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

Early Look at the 2015 NBA Draft Lottery

While NFL Draft season is in full swing and the Combine is happening as I write this, June will arrive quicker than expected and Adam Silver will be calling out the No. 1 pick. While it is still very early in the process, expect this to be how the NBA Draft lottery 2015 to shake out:

Jahlil Okafor

1. New York Knicks Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke
The Knicks are absolutely terrible, no other way to put it. They need help everywhere, so why not start with the best player in this year's class? Okafor has only impressed in his short time with Duke, showing a wide range of post moves, an ability to crash the boards extremely well and the ability to hurt defenses in a variety of ways. New York needs a center desperately, and Okafor would be a perfect solution.

2. Minnesota Timberwolves Karl-Anthony Towns, C, Kentucky
Nikola Pekovic is a solid center, but can he lead a championship team? Maybe that is premature to think about in Minnesota, but a long term upgrade needs to be a thought. Towns has had some superb moments in Lexington this year and while he lacks overall consistency, the raw tools are there for him to grow into a dominant big man for years to come for the T-Wolves.

3. Philadelphia Sixers Emmanuel Mudiay, PG, International
Just this past deadline, the Sixers decided it was time to change things up even more. Less than a year after winning Rookie of the Year honors, Philly shipped off their starting point guard, Michael Carter-Williams. Mudiay can be the starter right away, as he has already played pro ball, opting to skip college to play in China.

4. Orlando Magic D'Angelo Russell, SG, Ohio State
Although Orlando has spent lottery picks on both Victor Oladipo and Elfrid Payton the past two years, not selecting Russell, easily the best player available here would be tough. The Ohio State stud continues to dazzle offensively and while he has some defensive holes, he could be the consistent wing scorer the Magic have lacked for some time.

5. Los Angeles Lakers Stanley Johnson, G/F, Arizona
Much like New York, Los Angeles should be in best player available mode here, as they need help in so many areas. Johnson is still raw in some areas, especially shooting the ball, but he has the natural athleticism to turn into a stud at the NBA level. And who knows, maybe long term, he could be Kobe's replacement?

6. Sacramento Kings Justise Winslow, G/F, Duke
The Kings' last couple picks, Nik Stauskas and Ben McLemore, have not a lot, although it is early, to warrant thinking about them as cornerstones for the future. Winslow is raw but much like Johnson, he has outstanding athleticism and extreme versatility and new coach George Karl could plug him in wherever he pleases.

7. Denver Nuggets Mario Hezonja, G, International
After just a couple months in the organization, Denver shipped off Aaron Afflalo and Wilson Chandler's future in the franchise is uncertain. It would be the perfect time for Denver to look for a replacement, by selecting the smooth Croatian guard, who has a polished jumper.

8. Utah Jazz Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky
Already equipped with one of the NBA's best rim protectors, in Rudy Gobert, the Jazz could continue to solidify their frontcourt by bringing in the lengthy Cauley-Stein. Although Cauley-Stein's offensive game is a work in progress, he has the size and defensive skills needed in order to become an impact player in the league.

9. Boston Celtics Myles Turner, F/C, Texas
Turner's season in Texas has been full of ups-and-downs, but he still has established himself as a lottery-caliber player. With a strong, NBA frame and the ability to stretch the floor, the still improving Turner could become an important piece to the puzzle in the long term for Brad Stevens and Boston.

10. Indiana Pacers Kevon Looney, F, UCLA
To nobody's surprise, the Pacers have missed Paul George and Lance Stephenson and have gotten absolutely no answer to their problems on the wing. Even with George likely coming back next season, selecting Looney, a great athlete with exceptional versatility could add some much needed depth to the equation in Indiana.

11. Atlanta Hawks (from Brooklyn) Cliff Alexander, F/C, Kansas
Even with a career year from Paul Millsap, Atlanta must still keep an eye towards the future. Millsap is aging and center Al Horford isn't getting any younger. Alexander, who has shown signs of becoming a dominant big man despite not a lot of minutes at Kansas, could learn and grow under Millsap and Horford before becoming an important contributor in Atlanta.

12. Detroit Pistons Kelly Oubre, G/F, Kansas
The Pistons certainly made the right move by getting rid of Josh Smith, who was playing completely out of position at small forward, but Kyle Singler is not the future at the position. Oubre has also had some major ups-and-downs but is growing more reliable by the passing day. Already gifted with outstanding athleticism, Oubre can grow into a stronger rebounder and better shooter.

