Weekend Preview

After two weeks or so of conference play, we still haven’t learned much. One thing we did learn, though, was that this season is going to be one of the most unpredictable in recent memory. Nearly every team in the country is somewhat erratic, and there are dozens of teams that can look like a potential Final Four candidate on any given night. As a result, the conference races in the major conferences are going to be outstanding—for both the conference title and for NCAA Tournament bids. All of the wide-open races lead to plenty of great games every night, and this weekend is no different.

Top Games

West Virginia at Marquette (Saturday, 12:00 PM, ESPN): Key contest between two NCAA Tournament teams in the Big East. West Virginia is 3-1 in the conference, but all three wins are at home, including victories over Connecticut and Villanova. Frank Young leads the way for the young and balanced Mountaineers. Joe Alexander and Alex Ruoff are two more inside-outside forwards, while Darris Nichols runs the show for WVU. Marquette has struggled through much of the season, but beat UConn on the road this week and could be hitting their stride. Dominic James, Wesley Matthews, and Jerel McNeal form the best three-man backcourt in the country, while Ousmane Barro has been a very solid inside player for the Golden Eagles. Prediction: Marquette 70, West Virginia 63

Tennessee at Ohio State (Saturday, 1:00 PM, CBS): The best non-conference game of the weekend by far. Tennessee has played better than expected this season, despite their road loss to Vanderbilt this week. Chris Lofton has been the best two-guard in the country, leading the young Volunteers to a very good start. JaJuan Smith is also a very good scorer on the perimeter, while Wayne Chism and Duke Crews are very solid down low. Ohio State is coming off of a loss to Wisconsin this week, and need a good win for their resume. Greg Oden is still not his dominant self offensively, but OSU's deep perimeter group has been outstanding. Ron Lewis and Daequan Cook can score, while Mike Conley and Jamar Butler are solid lead guards. Prediction: Ohio State 77, Tennessee 71

Villanova at Syracuse (Saturday, 1:00 PM, CBS): Another Big East contest between two teams looking for bids to the NCAA Tournament. Villanova has been up and down lately, losing at home to DePaul but going on the road to defeat Georgetown. Curtis Sumpter is a big-time scorer, while Mike Nardi has become a bigger part of the offense since last year. Scottie Reynolds and sixth man Shane Clark have been solid contributors. Syracuse is playing better lately, going on the road to beat Marquette and Rutgers this week. Eric Devendorf and Demetris Nichols have been very good scorers on the wing, while Terrence Nichols and Darryl Watkins have anchored the post. Prediction: Syracuse 69, Villanova 65

Clemson at Maryland (Saturday, 2:00 PM, ESPNU): Will Clemson's undefeated season come to an end? Will Maryland's struggles continue after their surprising loss to Miami at home this week? Clemson has been outstanding all season long, led by one of the best guard groups in the country in Vernon Hamilton, Cliff Hammonds, and sixth man extraordinaire K.C. Rivers. Forward James Mays is 28-0 in his last two seasons. Maryland is extremely athletic and experienced. Wings D.J. Strawberry and Mike Jones are excellent scorers, while Ekene Ibekwe and James Gist are active players in the paint. Prediction: Maryland 76, Clemson 70 CLICK HERE FOR MY COMPLETE PREVIEW OF CLEMSON-MARYLAND

UCLA at USC (Saturday, 2:30 PM, FSN): Showdown in the Pac-10 and the battle for Los Angeles. UCLA had their undefeated season ended last weekend at Oregon, but the Bruins are still on the short list of national title contenders. Darren Collison and Arron Afflalo form one of the best backcourts in the country, both offensively and defensively. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute is a versatile, active player down low. However, wing scorer Josh Shipp won't be available for this game due to injury. USC has been one of the best teams in the conference. Nick Young and the recently-eligible Gabe Pruitt are a very good wing duo, while Taj Gibson is one of the more underrated freshmen in the country. The Trojans have a good shot at pulling this one out. Prediction: USC 67, UCLA 65

Missouri State at Southern Illinois (Saturday, 3:00 PM, Regional TV): Yet another big game between two contenders in the Missouri Valley. Missouri State is tied for first in the conference with a 4-1 record, winning three in a row. Blake Ahearn is one of the best shooters in the country, and Tyler Chaney is a very good all-around guard. Deven Mitchell is an excellent sixth man. Southern Illinois is 3-2 in the MVC, but still are one of the better teams around. They play outstanding defense, and have a very good backcourt in Jamaal Tatum and Tony Young. Randal Falker and Matt Shaw are solid up front. Prediction: Southern Illinois 63, Missouri State 59

North Carolina at Virginia Tech (Saturday, 3:30 PM, ABC): Can the Hokies knock off another ACC favorite for the second weekend in a row? Tech defeated Duke on the road last week, and are playing well. Zabian Dowdell and Jamon Gordon form a very good, senior-led backcourt. Coleman Collins is solid up front, and A.D. Vassallo is an excellent sixth man. North Carolina is the top team in the rankings, and are a candidate to win the championship. Tyler Hansbrough is the go-to-guy, while Brandan Wright has been one of the best freshmen in the country. The Tar Heels use a 12-man rotation that can wear down opponents--it will be interesting to see what the young players do on the road. Prediction: North Carolina 83, Virginia Tech 76

