College Basketball's Teams to Beat

SI Staff | Feb 29, 2008

College Basketball's Teams to Beat /

College Basketball's Teams to Beat

Tennessee

Their stop in the No. 1 spot may be short-lived, but the Vols are still gaining momentum. Sharp-shooter Chris Lofton has his form back after struggling for much of the first part of the season. With Kentucky and Vandy still two games behind, look for the Vols to end the regular season with an SEC championship. Send questions/comments to siwriters@simail.com

Kansas

The bad news for Kansas fans: The Jayhawks are still two games behind the Longhorns in the Big 12 standings. But the good news is the 'hawks lead the conference in field-goal percentage (50 percent) and offensive efficiency -- something that should bode very well come tourney time. Send questions/comments to siwriters@simail.com

Memphis

Star freshman Derrick Rose and the Tigers couldn't handle the "Super Bowl-like atmosphere" against Tennesse, said coach John Calipari. But with the first loss under the Tigers' belt, look for them to come out in full force with an easy C-USA championship run and a first seed in the tourney. Send questions/comments to siwriters@simail.com

UNC

The Heels are headed to Boston College on a five-game winning streak ... all without point guard Ty Lawson, who's been sidelined with an ankle injury. With Lawson back by conference tourney time, expect Psycho T and the Heels to go far -- and get a No. 1 seed in the big dance. Send questions/comments to siwriters@simail.com

UCLA

He's endured an absurd level of fan abuse on the road (see Grant Wahl's story in this week SI) and will probably be gone after this year, but the Beach Boy founder's nephew is still considered the missing piece in UCLA national championship puzzle. Send questions/comments to siwriters@simail.com

Texas

Thought life would be over without K-Durant? D.J. Augustin's 19.3 points and six assists per game have carried the Longhorns to a possible top seed. Send questions/comments to siwriters@simail.com

Duke

The Blue Devils finish up the ACC season against archrival North Carolina. While the hatred brews strong every season, this one should be especially good -- if both teams win their next three games, it will be the battle for the regular-season conference championship. Right now, Duke sits a half-game behind the Tar Heels. Send questions/comments to siwriters@simail.com

Stanford

A fan of Disney and video games, Brook Lopez will have to switch the video to some game tape. The Cards have a chance to take the conference title when they meet UCLA March 6. Send questions/comments to siwriters@simail.com

Xavier

A projected second-seed in SI.com's Bubble Watch, Xavier has taken the Atlantic 10 by storm. The Musketeers have lost one conference game this season, rank sixth in RPI and have scored big wins over Kansas State, Indiana and Dayton. Send questions/comments to siwriters@simail.com

Wisconsin

With Purdue's win over Minnesota Wednesday night, the Badgers are stuck in a logjam for the Big Ten title with Indiana and Michigan State. But with a 13th place in the RPI standings, look for them to get at least a No. 3 seed on Selection Sunday. Send questions/comments to siwriters@simail.com

Indiana

Don't underestimate a team scorned -- the Hoosiers boast two Big Ten Player of the Year candidates in D.J. White and Eric Gordon. When under pressure as the Kelvin Sampson scandal heated up, the Hoosiers responded with some of their most definitive wins of the season: a 19-point victory vs. Michigan State and a nine-point win over Purdue. Send questions/comments to siwriters@simail.com

Connecticut

Where did the Huskies come from? Since losing at Providence on Jan. 20, Jim Calhoun's squad went on tear, winning 10 of its past 11 games -- many without impact guards Dougie Wiggins and Jerome Dyson. Now with them healthy, the deep squad could go far in the Big East tournament next month. Send questions/comments to siwriters@simail.com

Georgetown

Roy Hibbert is leading the Hoyas in points, rebounds and blocks in his last chance to win the national title, which is why he came back this season instead of going pro. JTIII's squad is sitting tied with Louisville on top of the Big East. Expect Hibbert and Ewing Jr.'s experience to carry them as the postseason heats up. Send questions/comments to siwriters@simail.com

Louisville

So long as Rick Pitino stays out of the white suits, the Cards have a shot at winning the Big East. They've won nine of their last 10, but to round out the regular season face Luke Harangody and the Fighting Irish and Georgetown. With Harangody picking up double-doubles in every game in February but one, it won't be an easy game to get past. Send questions/comments to siwriters@simail.com

Drake

Ignore Tuesday night's loss to Missouri State. The Keno Davis-led team has dominated the Missouri Valley Conference this year after being picked to finish seventh in the preseason. In Hoop Thoughts this week, Seth Davis points out the Bulldogs haven't been to the Final Four since 1969. It's at least time for them to have a Cinderella run through the tourney. Send questions/comments to siwriters@simail.com

Published Feb 29, 2008

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