NFL Mock Draft 2015: Edition 5

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jameis Winston, QB
While many players are shooting up and down and all over the place on draft boards, one pick remains a constant: Winston to Tampa. The Bucs are clearly going to take a quarterback, letting Josh McCown walk was only further confirmation, and the front office loves the former Florida State signal-caller. Unless something completely changes between now and draft day in a month, Winston is sticking at No. 1.
Previous Selection: Jameis Winston, QB
Other Possibility: Marcus Mariota, QB
2. Tennessee Titans Leonard Williams, DL
Tennessee has done very little in free agency and while they will most likely be intrigued by Marcus Mariota here, they desperately need to fix their porous front seven. Williams is by far the best defensive player in a draft stocked with great pass rushers. He will give the Titans a dominant pass rusher in the heart of their defense for years to come, something that certainly doesn't come available often.
Previous Selection: Leonard Williams, DL
Other Possibility: Marcus Mariota, QB
3. Jacksonville Jaguars Dante Fowler, DE/LB
It is looking more and more likely by the passing day that Dante Fowler will stay in the state of Florida after dominating with the Gators throughout his collegiate days. The Jaguars still need a franchise pass rusher to anchor their defense and while he is still somewhat raw, Fowler has all the tools to be just that.
Previous Selection: Randy Gregory, DE
Other Possibility: Randy Gregory, DE
4. Oakland Raiders Kevin White, WR