Georgetown at Pittsburgh (Saturday, 9:00 PM, ESPN): Going into the season, this would have been the game of the year in the Big East. However, since then, Pitt has shown they are clearly the best team in the conference, while Georgetown, while still a contender, is nowhere close to the Panthers. The Hoyas are led by the frontcourt duo of Jeff Green and Roy Hibbert, while their guards are improving with every game. Pittsburgh is a potential Final Four candidate, with inside-outside balance and depth. Aaron Gray is a Big East Player of the Year favorite, and Levance Fields is running the point very well. Mike Cook provides scoring from the perimeter. Prediction: Pittsburgh 71, Georgetown 60

Oregon at Arizona (Sunday, 8:00 PM, FSN): Expect a high-scoring, up-tempo battle in this Pac-10 showdown. Oregon has finally lived up to their talent level, starting 15-1 and 3-1 in the Pac-10, including a win over UCLA. Aaron Brooks has been one of the best point guards in the country, while Bryce Taylor, Chamberlain Oguchi, and Tajuan Porter have been double-figure scorers on the perimeter. Maarty Leunen is a double-double threat on the interior, and Malik Hairston looks solid coming back from injury. Arizona is one of the best offensive teams in recent memory, with the ability to have any one of five players break out and score 20-25 points. Mustafa Shakur is an excellent point guard, and forwards Chase Budinger and Marcus Williams are inside-outside scorers up front. Jawann McClellan is an athletic shooter on the wing, and Ivan Radenovic is a match-up nightmare in the post. Prediction: Arizona 89, Oregon 82

Other Games to Watch

Providence at Louisville (Saturday, 12:00 PM, ESPN FullCourt): Interesting Big East tilt. Providence has looked like an NCAA Tournament team so far, while Louisville has been a disappointment for the second season in a row. They need a win here to get back into the thick of things in the conference race. PC's Geoff McDermott and Louisville's Terrence Williams will be a good match-up. Prediction: Providence 73, Louisville 70

Indiana at Penn State (Saturday, 12:00 PM, ESPN FullCourt): A Big Ten clash. Indiana has been playing outstanding ball lately, looking like the third best team in the conference. Penn State has struggled at times this season, and could really use a win if they have any thoughts of a bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Hoosiers' D.J. White and PSU's Geary Claxton are two of the best frontcourt players in the Big Ten. Prediction: Indiana 67, Penn State 63

Oklahoma State at Nebraska (Saturday, 1:30 PM, ESPN FullCourt): Don't sleep on this game in the Big 12. Oklahoma State is coming off of a 30-point blowout at the hands of Kansas, but is still one of the top contenders in the conference. However, Nebraska has been playing well this year and have one of the best big men in the country in Aleks Maric. Look out for a possible upset, although I think the Cowboys have the post players to neutralize Maric. Prediction: Oklahoma State 70, Nebraska 67

Virginia at Boston College (Saturday, 2:00 PM, ESPN FullCourt): Two teams that have been up and down all season in the ACC. Virginia followed up a blowout of Gonzaga with losses to Stanford and North Carolina, and need a win. Boston College has been dominating opponents since the return of Jared Dudley from injury. They could be a title contender in the ACC. Prediction: Boston College 75, Virginia 62

Albany at Vermont (Saturday, 3:00 PM, Regional TV): The two best teams in the America East battle it out. Albany is the conference's defending champ and owns the league's best player in athletic guard Jamar Wilson. Forward Brent Wilson and wing Jason Siggers are also very solid scorers for the Great Danes. Vermont has a win over Boston College this year, and owns one of the AE's best guard-forward combos in Mike Trimboli and Joe Trapani. Prediction: Vermont 69, Albany 66

Kansas State at Missouri (Saturday, 4:00 PM, ESPN FullCourt): Potential bubble game in the Big 12. Kansas State has struggled since the injury to star freshman Bill Walker, losing three in a row. They need a win here. Missouri had a hot start to the season, but has cooled off lately. A win here would get them back on the right track. Prediction: Missouri 75, Kansas State 65

Vanderbilt at Georgia (Saturday, 4:00 PM): Although the winner is only likely the fourth best team in the SEC East, it is an interesting tilt between two teams that are far better at home. Vanderbilt has wins over Georgia Tech and Tennessee, and one of the SEC's best wing duos in Derrick Byars and Shan Foster. Georgia owns a victory over Gonzaga, and has an deep, talented guard group and an inside force in Takais Brown. Prediction: Georgia 79, Vanderbilt 70

Drexel at Old Dominion (Saturday, 4:00 PM, Regional TV): Two of the best teams in the CAA battle it out. Both teams fell to Hofstra this week, meaning a win here by either team would be huge to keep pace with the Pride and VCU. The Dragons have excellent inside-outside balance with Bashir Mason and Dominick Mejia on the perimeter, and Frank Elegar inside. ODU is led by Valdas Vasylius on the inside, and Drew Williamson at guard. Prediction: Drexel 63, Old Dominion 61