13. Houston Rockets (from New Orleans) Bobby Portis, F, Arkansas
While the Rockets have added some pieces this season, they still have some major depth issues. The good news is that they secured this pick from New Orleans in the Omer Asik swap and could add a talented young piece in Portis, from Arkansas. Portis has a strong body and can work well in the paint, but also shown exceptional range for the Razorbacks.

14. Philadelphia Sixers (from Miami) Kristaps Porzingis, F/C, International
The Sixers really have nothing to lose with his selection, so selecting Porzingis, a high-risk, high-reward prospect wouldn't be a terrible move. The Latvian forward would bring size (7'1") and immediate shot-blocking and would further solidify a frontcourt that could be truly nasty in a few years, if Embiid and Noel develop and Dario Saric comes over from Europe.

Bracketology: In/Out for College Basketball's Top Bubble Teams

With college football and the Super Bowl seeming like just days ago (it has now been nearly two weeks since the Patriots stifled Russell Wilson and Seattle for their fourth title), it has overshadowed the fact that March Madness is fast approaching, now just a month away. For many teams, like Kentucky, Virginia, Wisconsin, etc., they will not have to worry about playing in March, no matter what happens in the month between now and then. But, for others, now is the most important part of their seasons. Every single game could mean the difference between playing in the Big Dance or sitting at home watching it on TV. Which of the sports' biggest bubble teams appear destined to make some noise in March, and which appear destined for the NIT (or worse)?

Will Cummings and Temple

Temple Owls 18-7, 9-3 conference (American Athletic)
RPI: 34 SOS: 56 Big Win: vs. Cincinnati, February 10th

Fran Dunphy's first season leading the Owls in the new look American Athletic Conference was by all standards a complete disaster. A program that had perennial success in the Atlantic 10, the Owls limped to a 9-22 overall record, and a 4-14 conference mark. But, this year they have looked great, going 18-7, 9-3 in the conference (3rd as of right now), even with some injuries. Despite having little offensive threats beyond sharpshooting guard Will Cummings, Temple has been strong all year and does have some solid wins. An overtime victory against UConn adds a nice win to their resume, and getting vengeance against Cincinnati this past Tuesday really helped. Though, the thing helping the Owls' case the most, is the fact they have no bad losses. Outside of a two-point loss to St. Josephs early on the year, all of their losses have been to likely tournament teams, and strong tourney teams at that. While Dunphy's club has a tough stretch ending February (face the two teams in front of them inside the conference, Tulsa and SMU) they appear to be in very good position to get back to the tourney.
Verdict: In

Miami Hurricanes 15-9, 5-6 conference (ACC)
RPI: 64 SOS: 52 Big Win: @ Duke, January 13th

The Hurricanes have been one of those weird teams that is so tough to get a read on this whole season, and if the season ended today, it would probably be a toss up whether they would be dancing or not. An exciting win over Florida, who was ranked No. 8 at the time, has lost most it's luster, but beating Duke in Durham and dropping 90 on them still is a huge win. The 'Canes also have wins over Syracuse, Illinois and pushed Virginia to double overtime before losing. Though, there have been some bad, bad losses. They lost by nearly 30 points to Eastern Kentucky, lost by 20 to an underwhelming Georgia Tech team and were downed earlier this week by Wake Forest, dropping them to a sub-500 conference record. Miami is an extremely talented team, led by two Big 12 transfers, explosive Kansas State transplant Angel Rodriguez and Texas transfer Sheldon McClellan, and their schedule isn't terrible down the stretch. Though, their bad losses are so weak it overshadows a pretty decent strength of schedule and that big win over Duke.
Verdict: Out

Seton Hall Pirates 15-9, 5-7 conference (Big East)
RPI: 68 SOS: 76 Big Win: vs. Villanova, January 3rd

Through the first half of the season, Seton Hall was one of the nation's biggest surprises. Behind electric guards Sterling Gibbs and Isaiah Whitehead, the Pirates got off to a fast start, going 12-2 with victories against Top 25 teams in Villanova and St. John's to begin conference play. But, they have fallen apart lately, losing six of eight, with their lone wins coming against struggling Marquette and at home against Xavier. They sit at 15-9 at the moment but 5-7 inside the Big East is not very impressive to the committee, despite the fact the conference has been much improved this season. Sure, the win over Villanova was nice, but St. John's is now a bubble team, and adding in a weak SOS, Seton Hall appears to be on the outside looking in now.
Verdict: Out

