Bracket Analysis: West Region

Buddy Hield, Oklahoma

Seemingly out of nowhere, Oregon ascended all the way to a No. 1 seed, hanging on to it in the West Region. It was well deserved, considering the Ducks had won both the regular season and conference tournament in the Pac-12 and had beaten Baylor non-conference. Though, Oregon is still looked at by many as undeserving or maybe more of a dark horse, just because they haven't got a ton of national exposure. Though, the Ducks are legit, headed by a strong frontline including Elgin Cook, Tyler Dorsey, Chris Boucher and leading scorer Dillon Brooks. Dana Altman, the former Creighton head man, is also one great coach. He not only does a great job throughout the season, he is terrific in in-game adjustments and keeping his team calm. In the hectic NCAA Tournament, those things should obviously be important. The Ducks don't have an overly difficult route to the Final Four, though there are obviously some perils. Cincinnati/St. Joe's could be sneaky, but a Sweet 16 bid against either inconsistent Baylor or undermanned Duke should be nice. Plus, Oklahoma is a jump-shooting team that could go cold, and Texas A&M isn't completely proven. While some may think the Ducks are the most likely No. 1 seed to fall early, I think they are a strong, capable team. An Elite Eight berth is a very real possibility, along with possible higher honors.

Baylor remains as perhaps my biggest wildcard in this entire, 68-team field full of inconsistent squads and plenty of dark horses. The Bears were solid throughout the year, finishing off in the top half of the Big 12 and clearly earning a five seed. They simply beat they should have and didn't really beat any major powers, seemingly coasting to a solid season. They have plenty of talent; Rico Gathers and Jonathan Motley are warriors on the block, and plenty of shooting help exists. But, they also don't have a very deep bench, and Scott Drew's teams have too often not living up to their potential in March (including their stunning loss to Georgia State last year, in which they basically gave the game away). They will also get matched with a very interesting Yale team. Coming from the Ivy League has been a good omen as of late, as Harvard has done some serious damage in the tourney. Yale also has great fundamentals and is a team that does well in transition, which could be a problem for Baylor. A second round meeting with likely Duke (although UNC Wilmington should not be overlooked) is an advantage to the Bears, but beyond that is anyone's guess. This team could very well end up being a Final Four-caliber or fall flat on their face. But, the same thing can be said about 30 other teams in this bracket, and that is what makes this particular NCAA Tournament so intriguing and scary at the same time.

If there is a major dark horse coming from this region, I would put my money on the winner of the Texas/Northern Iowa game, particularly the eleventh-seeded Panthers. The Panthers were a popular dark horse pick a year ago, after having major success in the Missouri Valley, but they didn't completely live up to it. This year, they have rode guard Wes Washpun to wins over UNC and Iowa State, and then a Missouri Valley Conference Championship. Head coach Ben Jacobson always seems to have success because his teams are always experienced, play hard and good defense, and never really have a superstar they will sorely miss. If UNI can handle the pressure of Texas and their multiple offensive weapons, they very well could be lethal down the stretch. Texas A&M would be very interesting, pitting size and power against more size and power. While this bracket won't be kind for Northern Iowa (when is March ever kind, though?) this team has grit and toughness, and they remind me of Wichita State a few years ago. They very well could chaos some mass chaos, something they are familiar with, reminiscent of their stunner of No. 1 overall seed Kansas all the way back in 2010.

Perhaps there was no story just simply as cool as Oregon State and Gary Payton II this season. The son of NBA legend Gary Payton, who dominated in his days back at OSU, used his senior year to become a national star. His incredible athleticism, explosive dunks, great defense and playmaking ability became popular Vines, and he was so fun to watch. He helped lead the Beavers back to the NCAA Tournament, in just head coach Wayne Tinkle's second year. It set up a meeting with VCU, a team well known for their March prowess, but has looked a little different this year under first-year head man Will Wade. Oregon State is the more talented team in my opinion, but something to note: the Beavs are likely going to be without their true starting point guard, Tres Tinkle, the coach's son. Tinkle is vastly underrated, the more calming presence to Payton's thunder. He scores a decent rate, passes very well and engineers the offense. Without him in the Pac-12 Tournament, Oregon State looked absolutely lost against California. VCU still often runs a variation of Shaka Smart's "Havoc", designed to create chaos and cause turnovers. Gary Payton II, a.k.a. GP2, is one heck of a player, but turnovers have been a problem. A turnover guard against VCU? I don't like those odds very much. Yet, if Oregon State does manage to survive or Tinkle does indeed play, this could be very interesting team. They don't have a ton down low, but they have a great overall backcourt, and Tinkle gets them to play hard every single night. A likely meeting with Oklahoma in the second round could be a chance for Oregon State to reappear on the grand stage. Every single NCAA Tournament needs a star, and how crazy would it be if it was GP2?

Yet another team that is tough to get a read on is Oklahoma. Ever since my "Scouting the Contenders" post on the Sooners proclaiming they will make the Final Four, they have been pretty iffy. Buddy Hield still has moments where he drops 40 (ahem, Iowa State), but they also have had some poor losses and remain a relatively iffy No. 2 seed. Hield is an absolute superstar and he can carry you to wins. But, even for him, six would be pretty difficult. Of course, Oklahoma isn't just Buddy Hield. Guards Isaiah Cousins and Jordan Woodard have had their moments, but they have been inconsistent, and I think Cousins takes too many dumb shots. Former Gonzaga transfer Ryan Spangler is good, but he isn't really a true big man, he spends too much time on the perimeter. That puts more pressure on Khadeem Lattin down low. He is one of the few true Sooners' bigs and he has looked dominant at teams. Jump shooting teams can go through very cold stretches obviously, which makes Oklahoma very scary to work with. I'm assuming they'll move on to round two (although crazier things have happened), but their second round matchup could be scary. A Sweet 16 date with possibly Texas A&M could also expose their problems down low. I have Oklahoma plunging deep into the tournament this year, and I firmly expect Buddy Hield to just wow the nation some more. But, they certainly aren't perfect and having them, Oregon, Baylor and unproven Texas A&M in the same bracket makes the West Region tough and confusing to read.

