The American
Time to Dance With March Madness almost here, Jay Webster looks at some of the teams that could be catching our eye
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hen the calendar turns to March, it means one thing to most fans of American sports: the National Collegiate Athletic Association Men’s Division I Basketball Championship ... or March Madness (or if you prefer, the ‘Big Dance’). The recipe is simple: 68 teams, six rounds. Win and move on, lose and you go home. It’s that simplicity and symmetry, and the fact so many teams get a shot at the title, which makes it so compelling. The fact that the best teams have to take the court and defeat the lower seeded teams leaves the door open to the possibility of massive upsets – thus the element of Madness, and an atmosphere no other sporting tournament can match. So who will make an impact on this year’s tournament? Here’s a rundown of some of the teams and players who figure to leave their mark in March, and possibly even on April 2nd, in the National Championship Game at the Superdome in New Orleans.
Kentucky Wildcats
It appears that any team with their eye on a National Championship this year will have to go through Bluegrass Country. The Wildcats are loaded with young talent. They have topped the rankings for much of the second half of the season with three freshmen and two sophomores leading the way. Head coach John Calipari has a history of luring top talent to his school for the
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mandatory year players must wait to enter the draft, then molding them into collegiate contenders before they jump to the riches of the NBA. Five Wildcats average double figures in scoring, with super freshman Anthony Davis leading the way. The 6-10 forward uses his height and enormous wingspan to patrol the paint, and is considered the top defensive player in the country. Davis, who shattered Shaquille O’Neal’s SEC single-season record for blocks by a freshman, is expected to be one of the top picks in the next NBA draft, as well as an impact player when March Madness rolls around. The Wildcats may have three first-year players in the starting lineup, but Calipari also has a couple of key veterans to rely on in guard Darius Miller and forward Terrance Jones, who remain from last year’s Final Four squad. With their depth, explosive offensive prowess and shutdown capabilities on the defensive end, the Cats look likely to nab a top seed and make another run at a Final Four appearance.
Left: Likely on his final NCAA tour, Buckeyes’ star Jared Sullinger OHIO STATE ATHLETICS
Ohio State Buckeyes
Led by Player-of-the-Year candidate Jared Sullinger, The Buckeyes look certain to be in the mix come tournament time. The 6-9 sophomore passed up the NBA Draft after an impressive freshman campaign, opting for another chance at March glory. Sullinger is a wide body who matches up well against bigger players and has no problems putting the team on his shoulders. He averages over 17 points and nine rebounds per contest. He doesn’t have to carry the whole load however, as senior William Buford and sophomore Deshaun Thomas are also capable of putting up points, and sophomore point