hot at the end of the year will be the one that wins the tournament and advances to the Final Four.

2. Miami is the real deal...so far
The Hurricanes have reached number three in the polls and are a perfect 11-0 in the ACC. They have defeated Michigan State, Duke and they swept the season series against North Carolina. Looking at the rest of their schedule, there is only one test remaining. That test, however, is a major one. On March 2 the Canes will travel into Cameron Indoor and try to knock off the Dukies for the second time this season. The strange thing about Miami is that they do not rank higher than fifth in any major statistical category among ACC teams besides steals (3rd) and blocks (2nd). However, they have a steady point guard in Shane Larkin and a coach who knows how to win in Jim Larranaga. Up to this point the Canes have given us no reason to not believe in them.

3. Don't sleep on the Florida Gators
With all the talk surrounding the Big Ten, the usual hype about Duke and the lovable mid-majors such as Butler and Gonzaga steamrolling the competition, it is easy to forget about the Florida Gators. The SEC is down this year with Kentucky not living up to expectations and Missouri playing inconsistent basketball, but Florida has been great all year long and may wind up in Atlanta. In their four wins against ranked opponents the Gators have won by an average of 20 points per game. They reeled off ten straight wins from December 29-February 2 and are undefeated at home. Need a reason for the success? Take note of the 49 percent team field goal percentage which is good for seventh in the nation. They have four players that average double figures and shoot the ball well from long range. One other note to consider while picking your bracket this year: only five coaches have taken one program to the Elite 8 five times since 2000. Billy Donovan is one of them.

4. Will Ryan Kelly be healthy for Duke's tournament run?
Let's be honest. The Duke Blue Devils are a good team with or without Ryan Kelly, but obviously Coach K would benefit from having him back in the lineup. Duke was 15-0 before Kelly injured his foot and since then they have compiled a 7-2 record. Kelly is a versatile forward with the ability to go inside or out. He is averaging a career-high for points with 13.4 and is shooting a staggering 52 percent from three point land. He also averages five boards and shoots nearly 80 percent from the free throw line. Duke is a good team without Kelly, but they are a great team with him. He is expected to return soon, and if he can get healthy before the tournament then the Blue Devils should play deep into March.

5. Is Arizona as good as their #9 ranking indicates?
The Wildcats are 20-3 this season and have an impressive non-conference resume. They defeated Florida, Miami and San Diego State before entering Pac-12 play, but that's where things have gotten a bit murky. The Pac-12 is not a strong conference this season, but 'Zona has gone 8-3 in league play. Sean Miller's crew started the New Year off on the wrong foot by narrowly beating mediocre Colorado in a controversial finish, nearly losing to lowly Utah and then losing their first game of the season to Oregon. There's no doubt that Arizona is a good team and their 20-3 record clearly illustrates that, but they have not always been impressive. They have fared well against non-conference foes, but will they be able to make a run in March against stiff competition?

There is plenty else to watch as this wild season progresses, but these are five story lines worth mentioning. In a season where there is so much uncertainty it is difficult to predict a winner, but the hot team usually wins. In 2011 Connecticut looked awful during the regular season, but got hot at the right time and wound up winning it all. There could be a team with a similar run this season. The Madness is already upon us, but when March hits we can expect things to get even crazier. Buckle up.

"If this was a prize fight they would have called it off"

Brent Musberger couldn't have said it better after Alabama scored at one point in the second half. The Crimson Tide rolled all over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in route to their third title in four years. It's a dynasty that hasn't been seen since the Nebraska teams of the late 90's and the scary thing is that like Kirk Herbstreit said, they might only be in the middle of it.

It was over after the first quarter as Bama led 21-0 and at halftime Brian Kelly seemed to be searching for answers just like the rest of America during an interview with Heather Cox. The reality seems to be if you give Nick Saban over a month to prepare for a game then he will make sure his team is ready and they will dominate the competition. We have seen it two years in a row and there's little reason to think that it won't continue.


The SEC has won the last seven national titles and they have a choke hold on the college football scene. Has their ever been a run this impressive by one conference in any sport? It would be tough to think of one. The idea that the SEC championship is the national championship has never seemed truer. It's also never seemed more obvious that a playoff system is needed in college football.

