College Basketball Week

Many of my readers probably have a lot of questions about which teams I left in or left off the NCAA Tournament list and why. Well, with this being College Basketball Week here at The Nutz, I am game for any questions you want answered especially when it comes to the Mid-Major Conferences. Today I am going to give you my snub teams that won't get into the tournament. For tomorrow, I have heard enough hate on my College Basketball Team that was posted by BadChoiceMilk and I have had enough. So tomorrow if you haven't seen my team on my buddy's site, I will give you my reasoning behind every pick that I made. When I win the league at least you will know why. I will also give you other studs to keep an eye on this season, that should be picked up at some point during the season. Here's my teams that get snubbed on Selection Sunday, enjoy!

MICHIGAN

After a tough first season under head coach John Beilein, the Wolverines are amped for this new season. This season, the Wolverines will have extra guard help with the play of transferred Arizona Wildcat Laval Lucas-Perry. Super Soph Manny Harris is one of the premiere players in the Big Ten, and he has worked extra hard this off season with his outside game, something that was lacking. Unfortunately, Michigan plays in the Big Ten, which experts believe is 4th in conference power rankings. To me, that is a crock! What doesn't help Michigan's case will be their non-conference schedule. So, Michigan will have the biggest gripe on Selection Sunday but I had no choice to keep them off my list because to me they are one or two recruits away.

VANDERBILT

Coach Kevin Stallings has always done well at Vanderbilt with senior-laden teams, and this year he only has ummm....none! This team is still talented enough to contend in the overrated SEC, but committee members will see how overrated this conference is early in the season, so Vandy will get snubbed. A.J. Ogilvy, a sophomore, is a 1st team all-conference member, with great skills in the post and the ability to get to the line and knock down free throws. Unfortunately, that is the only assurance the Commodores have. This team is far too young to be in consideration on Selection Sunday, but they will be knocking on the door, I can promise you that.

WEST VIRGINIA

Coach Bob Huggins has a great recruiting class starting with Greg Monroe added to a solid nucleus for the Mountaineers this season. Villanova and the WV will be one of the final teams to get added to the field on Selection Sunday, I am going to give the upper hand to the Wildcats though. Villanova always plays better down the stretch, while West Virginia is missing that go to guy after the departure of Joe Alexander to the NBA. Many think that Devin Ebanks from St. Thomas More in Connecticut, is the answer. WV won't sneak up on anyone this season, and they will be the victims of a Mid Major school on selection day.

GEORGIA TECH

Their are many great pieces to the puzzle that coach Paul Hewitt is looking to put together. Some would think of this a bad situation, but for a coach there is nothing better than piecing together a squad that has tons of question marks. I love Paul Hewitt as a coach, so no matter who he plays this season, he is going to have to put an emphasis on the defensive side of the ball. They are not very athletic in the backcourt so they are going to need everyone to contribute. I think that by mid-season the Yellowjackets will start playing well together and make a few upsets but it won't be enough in the end, because the committee will give the edge to Va. Tech in the end.

WASHINGTON

Guard Scott Suggs heads a recruiting class that got 3 of the nations top 100 in the off season, which should help 3rd team All-American Jon Brockman. Lorenzo Romar has done his job by trying to piece together the right nucleus of players but it has backfired with the departure of 7-footer Spencer Hawes two years ago. Romar also got recruit, Isaiah Thomas (no relation) a Washington native that played at South Kent Prep in Connecticut last year. If Arizona falls this season, it will be because of Romar's Huskies. They will be under the radar until conference play and if they can get Brockman the ball, and find others that will score watch out. If Arizona does play well this year, the Huskies will be on the outside looking in.

PROVIDENCE

The Friars have a veteran squad, with a first year head coach in the deep Big East this season. Keno Davis, led Drake last season to a 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament and a 28-5 record. Providence has always provided us with very notable coaches, so will Davis be the next one? This talented squad that he has been dealt must learn his season and buy into it early, being in the Big East. They have brought back 4 players that averaged double figures last season so the talent is there. Davis is having the right approach by telling his team we will win now and that we are not about a 2 or 3, 4 year plan at Providence. If the Friars don't get to the top 8 teams in the loaded Big East, I really don't like their chances. Buying into the coach and the system early on is the key for their success...period!

DRAKE

Speaking of Keno Davis, what about his old team in the Missouri Valley? Mark Phillips, a former assistant under Herb Sendek at Arizona State and N.C. State takes over a team that many thought over achieved a year ago. Though, Drake is a small school, their academic standards are very high for the Missouri Valley so they had a tough season from recruiting. Jonathan Cox and Josh Young are back for the Bulldogs, but will they be enough to get them back to the tournament? I don't think so. Creighton, So. Illinois, and Illinois State are definitely getting in. I just don't know if Drake will show the committee that they have enough credentials. Pressing teams and chucking threes were part of their success a year ago, I really don't think that that will work again this year, and other schools will pass them by.