Kevin White

White has only further impressed scouts following a great showing at the Combine last month. The West Virginia product has blazing speed, soft hands and great size and could become a great deep threat. That would certainly help Oakland with Derek Carr's huge arm, and give the Raiders a dynamic passing game.Previous Selection: Kevin White, WR
Other Possibility: Amari Cooper, WR
5. Washington Redskins Vic Beasley, DE/LB
The Redskins suffered a tough loss this free agency when Brian Orakpo ditched to Tennessee, but they can possibly even upgrade the position by drafting the quick-rising Beasley out of Clemson. Beasley could fill needs at either end or outside linebacker and adds great experience and an aggressive sacking mentality to either slot.
Previous Selection: Dante Fowler, DE/LB
Other Possibility: Randy Gregory, DE
6. New York Jets Marcus Mariota, QB
While the Redskins are apparently eyeing Mariota as a replacement for RG3 and he could easily go to either Tampa or Tennessee, it is also extremely likely Mariota ends up a Jet. New York has fixed their secondary problems with the signings of Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie, now they must fix an even more pressing need: quarterback. Geno Smith might still have something left in the tank, but prospects like Mariota don't drop to six very often.
Previous Selection: Marcus Mariota, QB
Other Possibility: Brandon Scherff, OT
7. Chicago Bears Amari Cooper, WR
It certainly did have some great moments, but the Jay Cutler-Brandon Marshall experiment failed miserably and Marshall is now off in New York. Cutler's future is uncertain in Chicago but even so, the Bears need another receiver who could become their No. 1 or complement Alshon Jeffery. Cooper would be an ideal option, the Alabama product has all the tools; speed, size and hands, to be a solid weapon at the next level.
Previous Selection: Danny Shelton, DT
Other Possibility: Danny Shelton, DT
8. Atlanta Falcons Randy Gregory, DE
Gregory had a relative poor performance at the Combine and despite a strong Pro Day performance, he is dropping, while Fowler is shooting up boards. Even if the stud end does drop, he wouldn't slip past Atlanta, who clearly needs some pass rushing help.
Previous Selection: Shane Ray, DE/LB
Other Possibility: Shane Ray, DE/LB
9. New York Giants Brandon Scherff, OT
The Giants have some long term issues on their offensive line. It has been a poor unit and outside of young Justin Pugh, it has little long term potential. Drafting Scherff would be a nice solution, the former Iowa Hawkeye could grow as a backup for a couple years before becoming a starter and he also has the versatility to contribute at a number of different positions.
Previous Selection: Brandon Scherff, OT
Other Possibility: Shane Ray, DE/LB
10. St. Louis Rams La'El Collins, OT
A new quarterback is behind center in St. Louis; now the Rams have to do something with him they never did to Sam Bradford: protect him. The Rams' O-Line is a mess, but drafting Collins would be a major help. While Collins has fluctuated up my draft board quite a bit, he is still a Top 10 talent who adds leadership and experience to the St. Louis line.
Previous Selection: Andrus Peat, OT
Other Possibility: T.J. Clemmings, OT
11. Minnesota Vikings Trae Waynes, CB
Minnesota's acquiring of Mike Wallace solved their terrible receiver situation for right now, but the Vikings still have other holes, especially at cornerback where they lack a long term option next to Xavier Rhodes. Waynes has only confirmed that he is the top corner in this year's draft, with a strong, sturdy 6'1" frame and blazing speed.
Previous Selection: Amari Cooper, WR
Other Possibility: Landon Collins, S
12. Cleveland Browns Danny Shelton, DT
The Browns need some serious help against the run, and that solution could come in Washington prospect Danny Shelton. Phil Taylor's health is a concern and Ahtyba Rubin is off to Seattle, so picking up Shelton, who could be a steal here, would be ideal for Cleveland.
Previous Selection: DeVante Parker, WR
Other Possibility: DeVante Parker, WR
13. New Orleans Saints Shane Ray, DE/LB
A sack machine at Missouri, Ray has the talent to go Top 5 but it is possible that he could drop as while. Although he has a very quick first step and is a great athlete, he has had relatively unspectacular showings at both the Combine and in his Pro Day. If he does drop, he could be a great pickup for the Saints, who desperately need another pass rusher.
Previous Selection: Bud Dupree, DE
Other Possibility: Bud Dupree, DE
14. Miami Dolphins DeVante Parker, WR
The trading of Mike Wallace to Minnesota and the cutting of Brian Hartline has made it clear in Miami that the 'Fins are looking for a new top target for young QB Ryan Tannehill. The answer should come in the form of Parker, who has the explosiveness of Wallace mixed with the reliability of Hartline.
Previous Selection: Marcus Peters, CB
Other Possibility: Dorial Green-Beckham, WR
15. San Francisco 49ers Dorial Green-Beckham, WR
While holes have opened up on the Niners' defense with the retirements of Chris Borland and Patrick Willis, the Niners still have seriously worrying holes offensively, mainly at the receiver position. Dorial Green-Beckham continues to impress scouts and would give San Francisco a dynamic target for Colin Kaepernick to play with for years to come.
Previous Selection: Dorial Green-Beckham, WR
Other Possibility: Eric Kendricks, LB
16. Houston Texans Malcolm Brown, DT
The Texans have done nothing so far this offseason to fix their problems in the heart of their defensive line, so they will have to fix the issue in the Draft. Malcolm Brown has all the physical tools to be a dominant tackle for a long time, and he also possesses the versatility to possibly move along the unit, and spend time at end.
Previous Selection: Vic Beasley, DE/LB
Other Possibility: Jaelen Strong, WR
17. San Diego Chargers Melvin Gordon, RB
Ryan Matthews is off to Philadelphia, leaving the running back position wide open for San Diego. The question for the Chargers is to go with Todd Gurley or Gordon, a blazing quick talent from Wisconsin. While Gurley is scary when healthy Gordon is less risky and fits San Diego's up-tempo scheme better.
Previous Selection: T.J. Clemmings, OT
Other Possibility: Todd Gurley, RB
18. Kansas City Chiefs Andrus Peat, OT
They may have some holes in their secondary still and may need some more wide receiver help, but Kansas City has an even more pressing need on their offensive line that they have done nothing to address in free agency. Peat would be somewhat of a steal here at 18, and would make it very tough for Andy Reid and the Chiefs to pass on him.
Previous Selection: Landon Collins, S
Other Possibility: Landon Collins, S
19. Cleveland Browns Arik Armstead, DL
Already upgrading their defensive tackle position, Cleveland should continue to upgrade their front seven with Arik Armstead, a beast from Oregon. Armstead can play all across the line and could line up as the opposite of Desmond Bryant in Cleveland's 3-4 scheme. Although he is still somewhat raw and will need some time to further develop, Armstead's impressive size and strength mean he could be scary good in a few years.
Previous Selection: Malcolm Brown, DT
Other Possibility: Bud Dupree, DE
20. Philadelphia Eagles Jalen Collins, CB
The Eagles have had a crazy offseason and while they have signed former Seahawk Byron Maxwell, they still need help in their secondary. Collins is a superb athlete who has the potential to grow into a lockdown cornerback for Philadelphia for a long time.
Previous Selection: Trae Waynes, CB
Other Possibility: Brett Hundley, QB
21. Cincinnati Bengals T.J. Clemmings, OT
The Bengals have next to no long term solutions at tackle and they obviously want to protect Andy Dalton going forward, obviously assuming he is their franchise quarterback. Clemmings has the size and talent to go even higher, and he could be a real steal here at the 21 spot.
Previous Selection: Shaq Thompson, LB
Other Possibility: Eddie Goldman, DT
22. Pittsburgh Steelers Landon Collins, S
If Collins, an excellent safety from Alabama with impressive range, does slip all the way to Pittsburgh at 22, the Steelers would be getting an absolute steal at a need position. Troy Polamulu's superb career has essentially come to a close, and Pittsburgh should be searching for a long term alternative.
Previous Selection: Jalen Collins, CB
Other Possibility: Kevin Johnson, CB
23. Detroit Lions Eddie Goldman, DT
While the Lions did trade for Haloti Ngata following the departures of Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley, they still could be searching for another defensive tackle, especially with one as talented as Goldman on the board. Goldman is extremely powerful and is still growing; him and Ngata could soon be an upgrade over Suh and Fairley.
Previous Selection: Eddie Goldman, DT
Other Possibility: Ereck Flowers, OT
24. Arizona Cardinals Eric Kendricks, LB
The signing of Sean Weatherspoon by the Cardinals helped somewhat solve their linebacker problems, but while Weatherspoon is crazy talented, he was always injured in Atlanta. Kendricks is younger, healthier and possesses great size and instincts.
Previous Selection: Eli Harold, DE/LB
Other Possibility: Eli Harold, DE/LB
25. Carolina Panthers D.J. Humphries, OT
The Panthers signing of Michael Oher did add some depth and experience to their offensive line but they still need a future at the tackle position. Humphries has been climbing draft boards for a while now and he has the strength, size and impressive athleticism to be a dominant tackle for Carolina.
Previous Selection: La'El Collins, OT
Other Possibility: Ereck Flowers, OT
26. Baltimore Ravens Jaelen Strong, WR
Gone is Torrey Smith, and Baltimore's current top target, Steve Smith, is 36 this May. Needless to say, the Ravens need to address the receiver position. Strong has the chance to shoot up boards, with good size and good hands, and if he does fall to the Ravens here, Baltimore would be getting quite a steal.
Previous Selection: Todd Gurley, RB
Other Possibility: Carl Davis, DT
27. Dallas Cowboys Marcus Peters, CB
The Cowboys have never been ones to shy away from players with off-field concerns for on-the-field talent, and Peters would certainly not be an exception. Despite his dismissal from Washington earlier this year, Peters is still a top-tier cornerback prospect. He has the size, the athleticism and the range to be a shutdown corner for a Dallas defense that needs it.
Previous Selection: Arik Armstead, DL
Other Possibility: Owamagbe Odighizuwa, DE
28. Denver Broncos Maxx Williams, TE
Julius Thomas is now a Jacksonville Jaguar, but the Broncos were smart not trying to overpay to bring him back. Maxx Williams is the best tight end prospect in the draft this year. The former Minnesota Golden Gopher has receiver's hands and speed and is also an underrated blocker. The Broncos could soon get an upgrade at the position with Williams.
Previous Selection: Cam Erving, OL
Other Possibility: Ereck Flowers, OT

