The Future of NBA Point Guards is Here Now

The NBA is a point guard's league. There's no doubt about that. It's hard to win without a good floor general and a quick look down each team's roster shows that as a fact. The league is filled with great point guards right now. Chris Paul, Tony Parker and Deron Williams have been steady for years. Russell Westbrook and Derrick Rose bring an explosiveness to the position that is rarely seen and Rajon Rondo drops dimes better than anybody else. Several other point guards such as Jeff Teague, Brandon Jennings, George Hill and Mike Conley have proven themselves in recent years. All that said, in three to five years who will be headlining the point guard position? None of the players above will be going anywhere, but three fresher faces will run the show in no time at all.

Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers
If you haven't seen Irving's game yet then you must have been under a rock for the past two years. One individual can't make Cleveland forget about LeBron, but Irving is doing the best he can. The 2011-12 Rookie of the Year was magnificent in his first year, but stepped up even more this past season. He averaged 22.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game and showed a leadership that far exceeded his age. Sure, there is still some refining to be done, but we're talking about a guy in his second season who was the third-highest scoring point guard in the league. The only two ahead of him were Westbrook and Steph Curry. Irving is the nucleus of a young Cavs squad that holds the number one pick in this year's draft. They will go as far as he takes them and right now the sky is the limit.

Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers

This year's Rookie of the Year came into the league as an unknown, but is now a household name around the league. A lottery pick from Weber State, Lillard entered the NBA and did his thing right away. It was no contest for Rookie of the Year as no one came close to the impact that he had or matched his numbers of 19 points, 3.1 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game. Lillard is on a Blazers team with plenty of young talent and he gives them exactly what they were missing -- a proven point guard. And he was proven from game one. His NBA debut was against the LA Lakers and he went for 23 points while dishing out 11 assists. A month and a half later he carved up the Spurs for 29 points, seven rebounds and six assists. To cap off his stellar season he torched the Lakers once again, this time with 38 points and nine assists.

Trey Burke, soon-to-be lottery pick
Trey Burke is the best point guard in this season's NBA Draft and he will help whoever drafts him immediately. Fresh off of a dominant season at Michigan, Burke has matured into a great point guard. His decision making improved this past season and he has the intangibles that will make him an elite player. If you aren't convinced of his game or simply haven't seen him then go ahead and watch the film of Michigan's instant-classic victory in the Sweet 16 over Kansas. Burke completely took over the game and hit big shot after big shot. He's not afraid of anything and he won't be afraid of the NBA.

Almost every game puts two great point guards on the floor and the league will only improve with the entrance of Burke. It's a point guard's world and teams need one to be successful. As the league prepares for a new season the returns of Rose, Rondo and Westbrook will be highly anticipated and these three above will be watched closely. The future of the position is here now. Time to recognize.

Reaction to March Madness: Days 3 & 4

Aaron Craft's three sent the Buckeyes to the Sweet 16

The Sweet 16 is set and there are plenty of surprises after the first weekend. This tournament has lived to the hype so far. We expected it to be an unpredictable couple of weeks and it certainly has. Florida Gulf Coast, LaSalle and Wichita State are all in the Sweet 16 while Gonzaga, Georgetown and Wisconsin are already home. Bet not many people thought that would happen and it also is a clear illustrator that the Sweet 16 may not play out the way we think it will (I'm looking at you Florida). With the first weekend in the books, here's five observations from the third round.

1. Michigan has looked like one of the more impressive teams
When the brackets were announced and Michigan had VCU looming in the third round, it was an uncertainty whether or not the Wolverines would see the second weekend of March Madness. Shaka Smart's squad frustrates opponents with their Havoc defense and it seemed that if they could corral Trey Burke then they would be the victor. Not so. The Rams did force seven Burke turnovers, but it hardly mattered since VCU shot just 39 percent for the game. On top of that, Mitch McGary played the game of his life, scoring 21 points on 10-11 shooting and grabbing 14 rebounds. Michigan has dominated both of their games so far and will now get a shot at top-seeded Kansas. If McGary continues his great play then count on the Wolverines advancing.