Washington at California (Saturday, 5:00 PM, Regional TV): Pac-10 battle between two teams in need of a win. Washington is 1-4 in the conference, struggling mightily on the road. Spencer Hawes and Jon Brockman are solid inside. California lost Devon Hardin, likely for the season, but freshman Ryan Anderson has stepped up. They are coming off of a blowout home loss to Washington State. Prediction: California 74, Washington 66

Florida State at Georgia Tech (Saturday, 6:00 PM, ESPNU): Two middle-of-the-pack ACC teams that have the talent to be a top-three team but the inconsistency to lose on any given night. Florida State is on a two-game losing streak, including a 26-point defeat at North Carolina. Al Thornton can't do it all by himself. Tech might be hitting their stride, coming off a big-time win over Duke. Thaddeus Young and Javaris Crittendon are two of the best frosh in the ACC. There will be plenty of athletes in this one. Prediction: Georgia Tech 78, Florida State 71

Mississippi State at Kentucky (Saturday, 7:00 PM, ESPN FullCourt): Kentucky has been flying under the radar lately, but the Wildcats are playing some very good ball and could be a sleeper come March. Mississippi State, meanwhile, has not lived up to their preseason hype (whatever hype that may have been), and need a win if they want to stay in the NCAA Tournament hunt. Prediction: Kentucky 72, Mississippi State 63

Washington State at Stanford (Saturday, 7:00 PM, Regional TV): Yet another decent game in the Pac-10. Washington State is one of the hottest teams in the country, leading the conference with a 4-1 record. Derrick Low and Kyle Weaver form an underrated backcourt. Stanford beat Virginia and Washington this week, and is tough to beat at home. Prediction: Washington State 65, Stanford 61

Pennsylvania at Columbia (Saturday, 7:00 PM, Regional TV): Two of the best teams in the Ivy go head-to-head. Penn is the head-and-shoulders favorite in the conference, but Columbia has played some good basketball at times this season, and is not easy to beat at home. Columbia's John Baumann and Penn's Mark Zoller will match-up well at the forward spot. Prediction: Pennsylvania 73, Columbia 65

Bradley at Indiana State (Saturday, 7:30 PM, Regional TV): Going into the season, this game would have been a very mediocre game in the MVC. Now, it is a contest between two teams in the running for at-large bids. Indiana State is tied for first in the conference with a 4-1 record, and have looked excellent over the past few weeks. Bradley looked lost early in the conference year, but have bounced back. Prediction: Indiana State 68, Bradley 56

Michigan at Purdue (Saturday, 8:00 PM, ESPN FullCourt): Two Big Ten teams fighting for positioning in the conference as well as at-large bids. Michigan looked awful in the 2006 portion of their season, but have been solid lately, including a win over Illinois. Purdue has some quality wins on their resume, but the Boilermakers have not played well in conference play. Prediction: Purdue 67, Michigan 58

Xavier at Saint Louis (Saturday, 9:00 PM, Regional TV): This game looked far more attractive a few weeks ago. Since then, Saint Louis has lost to Duquesne and St. Bonaventure, while Xavier has separated themselves as the Atlantic-10 favorite. Can Ian Vouyoukas dominate the smaller Xavier frontline? That will be the key for SLU. Prediction: Xavier 70, Saint Louis 65

Gonzaga at Santa Clara (Saturday, 10:00 PM, Regional TV): Although Gonzaga struggled towards the end of non-conference play, they are still the clear favorites in the West Coast Conference. Santa Clara is one of the few teams that could potentially knock them off, and now is as good of a time as ever for Steve Nash's alma mater. However, the Bulldogs have been playing well in league play, and are too tough. Prediction: Gonzaga 80, Santa Clara 72

BYU at UNLV (Saturday, 10:00 PM, Regional TV): Mountain West showdown. Both teams are contenders in the conference, although UNLV has lost two straight games, to Air Force and Wyoming, and BYU is 2-0 within the league. This game is a contrast in personnel, as UNLV is led by their excellent perimeter group and BYU is paced by their frontcourt duo of Keena Young and Trent Plaisted. Prediction: UNLV 73, BYU 66

Illinois at Michigan State (Sunday, 1:30 PM, CBS): Two teams going the wrong way in the Big Ten. Illinois didn't start off well in the conference, but picked up a big one-point at home against a mediocre Iowa team this week. Michigan State has struggled in league play after having an excellent start to the season. Drew Neitzel needs some help from the rest of the Spartans. Prediction: Michigan State 57, Illinois 51

Friday, January 12th Predictions

Prediction Record: 237-102

Bucknell at Holy Cross- Prediction: Holy Cross 64, Bucknell 55
Lipscomb at Belmont- Prediction: Belmont 72, Lipscomb 67
Creighton at Northern Iowa- Prediction: Northern Iowa 66, Creighton 58

Thursday, January 11th Predictions

Prediction Record: 235-101

Hofstra at Drexel- Prediction: Drexel 73, Hofstra 66
Washington at Stanford- Prediction: Stanford 77, Washington 71
Washington State at California- Prediction: Washington State 64, California 62

Top Ten Countdown: Sixth Men

As promised a few weeks ago, March Madness All Season will begin to rank a variety of subjects in college basketball. I will periodically take a different topic or item (freshmen, most improved players, etc.) and analyze it into a comprehensive Top 10 ranking. The column's inaugural topic will be sixth men.