Picking the South Region
First Round
1 Oregon over 16 Holy Cross (First Four winner)... The Ducks may experience some hangover from their Pac-12 Championship and No. 1 seed but even they won't fall to Holy Cross.
9 Cincinnati over 8 St. Joseph's... Mick Cronin's Bearcats will have to contain Isaiah Miles and the sneaky Hawks. But, they have more March experience, and will be motivated following their stunning loss in the AAC Tournament to UConn.
5 Baylor over 12 Yale... I do think Yale will make things interesting. But, I just don't think the Bulldogs have the defense down low to contain Gathers/Motley.
4 Duke over 13 UNC Wilmington... Duke is crazy talented, but they have six players on their roster that can play. That could leave them vulnerable against the Seahawks, but Brandon Ingram and Grayson Allen will overpower them.
6 Texas over 11 Northern Iowa...Really pits speed and fast-paced against grit and power, and I'm excited. Isaiah Taylor might just go off, seriously sinking UNI's chances.
3 Texas A&M over 14 Green Bay... Green Bay stunned Valparaiso en route to the Horzion League crown, but they won't have any magic left to stop Tyler Davis and Jalen Jones down low.
10 VCU over 7 Oregon State... As mentioned, OSU could be without Tres Tinkle in this one. That leaves them very vulnerable, and the Beavers will have to stop a plethora of playmakers.
2 Oklahoma over 15 Cal State Bakersfield... The Roadrunners have also had a great March moment, beating the buzzer, as they won the WAC. But, they have nobody that can stop Buddy Hield nor Isaiah Cousins.

Second Round
1 Oregon over 9 Cincinnati... Bearcats may have muscle to actually match up well with Oregon in the paint. But, they don't have the scoring punch Ducks have, nor the momentum.
5 Baylor over 4 Duke... Without Amile Jefferson, Duke only has Marshall Plumlee and Ingram as their really only bigs (Chase Jeter doesn't inspire confidence). Unless those two can dominate over 40 minutes, the Bears should roll.
3 Texas A&M over 6 Texas... Somebody loved setting this old, classic rivalry up. Although mainly football rivals, Texas and A&M are certainly ready for bragging rights on the court. Longhorns simply don't have enough to counter Davis in the post.
2 Oklahoma over 10 VCU... Can the Rams pull off a major upset here? They would have to hope for some poor play from Hield and company, and also hope Spangler and Lattin don't hurt them too much in the paint.

Sweet 16
1 Oregon over 5 Baylor... Battle of two high-paced, exciting football teams. Will feature plenty of dominant posts, but Ducks may just have enough shooting and momentum to overcome Bears.
2 Oklahoma over 3 Texas A&M... Texas A&M matches up very well against Oklahoma, and there is a chance Hield could be absolutely worn by this game. But, the Sooners did get an extra day of rest by losing earlier than hoped in the Big 12 Tournament, and could get scorching hot.

Elite Eight
2 Oklahoma over 1 Oregon... Lon Kruger's teams always play with great poise and energy, and this Oklahoma edition is no different. The Ducks are a very tough challenge, but can they really stop Hield, Cousins, Woodard and underrated Christian James?

West Region Champion: 2 Oklahoma Sooners

NCAA Tournament By The Numbers - Public vs. Private

There for 46 public schools and 22 private schools in the field of 68.  This makes the percentages:

• 68% public
• 32% private

McGowanMania will do further research to see how this compares to historical averages.  When it
comes to appearances in the Final Four in the last 7 years, a private school has appeared in 5 of those including 2 in 2010.

• Villanova - 2009
• Butler - 2010, 2011
• Syracuse - 2014
• Duke - 2010, 2015

Bracket Analysis: South Region

Wayne Selden

Out of the over 300 teams that play college basketball, perhaps no team is playing as well as the Kansas Jayhawks. Bill Self's team has not lost since all the way back on January 25th, and have rolled to their 12th straight Big 12 regular season title, the Big 12 Conference Championship, and of course, the top seed in the South Region. The Jayhawks have one of the most experienced teams in the nation, headed by a group of motivated veterans. Forwards Perry Ellis and Wayne Selden, along with guards Frank Mason and Devonte' Graham have won a lot of games in their Kansas career, but have yet to really have a grand moment in March. Ellis and Selden may very qualify as the team's X-factors for their tourney run. Ellis is about as fundamentally sound as you'll see in college basketball, and Selden has moments where he is unstoppable, on both sides of the ball. However, the pair also has moments where they are invisible, which obviously hurts the Jayhawks. Forward Carlton Bragg seems to be improving each and every single game, and youthful forwards Svi Mykhailiuk and Chieck Diallo are also taking steps. That gives Self plenty of options to work with and also raises questions that this Kansas team may be just scratching the surface of what they could be. Not only did the NCAA Selection Committee give Kansas the top overall seed (which they are deserving of), they also gave them, in my opinion, the easiest region to make a deep run. Yes, Maryland, Cal and Arizona are dangerous teams and peril exists throughout the region, but there isn't a worse No. 2/No. 3 seeds than Villanova and Miami. Neither have done anything noteworthy in March for a long time, and the Jayhawks match up very well against them. Kansas won't have an easy path to the Final Four, nobody ever does, but if they can play smart basketball they should be able to overcome some of the dark horses in the region and get Self back to the Final Four, after a few years of fruitless NCAA Tournament performances.

Stop me if this sounds familiar: a UConn team underachieving throughout the regular season, and then suddenly finding their rhythm come March, winning the conference tournament, and appearing very dangerous behind a number of veterans and great guard play. Though, this UConn team is not the same type of teams that made runs behind the play of Kemba Walker and Shabazz Napier. They are too thin in their frontcourt to be thinking of a deep run, and they don't have an absolute superstar. But, this Huskies team could still do plenty of damage. Daniel Hamilton emerged as one of the American's best players down the stretch and he took over at times for the Huskies. The wing doesn't have a crisp jumper, but he is a crazy athlete and finds ways to finish. Joining Hamilton will be forward Shonn Miller, another terrific athlete, and former NC State wing Rodney Purvis, who is terribly inconsistent, but has so much talent. Paired with Amida Brimah down low, this Huskies team has legitimate potential to cause some damage this March. Colorado is no breeze in the first round, and Kansas beyond that would obviously be a large challenge. Yet, with Kevin Ollie on the sidelines, you can't ever overlook the Huskies. Ollie is one of the best in late game situations, and always gets his players to perform on the biggest stages.