2. Florida Gulf Coast is unlike any Cinderella we have ever seen
The Eagles run has captivated the nation and rightfully so. After all, just three years ago FGCU wasn't even a Division I program. Now, they are heading to the Sweet 16 to take on Florida after dominating Georgetown and San Diego State. We have seen magnificent Cinderella runs from Butler, George Mason and VCU, but we have not seen a run like FGCU's. The Eagles aren't just winning games -- they are dominating them. They didn't just beat Georgetown. They completely took the Hoyas out of their game and then won over the crowd by chucking alley-oops at crucial moments of the game. Same story in the San Diego State game. The Aztecs were up by one at the half, but the second half belonged to FGCU. The Eagles are making it look easy and, even better, they are making it look fun.

Sherwood Brown and FGCU made history as the first 15 seed to go to the Sweet 16

3. Safe to say the Big Ten is America's best conference
The Big Ten has been heralded as the best conference in college basketball and the debate should be settled. Of the seven Big Ten teams that qualified for the tournament four are in the Sweet 16. Illinois and Minnesota also won a game and the Illini were this close to upsetting Miami. Aaron Craft nailed a buzzer-beater to send Ohio State to the next round and Victor Oladipo's big three ensured that Indiana would not fall victim to an upset. Michigan and Michigan State have looked very impressive and, just an FYI, the four Big Ten teams are in four separate brackets. It's never happened where four teams from the same conference make the Final Four, but it's a definite possibility this season.

4. Does the committee realized how badly they messed up Oregon's seed?
Oregon won the Pac-12 tournament this season and spent plenty of time in the Top 25. They are 28-8 and yet they somehow wound up as a 12 seed. Feel bad for Oklahoma State and St. Louis because they had the misfortune of having to face the Ducks that early in the tournament. Oregon has won their two games by an average of 15 points per game and will now face a major test against Louisville. One thing is clear though: this isn't your everyday 12 seed.

5. Butler-Marquette is a budding rivalry
Butler and Marquette gave us two great games this season and next year they will be in the same conference. That's fantastic news for basketball fans after watching two thrillers this year. Butler beat Marquette on a buzzer-beater in Maui at the beginning of the season, but Marquette got their revenge in the third round of the NCAA Tournament. Once again, Butler had a shot at the buzzer, but this time it would not go and the Golden Eagles have moved on to the Sweet 16. Rivalries have to start somewhere and this is one that looks to be strong for years to come. Both teams play a tough style and are very evenly matched. Talk about good television.

It's been a great tournament so far and the rest of it promises to be just as good. The Sweet 16 gets started on Thursday and continues through Friday. The Elite 8 will be Saturday and Sunday. Below is the schedule for the Sweet 16 games.

Thursday, March 28
7:15 PM EST -- (3) Marquette vs. (2) Miami
7:47 PM EST -- (6) Arizona vs. (2) Ohio State
9:45 PM EST -- (4) Syracuse vs. (1) Indiana
10:17 PM EST -- (13) LaSalle vs. (9) Wichita State

Friday, March 29
7:15 PM EST -- (12) Oregon vs. (1) Louisville
7:37 PM EST -- (4) Michigan vs. (1) Kansas
9:45 PM EST -- (3) Michigan State vs. (2) Duke
9:57 PM EST -- (15) Florida Gulf Coast vs. (3) Florida

Reaction to March Madness: Day 1

Tommy Amaker and the Crimson are moving on

Over the course of March Madness we will post a nightly blog on the day's events and what a day we had for the opener. It started out a little slow, but looking back on it there were some thrillers and none greater than Harvard taking down New Mexico. That's the Madness we know and love and tomorrow promises some more. I watched every game today and here are eight observations I took away from day one.

1. There are no "experts" when it comes to March Madness
We already knew this from years of experience, but the New Mexico loss only enhanced that thought. For a whole week we have been listening to how this was the Lobos year, but Harvard would have none of it. I actually picked New Mexico to advance to the Final Four, but Steve Alford's squad is heading home early. The Crimson played solid the whole way and hit free throws down the stretch. They have their first NCAA Tournament win under their belt and provided the most shocking upset of the day and maybe the tournament.