The new season of college basketball has brought in some fresh bench players that put up outstanding numbers off the pine. Most of the top guys are more like sixth starters. They play 25-plus minutes per game and put up starter-caliber numbers. Here is a look at some of the best.

Note: Only players that have come off the bench in at least half of their team’s games are eligible.

Honorable Mention:
Jarell Brown, Army (17.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg)
Jermaine Taylor, UCF (16.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.1 spg)
Avery Smith, Wisconsin-Milwaukee (15.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.0 spg)
Michael Sturns, North Texas (15.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.1 spg)
Brian Hodges, UMBC (15.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg)
A.D Vassallo, Virginia Tech (11.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg)
Paul Gause, Seton Hall (9.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 3.7 spg)
Greivis Vasquez , Maryland (9.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 4.2 apg)
Ryan Appleby, Washington (9.1 ppg, 2.5 apg)
Terry Martin, LSU (13.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg)
Barry Stewart/Charles Rhodes, Mississippi State (22.8 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 1.5 spg, 1.3 bpg combined)
Deven Mitchell , Missouri State (10.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.4 spg)
Boomer Herndon, Belmont (10.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.2 bpg)
Jimmy Baron , Rhode Island (14.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg)
Steven Rush/Jason Wills, North Carolina A&T: (29.1 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 4.2 apg, 2.0 spg combined)
Lorrenzo Wade, San Diego State (10.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.6 spg)
Paul Graham III, Florida Atlantic (14.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 3.5 apg)
Matt Bouldin, Gonzaga (7.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.7 apg)
Elijah Ingram/Tyrone Nelson, New Mexico State (19.4 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 5.6 apg, 2.2 spg combined)

10. Paul Harris, Syracuse (10.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.2 spg): A highly-touted player coming into school, Harris has shown his all-around ability on many occasions, but has yet to break out and dominate. He started off the season very strong, with two double-doubles in his first four games, and double-figure points in 11 of his first 14 contest. However, he has slowed down since Big East play started, averaging less than 5 points per game and not demonstrating his outstanding versatility. He can be a force on the defensive end and is also extremely athletic, allowing him to score inside and outside as well as rebound with efficiency.

9. Jamar Smith , Illinois (11.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.0 spg): One of the best shooters in the country, Smith has been a big-time boost off the pine for the Fighting Illini. However, he has been mightily inconsistent and has struggled since the start of Big Ten play. In three conference games, he is averaging less than 8 points per game, and has shot 4 for 22 from three-point range. Still, he has the ability to be one of the best long-range shooters in the nation. Smith is also a decent rebounder and defender who has the ability to get hot from deep.

8. Gyno Pomare, San Diego (15.2 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 1.7 bpg): The best rebounder in the country off the bench, statistically. The 6-7 sophomore plays much taller than his height would suggest, enabling him to beat bigger players on the boards. He has been starting lately, but he has come off the bench in 11 of the team’s 17 games, and averages less than 28 minutes per game. Pomare has scored in double figures in all but two games this year, and has four double-doubles.

7. Luke Harangody, Notre Dame (12.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg): One of the most efficient players in the country, Harangody has been a big surprise for the Fighting Irish. He came into school known primarily as a banger, but the 6-8 freshman has shown a soft touch and has demonstrated the ability to score in a variety of ways. Oh yeah, he hasn’t lost any of his strength, either. Harangody makes the most of his time on the court, averaging less than 18 minutes per game but still providing excellent production. He hasn’t played more than 21 minutes all season long, but has four double-doubles and several big games.

6. Darrell Arthur , Kansas (12.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.3 apg, 2.1 bpg): One of four freshmen on this list, Arthur has been, at times, the best player on the Jayhawks. He can play any position on the frontline, and has made a big-time impact for Kansas . Arthur is very athletic and loves to run the floor for easy baskets in transition. He averages just over 20 minutes per game, but leads the team in blocked shots. Arthur has been up and down for most of the season, but when he is playing well, look out. In a win over Florida earlier this season, Arthur was the best player on the floor at times, putting up 19 points and 9 rebounds—in only 16 minutes.

5. Takais Brown , Georgia (14.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg): The former JC transfer has provided the Bulldogs with the inside presence they’ve been lacking for the past few years. He has come off the bench in 9 of the 12 games he has played in, scoring in double figures in all but one contest. He can score against most defenders and is also an active rebounder. Brown is very efficient scoring the ball and is also a good free-throw shooter. Against Wisconsin earlier this season, Brown has 20 points and 13 rebounds in the loss.

4. Chavis Holmes/Travis Holmes, VMI (33.5 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 4.3 apg, 5.7 spg combined): Easily the best bench duo in the country. While their numbers are inflated by the up-tempo (and that’s an understatement) offense of VMI, the Holmes’ brothers are still excellent all-around players and producers. Chavis averages over 20 points per game, despite playing only 23 minutes per game, and starting only two games all season. He is also a very good defender and a solid rebounder, as well as an excellent three-point shooter. Travis averages slightly fewer minutes, but still gives great all-around production. He puts up about 14 points per game, but averages over three steals a contest. They combined for 57 points off the bench in a game earlier this season.