From a strictly talent outlook, California is one of the best teams in the nation. Former five-star recruits Jaylen Brown and Ivan Rabb are studs, and Tyrone Wallace, Jabari Bird, and Jordan Matthews are veterans with a proven pedigree. Yet, basketball games aren't won on talent alone. The Golden Bears had moments where they struggled mightily this season, and they are still extremely youthful. Yet, Cuonzo Martin's club won nine of their last 11 games, and you get a feeling this is team could be dangerous, if they can survive a scary first-round game against Hawaii. The Bears aren't a great halfcourt team; they don't have much to support them in the paint, and they are inconsistent from deep, which hurts their spacing. But, in the open court, they have amazing flow, great vision and fantastic finishing ability. They can't win games solely in transition, but it will be a major supporter to their offensive game throughout the NCAA Tournament. What would help even more is if Ivan Rabb took over. Rabb has put up solid numbers across the board this year and appears to be a likely lottery pick in the 2016 NBA Draft this summer. Though, he has never been especially dominant, and it has hurt Cal, who could really use a piece to punish opponents in the low post. Even if their amazing talent doesn't completely come together perfectly, this Cal team should still win a couple of games. Perhaps, they might even be prepared for an upset down the stretch against Kansas.

I'm not going to sugarcoat it at all: Vanderbilt has no business being in the NCAA Tournament. Yes, center Damian Jones is a star, and guard Wade Baldwin is extremely underrated, but the Commodores are 2-7 against the RPI Top 50, and didn't do anything notable in the SEC Tournament. That is a good thing for their First Four opponent, the sneaky Wichita State Shockers. Wichita State fell off the national scene early on in the year when they lost a number of non-conference games, when star guard Fred VanVleet was out with injuries. Though, the Shockers would find their mojo once VanVleet got healthy, only to suddenly go back on the bubble following a loss to Northern Iowa in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. The Shockers deservedly got into the field, and could be ready for a deep March run, reminiscent of their run in the 2013 NCAA Tournament. Ron Baker and VanVleet are two of the nation's most underrated players, only because they play in little Wichita, Kansas. Baker is one of the country's best shooters, and a physical defender that should be set to lock down a number of studs. VanVleet won't fill a box score all the time, but he is a great passer, and runs the Shockers' offense to perfection. The Shockers also possess forward Anton Grady, a beast on the block, and Kansas transfer Conner Frankamp, both who could play a major role in the Tournament. Experienced teams that play great defense and have veteran leaders are always threats to go deep in March, and Wichita just so happens has that. Arizona isn't an extremely tough matchup and Miami wouldn't be after that. While Wichita State isn't the trendy dark horse they once were (only know because we expect them to do damage), it doesn't mean anyone should sleep on them.

Per typical Fran McCaffrey-at-Iowa standards, the Hawkeyes rolled through the first three months of the season like a Top 10 team. Jarrod Uthoff, Mike Gessell and a veteran lineup swept Michigan State, would compile five total Top 25 wins, and were perched on top of the Big Ten standings for awhile. But, like typical Fran McCaffrey-at-Iowa standards, the Hawkeyes completely fell apart come February and early March. Their offense lost any bite, they couldn't defend and they didn't know how to do anything late in close games. An upset loss to Indiana on February 12th ushered in an era where the Hawkeyes six of their last eight games, including a loss to lowly Illinois in the Big Ten tournament. That left Iowa, who once stood as the nation's No. 4 team, to a seven seed. Though, the Hawkeyes could still have a little fight left in them. Uthoff is about as good as they come, the former Wisconsin transfer is a good shooter, good penetrator and uses his freakishly long arms to make plays on the defensive side of the ball. Gessell is a great point guard, Anthony Clemmons and Adam Woodbury are solid, and Peter Jok has moments where he is the best player on the court. Now, the Hawkeyes just have to figure out how to put it all together and close out games, and luckily for them they don't have a very tough draw. Temple is a decent team but they also have major deficiencies and a win against them likely draw Villanova, and their recent March struggles have been well documented. Few teams enter this year's NCAA Tournament as cold and out-of-sync as Iowa does. Yet, I'm picking them to head to the Sweet 16, and they should not be overlooked as the Tournament goes forward.

Picking the South Region
First Round
1 Kansas over 16 Austin Peay... The Austin Peay Governors have already had a pretty magical March, as the eight seed in the Ohio Valley, they won the conference. That magic won't survive against Kansas, plain and simple.
9 UConn over 8 Colorado... If the Huskies can contain massive Josh Scott and the great-rebounding Buffaloes, they should be able to ride Daniel Hamilton to a win.
5 Maryland over 12 South Dakota State... The Terps have underachieved this year, but the Jackrabbits will have no match for Robert Carter and Diamond Stone underneath.
4 California over 13 Hawaii... Stopping Stefan Jankovic (a Missouri transfer), will be no easy task for California, but Jaylen Brown and Ivan Rabb will more than make up for it on the offensive side of the ball.
11 Wichita State over 6 Arizona... The Wildcats are very talented, but haven't exactly been able to dominate offensively this year. Can they really outscore Wichita, perhaps the nation's best defensive team?
3 Miami over 14 Buffalo... First-year head coach Nate Oats has done great work with Buffalo, but they will have no match for Miami's athletic wings.
7 Iowa over 10 Temple... I still believe that a team led by Uthoff, Jok and Gessell can go deep in the tourney, and the Owls aren't exactly a great team.
2 Villanova over 15 UNC Asheville... The lethal three-point shooting of Villanova guards Ryan Arcidiacono and Josh Hart will be too much for UNC Asheville to overcome.

Second Round
1 Kansas over 9 UConn... The Huskies just don't have the depth to compete with Kansas for 40 minutes, particularly if the Jayhawks get big contributions from Wayne Selden and Devonte' Graham.
5 Maryland over 4 California... Expect Maryland to do the exact same thing they did against SDSU; pound the ball against a Cal team without a true, dominant big man.
3 Miami over 11 Wichita State... The stingy Shockers will put up a fight, but even they can't stop the playmaking of guards Angel Rodriguez and Sheldon McClellan.
7 Iowa over 2 Villanova... Adam Woodbury and Uthoff should neutralize Daniel Ochefu down low, making the Wildcats extremely one-dimensional and vulnerable.

Sweet 16
1 Kansas over 5 Maryland... So many future NBA studs in this game, and the talent on display is impressive. But, Maryland just doesn't have the experience, nor a coach that knows how to consistently win in the craziness of March.
3 Miami over 7 Iowa... The Hurricanes dictate tempo so well and they should be able to speed up Iowa. That should set the stage for plenty of mistakes and turnovers, and a Miami trip to the Elite Eight.

Elite Eight
1 Kansas over 3 Miami... I love Jim Larranaga and I think Miami has been greatly overlooked this season. But, the 'Canes aren't deep enough or good enough defensively to overcome the Jayhawks on a neutral court.

