NCAA tournament team previews: Delaware Blue Hens

Jarvis Threatt and the Blue Hens faced some tough competition this year but never picked up and eye-opening win. (Michael Hickey/Icon SMI)

As part of its preview of the 2014 NCAA men’s basketball tournament, SI.com is taking a look at all 68 teams in the field. RPI and SOS data from realtimerpi.com. Adjusted offense and defense are from kenpom.com and measure the number of points scored and allowed per 100 possessions, and the team's national rank. For more teams, click here.

Record: 25-9, 14-2 in Colonial Athletic Association

RPI/SOS: 67/176

Adjusted offense / Adjusted defense: 110.9 (60th) / 105.6 (192nd)

Seed: No. 13 in East

Impact player: Jarvis Threatt, junior guard. 18.1 ppg, 5.8 reb, 5.6 ast, 2.5 steals

The Case For:

Delaware is experienced and has five different players who average at least 10 points per game: Jarvis Threatt (18.1 ppg), Devon Saddler (19.7), Davon Usher (19.4), Carl Baptiste (11.3) and Kyle Anderson (11.0). The Blue Hens blasted through their CAA schedule and played Villanova tough earlier this season, falling 84-80 on Nov. 22. The mostly senior-laden team takes care of the basketball (fourth overall in turnover percentage), suggesting it won't make things harder on itself than it needs to be when facing an opponent as good as Michigan State.

 The Case Against:

While the non-con schedule was actually pretty good, the Blue Hens weren't able to beat any elite teams this year. Delaware lost to Richmond, 'Nova, Notre Dame, North Dakota St., Ohio State and St. Bonaventure, and none of those teams can match the Spartans' talent level when healthy. Delaware doesn't have a ton of size (its tallest player is 6-9), and outside of the five players in double-figures, it doesn't get much scoring help from anywhere else.

SI prediction: Lose to Michigan State in second round.

View complete bracket predictions from SI.com's panel of experts