It seems like it’s the year of the Tiger in college basketball. Memphis, Clemson, Missouri, and LSU are all having banner years. These four schools have set themselves up to have great finishes to the season.
The Memphis Tigers are back to their old tricks in Conference USA. Winners of 14 in a row, including victories on the road against Tennessee and Gonzaga, Memphis has all but gotten rid of the notion that this would be rebuilding year. This team may not be as good as the clubs of the past three seasons, but it’s very capable of making it to Detroit.
Remember when Clemson would get off to a great start and then collapse. Those days are over folks. While the Tigers let one get away against Florida St, this is still one of the most dangerous team in the country. Their style of play is difficult to prepare for with Terrance Oglesby and K.C. Rivers creating havoc for their opponents.
While we’re on the subject of style of play; enter Missouri. Coach Mike Anderson has brought ’40 minutes of hell” to the Big 12 and it’s proving to be as successful as it was at Arkansas and UAB. It’s hectic and sometimes out of control, but it’s always effective. Teams try to go head-to-head with the Tigers playing that style, but it proves futile.
Now to the Tigers no one is talking about. LSU is currently enjoying life in the SEC West with a 7-1 conference record and 19-4 overall. Marcus Thornton and Tasmin Mitchell are one of the most potent 1-2 punches in college basketball. They’re clearly head and sholders above any team in the SEC West.
This week’s Bracket Projections:
Last Four In: Wisconsin, Miami (FL), Virginia Tech, Penn St
Last Four Out: BYU, Nebraska, Kansas St, Kentucky
This bracket is good for games played thru Sunday, February 8, 2009.
SOUTH
1.North Carolina16.Sam Houston St Greensboro, NC
8.LSU9.Syracuse
5.California12.Penn St Portland, OR
4.Xavier13.Buffalo
6.Utah11.Virginia Tech Philadelphia, PA
3.Villanova14.Weber St
7.Utah St10.Arizona Minneapolis, MN
2.Michigan St15.East Tennessee St
MIDWEST
1.Oklahoma16.Morgan St Kansas City, MO
8.Boston College9.Florida
5.Ohio St12.Siena Boise, ID
4.Marquette13.Northern Iowa
6.Purdue11.Cincinnati Miami, FL
3.Clemson14.Robert Morris
7.Arizona St10.San Diego St Kansas City, MO
2.Memphis15.Long Beach St
WEST
1.Pittsburgh16.Princeton/Alabama St Dayton, OH
8.Gonzaga9.Texas
5.Illinois12.Miami(FL) Boise, ID
4.UCLA13.Western Kentucky
6.Butler11.UNLV Minneapolis, MN
3.Kansas14.VMI
7.West Virginia10.South Carolina Dayton, OH
2.Wake Forest15.Holy Cross
EAST
1.Connecticut16.Morehead St Philadelphia, PA
8.Dayton9.USC
5.Florida St12.Wisconsin Miami, FL
4.Missouri13.Northeastern
6.Washington11.Tennessee Portland, OR
3.Louisville14.North Dakota St
7.Minnesota10.Davidson Greensboro, NC
2.Duke15.Boston U
Bracketville USA 