Lunardi: 10 trends to watch

[Duncan&Kidd홧팅]

전 아는게 없어서 그냥 영어문장 뭉치로밖에 보이진 않지만, 이 게시판 이용하시는 분들에겐 좋은 정보가 될 것 같아 앞으로 얻어지는 대로 올리겠습니다. -.-

 

Updated: Dec. 12, 2005, 4:43 PM ET

Illinois, A-10, CAA among positive surprises

By Joe Lunardi
Special to ESPN Insider

OK, OK. I can take a hint. A single preseason bracket just isn't enough for you people. If my daily e-mail is any indication, our plan to begin weekly Bracketology updates on Jan. 9 was about as popular as Reggie Bush in Austin.

So here you go: a brand new bracket reflecting all of the incredible action we witnessed in the first five weeks of the season (through games of Dec. 11, to be exact). With most Division I teams now playing a light schedule because of exams and other academic commitments, this is as good a time as any to revisit the projected NCAA Tournament field.

But be warned. The absence of major conference play -- outside of a handful of ACC games -- makes sorting teams in traditional multiple-bid leagues a risky proposition. In addition, one often has to weigh (or, at times, ignore altogether) individual game results in ways we never would in February. Think "Hawaii 84, Michigan State 62."

Even so, a careful reading of key nonconference games allows for certain trends to be identified. Although team seeding and placement will change markedly over the next three months, most of these trends will not:

• My exclusion of North Carolina from the preseason bracket isn't looking too smart. At the time, I thought the defending champion Tar Heels were no better than a 50/50 bet to return to the NCAA Tournament; now, while no means a lock, you'd have to put Carolina's odds at no worse than 75/25. Elsewhere in the ACC, Clemson looks like it might be on the verge of a breakthrough season while Miami has probably been the biggest disappointment to date.

• Even dumber than the UNC omission (still justifiable in many respects) was the exclusion of Florida and the underseeding of Illinois. Either or both look more than capable of a Final Four run. I am especially impressed with the Illini, who figured to take a much larger step back after last year's NCAA runner-up performance. Overall, the Big Ten strikes me as the nation's deepest (and perhaps best) conference, while the Gators could continue to thrive in another so-so SEC.

• We should apply most of the Illinois comments to Washington. The Huskies, though, do not play a true road game until Jan. 12 (winning this year's Rand McNally Award by a single day over Kansas and perennial contender Syracuse).

• The Atlantic 10 is back. After suffering through a rare one-bid season last year, the expanded A-10 has already posted nonleague wins over Maryland, Providence, Miami, Alabama, Cincinnati, Kansas and Virginia. If newcomer Charlotte could get its act together, we could see up to four NCAA bids from this conference.

• The Big 12 has been unusually lackluster in the nonconference season. Part of this is the absence of a young Kansas team from the national picture (at least for now). Look for the Jayhawks, along with equally rebuilt Oklahoma State, to play their way back into the NCAA picture before too long. If Kansas State and Colorado can add some road wins, watch out.

• The bigger Big East isn't necessarily better. Connecticut and Villanova (and perhaps Louisville) are among the nation's elite, but wake me when Syracuse or Pittsburgh does something interesting (like plays a road game, for instance). Another potential elite team, West Virginia, has also returned to earth, as was easily forecasted by those who eval‎uate prior seasons as a three-month rather than three-week phenomenon.

• The Colonial Athletic Association hasn't produced multiple NCAA teams since the days of Dick Tarrant and Richmond. That could change this year as the CAA had seven Top 100 teams through mid-December.

• No so-called mid-major conference schedules smarter than the Missouri Valley. The Valley seems to pick and choose its nonleague opponents very carefully, compiling the following conference vs. conference records through mid-December: Big East (2-2), Big Ten (3-2), Mid-American (6-0), Mountain West (2-0), Sun Belt (3-1). So don't be surprised when the MVC gets another two or three teams into the Big Dance.

• SEC disappointments include, well, come to think of it, let's save time by instead listing SEC surprises: Florida, Georgia and Vanderbilt (maybe). Collectively, though, I don't think even the SEC is as disappointing as Stanford and much of the Pac-10.

• Other teams to watch: Nevada (still), Colorado State, Houston, Air Force, Bucknell, Wichita State, Montana, Iona, Davidson, Winthrop, San Diego, Oral Roberts, Tennessee Tech and Northwestern State.

We'll be back with new brackets again before Jan. 9. I promise. In the meantime, stay tuned for the debut of "InsideRPI" and a number of built-in team data features available nowhere else.

Joe Lunardi is the resident Bracketologist for ESPN, ESPN.com and ESPN Radio. Comments may be sent to bracketology@comcast.net.

[Placebo effect]

올려 주셨군요.. 정말 감사히 잘 보겠습니다..

[LeonPowe]

브루스 웨버 감독... 일리노이에서 현재 73승 9패군요 와.ㅎㅎ

[R.Miller 31]

listing SEC surprises: GEORGIA 아싸 불독

[지노짱!]

GO~GO~ Gators!!!