The Colby Echo

Issue date: 2/13/08 Section: Sports

Now that we have entered the month of February, it is time to start seriously looking at college basketball and specifically the NCAA tournament. This technically would not be considered a fantasy sports topic but since it's relevant and most people start paying attention to college basketball around now, I'll try to sift out the pretenders from the real contenders as we approach March. For people new to this type of formatting, the first record represents the teams' overall recordd, the second their conference recording and the third number their RPI rankings.

Memphis (23-0, 9-0, #4 RPI): Playing in a ridiculous Conference USA riddled with bad teams; Memphis is the question mark of the season. To the credit of Coach John Calepari, the number one Memphis Tigers in both the Coaches and AP polls have compiled a ton of talent with freshman Derrick Rose, guard Chris Douglas-Roberts and an impact big man in Joey Dorsey. The question with this team is not ability but the schedule it plays as a result of playing in a dismal conference (apologies to Houston, but they're not very good). Calepari scheduled Gonzaga, UConn, Georgetown, and Arizona and still needs to play Tennessee in their out-of-conference schedule to his credit. My recommendation would be to tune in on Feb. 23 and watch Memphis take on a terrific and exciting Tennessee squad (9:00 p.m. on ESPN). If it still looks good, maybe this team can make a run at a national title but my guess is that it'll look confused against Tennessee and eventually lose in the regional finals to a less talented but better organized team.

Duke (21-1, 9-0, #2 RPI): Duke is an interesting team because nobody expected it to be ranked in the top two teams in the nation at this point. After winning a close game at home against my Boston College Eagles young squad, Duke certainly has some weaknesses. Duke is a team that, if it shoots poorly from 3-point range, they'll lose to almost anyone due to their reliance on the shot. It is a penetrate-and-kick offense team but also present odd match-up problems because all their players can handle the ball. Freshman Kyle Singler presents a difficult match-up in that sense. Duke's win against North Carolina becomes slightly less impressive because of the absence of Ty Lawson, but it has beaten other quality NCAA Tournament bound teams. Since the first and second round is being played in Greensboro and the regional is being played in Charlotte, either Duke or North Carolina will not have to travel much giving one team the inside path to the Final Four. Watch the Blue Devils for the rest of the year but this writer's estimate sees them flaming out just like Memphis when they play a team with a good inside presence (see Georgetown or UCLA).

Kansas (22-1, 8-1, #5 RPI): Now we present the Kansas Jayhawks, the team who perennially ruins my bracket when I pick it to win the National Championship and it screws it up. This year will probably be no different because the Jayhawks are loaded again this year with guards and big men. Darrell Arthur, Brandon Rush, Mario Chalmers and Darnell Jackson are all prolific scorers, phenomenal defenders and athletic players. They've pounded some good teams and have been cruising through the Big 12. As I am writing this article, Kansas will soon square off against number twelve ranked Texas in Austin. If the Jayhawks can pull out this game, it will even further enhance my love affair with Kansas and coach Bill Self. As of right now, my pick for the NCAA National Champions is the Kansas Jayhawks, assuming they can avoid UCLA until the Final Four. I believe that is the only team who could knock them off the path to a championship.

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