South Region Champion: 1 Kansas Jayhawks

NCAA Tournament By The Numbers - State by State

Now that the 68 team field has been announced, we can analyze what states each team comes from.    The field represents 31 states.   Texas has the most teams in the field with five teams.   There are six states with four teams: California, Indiana, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.   There are ten states with one team.   Here is the complete list:

TX 5
CA 4
IN 4
NY 4
NC 4
PA 4
TN 4
IA 3
KS 3
VA 3
CT 2
FL 2
MI 2
NJ 2
OH 2
OK 2
OR 2
UT 2
WI 2
AZ 1
AR 1
CO 1
HI 1
KY 1
LA 1
MD 1
MA 1
RI 1
SD 1
WA 1
WV 1

NCAA Tournament By The Numbers

The tournament teams have now been announced and as usual the numbers of teams from each conference is always a hot topic.    McGowanMania thinks there are many other metrics that are interesting to look at.   You will be seeing a post about the field for each of the following:

• Teams by State

• Public vs Private

• Private School Religious Affiliation

• Number of Tournament Appearances

• Most recent tournament appearance

• Last Title Won

• Size of Student Body

Grading the NFL's Biggest Offseason Moves So Far

Brock Osweiler

While March Madness is just a few days away, the NFL offseason still has been able to steal
headlines, as deals are pouring in across the landscape of the league. Conservative spenders like the New York Giants and Houston Texans are spending big-time cash, and the offseason could get even more crazy, as the future of Colin Kaepernick and Robert Griffin III are decided. However, so far, here are the grades for some of the past few weeks' biggest deals:

Olivier Vernon, DE, New York Giants (5 year, 85 million)
The moment Miami revoked Vernon's transition tag, the Giants acted quickly, swooping in to nab the pass rusher with the biggest contract ever for a defensive end. Vernon's deal will be worth $17 million/year and offers plenty of financial security. Though, for most casual football fans, the deal came out of nowhere. Vernon, who been has been with the Dolphins since 2012 (and played at Miami prior), has been solid, but 7.5 sacks in 2015 and 29 over the course of a four-year career really worth that type of money? It is easy to see why New York did it; they needed to improve their pass rush in a big way after their disappointing 2015, but this might have been overkill. Even so, Vernon is young enough and productive enough that the move won't be an absolute bust, worst-case scenario.
Grade: B+

Malik Jackson, DT, Jacksonville Jaguars (6 year, 90 million)
The Jaguars have the most cap room in the entire league and they used a big chunk of it to snatch up Jackson, who was a major part of Denver's run to the Super Bowl. For head coach Gus Bradley, it will be a very welcome addition. The former Seattle Seahawks' defensive coordinator has lacked a dominant defensive tackle (a.k.a. the Michael Bennett role in Seattle) since he arrived in Jacksonville. Jackson will not only be a dominant run stopper, for a rush defense that needs help, he could help form a potent pass rush with rising Dante Fowler. It obviously wasn't cheap, but for Jacksonville, who is starting to show signs of progress, it was the right move to make.
Grade: A

Brock Osweiler, QB, Houston Texans (4 years, 72 million)
A list of Houston's quarterbacks over the past two years reads more like a preseason depth chart more than the depth chart of a Playoff team: Brian Hoyer, Brandon Weeden, Tom Savage, Ryan Mallett and T.J. Yates have all seen action. Granted, Bill O'Brien has done amazing things without any quarterback to speak of, but it was obvious Houston needed a new signal-caller, but their No. 22 draft position made that questionable. Instead, the Texans went out and spent big on the relatively unproven Osweiler, who saw his first significant action this past season, but was then benched once more for Peyton Manning. Osweiler has a huge arm and great size, and has shown plenty of potential throughout his time in Denver, but it is hard to get behind a contract that pays $18 million a year, with $37 million guaranteed. The move was understandable, but that doesn't make it any more risky, considering Osweiler has thrown 305 meaningful passes in his career.
Grade: C+

Mario Williams, DE, Miami Dolphins (2 years, 16 million)
Mario Williams was considered one of the NFL's best pass rushers before his arrival in Buffalo. While Williams wasn't terrible in the Northeast, he was not at all worth his hefty price tag and was a cap causality this offseason. Seemingly learning nothing from overpaying Ndamukong Suh this past offseason, the Dolphins gave Williams $8 million/year to replace Olivier Vernon. That type of money won't kill them, but one has to wonder if Williams, who is 31 (and has had questions about how much he actually tried with the Bills), is starting to slow down. The move might help Miami pick up the slack for the loss of Vernon, but it still leaves them one-dimensional on the defensive side of the ball, and doesn't improve them whatsoever.
Grade: C-

Bruce Irvin, LB, Oakland Raiders (4 years, 37 million)
Oakland won seven games this past season, and they seem to be on the verge of a Playoff appearance behind the play of QB Derek Carr, wide receiver Amari Cooper, and linebacker Khalil Mack. That was likely their motivation to go out and sign Bruce Irvin from Seattle, and cornerback Sean Smith. Irvin, a dangerous pass rusher in his fifth year out of West Virginia, had 5.5 sacks this past season and has been extremely disruptive throughout his career off the edge. The move gives the Raiders a dangerous rusher off the edge to help Mack, and replace the troubled Aldon Smith. Around $9 million per year isn't terrible for a presence like Irvin, and the 28-year-old appears to be in the prime off his career. This appears to be just another great move by GM Reggie McKenzie, who has completely transformed the Oakland franchise.
Grade: A-

Matt Forte, RB, New York Jets (3 years, 12 million)
The lifespan of an NFL running back is very short, and Matt Forte is perfect evidence of that. Despite being just 30, the Chicago Bears seemed to think Forte's best days were behind him, and let him go in free agency. That allowed the Jets to snatch up Forte to replace Chris Ivory, who signed with the Jaguars. The move appears to be a win-win for both sides. For New York, it gives them a rock-solid veteran who can be a mentor if they want to draft and develop someone in this year's Draft, and it allows Chicago to test out Jeremy Langford, who showed signs of brilliance this past season. For just four million a year, it was low-risk, high-reward for the Jets.
Grade: B+

Sam Bradford, QB, resigning with Philadelphia Eagles (2 years, 36 million)
Despite the fact Philly limped to a 7-9 lifeless mark this past season under the leadership of Sam Bradford at quarterback, the Eagles opted to resign the former No. 1 overall pick to a 2 year deal worth 36 million dollars with plenty of guaranteed money. While that move was confusing, just as odd was the signing of Chase Daniel days later. Daniel, who was backup for new coach Doug Pederson in Kansas City, has a chance at taking over the starting job, at least according to Pederson. That may indicate the Eagles may try to trade Sam Bradford, but would they really get that big of a haul for an injury prone player like Bradford? Plus, that would make every single free agent who signs with Philadelphia worried about their situation, and would push them elsewhere. Anyway you look at it, I don't understand this move. Bradford isn't absolutely terrible, but personally I don't like signing injury prone players to massive contracts, with too many guarantees.
Grade: D+