Bud Dupree

29. Indianapolis Colts Bud Dupree, DE
Label this under "Steal". Dupree is a legit Top 10 prospect but he could easily drop if he doesn't taken by New Orleans because after that, the need for a true defensive end goes way down. The Colts would love another pass rusher who has excellent versatility and selecting Dupree here would be a huge get in Indy.
Previous Selection: Melvin Gordon, RB
Other Possibility: Alex Carter, CB
30. Green Bay Packers Jordan Phillips, DT
The future of the interior of Green Bay's defensive line is a question. B.J. Raji is still a free agent heading weeks into free agency and Letroy Guion probably won't return. Phillips was a solid contributor at Oklahoma and is deceptively quick. He will add a superb run stopper in the heart of the Packer's D-Line.
Previous Selection: Quentin Rollins, CB
Other Possibility: Kevin Johnson, CB
31. New Orleans Saints Ereck Flowers, OT
Using a pick acquired in the Jimmy Graham deal with Seattle, New Orleans should look to help out their offensive line which still has some holes, especially with disappointing Ben Grubbs traded away. Flowers has the raw talent to be a stud and the Saints wouldn't mind having a young linemen with some versatility.
Previous Selection: Seahawks selected WR Phillip Dorsett
Other Possibility: Paul Dawson, LB
32. New England Patriots Alex Carter, CB
The return of Darrelle Revis to New York will not only challenge the Pats' offense twice a year, it also cripples their cornerback position. New England would love if Marcus Peters could drop here, but there are still some solid options if he doesn't. Carter is a solid all-around cornerback with good upside and seems to fit the Pats.
Previous Selection: Devin Smith, WR
Other Possibility: Carl Davis, DT

Bracket Analysis: South Region

Quinn Cook

Despite not winning the ACC regular season nor championship nor the conference tournament, Duke's victories over Virginia, North Carolina and Wisconsin were enough to earn them the No. 1 seed in the South Region. The Blue Devils will be lead be their usual fair share of star power, including center Jahlil Okafor, swingman Justise Winslow and Tyus Jones, who has been clutch in big games this year for the Blue Devils. Add in steady veterans like Quinn Cook, who joins Jones in the backcourt, along with Amile Jefferson and Matt Jones, and on paper the Blue Devils certainly have a Final Four-caliber squad. Though, Duke has had moments where they've choked in the tournament big time. Last year, despite having Jabari Parker and All-ACC forward Rodney Hood, Duke was upset by Mercer in the second round. And, losses in years prior to teams like VCU as an 11 seed taking down the Blue Devils all the way back in '07 and the all-too-familiar loss to Lehigh as a 2 seed. Though, the road to a deep run inside the region is not necessarily that difficult. Duke should be able to handle the winner of San Diego State/St. John's and both Utah and Georgetown, who could be their Sweet 16 matchups appear to be on serious upset alert. While a meeting with Iowa State or Gonzaga could be a huge matchup down in the Elite Eight pairing, Duke appears primed to at least make some moves this season.

Stephen F. Austin's upset over VCU was one of the craziest, heart-wrenching moments in the Tournament a year ago, and the Lumberjacks return to the Field of 68. Down a year ago by four late in the game to the Rams, a Lumberjack was fouled while hitting a three. He would hit the free throw and in overtime, SFA would take down the Rams in a popular upset pick. Don't be surprised if the Lumberjacks break another five seed's heart. Utah could be their victim this season. While the Utes do have spectacular senior guard Delon Wright, an All-Pac-12 player they don't have much depth and their offense has been absolutely streaky. The Lumberjacks space the floor extremely well, pass well and are smart and have two solid scorers to lead their efficient offense in Thomas Walkup (15.7 points per game) and Jacob Parker (14.1). Don't be surprised if SFA uses their size down low and three-point shooting ability to stun a very vulnerable Utes team, a program making their first appearance in the Big Dance since moving to the Pac-12.

The Lumberjacks opponent in the third round could also be a "Cinderella" possibility. Georgetown also has a long history of choking, most notoriously two tournaments ago, when "Dunk City" and Florida Gulf Coast dominated them as a 15 seed. The Hoyas have put together an impressive season but many were still surprised when a team without many big wins and a lackluster Big East Tournament showing were awarded with a four seed. They will meet the Big Sky Champ, the Eastern Washington Eagles, another balanced team with an efficient offense. While the Eagles did beat up on Big Sky opponents all year, they also proved they can beat the big boys too, stunning Tom Crean's Indiana team earlier in the year. The Eagles are blessed with one of the nation's most underrated guards in sophomore Tyler Harvey, who is averaging nearly 23 points per game and shooting 43 percent from deep. The Hoyas are a good defensive team but they can be beat in transition and speed by the opponent. If the Eagles can shut down Georgetown star D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera, a great scorer who has also been prone to bad decisions, and contain massive center Joshua smith, a former UCLA transfer, they will be in prime position for a huge upset and will set up a third round between two double-digit seeds.