Boise State Broncos 18-6, 8-3 conference (Mountain West)
RPI: 39 SOS: 91 Biggest Win: vs. San Diego State, February 8th

One of college basketball's stronger conferences over the past few years, the Mountain West has a legit shot to only put in two teams into the field, especially if Boise State misses out (San Diego State and Colorado State appear to be relative locks). The Broncos resume on paper is rather underwhelming. Their only two wins over Top 50 teams were inside the conference, against those two other likely tourney squads, Colorado State and SDSU, and they have a number of bad losses, including losses to Utah State, Wyoming and Loyola (Illinois). But, a recent hot streak, winning their last eight games, has put them in prime position to possibly get into the tournament and bumped them to an 18-6 overall record. While their weak SOS and bad losses could haunt them, they have a very nice schedule along the rest of the regular season to possibly run the table. If they do, the Mountain West will almost certainly be a three-bid league.
Verdict: In

Purdue Boilermakers 16-9, 8-4 conference (Big Ten)
RPI: 69 SOS: 78 Biggest Win: vs. Ohio State, February 4th

Although the Big Ten has been done this year, mainly because of the struggles of the two Michigan schools, it is still a tough conference to win in and Matt Painter has done a great job keeping Purdue in tournament contention. The Boilermakers have a relative decent resume, a strong conference record with wins over Ohio State and Indiana to boot, and with no terrible losses outside of a bad performance against Gardner-Webb that wrapped up non-conference play. Unfortunately, their non-conference slate could hold them back. Outside of Notre Dame, the Boilermakers played a very soft slate of teams, and the Irish appear like they may be the only team in their non-conference schedule to make the NCAA Tournament. Their weak non-conference schedule puts them at a 78 SOS, very low for a team from a notable conference like the Big Ten. The Boilermakers aren't out of it yet though, an early March slate will be tough (Ohio State, Michigan State and Illinois, all likely tourney teams) but it could also greatly boost Purdue's resume.
Verdict: Out

UCLA Bruins 15-10, 7-5 conference (Pac-12)
RPI: 42 SOS: 18 Biggest Win: vs. Utah, January 29th

From November to early January, the Bruins appeared dead in the water. UCLA was sitting at 8-7 and had embarrassed on countless occasions. They were dominated by Kentucky and Gonzaga, but even more alarming were losses to Alabama and Colorado. Though, mid-January, few teams have been as scary as the Bruins, whose win over Oregon State this week bumps them to a 15-10 mark overall. The Bruins avenged a loss earlier in the year to Utah (in which they lost by over 30 and scored just 39) by upsetting the Utes in late January. UCLA got a big win later by beating Stanford, who appears to be firmly in the tournament, and they have an opportunity to get a huge win in a week's time, when they get seventh-ranked Arizona. Their brutal non-conference slate has helped them gain an RPI of 42 and an SOS of 18, two numbers usually reserved for tournament teams. While Steve Alford still has a ton of pressure on him, the Bruins appear to have figured things out, and would likely barely sneak into the field if the regular season ended today.
Verdict: In

Can Kentucky Go Undefeated?

Willie Cauley-Stein

It has been nearly three decades since the Indiana Hoosiers went 32-0 in the 1975-1976 season, becoming the last college basketball team to finish a season with zero in the losses column. Sure, there have been times that have been close since then. Just a few years later the Larry Bird-led Indiana State Sycamores were flawless until an NCAA Tournament Championship loss to Magic Johnson and Michigan State, and just this past season Wichita State was undefeated before a third round loss in the tournament to none other than Kentucky. But, someday, it is bound to happen, that a team is just too dominant not to be denied a flawless record. Could this be that season? Could John Calipari's Army of McDonald's All-Americans do something that hasn't been done in years?

The 2014-2015 Wildcats have been built on three things: size, depth and defense, which has translated to a flaming hot 23-0 start, that has included a 32-point walloping of Kansas, along with victories over Texas, Louisville and UNC. That size has been key to the Wildcats' suffocating defense, which could be the best in the entire nation. Led by a frontline that includes seven-footers Willie Cauley-Stein and Karl Towns (both shot-blocking machines), along with bullying big man Dakari Johnson, plus a perimeter defense that is stifling with Tyler Ulis and Dominique Hawkins, the 'Cats have allowed over 70 points just once on the year, in their SEC opener to Ole Miss that went into double overtime. Their depth is also crazy impressive, even without junior forward Alex Poythress (out for the remainder of the season), something that comes naturally when you have nine McDonald's All-Americans on your roster. One thing is clear in Lexington, that has been clear all year long and really, throughout Coach Cal's tenure; they are crazy talented. When the Harrison twins are playing smart and aggressive, when Towns is physical, when Devin Booker is shooting well and when Johnson utilizes his wide frame in the low post, there isn't a team in the entire nation that matches up with them.