3. Jeremy Hunt, Memphis (13.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.6 spg): After getting kicked off the team a year ago, Hunt was welcomed back into the fold this year and has been an excellent addition for John Calipari’s team. He is second on the team in scoring, and is their best three-point shooter. He is also an outstanding defender who can guard several positions. His size and strength also allows him to be a factor on the boards. Hunt has scored at least nine points in all but one game this year, despite not starting a single game.

2. K.C. Rivers , Clemson (15.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.4 spg): A key cog to the country’s last undefeated team, as well as one of the best guard groups in the country. Rivers leads the team in scoring and is the best three-point shooter on Clemson. He is a good all-around player that can rebound well for his size as well as distribute and play defense. He has scored in double-figures in every game so far this season, and is averaging 17.3 points per game in ACC play. Even though he hasn’t started a game this year and averages about 26 minutes per game, Rivers might be the closest thing to a star Clemson has.

1. Daequan Cook , Ohio State (14.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.0 spg): If not for Greg Oden, Cook might be in the discussion for best freshman in the country (although Kevin Durant is running away with that title as we speak). The 6-5 wing is extremely athletic and is an outstanding scorer. He is the best three-point shooter on the team, hitting 50% of his long-range shots, and also leads the Buckeyes’ in scoring. Cook has had six games of at least 20 points, and had 17 points and 11 rebounds in a game earlier this season. He plays under 23 minutes per game, but the team is 10-1 in games that Cook scores in double-figures. If Ohio State is going to make noise in the NCAA Tournament, Cook is going to have to play more minutes for Thad Matta.

Wednesday, January 10th Predictions

Prediction Record: 229-99

Pittsburgh at DePaul- Prediction: Pittsburgh 73, DePaul 68
Duke at Georgia Tech- Prediction: Georgia Tech 71, Duke 66
Purdue at Indiana - Prediction: Indiana 65, Purdue 54
Marquette at Connecticut- Prediction: Connecticut 70, Marquette 64
Wichita State at Indiana State- Prediction: Indiana State 67, Wichita State 63
Missouri at Texas- Prediction: Texas 79, Missouri 68
Southern Illinois at Bradley- Prediction: Southern Illinois 62, Bradley 57
Virginia at North Carolina- Prediction: North Carolina 84, Virginia 69

Big-League Breakdown

Note: This article also appears at SouthernCollegeSports.com.

With 2006 in our rear-view mirror, conference play kicked into full swing this past week in nearly every conference. The “Big Six” conferences started out with a bang, as four top ten teams fell in the early part of league play, including unbeaten UCLA losing to Oregon (whose undefeated run was stopped by USC a few days earlier), and Virginia Tech defeating Duke at Cameroon Indoor Stadium. This might be the most unpredictable season in recent memory, with no clear-cut favorite and dozens of teams capable of winning the national championship—or losing in the first round.

While some major conferences are one or two-team races, every “BCS” league is wide-open for the most part. That’s what makes projecting the NCAA Tournament so difficult to do right now—there are too many teams that could potentially contend for bids come Selection Sunday. As a result, it’s time for me to take a stab at breaking down the big conferences. There are just enough games played already and enough left in the season to make an educated guess as to what is going on in the major conferences. Next week, I will breakdown the mid-major conferences.

ACC

Favorite: North Carolina—They should run away with the title. The Tar Heels are just too talented and deep for any team in this conference. UNC also has the best player in the conference in Tyler Hansbrough.

Sleeper: Georgia Tech—The Yellow Jackets are starting to hit their stride after an up-and-down start because of their youth. They have two of the best freshmen in the country in Javaris Crittendon and Thaddeus Young. The loss of Lewis Clinch for the season could hurt, though.

Bust: Florida State—The Seminoles seem to always have a good non-conference and then they falter down the stretch to miss the Big Dance. While that might not happen this year, FSU still hasn’t proven it can win on the road and they still lack a true point guard.

Team to Watch in the Conference Tournament: Boston College—The Eagles had an extremely inconsistent non-conference season characterized by suspensions and injuries, as well as losses to Vermont and Duquesne. However, with the return of Jared Dudley, who missed three games, BC will be tough.

Surprise So Far: Clemson—The Tigers are the lone undefeated team left in college basketball, but some people still don’t think they are for real. Don’t count me among them. They may not compete for a league title, but barring a complete collapse, they will finish in the top four or five in the ACC and make the Big Dance.

NCAA Tournament Teams: North Carolina, Duke, Clemson, Maryland, Georgia Tech, Boston College, Florida State

Bubble Teams: Virginia Tech, Virginia

Big East

Favorite: Pittsburgh—Like North Carolina, the Panthers should run away with this league. They have the closest thing to a star in center Aaron Gray, and they also have a variety of weapons that can beat you on a given night. If they can get consistent wing scoring, Pitt will easily win the Big East.

Sleeper: Georgetown—The Hoyas struggled for much of the early part of the season, and also lost last night to Villanova. However, they have one of the best big man duos in college basketball, and a couple of improving guards in Jonathan Wallace and Jessie Sapp. Once the guards step up, look out for the Hoyas.