Other Moves
Chris Ivory to Jacksonville: The move gives the Jags an absolute monster at running back, but it could lead to less of a workload for T.J. Yeldon, who showed so much potential this past year. Grade: B-

Marvin Jones to Detroit: Unfortunately, it appears Calvin Johnson's career is truly over. Detroit did land the best available target on the market, though, and didn't completely overspend. Grade: B+

Travis Benjamin to San Diego: Benjamin showed plenty of playmaking ability this past year in Cleveland, but this move confuses me. San Diego could add a receiver, but Benjamin is extremely one-dimensional, like a number of Charger receivers. Grade: C

Ladarius Green to Pittsburgh: This may be the most underrated move of the first week of free agency. Green was knocking on the door in San Diego, and Pittsburgh was looking for a tight end after Heath Miller retired. Green could absolutely breakout with a starting role locked down. Grade: A

Conference Tournament Predictions: ACC

Malcolm Brogdon

Considered by many the best college basketball conference in the country, the ACC has been chaotic for much of the year. Virginia, North Carolina, Miami and Duke have all taken turns trying to prove themselves as the conference's best team, but none have been consistently able to lock down the conference. However, North Carolina enters the conference tournament as the No. 1 seed, but with how crazy the conference has been, they are far from a lock.

Bubble Teams: Pittsburgh appears to be a near lock for the NCAA Tournament, as they sit at 20-10 and dominated Duke this past week. Though, the Panthers could still use a deep tourney run to strengthen their seeding. Syracuse also should be relatively comfortably in, despite an average 19-12 mark.

First Round
12 NC State 66
13 Wake Forest 60
It has been a rough year for NC State, who looked like a fringe Top 25 team before the year began. But, the Wolfpack could end their regular season on a high note, particularly if ACC Player of the Year candidate Anthony "Cat" Barber goes off.

11 Florida State 70
14 Boston College 55
Boston College hasn't won a single game in the conference all year, and they shouldn't in this one. Florida State is too talented of a team to let this one slip away, even if it isn't very important.

Second Round
8 Pittsburgh 61
9 Syracuse 68
The Orange have been playing terrific basketball since Jim Boeheim returned from suspension, while Pittsburgh really hasn't been able to close out games all season long. If they can't stop dynamic 'Cuse forward Michael Gbinije, they'll have a rough day.

12 NC State 69
5 Duke 72
There is a chance NC State could challenge the undermanned Blue Devils in this one. But, the Wolfpack really lack a forward that can guard the extremely versatile Brandon Ingram, which leaves them extremely vulnerable.

7 Clemson 75
10 Georgia Tech 70
Clemson became a story midway through conference play this year, when they pulled off three straight Top 25 wins, which put them on the NCAA Tournament spectrum. They ended the year with a 10-8 conference mark, and should continue to play high energy basketball in the conference tournament.

11 Florida State 64
6 Virginia Tech 74
Don't look now, but Buzz Williams is building something special at Virginia Tech, who went over .500 in the ACC for the first time in five years. The Hokies are also coming off a dominant win over Miami, and will ride that momentum to a victory.

Quarterfinals
1 North Carolina 78
9 Syracuse 74
UNC may enter the ACC Tournament as the league's top team, but they will certainly get a test from Syracuse. The Orange will clamp down on Marcus Paige, and should at least put up a fight against Brice Johnson and Isaiah Hicks down low.

4 Notre Dame 71
5 Duke 72
Notre Dame quietly put together a very strong year in the ACC this year, and guard Demetrius Jackson is as good as they come. But, Duke is too quick on the perimeter, and should put up a fight in the paint.

2 Virginia 68
7 Clemson 59
The Cavaliers have rode Tony Bennett's pack-line defense to tremendous success this year (it has helped the shot clock was reduced five seconds), and are more dangerous offensively, thanks to ACC POY candidate Malcolm Brogdon.

3 Miami 72
6 Virginia Tech 67
The Hokies just dominated Miami yesterday, and will come into this one with a chip on their shoulder. But, Jim Larranaga is as good as anyone in the nation at adjustments, and the 'Canes should get a much better showing from their talented backcourt of Sheldon McClellan and Angel Rodriguez.

Semifinals
1 North Carolina 76
5 Duke 65
The Rematch: Part III. While Duke and North Carolina have gone toe-to-toe twice this year, the Blue Devils might not have enough left in the tank in this one. Considering they will have to rest their tiny, six-man rotation for the NCAA Tournament, bowing out earlier might not be a bad thing.

2 Virginia 75
3 Miami 62
Unless Rodriguez and Miami are splashing from downtown, they are going to have a rough go in this one. Virginia defends as well as anybody, especially down low, essentially neutralizing Miami's only significant big, Tonye Jekiri.

Championship
1 North Carolina 73
2 Virginia 79
Few teams can match UNC down low, as they boast breakout senior Brice Johnson, along with studs Isaiah Hicks and Kennedy Meeks. Yet, if there is one it would be Virginia, who has a strong rotation full of veterans. North Carolina doesn't possess a defender capable of shutting down Brogdon, and the Cavaliers enter this one flaming hot.

ACC Champion: Virginia Cavaliers 

*Note: Louisville is not eligible for this year's conference tournament

5 Dark Horse NCAA Tournament Teams

Shaka Smart and Texas

Selection Sunday now stands a week away, as one of the greatest times of the year, March Madness, creeps closer. As chaotic and insane as this college basketball season has been already, the NCAA
Tournament could be even crazier, and an event sure to have plenty of dark horses and Cinderellas. Here are five serious dark horses to watch during the NCAA Tournament:

Texas Longhorns 20-11 overall (11-7 Big 12), Projected 5-8 seed
After spurning a number of big-time college basketball programs, Shaka Smart finally decided to make the jump from VCU this past offseason, landing in Austin and immediately energizing the limping Texas program. After a rough adjustment period, Texas has become a serious force in the Big 12, and in the nation. Smart doesn't run his complete "Havoc" defense that he orchestrated at VCU, but the Longhorns still play aggressively on both sides of the ball and are hectic on the defensive side of the ball. Their backcourt is led by explosive Isaiah Taylor (their leader in assists and scoring) and underrated veteran Javan Felix. While the Longhorns lack ideal size, their depth and talent in the backcourt allows them to dictate tempo, a key component to upsets. And Texas has been no stranger to upsets this season, beating West Virginia twice, Iowa State and Baylor. Shaka Smart is very familiar to NCAA Tournament success, and his first Texas team could wreak havoc much like his old VCU ones did.