For the second straight season, Iowa State dominated the Big 12 Tournament, culminating in a huge win in the Championship over Kansas, the second time the Cyclones beat the Jayhawks on the year. Despite the run in the conference tournament, the Cyclones were given a 3 seed and earned a label as somewhat of a "dark horse" in the tournament. The Cyclones are led by one of the nation's best forwards Georges Niang, a junior who does it all. He averages 15.5 points and 5.4 rebounds per game and is one of the nation's best passing big man averaging 3.5 per game. ISU also has streaky scoring Monte Morris to lead the offense and their usual stud transfer in UNLV product Bryce Dejean-Jones, who can score in a variety of different ways. 14th-seeded UAB made an impressive run in the Conference USA Tournament but they are not anywhere close to the level of the Cyclones. While a possible meeting with SMU in the third round could be dangerous things don't get that tough until a likely meeting in the Sweet 16 with Gonzaga. While many have openly questioned Gonzaga's resume they still play great basketball and are motivated to make a major run. Even so, the Cyclones have their usual abundance of shooters, a legitimate star in Niang and more experience than they had last season. They could make a huge run this year, and are my pick to make it out of the region.

Legendary head coach Larry Brown has completely transformed SMU from a struggling program consistently near the bottom half of the C-USA to the best team in the still young AAC and a dangerous tournament team. After being snubbed from the field last year, SMU made sure they were a lock winning their conference tournament and earning a six seed. While 6-11 matchups are breeding grounds of upsets, the Mustangs got perhaps the weakest at-large team in the entire field. UCLA has been dominated in meetings with Kentucky, Utah, Arizona and a number of other teams inside their conference and were just 2-8 against the RPI Top 100 (2-8!). While Kevon Looney can give some teams problems down low, the Mustangs are deeper, better-coached and just plain more talented. Meeting Iowa State in the next round would be a huge challenge for Brown and SMU but just getting a win in the Big Dance would continue to show just how far the Mustangs have come and how much potential they have in the future.

South Picks
Second Round

1 Duke over
16 Robert Morris

Bracket Analysis: East Region

Darrun Hilliard & Ryan Arcidiacono

The Villanova Wildcats rode a 32-2 overall record and 16-2 record in the Big East to a No. 1 seed, though many are doubting them because of their play inside an oft-criticized conference. Despite some defensive limitations, Villanova has a number of weapons that can put up some serious points. Junior Ryan Arcidiacono leads the offense, the steady veteran is not a superb shooter but is a great ball handler and a hard worker. Sharpshooting guard Darrun Hilliard is a serious playmaker as well, while the play of forward JayVaughn Pinkston and Josh Hart will give anytime 'Nova plays serious problems. The Wildcats will hope to begin their tourney run against Patriot League champ Lafayette, who hopes to become the first No. 16 to take down a 1. After that, a meeting with NC State/LSU could certainly give Villanova some problems if the 'Cats can't hit their threes. Still, Villanova appears to be someone of a dark horse, something amazing considering they are a top seed. Many expect 'Nova to be an early out, but they have a ton of offensive playmakers and Jay Wright has had some postseason success (a Final Four run with Scottie Reynolds in 2009). The East Region is not extremely tough and if Villanova gets hot they could make a pretty surprising run to the Final Four.

College basketball this year has been all about slowing down the pace and using every possession wisely. Teams are scoring at the lowest rate in years because of this, and no team slows things down as much as Northern Iowa. The Panthers went 30-3 on the season and went 16-2 in the Missouri Valley Conference with victories against Wichita State, Iowa and fellow dark horse tournament squad, Stephen F. Austin. While the Panthers score at an extremely low rate, they rarely, rarely turn the ball over and play even better defense, allowing just 54.3 points per game, good enough for fourth in the entire nation. UNI has one of the nation's most underrated studs, forward Seth Tuttle, who does it all. The senior averages 15.3 points per game, 6.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game, while shooting nearly 62 percent from the field. Another experienced veteran, Wes Washpun is a playmaking guard who will help the Panthers' offense run smoothly. While Mountain West champion Wyoming is certain to give any team some issues, if UNI plays strong defense and contains Larry Nance Jr. they should be in good position. The winner of Georgetown/Eastern Washington shouldn't give the Panthers overwhelming problems, and Northern Iowa could set themselves up for a huge Sweet 16 meeting with Villanova. With their controlling, smart offense that is similar in many ways to Wisconsin and their hard-nosed defense full of experience, UNI certainly looks like a scary dark horse in this year's tournament. They could legitimately be an Elite Eight team with how weak the East Region is, and possibly have an even higher ceiling than that.

The losses of veterans like Adreian Payne, Gary Harris and Keith Appling ushered in a new era in Michigan State basketball, one that was full of struggles early. Though, the Spartans appear to have put it all together, making an impressive run to the Big Ten Tournament Championship game and although they suffered a heartbreaking overtime loss to Wisconsin, it showed MSU is ready to do some damage in the tournament after a tough Elite Eight loss to UConn last season. Forward Branden Dawson is one of the Big Ten's best rebounders and a serious matchup problem for many, while guard Denzel Valentine has evolved into a dangerous scorer who can hurt you from deep or take you off the dribble. Travis Trice has always been a great shooter but he has evolved into a great distributor and the Spartans have good size and depth in their frontcourt. While Georgia gave Kentucky serious problems and could do much the same for the Spartans, Michigan State is incredibly dangerous. Depending on the health of wing Justin Anderson, who has missed significant time for Virginia, the Spartans could pull off an upset over the Cavaliers  and possibly be prepared for a major run, considering how wide open the region is.