Bust: Villanova—Even though the Wildcats won at Georgetown last night, I don’t think they have the personnel to be a contender in the conference race. Outside of Curtis Sumpter, they don’t have any consistent scorers, and they struggle on offense as a result. Unless a third scorer steps up to give Sumpter and Mike Nardi help, Nova will struggle.

Team to Watch in the Conference Tournament: Connecticut—The Huskies are very young right now, and have been up and down because of that. They ran through the early part of the season undefeated due to the easy schedule, but they fell by double digits on the road to both West Virginia and LSU. Once the freshmen mature, they should be fine.

Surprise So Far: West Virginia—The Mountaineers lost the majority of their team after last season due to graduation, but John Beilein has WVU right back in the mix. They started the Big East season 3-0, including wins over Connecticut and Villanova. Despite a lack of proven players or a star going into the season, the their stout defense is still there and they still have one of the best homecourt advantages in the conference.

NCAA Tournament Teams: Pittsburgh, Georgetown, Notre Dame, Connecticut, West Virginia, Syracuse, Marquette, Villanova

Bubble Teams: Providence, DePaul

Big 12

Favorite: Kansas—The Jayhawks struggled early in the season, especially in a home loss to Oral Roberts. However, they have played very well lately, including dominant performances over Boston College and South Carolina. They have one of the most talented teams in the country, which allows them the ability to beat any team in the country.

Sleeper: Texas Tech—Going into the year, I thought the Red Raiders might struggle because of their inexperience and lack of scorers. However, I might be wrong. They have road wins over Kansas State and Arkansas so far. Tech has a great backcourt in Jarrius Jackson and Martin Zeno, and Bobby Knight has this team playing great defense.

Bust: Missouri—The Tigers looked very good early in the season, dominating Arkansas at home and making them look bad, essentially. However, they are 0-2 away from home, and just blew a huge lead in the second half this past weekend to lost at home to Iowa State. Mike Anderson has this program on the rise, but they won’t make the Dance this year.

Team to Watch in the Conference Tournament: Texas—Like Connecticut, the Longhorns are extremely young but are going to be a team no one wants to play come March. Kevin Durant is not only the best freshman in the country, but he might be the best player in the country. He could Carmelo Anthony this team deep into the tourney.

Surprise So Far: Oklahoma State—The Cowboys didn’t reach the NCAA Tournament last season, but will fight for a top-four seed this year. Mario Boggan and JamesOn Curry form an excellent inside-outside combo, and OSU plays great defense. They only have one loss, a two-point defeat, at Tennessee.

NCAA Tournament Teams: Kansas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas Tech

Bubble Teams: Kansas State, Missouri, Nebraska

Big Ten

Favorite: Wisconsin—You can tell me Ohio State all you want, but I see the Badgers winning the Big Ten. They have one of the best players in the country in Alando Tucker and a deep rotation that gives them the ability to play in a variety of ways. Look for this team to fight for a #1 seed throughout the season—and possibly get it.

Sleeper: Indiana—The Hoosiers don’t have a very impressive record (10-4), but the losses were to Butler, Duke, Kentucky, and Ohio State—by a combined twenty points. D.J. White is a potentially dominant big man, and Indiana has a very deep perimeter group. Plus, Kelvin Sampson has instilled toughness and defense into the Hoosiers.

Bust: Michigan State—The Spartans had a very solid start to the season, going 13-2 heading into conference play. However, MSU dropped their first two Big Ten games, and have not looked very impressive in either game. They have a severe lack of scorers besides Drew Neitzel, and injuries have hurt them. Next year could be their year, though.

Team to Watch in the Conference Tournament: Michigan—Sure, this Wolverines has the typical Tommy Amaker stigma of faltering in the conference season and missing the NCAA Tournament. However, they have tons of talent and the ability to beat quality teams, as evidenced by their win over Illinois last week. If they are consistent, look out.

Surprise So Far: Purdue—The Boilermakers surpassed last year’s win total by December 22nd, and while they have slowed down in Big Ten play, this team is tough. Carl Landry is one of the best players in the conference, and Purdue has quality wins over DePaul, Virginia, and Missouri.

NCAA Tournament Teams: Wisconsin, Ohio State, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois

Bubble Teams: Purdue, Michigan State

Pac-10

Favorite: UCLA—The Bruins had the #1 spot in the rankings until their two-point road loss at Oregon this past weekend. Still, UCLA has one of the best teams in the country. Darren Collison and Arron Afflalo are an excellent backcourt, and Josh Shipp is a big-time scorer. Throw in Ben Howland’s defense, and UCLA is a Final Four threat.

Sleeper: USC—Some people think that the Trojans’ time to shine will be next year, when they welcome O.J. Mayo into the fold. However, they are playing excellent this season, including wins over Oregon, Washington, and Wichita State. Nick Young and Taj Gibson are one of the best forward combos in the conference.

Bust: Washington—The Huskies have a gaudy record due to their weak non-conference schedule and their plethora of home wins. However, they are 0-3 on the road, losing by an average of over 16 points per game in those losses. UW is also 1-3 in the Pac-10—not a good start to what seemed like a promising season.