2. A 16th seed just about did it...but not this time
People want to criticize Gonzaga and say that this proves they didn't deserve the one seed, but I don't buy into these games proving a team or conference to be overrated. This is March Madness for a reason and crazy things happen. Southern taking the Zags down to the wire would fall under the crazy category. A look at the Southern roster made it clear that they would present a tough match up for Gonzaga. They were a long, athletic squad which is the polar opposite of the Zags. Still, Gonzaga won the game and that's all that matters. Now that sets up what will be a physical game against Wichita State on Saturday.

3. Davidson had it in the bag until the last six seconds rolled around
This was Davidson's game to win. They played well through out, but Vander Blue's layup with one second left sealed the deal for Marquette. Davidson led by as many as 10 and Marquette's largest lead was just three. The Golden Eagles shot the ball poorly and Davidson fell apart at the end. De'Mon Brooks just needed to accept the foul at the end of the game, but instead he threw the ball away and gave Marquette a chance -- a chance that they didn't blow. Rather than another Cinderella run from Davidson, Marquette survives.

4. Bad day for potential first round picks from mid-majors
Nate Wolters and Mike Muscala let me down in a bad way. Wolters, who averages over 20 points per game, mustered only 10 points which was a season low. Wolters struggled to do anything against Tim Hardaway and Glenn Robinson and his low output spelled doom for the Jackrabbits. Muscala, one of the top big men in the country, had performed well against top competition, but he was bad against Butler. He scored just nine points, only the second time he has scored under ten points this season. He was also an abysmal 4-17 from the field and didn't look like a player who could possibly be in the NBA soon.

Trey Burke and the Wolverines kept Wolters in check and UM handled SDSU

5. The Pac-12 deserves respect
The Pac-12 wasn't a real respected conference this season by fans, but they finished today with a 3-0 record. Arizona handled Belmont, Oregon took it to Oklahoma State and Cal beat a talented UNLV team. Tomorrow UCLA and Colorado will take on Big Ten opponents and could possibly complete a sweep for the conference. Oregon and Arizona hardly had trouble in their wins and Cal persevered against UNLV. So while they may not have been getting the respect they deserved, it's time to take notice.

6. VCU vs. Michigan is going to be incredibly fun
Did you get to see any of the VCU game? Sure, Akron was missing some of their players, most notably their point guard, but the Rams were unbelievable. Trey Burke better be ready for Shaka Smart's "havoc" because it is going to wear him out. However, how effective will VCU's pressure be against the nation's best point guard? That will be the main storyline heading into Saturday's match up and buckle your seat belts because this one will be wild!

7. Louisville and Syracuse didn't mess around
North Carolina A&T and Montana aren't exactly stiff competition, but as we saw with other top teams today, sometimes they don't bring their A game. Not the case with Louisville and Syracuse. Both teams came out and dominated from the start and put any thoughts of an upset to bed pretty early. Syracuse didn't even allow Montana 35 points and Louisville shot 57 percent. Both teams will have a tougher test moving forward as Louisville will face Colorado State and Syracuse must face Cal.

8. St. Louis is not a team to be messed with
The Billikens are on a mission this season as they play to honor their late coach Rick Majerus. Majerus would have been proud of St. Louis after they dominated New Mexico State on Friday. The Aggies shot just 28 percent and committed 16 turnovers. St. Louis plays tough and will be a difficult match up for Louisville should they meet in the Sweet 16. This is definitely not a team you should be sleeping on.

March Madness is officially here and a big thank you to Harvard for reminding us all that anything can happen. Stay tuned tomorrow as more big-name teams will take to the court against other upset-minded squads and look for a new post tomorrow night after the conclusion of the games.