Valparaiso Crusaders 26-5 overall, (16-2 Horizon League), Projected 11-13 seed
Valpo is no stranger to great March moments. In 1998, star guard Bryce Drew hit a clutch game winner against Ole Miss to lead the 13th-seeded Crusaders to an epic win, as part of a Sweet 16 run. Now, Drew is on the sidelines for a Crusaders team that is as balanced and fundamentally sound as any team in the nation. Valparaiso averages just 75.3 points per game (131st in the nation) but their offense is extremely efficient, headed by forward Alec Peters (who is shooting over 50 percent from the field), along with electric guard Keith Carter. While their defense may not exactly be lethal, Valpo makes a living on the defensive side of the ball, ranking in as the seventh best defense in the entire nation. They have excellent size which allows them to dominate the paint, and they rotate and play terrific help defense. The Crusaders have a couple of tough losses, with three losses to teams with RPI's ranking in over 150. But, experienced teams that play hard defense are always tough outs in March, and the Crusaders could become the next Horizon League team to do damage to brackets.


Utah Utes 24-7 overall (13-5 in Pac-12), Projected 2-4 seed
It is hard to call a team that went to the Sweet 16 last year and could possibly earn as high as a No. 2 seed a dark horse, but Utah still appears to be extremely overlooked. The Utes have never been known as a basketball school, but Larry Krystiowak continues to work magic in Salt Lake City, thanks in large part to his big man Jakob Poetl. The Austrian center has grown into a more complete post, and has evolved into one of the country's best. Though, this Utes team has become more than just the seven-footer down low. Forward Jordan Loveridge is extremely versatile, and guard Brandon Taylor has picked up the slack in the backcourt for the departed Delon Wright. Utah has now won seven straight games, including wins against Arizona and USC. With the way they are playing right now, they very well could win the Pac-12 Tournament and continue their hot streak deep into the Tourney.

Saint Mary's Gaels 26-4 overall (15-3 in WCC), Projected 8-11 seed
This season in the West Coast Conference, it was supposed to be all about Gonzaga, like usual. The Bulldogs had just been to the Elite Eight, and there was enough talent throughout their roster to think they had a legit shot at their first Final Four in the Mark Few era. But, instead the conference has been all about the Gaels, a perennial NCAA Tournament contender. Over the past few years, Saint Mary's has been known as an offensive-orientated team with great guard play. This year the Gaels have been polar opposites, relying heavily on a stingy defense, holding opponents to just 60.4 points per game. Do-it-all guard Emmett Naar will lead the offense, along with veteran Joe Rahon. and Saint Mary's is actually a very deep team. They pass the ball as well as anybody and teams that have seen Wisconsin have success in the Tournament over the Bo Ryan era will see something similar in the Gaels.

Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks 25-5 overall (18-0 Southland), Projected 13-15 seed
It may also be hard to qualify Stephen F. Austin as much of a dark horse in the NCAA Tournament these days. The tiny school from the Southland has gone to two straight Tournaments and been a popular dark horse pick in each (they beat VCU two years ago). The Lumberjacks started off this year slow, but then would end up going 18-0 in the Southland, behind the play of terrific forward Thomas Walkup, who did it all for SFA. While the Southland Conference isn't exactly full of college basketball heavyweights, it is still significant that SFA was able to be so dominant. The Lumberjacks will likely be a relatively poor seed this year, due to their bad non-conference play. That may be a good thing for Stephen F. Austin, as it gives them an opportunity to do damage without much expectations.

NFL Mock Draft 2016: Edition 3 (Combine Edition)