The dismissal of star point guard Chris Jones midyear threatened to derail Louisville's season. The Cardinals were already struggling and getting rid of the playmaker looked like it could doom them. But, the Cardinals finished the year playing pretty good basketball and won a huge game late in the year, defeating Virginia. They enter the NCAA Tournament with the same seed as last year and incredibly dangerous. Forward Montrezl Harrell still remains among one of the most dominating players in college basketball. The 6'7" junior isn't necessarily very tall but he is strong and sturdy and can push you over if you get in his way. Dangerous scorer Terry Rozier is poised for a big tournament after a great regular season. The guard averages just over 17 points per game and has stepped up big time since the dismissal of Jones. While he will still have turnover problems Rozier still has the ability to take games over and carry Louisville if he does need to. Guards Wayne Blackshear and Quentin Snider, who took over point guard duties from Jones, are also going to make a major impact. While the Cardinals come into the tournament somewhat overlooked they could make a serious run. While they do not have that much size, the Cards push the ball extremely well and have two of the better players in the region in Harrell and Rozier. The UC Irvine Anteaters will be eager to pull off the major upset but Louisville could be a scary team in the region. If they can get past the Anteaters and can put up points in a possible third round meeting with Northern Iowa, they could make a move all the way to the Final Four.

East Picks
Second Round

1 Villanova over
16 Lafayette

Bracket Analysis: West Region

Nigel Hayes

A Big Ten regular season title and tournament championship was enough to give Bo Ryan's Wisconsin Badgers a No. 1 seed, although the committee did match them up with perhaps the toughest of the four regions. A possible Sweet 16 meeting with North Carolina is a cause for concern while second-seeded Arizona and third-seeded Baylor are two dangerous teams. Even so, the Badgers appear destined for a strong showing. Senior center Frank Kaminsky is the real deal, a mobile center who so few can guard because of his mix of size, strength and shooting ability. Sam Dekker and Nigel Hayes offer more size (along with greatly improved Duje Dukan), while Josh Gasser and Bronson Koenig are studs in the backcourt. Perhaps the most amazing thing about Wisconsin is that they have had so much success without the guidance of senior guard Traevon Jackson. Koenig has taken over the reigns of the offense and run it wonderfully, but the Badgers could become even more dangerous if Jackson takes over fully healthy. The senior is more of a natural point guard than Koenig and guided Wisconsin to within an inch of a National Championship appearance a year ago. The Badgers won't turn the ball over very much, limiting opponents opportunities in transition and also are one the biggest teams in college basketball, only Kentucky is bigger. Although that possible Sweet 16 meeting with the Tar Heels is scary, the Badgers have a ton of the pieces back from a team that was a Final Four squad a year ago. If they are healthy, they should win the West, and possibly the whole thing.

The midyear injury to Briante Weber, the stud senior guard who perfectly exemplified their "Havoc" defense, threatened to derail VCU's hopes. The Rams slipped to a five seed in the Atlantic 10 conference tournament and while not on the bubble, were certainly heading in the wrong direction. But, a strong showing in the conference tournament that culminated in a championship victory over Dayton, reassured many that the Rams and their infamous defense will become a major threat in March. Weber will not be back and his time at VCU is sadly over, but the Rams still have a load of weapons on both sides of the ball. Treveon Graham has taken over as the Rams' main source of offense. The talented wing is averaging 16.3 points per game and seven boards per game and is sure to give Ohio State, their second round meeting, quite the challenge. Mo-Allie Cox is a superb athlete who gives teams matchup problems to all different teams and guard Melvin Johnson is a playmaker. And, of course the scariest thing about VCU is their full-court, unrelenting "Havoc" defense which can cause panic for any type of offense. While Ohio State is a very tough matchup in the first game, VCU and Shaka Smart are sure to make some noise and possibly pull off a major upset in the third round against Arizona.

The Rams got an awfully tough draw with Ohio State, who dropped to a 10 seed after a less-than-stellar showing in the Big Ten Tournament. D'Angelo Russell has to be one of the most intriguing players in this tourney and the Buckeyes have to be one of the most interesting teams. Russell can take over games at times but can also run extremely hot or extremely cold and he won't be the primary ball handler against the Rams' trap. Russell can score in bunches and make some dazzling plays but can he lead a deep to a deep tourney run like Shabazz Napier a year ago? Russell will need more help from fellow backcourt partner Shannon Scott and he needs his big men to help him out some more, the Buckeyes have gotten very little production underneath. VCU is an extremely small team so using big men to get easy buckets will be extremely important. Ohio State will need someone to step up down low to beat VCU and also to move on. Arizona has some great size, including Kaleb Tarczewski and stretch four Brandon Ashley and the Buckeyes could struggle against them. Still, few teams have a freshman that can go for 30 every single game. If Russell goes off, Ohio State would wreak some serious havoc.

Although they fell apart in the ACC Championship Game, UNC still played strong enough in the tournament to earn a four seed and possibly do some damage. They have one of the nation's best guards in junior Marcus Paige and an amazing assortment of big men, and the smooth transition offense that can get easy buckets. But, what they do not have is shooting, they struggle to space the floor very well which doesn't help their bigs get space and make plays. Still, Kennedy Meeks, Brice Johnson, Justin Jackson and more are a stocked front line and should give any team they face some serious issues. Jackson especially has stepped up in clutch time. Already gifted with great size and tremendous athleticism, Jackson has been able to hit some threes and help space the court for North Carolina, which has clearly benefitted their offense. While the Tar Heels are hot and have weapons that they didn't have as a six seed a year ago, they are also extremely young and could have moments where they just can't score or defend. Their second round game is daunting, a meeting with 13-seeded Harvard. Tommy Amaker's club has pulled off upsets the past two years and have a roster full of experience. Though, if North Carolina can get through the first game they will be an extremely dangerous team down the stretch and could make some serious noise out West, Wisconsin should definitely be nervous.