Big Ten Hopes to See Championship Drought End

Payne and Thomas will be key to their teams' success in March

There's hardly a question that the Big Ten has been the most dominant conference from top-to-bottom this season and the Selection Committee agreed, giving the conference seven teams in the tournament. The conference has four teams that pose as serious title threats in Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State while Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota have the potential to win a game or two. However, for a conference that is so highly regarded this season, anything less than a championship could be viewed as a failure. The Big Ten hasn't experienced the crystal ball, confetti and championship podium since Michigan State's title in 2000 behind Mateen Cleaves and the Flintstones. That's a drought that isn't something to brag about.

Since 2001 the ACC has won five championships while the Big East and SEC have each won three. The Big 12 has one title courtesy of Kansas in 2008, but the Big Ten is empty handed. Four times the conference has had the runner-up and they have sent eight teams to the Final Four since 2001, so it's not as though the conference has been unsuccessful. Still, championships are the ultimate barometer and the Big Ten is looking up at everyone else. The conference hasn't been this good in a long time, but, then again, neither has the tournament as a whole. There is no clear favorite and that may work in the Big Ten's favor. If they are going to get back on top then this is the year to do it. Here's a team-by-team look at the seven Big Ten tourney participants.

Indiana Hoosiers (27-6, 14-4 Big Ten)
Indiana can be the best team in the nation on any given night, but they have looked suspect of late. They lost at home to Ohio State and have been defeated by Wisconsin twice this season. However, the Hoosiers are 7-2 against ranked opponents and defeated every Big Ten team except the Badgers. IU scores the ball at ease and they shoot nearly 50 percent from the field. They have two of the best players in the nation in Cody Zeller and Victor Oladipo and, barring some major upset, should be in Atlanta. Prediction: National Runner-Up

Ohio State Buckeyes (26-7, 13-5 Big Ten)
The Buckeyes are interesting. It seems as if DeShaun Thomas (19.6 points per game) is their only weapon, but somehow they keep winning ball games. Thomas is the only player who averages double figures and as a team Ohio State doesn't do anything particularly well. However, they guard hard and have arguably the best perimeter defender in the country in Aaron Craft. The other thing to look for in March is who's hot and the Buckeyes have won eight in a row to finish the season. OSU is 5-7 versus ranked opponents. Prediction: Sweet 16

Michigan State Spartans (25-8, 13-5 Big Ten)
Tom Izzo knows a thing or six about the final Four and his Spartan squad may be there again. Michigan State has a nice mix of outside shooting and inside force and that makes them a hard team to guard. MSU scores just 68 points per game, but they hold their opponents to a mere 59 per game. Keith Appling is reliable point guard and a tandem of freshmen, Gary Harris and Denzel Valentine, have contributed valuable minutes. Adrien Payne and Derrick Nix rebound the ball well and complement each other in the post. Prediction: Elite 8

Hardaway and Watford were part of two thrillers between IU and UM

Michigan Wolverines (26-7, 12-6 Big Ten)
Since the calendar flipped to Febrary, Michigan is just 6-6 and finished the season losing two of their last three. Behind Big Ten Player of the year Trey Burke and athletic wing Tim Hardaway, the Wolverines have a dynamic duo that could carry them to Atlanta. Also, look for Mitch McGary to be a key part to Michigan's tournament run. What could hold them back though is rebounding (156th in the nation) and decision making. Burke, for as good as he is, is prone to lapses in judgment and poor shot selection at times. Prediction: Elite 8

Wisconsin Badgers (23-11, 12-6 Big Ten)
Bo Ryan and the Badgers get the job done and it's usually not in pretty fashion. Wisconsin finished second in the Big Ten tournament and they have compiled a 23-11 record on the same principles that we have become accustomed to seeing from Wisconsin: defense, rebounding and toughness. Count on the Badgers to slow down the pace and make it difficult for opponents to score, but don't count on them to go too far because of their inability to score. Ohio State held them scoreless for the last seven minutes in the Big Ten title game and Wisconsin doesn't really have someone to take over a game. Prediction: Two and Out