Laremy Tunsil, Ole Miss

1. Tennessee Titans Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss
The NFL Combine has only furthered Tunsil's case as the No. 1 pick and the right man for Tennessee. Already 6'5" and over 300 pounds, Tunsil ran a fast 40 at the combine and proved he had superior athleticism when compared to the other offensive linemen in this year's cycle. He would be an ideal left tackle for the Titans as they continue their lengthy rebuild.
Previous Selection: Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss
2. Cleveland Browns Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State
This pick could be very interesting for Cleveland. There is a possibility Cleveland goes defense here, due to the fact they couldn't stop anyone last year, and then move up late in the first round and snatch up a QB. But, if they want their choice of franchise signal-callers, they should go here. I'm a bigger believer in Jared Goff than Wentz, but Wentz seems like a good fit in Cleveland, and Hue Jackson would work well with the NDSU product.
Previous Selection: Jared Goff, QB, California
3. San Diego Chargers Jalen Ramsey, DB, Florida State
Eric Weddle has been the Chargers' rock in the secondary for years now, but the safety is almost certainly gone in free agency this spring. Expect San Diego to land his replacement in Ramsey, a dynamic playmaker out of Florida State. Ramsey cannot only make his impact felt as a roaming safety, he could also help San Diego's weak cornerback spot.
Previous Selection: Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
4. Dallas Cowboys Myles Jack, LB, UCLA
Jerry Jones has made it pretty clear that he will stick with Tony Romo at quarterback for the next few years, making it seem as though Dallas will restrain themselves from either Goff or Lynch here. That leaves them open to select Jack, who would immediately upgrade their crippled linebacker corps that contains injury prone Sean Lee and inconsistent Rolando McClain.
Previous Selection: Myles Jack, LB, UCLA
5. Jacksonville Jaguars Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
Character concerns are dropping Joey Bosa right now, as teams appear wary about a suspension earlier in the year at Ohio State. That may drop Bosa slightly, much to the delight of Jacksonville, who would eagerly snatch him up. Bosa could form a formidable 1-2 punch with Dante Fowler that gives defensive-minded Gus Bradley something to work with for years to come.
Previous Selection: Jalen Ramsey, DB, Florida State
6. Baltimore Ravens Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida
Last year, Baltimore gave up the most passing touchdowns in the franchise's history. While they will hope for the versatile Jalen Ramsey to drop, Vernon Hargreaves is a great consolation prize. Hargreaves doesn't have the versatility of Ramsey or the size, but he is a legit shutdown corner who led Florida's defense for years.
Previous Selection: Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
7. San Francisco 49ers Jared Goff, QB, California
The arrival of Chip Kelly in the Bay Area was supposed to help resurrect the failing career of Colin Kaepernick, as Kelly's system was supposed to work flawlessly with the mobile QB. Instead, Kap has expressed discontent, and appears ready to move on. San Fran would be wise to do the same, and grab Goff. Goff has the arm to do damage under Kelly, and has a great feel for the game.
Previous Selection: Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
8. Miami Dolphins Noah Spence, DE, Eastern Kentucky
Spence has been shooting up draft boards as of late, and it isn't hard to understand why. The former Ohio State Buckeye has an incredible motor, great speed off the edge and put in work at the Combine. But, he was kicked out of OSU for drug abuse, and teams will have to careful with the defensive end. Miami's secondary is terrible but without Hargreaves or Ramsey available, they should take Spence, considering Olivier Vernon could leave this offseason and Dion Jordan has been a complete bust.
Previous Selection: Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers DeForest Buckner, DL, Oregon
Tampa Bay has to get more pressure on opposing quarterbacks, and luckily for them, this Draft is stocked with solid defensive line prospects. Among them is Buckner, a massive linemen with excellent versatility. He would immediately join solid Gerald McCoy and strengthen the Bucs' front seven.
Previous Selection: DeForest Buckner, DL, Oregon
10. New York Giants Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson
Gone is Tom Coughlin, but the head coach was far from the problem in New York, where there is just isn't a ton of talent right now. Paramount among this team's concerns is defensive line, where they struggled to do anything productive. While Spence, Buckner and Bosa would be ideal, Lawson was a beast this past year at Clemson and was solid at the Combine.
Previous Selection: Robert Nkemdiche, DL, Ole Miss
11. Chicago Bears Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
The Bears' primary need is on the defensive line, where they were terrible a year ago. But, the offensive line is far from perfect, and it would be ideal if Stanley dropped all the way down to them at No. 11. Stanley offers great size, and was a proven commodity during his tenure in South Bend.
Previous Selection: A'Shawn Robinson, DL, Alabama
12. New Orleans Saints A'Shawn Robinson, DL, Alabama
It isn't a huge mystery where New Orleans' problems lie. They lie on the defensive side of the ball, where the Saints have been abysmal for far too long. Luckily, A'Shawn Robinson could drop a little bit, opening up this pick. Robinson proved at the Combine that he was just an absolute freak; despite being 330 pounds he ran one of the fastest 40 times of all defensive linemen. He could be a disruptive force for New Orleans in the interior.
Previous Selection: Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor
13. Philadelphia Eagles Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis
While Philadelphia could bring back Sam Bradford, it would leave this team in a state of mediocrity for years to come. Paxton Lynch isn't perfect; his arm strength isn't ideal and he is turnover prone at times. But, Doug Pederson worked well with a pretty similar Alex Smith in Kansas City and the Eagles will improve their weapon around him to help him succeed.
Previous Selection: Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State
14. Oakland Raiders Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson
Oakland has impressive talent on both sides of the ball, and they appear close to ending their decade long Playoff drought. In order to do that, the Raiders must fix their gaping hole at cornerback, where they have no proven No. 1 option. Alexander was terrific throughout his tenure at Clemson, and only solidified himself as a first-round corner with a strong Combine showing.
Previous Selection: Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson
15. Los Angeles Rams Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
As they make their move to the bright lights of Los Angeles, the Rams would ideally like to add a new quarterback in this year's Draft, considering Nick Foles was terrible last season. But, if Lynch, Wentz and Goff are all gone here, they should look for an option later that could develop. Treadwell would be a nice pickup none the less; the former Ole Miss Rebel has incredible size and is a proven playmaker.
Previous Selection: Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis
16. Detroit Lions Jarran Reed, DL, Alabama
The Lions could quite honestly go anywhere with this selection, from wide receiver to defensive line to linebacker. But, this is a team that still has a major hole on their D-Line left when Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley ditched town. Jarran Reed isn't a flashy prospect, but he is a gritty, hard-nosed linemen that would immediately upgrade the unit and rush defense.
Previous Selection: Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson
17. Atlanta Falcons Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama
Much like Jarran Reed, Reggie Ragland is not the flashiest prospect in this year's Draft, but the former Alabama inside linebacker is a rock-solid, gifted player. Atlanta's front seven is pretty weak, they could add another pass rusher opposite Vic Beasley, or continue to improve their rush defense. Improving their rush defense, with a stud like Ragland, makes the most sense.
Previous Selection: Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama
18. Indianapolis Colts Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State
There are a lot of factors to blame for Indy's slip this past season, but a major one could be traced back to a lackluster offensive line. Getting younger and better on the unit is a must, and Taylor Decker could be a nice solution. Decker is a well-rounded veteran who helped Ohio State win a lot of games. He'll fit in well with the Colts, and help keep Andrew Luck upright.
Previous Selection: Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State
19. Buffalo Bills Robert Nkemdiche, DL, Ole Miss
Robet Nkemdiche is the type of player who could slide in a big way come Draft Night. He has all the tools to be absolutely dominant, but he didn't always deliver at Ole Miss, and he has off-the-field concerns. Even so, Buffalo has a need in the interior of their defensive line and Rex Ryan is the kind of guy who can afford to take risks on defensive prospects, because he works well with them.
Previous Selection: Kenny Clark, DL, UCLA
20. New York Jets Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State
While Derrick Henry's impressive day at the Combine helped his stock tremendously, it still didn't derail Elliott from being the first back taken this year. Elliott is the perfect blend of speed and power, and would immediately fill in for the Jets, assuming Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell both aren't back.
Previous Selection: Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State
21. Washington Redskins Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor
Washington made huge strides this past year under Jay Gruden and Kirk Cousins, but they are far from perfect. In particular, their rush defense was ranked 26th last season and needs to be addressed. Andrew Billings is not the perfect prospect; he doesn't move very well and looked lost at times for Baylor. But, when he is on his game, the 300+ pounder is an absolute force.
Previous Selection: Jarran Reed, DL, Alabama
22. Houston Texans Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State
It is just rough to be Houston. They were good enough to make the Playoffs this past year, but were far from a Super Bowl contender, ending up at the No. 22 pick, where it is significantly harder to upgrade their gaping holes at quarterback and running back. That may force Houston to slightly reach on Connor Cook here. Cook is a solid quarterback who had major success at Michigan State. But, there remains questions about his maturity and leadership abilities. Even so, Bill O'Brien should take the risk here.
Previous Selection: Christian Hackenberg, QB, Penn State 
23. Minnesota Vikings Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame
Stefon Diggs was a pleasant surprise this past season for Minnesota, but the Vikings really lack weapons beyond him. Expect them to take a swing at Will Fuller here, who had a big day at the Combine, posting a 4.33 40. He isn't just a workout star; the Notre Dame product has excellent burst and put up big numbers throughout his time with the Irish.
Previous Selection: Michael Thomas, WR, Ohio State
24. Cincinnati Bengals Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor
For years, Cincy has really lacked much beyond A.J. Green in the passing game, and while Tyler Eifert is great in the red zone, they need another weapon for Andy Dalton to work with, especially considering Marvin Jones could be gone. Corey Coleman was an absolute monster this past year at Baylor and while his size isn't ideal, few can handle his pure explosiveness.
Previous Selection: Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson
25. Pittsburgh Steelers William Jackson III, CB, Houston
Pittsburgh has been razor thin at cornerback over the past few years, yet they have opted to retool with veterans instead of rebuilding through the Draft. That should change, as the Steelers pick up Jackson. Jackson's huge day at the Combine has the Houston prospect catapulting up draft boards in a pretty weak secondary class.
Previous Selection: Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State
26. Seattle Seahawks Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State
The Seahawks still have a number of holes throughout their offensive line, which must be addressed in this year's Draft. Expect Seattle to take a swing on Conklin, a solid if rather underwhelming, prospect. The offensive tackle has perfect size and possesses ideal footwork.
Previous Selection: Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State
27. Green Bay Packers Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State
While their defense possesses plenty of speed in the secondary, Green Bay's front seven is relatively slow, and that has hurt their rush defense. The Packers should solve that by picking up Lee, who played a big role in helping Ohio State win the National Championship back in 2014-2015. Lee showcased his blazing speed at the Combine, and is a decent coverage linebacker.
Previous Selection: Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre Dame
28. Kansas City Chiefs Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech
Kansas City may have among the NFL's most underrated defenses and a healthy Eric Berry, but the Chiefs still have concerns at cornerback. Kendall Fuller was a sure-fire first-rounder before a torn ACL this past season at Virginia Tech. If Fuller can come back and prove he is making progress on his rehab, he could be a great fit, considering his shutdown ability.
Previous Selection: Jonathan Bullard, DL, Florida
29. Arizona Cardinals Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson
Despite the fact Arizona won 13 games this past year, they are a team with a lot of aging pieces and an unclear future. A major issue right now is at pass rusher, where they are pretty weak. While the Cardinals likely won't be drafting an elite prospect, Dodd is a solid pass rusher who proved he could make noise at Clemson.
Previous Selection: Noah Spence, DE/LB, Eastern Kentucky
30. Carolina Panthers Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State
Carolina got solid play from defensive ends Charles Johnson and Jared Allen this past season. But, Allen has already announced his expected retirement, and Johnson is poised to leave in free agency. Expect the Panthers to fill the void with Ogbah, who was a sack machine throughout his time at Oklahoma State.
Previous Selection: Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State
31. Denver Broncos Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama
With Peyton Manning set to retire and Brock Osweiler's future in Denver murky, expect Denver to lean on their ground attack much more this upcoming season. Unfortunately, neither C.J. Anderson nor Ronnie Hillman were consistently good. That could prompt the Broncos to select Henry, who could be the workhorse this offense needs for a long time.
Previous Selection: Spencer Drango, OT, Baylor