Arizona seems to be forgotten about in all of the talk about Kentucky and the ACC. The Wildcats dominated the Pac-12 all season and it culminated in the Pac-12 Tournament Championship, with the convincing victory over the blazing hot Oregon Ducks. Although he didn't win Pac-12 Player of the Year, T.J. McConnell still might have been the conference's best player. The former Duquesne transfer is now orchestrating the Arizona offense, and has plenty of weapons surrounding him. Big men Kaleb Tarczewski and Brandon Ashley are enough to give anyone problems but the toughest thing about the 'Cats is their athleticism on the wings. Sophomore Rondae Hollis-Jefferson can rebound and play great defense, while true freshman Stanley Johnson can score in a variety of different ways. The Wildcats also have impressive depth and plenty of experience on their roster. Plus, they have a motivation factor. Despite being one of the strongest programs in country the past few years, the Wildcats still haven't made a Final Four under Sean Miller despite being so close last season. With the weapons they possess, and an easier road to the regional finals than Wisconsin (Baylor is an easier team than North Carolina most likely) the 'Cats are sure to make a deep run and have a legitimate shot at ending that Final Four drought.

West Picks
Second Round

1 Wisconsin over
16 Coastal Carolina

Bracket Analysis: Midwest Region

The Harrison twins

The pursuit of perfection continues for the Kentucky Wildcats who finished off their regular season and conference postseason a flawless 34-0 and have a shot to be the first men's college basketball team to win 40 games, if they go undefeated in the tournament. Though, the committee did the Wildcats very little favors in their side of the bracket, especially the region. Even so, few teams can match the size of Kentucky down low. Willie Cauley-Stein isn't just a huge dunker or shot-blocker; he is a legit-seven footer with a variety of moves on the block and beautiful polish around the rim, while true freshman Karl Anthony-Towns gets better every single game. The Wildcats would love another great postseason from Aaron Harrison, who hit three clutch threes in three different games to help guide the Wildcats to a National Championship berth, but even if they don't, they have reinforcements. Devin Booker is a much better shooter than either of the Harrison twins and has superb size, while Tyler Ulis has shown amazing composure late in games. Kentucky should clearly roll through the winner of Manhattan and 16-17 Hampton, but Purdue could give them a relative challenge, as they have some great size too. Even so, Kentucky is by far and away the team to put in the Field of 68 and stopping them will be a tough, tough order, though not completely impossible.

The crazy, wreaking press of West Virginia (nicknamed "Press Virginia") helped turn Bob Huggins' team from a bottom feeder inside the Big 12 a year ago to a 23-9 team and a five seed. Though, the Mountaineers should be prepared for an upset against MAC Champion Buffalo, especially if WVU's star guard Juwan Staten is not 100 %. The Bulls can run up and down the floor with anyone, but are much stronger and taller than West Virginia, which could clearly become a major factor. Forward Justin Moss nearly averages a double-double per game, and Buffalo has enough ball-handlers that they could survive the Mountaineers' pressure. If West Virginia doesn't hit some big shots, Bobby Hurley's Buffalo squad could get a huge victory, and the winner of Maryland/Valparaiso better be on guard.

Lately, things just haven't gone Kansas' way in the Big Dance. The Jayhawks have had a long history of high seeds and occasional upsets but aside from a National Championship appearance a few years ago with forward Thomas Robinson, the Jayhawks have struggled in March. First, there was that huge upset by Northern Iowa in the second round of a tournament in which Kansas was a No. 1 seed, there was that near half-courter by Trey Burke to guide Michigan to a Sweet 16 win, and then just last year Stanford handled Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid in the third round. Now, Kansas is in the toughest region of the tournament, where the tough games start right away in the third round, assuming the Jayhawks handle 15-seeded New Mexico State. Wichita State was given a seven seed a year after finishing the regular season undefeated and they could give Kansas an extremely tough fight in the third round, assuming they can take down the struggling Indiana Hoosiers. If the Jayhawks do survive they could have a date with the winner of Butler/Notre Dame and eventually a matchup with Kentucky could loom. Sure, Kansas has a ton of talent and has the consistency at point guard in Frank Mason they haven't had the past few years, but they will have a very tough time doing much damage this March.

Mike Brey's first season in the ACC was a disaster at Notre Dame in 2013-2014. The Irish struggled to score, defend and do pretty much anything else and were eliminated in the first round of the ACC Tournament. A year later, Brey's Fighting Irish are coming off a ACC Tournament Championship and are a major Final Four dark horse. Guards Jerian Grant and Demetrius Jackson will give teams fits. Grant is more of a scorer, a strong athletic guard who has unlimited range while Jackson has improved wildly as a sophomore and will lead the offense. Pat Connaughton is a problem for anyone to guard as he can space the floor as well as anyone. And, the Irish have pretty good size underneath, led by superb center Zach Auguste. Northeastern, making their first tourney appearance in decades, haven't seen a team with the balance and depth of Notre Dame while making Colonial Athletic Association opponents. There is some worry that the Irish could have moments where they can't get anything going offensively whatsoever, as was the case in the second half against Miami in the ACC Quarterfinals, but even so, the Irish are a seriously scary team and could make a serious run to at least the Elite Eight.

