NCAA Tournament bracket pools are not won by upsets. They are won by choosing the correct middle seeds that make a run to the Elite Eight or beyond. There has been no sure thing in college basketball this season and it makes for an exciting tournament. We’re two days away from Selection Sunday so here are five sleepers likely to be seeded somewhere between #4-#7 that could make a run to Indianapolis.
1. Baylor
Baylor’s stock has risen the past two months and could end up with a #4 or #5 seed. They won seven of eight games heading into the Big 12 tournament and no loss has been by more than seven points this season. The Bears led the nation in blocked shots percentage. Tweety Carter and LaceDarius Dunn team up for one of the best backcourts in the country and Michigan transfer Ekpe Udoh is a force in the paint. Quincy Acy is a spark off the bench. They play Kansas State tonight in the Big 12 semifinals.
2. Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt finished second in the SEC to Kentucky and doesn’t have any notable victories aside from sweeping Tennessee and a near-beat against Kentucky in late February. If Illinois and Cincinnati doesn’t make the NCAA Tournament, Vanderbilt will have only lost one game to tournament teams. The Commodores are balanced with Jermaine Beal and John Jenkins providing the outside shooting, Jeffrey Taylor a threat on the wing, and A.J. Ogilvy working the post. Vanderbilt takes on Georgia tonight in the SEC quarterfinals.
3. Maryland
Maryland has won 13 of 15 games heading into the ACC tournament, jumping from a bubble team to at least a #4 seed in a matter of weeks. The Terrapins have the ACC Player of the Year in Greivis Vasquez and Eric Hayes provides leadership in the backcourt. Sean Mosley is underrated at the wing and Landon Milbourne is a mismatch waiting to happen. Though they don’t rebound very well, Jordan Williams can hold his own down low and their uptempo offense is hard to defend. Maryland faces Georgia Tech tonight in the ACC quarterfinals.
4. Gonzaga
Gonzaga can make some noise in the NCAA Tournament, despite losing in the WCC final to Saint Mary’s. Matt Bouldin can carry this team on his shoulders and Elias Harris is one of the best freshmen in the country. Steven Gary is a pure shooter and the Bulldogs’ success in the tournament really depends on how the role players step up.
5. Texas A&M
Texas A&M has experienced some hardship lately. An injury to second-leading scorer Derrick Roland has left the Aggies with just two double-figure scorers. But, they have won eight of 10 and showed their grit in some big games. Seven of their eight losses came from fewer than six points per game. Donald Sloan can carry them offensively and Bryan Davis is a double-double threat in the post. Dash Harris shows athleticism at the point and David Loubeau hits the offensive glass. They show a lot of discipline and won’t back down from anyone. Texas A&M has its biggest test against Kansas tonight in the Big 12 semifinals.
For more NCAA basketball coverage, check out these teams to watch, these teams with stock rising and these bracket busters.
Comments