Scouting the Contenders: Kansas Jayhawks

Frank Mason

As March Madness slowly inches closer and closer, "Scouting the Contenders" takes a look at some of the nation's best teams in a chaotic race, and scouts their strengths and weaknesses and just how far they could go in the NCAA Tournament. We continue with the Big 12's most consistent program and a likely No. 1 seed, the Kansas Jayhawks:

Track Record:

• 23-4 overall record, 11-3 in conference (1st in Big 12)
• Notable Wins: 109-106 over Oklahoma, 76-72 over Oklahoma, 90-84 over Kentucky
• Notable Losses: 86-67 to Oklahoma State, 85-72 to Iowa State, 74-63 to West Virginia
• Currently ranked No. 2 in polls

Scouting Report: Bill Self regularly reels in five-star and highly touted recruits, but this Kansas team is not full of youth and experience like so many others throughout the nation. They have plenty of veteran leadership, starting with senior forward Perry Ellis. Ellis often gets overlooked because he isn't the most explosive or exciting player ever, but few are as productive as he is. Ellis averages 16.5 points per game, while averaging nearly 53 percent from the field; he is unbelievably efficient. He has a good jumper that opens up the floor, and a smooth post game. He isn't the conventional young superstar that takes over in March, but he certainly could become a big name by the time the season wraps up. The Jayhawks are also led by one of the nation's most dynamic backcourts, which includes sophomores Frank Mason and Devonte' Graham. For years, point guard play has really been restrictive for Kansas. They haven't had a difference maker at the position for a good number of years, until Mason broke out last season. Although undersized, Mason is not lacking in aggressiveness or will power. He is a solid scorer, but makes his name with his great passes and general control of the offense. He also is an extremely underrated rebounder, averaging 4.6 per game this season, good enough for third on the team. Graham was once an Appalachian State commit who broke out with his performance against Oklahoma just a few weeks ago. His 27 points helped lead Kansas over Oklahoma for the season sweep. Graham isn't big either but he is quick and excels through contact, making him a very tough guard. Another big factor is junior Wayne Selden, a sturdy veteran who does many things well. Selden averages around 14 points a game, but also rebounds and passes very well. Gifted with great size at 6'5", Selden is an absolute pain to handle for smaller guards. Those four give Kansas an incredibly gifted core that is as consistent and productive as anybody's in the entire nation. Though, there is plenty of talent beyond that. Three-point gunner Brannen Greene is wildly inconsistent but is lethal when left open, and extremely young Svi Mykhailiuk is starting to put it all together in his second year in Lawrence. Self can also lean on two productive role players in veterans Landen Lucas and Jamari Traylor, who are both gifted rebounders, and two young and improving players in Carlton Bragg and Cheick Diallo. The big names in this year's recruiting class, Bragg and Diallo have had a weird year. Diallo wasn't cleared by the NCAA for weeks on end, and is still learning the ropes of the collegiate game, while Bragg has played sparingly, due to the veterans on this team. Though, both have displayed a crazy amount of talent and potential, and they could make an impact come March. 

Verdict: For as good as Kansas has been in the regular season over the past decade (their 11 straight regular season Big 12 titles speak to that), they have been inconsistent in the postseason. Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid's group bowed out after two games, and Kansas didn't do much a year ago. But, this year's team is different and primed to do some serious damage. There isn't a team out there that has the meaningful experience that Kansas has, or the versatility they possess. They have a number of weapons down low, on the wings and from downtown, all who can score and hurt opponents in so many different ways. The Jayhawks will have to continue to hit the three ball and prove they can beat quality opponents away from home. If they can do it, this team is going to be absolutely terrifying. In a season of absolute chaos, Kansas may just be the consistent, steady team that is able to get it done when it all comes down to it.