The magic of the Brad Stevens era at Butler has not completely faded. After a one-year absence under head coach Brandon Miller (resigned prior to the season with health issues), the Bulldogs are back and ready to mess up some brackets as a dangerous six seed. The return of guard/forward Roosevelt Jones has been huge for the Bulldogs, who have been very dangerous inside Big East play. Guard Kellen Dunham also has been huge, and could play a very similar role to the one that Shelvin Mack played when Butler went on those consecutive Final Four runs under Stevens. Texas snuck into the field as an 11-seed despite an extremely poor resume. Despite being a preseason Top 10 team, the Longhorns limped to a 20-13 record, that included a sub-.500 conference record of 8-10. A healthy Isaiah Taylor could give Butler some issues but the fundamentally-sound Bulldogs are very scary. Notre Dame better be on the lookout in the third round, as should the region as a whole.

Midwest Picks
Second Round

1 Kentucky over
16 Manhattan (beats Hampton in First Four)

Conference Tournament Predictions: ACC

Justise Winslow

Tournament Locks: Virginia (regular season champion), Duke, Notre Dame, Louisville, UNC

Bubble Teams: There are a number of teams sitting on the bubble inside the ACC who need to have success in order to earn a spot in the Field of 68. NC State appears to be pretty comfortably in, but Miami and Pitt need strong performances to have any shot at making the Big Dance.

First Round:
12 Boston College 65
13 Georgia Tech 60
Even with one of the ACC's most underrated players, forward Oliver Hanlan (19.4 points per game), the Eagles still just managed 4 conference victories and 12 overall. Even so, they are a better team than Georgia Tech, especially with a healthy Hanlan.

11 Wake Forest 69
14 Virginia Tech 63
For the most part, Danny Manning's first season at Wake Forest has been a relative disappointment, although it wasn't expected that the Demon Deacons were going to be real threats. Though, a victory against Virginia Tech would at least push them into the conference tournament's second day.

Second Round:

8 Clemson 74
9 Florida State 64
Perhaps Xavier Rathan-Mayes will put up 30 points in a four and a half minutes for the Seminoles once again. But, most likely Clemson will get the job done, with a much more balanced offense and do-it-all Jaron Blossomgame.

12 Boston College 57
5 North Carolina 75
The Tar Heels suffered a tough loss this weekend against arch rival Duke, and were swept for the season. If they can bully the Eagles down low, as they should look to do, they should put themselves in great position to avenge their defeats.

7 NC State 71
10 Pittsburgh 60
NC State made a superb run in this tourney a year ago, earning themselves a "First Four" bid. Led by Anthony "Cat" Barber and a strong amount of depth, they shouldn't need a deep run to make the Dance this year, although it obviously wouldn't hurt.

11 Wake Forest 51
6 Miami 72
Angel Rodriguez has quietly put together a huge year at Miami and the 'Canes will almost certainly be motivated in this tournament. While they are on the outside looking in, they do own a major win against Duke still and could be very dangerous.

Quarterfinals

1 Virginia 63
8 Clemson 58
It is possible Virginia's stud scorer, Justin Anderson, could be back in time for the tournament but if he is not, the Cavs will continue to lean on their defense and the services of wing Malcolm Brogdon. Clemson will be amped and primed for an upset, but Tony Bennett will have his team calm and ready to play.

4 Louisville 76
5 North Carolina 80
The Tar Heels will almost certainly have some troubles handing Louisville star forward Montrezl Harrell, but even so, Marcus Paige can lead the offense and North Carolina will dominate in transition, as the Cards have major depth issues.

2 Duke 74
7 NC State 70
Much like last year, NC State will give Duke a run for their money, but the Wolfpack simply don't have the weapons to match with the two-headed monster of Tyus Jones and Quinn Cook, along with Jahlil Okafor underneath.

3 Notre Dame 66
6 Miami 68
Notre Dame most likely will be a popular dark horse pick in the tournament this year, but they will get quite a challenge from Miami. Jerian Grant against Rodriguez a superb point guard battle, but expect the motivated Hurricanes to find a way to sneak out a huge win.

Semifinals

1 Virginia 70
5 North Carolina 62
The absence of Justin Anderson could be a problem for Virginia, especially if their offense struggles in the second half of this game, like it did earlier in the year against Duke. But, if Virginia plays smart and forces North Carolina to shoot often, they have a great shot to get the job done.

2 Duke 77
6 Miami 69
Miami would obviously to beat Duke again to add an extremely huge win to their resume, but the Blue Devils shout come out more focused and have a better attack plan. Jahlil Okafor has the chance to dominate, with the Hurricanes' absence of bigs.

Championship:

1 Virginia 65
2 Duke 71
Anderson's health will once more be a huge factor, but the Blue Devils may just be too strong offensively for the Blue Devils especially if Justise Winslow gets hot. No matter the outcome, if both teams reach the conference championship, the ACC has a very serious shot at two No. 1 seeds.