Yet, this is not a team of robots that comes out every single night on their "A" game. They are still young, even with the unusual presence of upperclassmen under Calipari, and they will be prone to mistakes. Too often Kentucky's offense gets stuck in the half-court and doesn't know what to do when they aren't out in transition. The Wildcats turn the ball over way too often, something that is clearly very typical for young teams, and other than Booker, they don't really have a proven shooter. The Harrisons have their moments but lack general consistency from deep, and Ulis is not much of a scorer, let alone a shooter. Though for those deficiencies, this team always seems to have answers. In crunch time against Ole Miss, Texas A&M and just this past night against Florida on the road, a young team answered the bell. They control the ball much better in the second half, and always seem to get the job done at the free throw line. Few teams in the history of the sport can be so young but yet so strong in crunch time, an obvious reason why the Wildcats are 23-0 and even if they don't finish the year undefeated, they will clearly be a major threat in the tourney.

The Wildcats' season is far from over, and now is the crunch time when too many strong teams fall apart. Mid-February to early March is hazardous for many top teams, especially ones with an undefeated record. Conference play is in full bloom, and night after night you have to perform your best. Many teams get caught looking ahead to the tourney, something Kentucky can not afford to do. Sure, the SEC is not the deep, talented basketball conference as it is in football, but it is full of scary, dark horse teams that can come out any night and take down the Wildcats. Most notably of the teams remaining on Kentucky's roster; a trip this Tuesday to a hostile environment in Baton Rouge to take on sophomore Jordan Mickey and LSU, the upset-minded South Carolina Gamecocks just days later, and a three-game stretch to end the regular season that includes Arkansas, Georgia and Florida. Even if Kentucky does get through that the SEC Tournament awaits just days later, and after that an NCAA Tournament, where of course, anything can happen. Clearly there is a reason why no team has gone undefeated since Indiana back in '75-'76. Conference play is grueling and the Tournament is a six-game crazy couple weeks (Indiana did not play in the modern era of 68 teams, the 64-team was set a decade later in 1985).

The odds are stacked against Kentucky, there shouldn't be much denying. Sure, they have a crazy-talented stockpile of playmakers and anybody on their team can get scorching hot when the team needs it. But, the Wildcats have a tough schedule remaining, no matter what you think about the SEC. Anybody in the conference can come out at any time and strike, and the conference tournament could also expose them. And, then there is the NCAA Tournament, that includes 67 of the other best teams in NCAA Basketball. Though, don't write any chances of Kentucky finishing up flawless completely off. They have the depth (especially when Trey Lyles, who has missed the last three games returns) the defense, and the weapons to get the job done. While the 'Cats may need some magic along the way, Indiana's long hold on the last true unbeaten of college basketball may come to an end after three decades, though not likely, as there is just too much standing in the way between now and April when the NCAA champ is crowned.

Who Could Beat Them? (Remaining Tough Games)
@LSU Tigers (17-6) on February 10th: Quietly, Johnny Jones has built a program to be reckoned with in Baton Rouge. The Tigers sit at 17-6 and in great position to make a tournament bid (plus, five-star recruit Ben Simmons arrives next year) and have a ton of versatility in the frontcourt. Though, they need to hit some big threes, as they do not have the size Kentucky has up front.

Arkansas Razorbacks (18-5) on February 28th: Arkansas pulled off a memorable upset against the Wildcats a year ago, and may be in good position to do much the same this year, in their lone opportunity in the regular season to hunt the 'Cats. Forward Bobby Portis has been a stud this year and his floor-stretching ability will greatly challenge the Wildcats' defense.

Florida Gators (12-11) on March 7th: It has not been a fun year for Billy Donovan and the Gators. Without their four senior studs, the Gators have struggled, losing close game after close game to falter to a 12-11 mark. Though, they are still extremely talented, with Michael Frazier a deadly three-point shooter and the versatile Dorian Finney-Smith.