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College basketball teams are experiencing more year-by-year turnover than ever before due to: graduation, players leaving early for the NBA Draft, and transfers galore; Here are five teams who made the 2013 NCAA Tournament this season but will likely take a step back next year and have their work cut out for them if they want to return to the Big Dance.
One of the top undeclared high school basketball players made his college decision at Tuesday’s McDonald’s All-American Game media day when Aaron Gordon announced that he will play his college basketball for the Arizona Wildcats. Gordon picked ‘Zona over Pac-12 foes Washington, Oregon, and Kentucky.
With six McDonald’s All-Americans on their way to Lexington, it is pretty obvious as to why the Kentucky Wildcats have the number one recruiting class in 2013. In fact, you can make an argument that the group of Julius Randle, Andrew and Aaron Harrison, Dakari Johnson, James Young, and Marcus Lee might be the best recruiting class of all time. Wherever they rank on that list, one thing is for certain; this freshmen class will face an incredible amount of pressure with such high expectations placed upon this group.
While the disappointment of laying an egg in the Elite 8 against Syracuse still lingers, the future remains extremely bright for a Marquette program coming off their third straight trip to the Sweet 16. Assuming Buzz Williams returns for his sixth season and the incoming recruiting class remains in tact, the Golden Eagles should be even better in 2013-14.
Is Indiana basketball truly back to it’s former glory?
We’ll find out this weekend. In 2003, Tom Crean led the Marquette Golden Eagles to a somewhat unexpected trip to the Final Four. Ten years later, Crean is looking for a return trip; this time as head coach of the Indiana Basketball.
For the third straight season, Marquette basketball has advanced to the Sweet 16. Ohio State, Kansas, and Florida are the only other programs that share that distinction. Unlike the Buckeyes, Jayhawks, and Gators though, the Golden Eagles have been unable to take the next step and get to the Elite 8. Thursday night versus Miami FL, MU will try to pass the test and get over the hump.
Warning: I will not be responsible if you copy this bracket and are out of your NCAA Tournament pool by Sunday. However, if you do listen to my college basketball wisdom and win some money, I want 20% of the pot or at least a shout-out on your twitter or facebook page.
Kansas earned the number one seed in the South Bracket and get a huge home court advantage playing their first two games in Kansas City. Florida, Georgetown, and Michigan are the other top seed but there are a couple of dangerous teams lurking in this regional.
Warning: I will not be responsible if you copy this bracket and are out of your NCAA Tournament pool by Sunday. However, if you do listen to my college basketball wisdom and win some money, I want 20% of the pot or at least a shout-out on your twitter or facebook page.
I don’t love the West Bracket. At. All. And by that I mean there is no stand out team who I want to pick going to the Final Four. Of all the brackets, this seems to be the most likely one to see a darkhorse emerges since I’m not sold on the top seed Gonzaga or #2 Ohio State.
Warning: I will not be responsible if you copy these brackets and are out of your NCAA Tournament pool by Sunday. However, if you do listen to my college basketball wisdom and win some money, I want 20% of the pot or at least a shout-out on your twitter or facebook page.
Louisville earned the number one overall seed in the entire tourney and is the top seed in the Midwest Regional. With Duke and Michigan State in the region as well, it won’t be an easy ride to the Final Four for the Cardinals.
Happy Selection Sunday!!! Here is an updated college basketball Bracketology previewing what the 2013 NCAA Tournament might look like when the brackets are revealed today.
UPDATED: 3/17/13
The next few days of the Big East Tournament will play a major factor in the seeding that the conference teams earn when the NCAA Tournament brackets are announced on Selection Sunday. A team could easily move up or down a couple of seeds depending on the outcome of their performance at Madison Square Garden. Here is a best case/worst scenario on where the Big East teams could land in the brackets depending on their result at the Big East Tournament.
Click here for my latest NCAA Tournament Bracketology.
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The NBA Trade Deadline came and went without any star players changing homes. It was less entertaining than this season of American Idol… and that’s saying something. In fact, the “biggest” name to be traded was J.J. Redick who went from Orlando to Milwaukee. Ish. Here are the winners and losers of the 2013 NBA Trade Deadline.