ACC Champion: Duke Blue Devils

Five Dark Horse NCAA Tournament Teams

Kris Dunn, Providence

Every single year, the NCAA Tournament is full of at least one "Cinderella", a team rising from a high seed to make a deep tourney run. It is really inevitable, with a tournament full of 68 teams one team is sure to be under seeded, or has momentum at the right time, or just gets the right side of a bracket needed to make a run. It can be mid-majors making a run to the Final Four (George Mason, Butler, VCU, Wichita State) or more notable programs regaining their footing in the college basketball landscape (UConn, Kentucky last season). It is nearly a sure thing that somebody will force many to burn their brackets in disgust. Here are five that could go on truly magical runs this March/April:

Murray State Racers (projected 12-13 seed)
Hailing from the Ohio Valley Conference, Murray State has the 267th strength of schedule in the entire nation, but don't expect that to stop the Racers from making some noise. The Racers have dominated the weak OVC all season long, going 16-0, thanks in large part to a high-scoring efficient offense. Murray State averages 78.8 points per game (13th in the entire nation), while shooting just under 49% from the field. While the NCAA Tournament is going to have tougher defenses than say, Tennessee-Martin and other Ohio Valley squads, the Racers have many of the key ingredients needed to make a run. Their offense can score in bunches, they have a high-scoring dangerous guard in sophomore Cameron Payne (20.2 points per game), great athleticism and perhaps most importantly, experience. Head coach Steve Prohm has been here in the NCAA Tournament before, and the Racers first appeared on the national radar when they hit a memorable shot over Vanderbilt in the 2010 Tournament. With skilled guard Cameron Payne and a ton of other weapons, Murray State has the tools to pull of an upset, and 12 and 13 seeds are always incredibly dangerous.

Providence Friars (projected 5-7 seed)
The Big East hasn't gotten the credit it deserves all season long, but it has a legit shot to put in six teams into the field (over half the conference). But, one of those teams is especially, the Providence Friars, making their second straight Tournament appearance under head coach Ed Cooley. The Friars are armed with one of the nation's most underrated players, do-it-all guard Kris Dunn. Dunn is averaging 15.2 points per game (on 48% shooting), 5.6 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game along with nearly three steals per game. Add in the dynamic scoring punch senior forward LaDontae Herron, and Providence has plenty of offensive firepower. The Friars went 21-9 this season but proved themselves time and time again against the nation's 11th-toughest schedule. Providence has beat Notre Dame, Butler and Georgetown twice and has also played against both Villanova and Kentucky, two top-tier teams, meaning they will not be intimidated by the strong teams they will face during tourney time. While Providence is set to be a six or seven seed at the moment, a strong showing in the Big East tournament could push them as high as a four or five seed. Armed with Dunn, Herron and a pretty decent amount of depth, the Friars could be extremely scary come NCAA Tournament time.

Harvard Crimson (projected 12-14 seed)
It is not hard to know why the Crimson are on their list. Tommy Amaker has built a program to be reckoned with at Harvard, and the Crimson have advanced into the third round the last two seasons, defeating third-seeded New Mexico two years ago and beating fifth-seeded Cincinnati last season. Intelligent guard Siyani Chambers continues to improve and will lead the Harvard offense, much like he has done the past two seasons. While not an extremely dangerous shooter, the lefty can make big shots and orchestrates the Crimson offense well. Dangerous wing Wesley Saunders is a true offensive weapon, who is sure to give defenses problems in a variety of different ways. While Harvard's postseason history makes them an easy candidate on this list, it will be interesting to see how they handle teams in the tourney that are more competitive than the Ivy League. The Crimson's only RPI Top 50 team they've played this year is Virginia, who beat them by nearly 50 points and held the Crimson's offense to just 27 points. That offensive output will obviously not do in March, but Harvard does have an especially stingy defense. Their experience should also put them in good position, and make them a very scary team, hovering around a 12 or 13 seed.

Oregon Ducks (projected 7-10 seed)
Following an offseason full of dismissals amid sexual assault allegations, Oregon basketball has put it all together in impressive fashion down the stretch this year. A huge victory against Stanford not only likely burst the Cardinal's bubble but only further locked Oregon in the field. The Ducks have one of the nation's premier scorers in Houston transfer Joseph Young. Although relatively small, Young is incredibly quick, a superb athlete and exceptional shooter and those abilities should guide Oregon's high-flying offense. Along with Young, junior forward Dwayne Benjamin continues to put up strong numbers, especially on the offensive and defensive glass, while wing slasher Elgin Cook is a load to handle, averaging over 13 points per game, while shooting over fifty percent from the field. The Ducks have the explosive offense that can do damage in March, and their late season run has certainly given Oregon a dangerous amount of momentum. Led by Young, anything is possible for an Oregon team that continues to improve each and every day.

LSU Tigers (projected 9-11 seed)
It is pretty amazing how quickly Johnny Jones has transformed LSU back into a strong program inside the SEC, and while 2015-2016 is supposed to be the breakout year (nation's No. 1 recruit Ben Simmons arrives), don't overlook the Tigers at all this March. LSU has two of the nation's most versatile forwards in Jarrell Martin and Jordan Mickey, both sophomores who could join Simmons next year. Neither are huge, but both are very athletic and can finish around the rim, most of the time in very entertaining fashion. While the two sophomores have been huge, the play of wing Tim Quarterman and point guard Josh Gray has really been the major reason for LSU's likely tournament appearance. Gray is still prone to mistakes at times but is a strong defender who can play well in big moments, and none are bigger than the bright lights of March Madness. Depending on LSU's performance against Arkansas and in the SEC Tournament, they could fluctuate as high as an eight seed or possibly drop to around an 11, but either way they could be a major sleeper. While a 10-7 SEC record (as of this point) might not overwhelm most, LSU's performance against Kentucky earlier in the year, despite losing, proved they are a dangerous team with a ton of talent who just needs to figure out how to harness it to make a deep tourney run.

Others to Watch
Ohio State Buckeyes
Iowa State Cyclones
Michigan State Spartans
Northern Iowa Panthers
Iona Gaels
Dayton Flyers