Team to Watch in the Conference Tournament: Oregon—The Ducks came into the season with the same sort of talent they have had the past few years, but this time around they are turning that talent into victories. Oregon is loaded on the perimeter, and is playing like Villanova did last season. They can beat any team they play, shown by their win over UCLA.

Surprise So Far: Washington State—Who would’ve thought that the Cougars would be in the thick of the Pac-10 race midway through January? WSU is playing some of the best basketball on the West Coast, with wins over USC (on the road), Arizona, and Gonzaga. Derrick Low and Kyle Weaver are a very underrated backcourt.

NCAA Tournament Teams: UCLA, Arizona, Washington State, USC, Oregon, Washington

Bubble Teams: California, Stanford

SEC

Favorite: Florida—The defending National Champions have been somewhat up and down this season, but they are still on their way to an SEC title. They are simply too talented and consistent to lose the conference championship. Their inside-outside balance might be the best in the country. They could be looking at another Final Four appearance.

Sleeper: Georgia—Although the Bulldogs are only 7-5 and have lost four in a row, this is still a decent team. They have a great perimeter group, led by Mike Mercer, and a big-time post player in Takais Brown. UGA dominated Gonzaga back in December, and they have the ability to beat anyone when their guards are hitting their shots. They could be a spoiler late in the season.

Bust: South Carolina—The two-time defending NIT Champions started out 10-2 with a win over USC, and looked like a surprise team. However, they simply aren’t that good and could be on the downswing after their 16-point loss at home to Kansas. With a tough opening SEC schedule, they could be 0-6 before winning a conference game.

Team to Watch in the Conference Tournament: Arkansas—The Razorbacks were expected to struggle somewhat after the losses of Ronnie Brewer and Jonathan Modica, but they have not missed a beat. They own wins over West Virginia, Southern Illinois, and a 27-point domination of Alabama this past weekend. They are very athletic, and have good depth both inside and outside.

Surprise So Far: Tennessee—The Volunteers were not expected to be this good so soon after the loss of two starters and the breaking in of several freshmen. However, Bruce Pearl has this team ready to go. Chris Lofton is outstanding, and the Vols have victories over Memphis, Oklahoma State, and Texas in an epic overtime thriller.

NCAA Tournament Teams: Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Arkansas, LSU

Bubble Teams: NONE

Tuesday, January 9th Predictions

Prediction Record: 224-99

West Virginia at Notre Dame- Prediction: Notre Dame 78, West Virginia 72
Arkansas at Florida- Prediction: Florida 76, Arkansas 66
Clemson at North Carolina State- Prediction: Clemson 71, North Carolina State 65
Ohio State at Wisconsin- Prediction: Wisconsin 70, Ohio State 63
LSU at Alabama- Prediction: Alabama 69, LSU 64

Monday, January 8th Predictions

Prediction Record: 223-97

Old Dominion at Hofstra- Prediction: Hofstra 71, Old Dominion 66
Villanova at Georgetown- Prediction: Georgetown 70, Villanova 62
Texas Tech at Kansas State- Prediction: Kansas State 74, Texas Tech 72

The Week Ahead

Wow, what a start to the conference season. After one of the best weeks of the college basketball season, including a wild weekend that saw four Top 10 teams fall, the fun doesn't stop as league play heats up some more. There are numerous key battles that could have a huge impact on the conference races even though it's only the second week in January.

Old Dominion at Hofstra (Monday): Key battle in the CAA. Both teams have had a good start to the league season, sitting in a tie for first place at 3-0. Hofstra's guards have the edge, but the Pride need to find a way to stop ODU's Valdas Vasylius up front.

Villanova at Georgetown (Monday): Two teams seemingly going in opposite directions. Villanova has lost two in a row, including a home defeat to DePaul. Georgetown, on the other hand, has won seven in a row, including a throttling this past weekend of Notre Dame at home.

Texas Tech at Kansas State (Monday): Two potential bubble teams in the Big 12. Texas Tech is playing some of its best basketball of the season, led by Martin Zeno and Jarrius Jackson. Kansas State went 0-2 on the road last week, and may have lost Bill Walker to a knee injury.

West Virginia at Notre Dame (Tuesday): Another Big East battle between two teams that might be going in different directions. WVU is 3-0 in the Big East, but all the wins were at home. Notre Dame is coming off of a blowout loss to Georgetown, and is still without starting point guard Kyle McAlarney.

Arkansas at Florida (Tuesday): This game got a little more interesting over the weekend, after Arkansas' dominant performance against Alabama. The Razorbacks are improving every game. Florida has had a target on their backs the whole season, but have responded well.

Clemson at North Carolina State (Tuesday): Will Clemson's undefeated season continue on the road in the ACC? The Tigers won 2 conference games last week on last-second lay-ups, over Florida State and Georgia Tech. NC State was blown out at home by Boston College, and are falling quickly.

Ohio State at Wisconsin (Tuesday): The game of the year in the Big Ten, and the game of the week in college basketball. Two of the best teams in the country do battle in what is another chance for OSU to beat a marquee team. The Buckeyes are coming off of a big road win at Illinois, while Wisconsin is flying under the radar as a potential Final Four contender.