Illinois Fighting Illini (22-12, 8-10 Big Ten)
Which Illinois team will show up in the tournament? The Illini have been up-and-down this season and that's the reality for a team that relies on jump shooting. Some nights the Illini can shoot a team out of the gym, but other nights they struggle to throw the ball in the ocean. The other dowside to Illinois is the fact that they have a nonexistent interior game. They rely solely on the perimeter players and that doesn't always work. That said, if Illinois catches fire then watch out because who knows how far they can go. Prediction: Two and Out

Minnesota Golden Gophers (20-12, 8-10 Big Ten)
Tubby Smith's Gophers are similar to several other Big Ten teams. They can beat anybody, but they win ugly and they lose ugly. Minnesota sometimes struggles to score the ball, but they can guard the ball well and they rebound. Like other big Ten teams, Minnesota can win if they make teams play to their pace and they find consistent offense from someone like Andre Hollins. However, they won't go very far if Trevor Mbakwe disappears and the offense sputters for long stretches. Prediction: Two and Out

This could be the Big Ten's year, but it's all about consistent play. They have beaten up on each other all year long and that has earned the conference a reputation. Now it's time to finish it off with a title. Michigan State and Michigan will play on Thursday. Indiana, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota will all play on Friday.

Bracket Breakdown: South

Otto Porter of Georgetown

The South Region is the most top heavy bracket of the four. Kansas headlines the region as the number two overall seed and they are joined by Georgetown, Florida and Michigan. KU won the Big 12, Florida won the SEC and Georgetown won the Big East. Michigan was a couple of bricked free throws from sharing the Big Ten title. Clearly, this is a bracket of winners, but also take a look at the coaches. Of the 16 coaches in the bracket, 10 have won a national title. It's also likely that one of those 10 adds some more hardware to their office. Let's take a look...

South Region winner: Georgetown Hoyas
The Hoyas are going to win the South Region for one reason: Otto Porter. The do-it-all wing player leads Georgetown in almost every major statistical category and he can beat opponents from anywhere on the floor. The road won't be easy for John Thompson's squad though. Most likely Florida will be waiting in the Sweet 16 and then either Kansas or Michigan will present a huge challenge in the Elite 8. Count on the Hoyas because of they are battle tested and they are 6-2 against ranked opponents. Behind Porter, expect G'Town to be back in the Final Four for the first time since 2007.

Upset Pick: Minnesota over UCLA
Minnesota isn't your typical 11 seed. The Golden Gophers defeated five ranked opponents, including #1 Indiana. However, they have lost three in a row and that doesn't always bode well coming into tournament play. Despite that, they should beat UCLA for a couple of reasons. One, they have played far superior competition and two, UCLA is without Jordan Adams. The freshman guard broke his foot during the Pac-12 tournament and the Bruins will struggle without him.

Nate Wolters of South Dakota State

Potentially Intriguing Matchup: Anybody who has to play VCU
Okay so that's kind of cheating, but anybody VCU plays will have a hard time. The Rams qualified for the Final Four in 2011 and their unique style of play makes them a difficult matchup. However, they will have to take down the titans to reach Atlanta, but that is something they have done before. Could they stop Trey Burke in the third round? Could they knock off Kansas just like they did in 2011? Will Florida or Georgetown be too much for them handle? Who knows. We also can't be sure they will even win their first game against Akron, but we can be sure that they will bring 100% effort and be fun to watch.

Player to Watch: Nate Wolters, guard, South Dakota State
Wolters has led South Dakota State to the Big Dance for the second straight year and the do-it-all guard can win a game by himself. The senior averages 22.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game and had a 53 point outburst on February 7th. His scoring average is fourth best in the nation. Wolters comes from the Summit League, but has performed against top competition. He posted 30 points against Alabama at the beginning of the season and then had 28 against New Mexico before Christmas.

Bottom Line: The South is loaded, but Otto Porter and Georgetown have been very consistent and have defeated some of the nation's elite. They will be in Atlanta.

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!

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.

Big Ten is College Basketball's Elite

If anybody watched college football this year, it wasn't hard at all to pick up on the fact that the Big Ten was less than impressive. It was a rough year for every fan of a Big Ten team, even if you were an Ohio State fan you had to sit back and realize their undefeated season meant nothing due to bowl ineligibility (Shout out to Terrelle Pryor and Jim Tressel). All in all, life as a Big Ten fan was pretty rough in the fall.