However, don't take that last statement as a slight to Notre Dame. The Irish deserved to be in the championship game after an undefeated season and people who argue that Oregon or Kansas State should have been in the title game must remember that no matter the schedules, those teams cost themselves the chance. They didn't do what was necessary to be in the title game and Notre Dame did. That said, it's still a better idea to do a playoff and thankfully college football has one coming soon.

I would imagine the television ratings plummeted in the second half as the Tide clearly had the game wrapped up. Fans complain that there hasn't been a good national title game in a few years and while a playoff won't be fool proof it certainly will put two teams in the championship that have won their way there in a playoff fashion that we are accustomed to in America.

When the playoff system is implemented don't be surprised if these two teams go head-to-head again. Both schools bring in remarkable recruiting classes and Notre Dame is still in the process of coming back on the national scene. This year, despite the blowout, will no doubt help the recruiting as the Irish finished undefeated in the regular season and Manti Te'o finished runner-up in the Heisman Trophy voting.

Hate on ND or Bama all you want, but the reality is that the game is better when both of them are good. They are the traditional titans of college football and they bring in the money for the sport. Their simultaneous greatness will help the sport as times do seem tumultuous with conference realignment and other money-hungry issues dominating the headlines.

With a playoff system on the brink, we can hope that routine beatdowns in the national title game are in the rear view mirror, but with the way Alabama looked Monday night in Miami, maybe that's not a sure thing.

Calipari May Finally Have the Right Bunch for Title Run

Since John Calipari was lured away from Memphis to be the King of Kentucky he has easily had the most impressive run of recruiting in recent memory. For three years in a row he has gotten the best talent in the nation to Lexington and consequently those same players have bolted for the riches of the NBA after just one season. In two years Kentucky has had nine players drafted and that number could touch 15 after the June draft this season. Because Calipari relies on such young and inexperienced players, March has not yet yielded the ultimate result that fans in Big Blue Nation are hoping for: a national championship. The Cats fell to West Virginia in the Elite 8 in 2010 and then fell to the streaking UConn Huskies last year in the Final Four. The youth of UK has been cited as the deciding factor for both teams and many have said that unless Cal gets players who will stay a few years, Kentucky may struggle to reach the top.

This season has been no different for Kentucky as they have steamrolled opponents, won the SEC and have been frequent offenders of Sportscenter Top Plays. The freshmen are the headliners, with Anthony Davis certain to be the number one pick in June and others such as Marquis Teague and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist will certainly be drafted as well. Davis is in the Player of the Year conversation after averaging 14.3 points, 10.0 rebounds and 4.6 blocks while Kidd-Gilchrist has been impressive, averaging 11.8 points, 7.6 and 2.0 assists. Teague started slow but has improved as the season has gone on and is probably the key part to Kentucky's postseason hopes.

While the freshmen have once again been awesome for Calipari the difference this season could be the upperclassmen. Terrence Jones, Doron Lamb and Darius Miller all decided to stay on campus for at least one more year and that is the X-factor for the Cats. Whereas in the past two years UK had no experience on the roster, this season Jones, Lamb and Miller have all played in the Final Four and nothing will be new to them. It's an invaluable asset to a team and one that can't really be measured. Looking back at the last few championship teams, every single one relied on an upperclassmen as their go-to-guy. UConn went to Kemba Walker, Duke had Singler, Smith and Scheyer and North Carolina had Hansbrough. In 2003 Syracuse relied heavily on Carmelo Anthony as a freshman, but even then they had Gerry McNamara and others. The fact of the matter is this: it is hard to win six games in a row against quality opponents while playing mostly freshmen. There is just something about the veteran leadership that is essential in a win-or-go-home tournament.

I have picked UK to win the NCAA Tournament this season because they have players like Jones, Miller and Lamb. They are three guys who have been around the block and can counsel players like Davis, Teague and Kidd-Gilchrist. Perhaps Kentucky isn't battle tested due to the fact that the SEC wasn't the strongest conference, but they will face some of the toughest teams in college basketball over the course of the tournament. With the upperclassmen and freshmen combining forces, I would be surprised if John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats do not hoist the eighth championship banner in Rupp Arena next fall.

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.