LSU at Alabama (Tuesday): A big game in the SEC West. LSU has been playing well lately, and looked very good in their win over UConn on Saturday. Alabama is struggling, coming off of an awful loss on the road at Arkansas. Ronald Steele is still not completely healthy at the point for the Tide.

Pittsburgh at DePaul (Wednesday): An upset in the making? DePaul might be the hardest team in the country to figure out, and last week exemplified that. The Blue Demons looked terrible in a loss to St. John's, but turned right around to beat Villanova on the road in impressive fashion. Pittsburgh looks like the best team in the Big East--and it's not really close.

Duke at Georgia Tech (Wednesday): Could Duke lose back-to-back ACC games? It could happen, as the Blue Devils did not look good in their home loss to Virginia Tech. Georgia Tech lost a heartbreaker to Clemson, and has looked better and better as their young players mature.

Purdue at Indiana (Wednesday): Two teams in the middle-of-the-pack in the Big Ten go at it. Purdue had an up-and-down week, losing to Minnesota but winning a close one over Penn State, while Indiana has improved since December. The Hoosiers played well against Ohio State, and dominated Michigan State.

Marquette at Connecticut (Wednesday): Two teams in need of a win. Marquette is 0-2 in the Big East after their home loss to Syracuse and a blowout loss to Providence. Connecticut could use a decent win on their resume, but looked very good in their road loss to LSU Saturday night.

Wichita State at Indiana State (Wednesday): Arguably the biggest surprise and the biggest disappointment in the Missouri Valley. Wichita State is 1-3 in the conference after their loss on Sunday to Missouri State, and is struggling. Indiana State is 3-1 in the MVC, and own wins over Butler, Purdue, and Creighton.

Missouri at Texas (Wednesday): Both Big 12 teams are young, but one is improving while the other looks destined to be a bubble team. Texas has looked better and better since November, and Kevin Durant is easily the best freshman in the country. Missouri blew a 16-point second half lead to Iowa State on Saturday at home.

Southern Illinois at Bradley (Wednesday): If Bradley does not win this one, they likely won't contend in the MVC. As it stands, the Braves are 2-3 in the conference, but have lost to the three good teams they faced. Southern Illinois is 3-1 in conference after a tough loss to Northern Iowa over the weekend.

Virginia at North Carolina (Wednesday): Virginia is a team, like DePaul, that is hard to figure out. They obliterated Gonzaga during the week, but turned around to lost on a shot with 0.9 seconds left to Stanford. UNC likely won't feel sorry for them. The Tar Heels are hitting their stride, and could run away with an ACC title.

Oklahoma State at Kansas (Wednesday): One of the best games all season in the Big 12. Oklahoma State has surprised many this season, starting 15-1 with the only defeat a tough loss at Tennessee. Kansas started off slow, but is playing much better lately, beating South Carolina handily on the road on Sunday.

Hofstra at Drexel (Thursday): The second tough game for Hofstra in a four-day span. The Pride started the season 0-3, but have won 11 in a row. Drexel has wins over Syracuse and Villanova, and could be the favorite in the CAA. The winner of this has the edge in the title race early on.

Washington at Stanford (Thursday): A big game for both teams in the Pac-10. Washington is only 1-3 in the conference, and need to show they can win on the road. Stanford is coming off of a road win over Virginia, but the Cardinal are only 1-2 in the league, and 9-4 overall.

Washington State at California (Thursday): Both teams are doing better than expected in the Pac-10. Washington State looks like a legit contender after their overtime win over Arizona this weekend to move to 3-1 in the conference. Cal is still 2-1 despite the loss of starting center Devon Hardin, with both wins coming on the road.

Creighton at Northern Iowa (Friday): Another big-time game in the Missouri Valley. Northern Iowa's unblemished conference record is on the line against a 3-1 Creighton team that is hitting their stride. Anthony Tolliver of Creighton against Eric Coleman and Grant Stout of Northern Iowa will be a great match-up down low.

Power Sweet Sixteen Rankings

After a wild weekend in college basketball the Power Sweet Sixteen Rankings has shake-ups all over the place. Four Top 10 teams lost, and only one unbeaten team remains after two of the final three lost this week. Moreover, several other teams in contention for a spot in the rankings were also defeated. How will that affect March Madness All Season's Power Sweet Sixteen Rankings? I will post the rankings every Sunday until I begin to release complete brackets in February.

- Standard bracketing rules apply (no two teams from the same conference in the same half-bracket, etc.)

- Numbers in parenthesis next to the team indicate what 1-16 ranking they are

San Antonio Region:
1. Florida (2)
2. Arizona (7)
3. Nevada (10)
4. Oregon (15)

San Jose Region:
1. UCLA (3)
2. Ohio State (5)
3. Clemson (11)
4. Air Force (14)

East Rutherford Region:
1. North Carolina (1)
2. Pittsburgh (8)
3. Butler (9)
4. Texas A&M (16)

St. Louis Region:
1. Wisconsin (4)
2. Oklahoma State (6)
3. Tennessee (12)
4. Duke (13)

17th Team: Washington State

Others Considered: Kansas, Maryland, Northern Iowa, Alabama