But the fall is over and winter is in full swing which means one of the worst conferences is now the best. The Big Ten has taken the world of college basketball by storm and it looks like it's here to stay. With six teams in the top 25 (no team being ranked lower than 18), it's plain to see that the Big Ten has talent that other conferences can only dream of. Take the Naismith Player of the Year award for instance, four players from the Big Ten have been mentioned in the discussion. DeShaun Thomas of Ohio State, Brandon Paul of Illinois, Cody Zeller of Indiana, and Trey Burke of Michigan have all been named possible winners or contenders. These players also come from teams that, right now, look as if they could contend for a trip to the Final Four.

Yet it's easy to base a conference off of the elite teams, but here's a look at the teams people may be overlooking in the midst of the talk about the six ranked teams:

Wisconsin: The Badgers are off to an 11-4 start with very few eye-opening wins. They lost by double-digits to Florida, Creighton, and Marquette. Yet they started the conference season with two wins. Granted, those wins came against Nebraska and Penn State, but if you think the Badgers won't give teams trouble, then you don't know Bo...Ryan that is. In my mind, Bo Ryan is a very underrated coach. He's not on the level of Tom Izzo but he does have five Big Ten titles and a record of 268-101 in his eleven years at Wisconsin. Not to mention that the Badgers are one of the toughest teams to beat at home, boasting an astounding 116-15 record at home under Ryan. They may not be ranked, but you'd be stupid to overlook the Badgers.

Purdue: A team with six freshman and only two seniors? What's to fear about a team so inexperienced? Well, if you were able to catch the Purdue/Illinois game, there's alot to fear. This squad of Matt Painter's is going to be an impressive one. They won't contend this year or maybe next year, but freshmen Ronnie Johnson and A.J. Hammons are showing great promise. Johnson is a quick guard who's averaging almost nine points, four rebounds, and three assists. Not bad for a freshman guard. As for Hammons, the kid looks like the second coming of JaJuan Johnson; very long and raw at a young age. Yet he presents a presence in the paint that will even make All-Americans change their shot. That's exactly what Hammons needs to understand. He doesn't necessarily need to be a shot-blocker. He can work wonders just by putting his hands up and standing there. Throw that in with the fact he's grabbing almost seven boards a game and you've got a player with some real potential. The Boilermakers already upset Illinois and gave Ohio State a great game. The old saying goes "Age is but a number", and this Purdue team is out to prove that no matter how young they are they're here to compete.

Iowa: The Hawkeyes currently have an 11-4 record and, if you look closely, they have only beaten cupcake teams. They don't have any impressive wins thus far and are 0-2 in conference play. With that being said, Roy Devyn Marble and Aaron White can still lead the Hawkeyes to a handful of conference wins. Marble averages just over fifteen points a game and White averages thirteen. Together, they led the Hawkeyes in a four-point loss to the nationally-respected Indiana Hoosiers. The final score was 69-65 and there were numerous times that Iowa had Tom Crean's squad on the ropes. Iowa is presented with another test tonight as they try to topple Michigan State at home. Again, the Hawkeyes are not likely to contend for the Big Ten crown, but there's no doubt they will be the spoilers when it comes down to the end.

I've heard plenty of people try to say that the Big Ten is not the best conference. I can respect opinions, but I can't see how someone could go against the talent, coaching, and flat out domination the Big Ten is showing this year. The ACC is Duke's for the taking. The Big East will, most likely, be Syracuse's once again, the SEC will come down to either Florida or Missouri, the Big 12 will no doubt be won by Kansas, and the Pac 12 will come down to UCLA and Arizona. Of the Power Six conferences, only the Big Ten has more than two teams that can contend for the title. Between Michigan, Indiana, Ohio State, Illinois, Minnesota, and Michigan State there is no clear-cut winner, not to mention the depth this conference has. Don't be surprised if the Sweet Sixteen has five or six Big Ten teams in it.