Almost February Update

Okay so with Pittsburgh and Green Bay losing.. get to watching basketball ! I am begging you guys to watch a few games so we can argue in Vegas on some spreads and teams. Nothing set in stone here, but here are my early thoughts on teams and games I have watched.

Teams that I think are under the radar but will be a handful in March:

Alabama: This team has solid inside and outside presence. They have that toughness moxie that I love and they have a coach who I think is underappreciated right now in Anthony Grant.

Texas: I saw this team play Kansas (1/21) and they are getting better by the day. Their guards are becoming aggressive and attacking and their bigs look athletic and at times angry.

Cincinnati: This team.. I want to hate them as they are the usual crop of thugs that Cincinnati seems to staff their roster with.. but this team is different. I get the irony, given the fight, but this team has that raw aggression and street attitude of other Cinci teams, but with more discipline and control. Kilpatrick makes far better decisions than previous lead guards.  I think Cronin has some receptivity to coaching aligned with an attitude that we can NOT lose and this makes this Cinci team very dangerous.

Temple: This is a really good team and they get their two best bigs back in early February. If they can stay heathy and fold them in then this team could easily make a deep run in the tournament.

Other notes: I just don’t see the Iona thing. Machiado gets mentioned a lot but I watched that team and I was unimpressed or at least.. UNDERimprssed. I may add New Mexico to that list. They returned everyone, win games, have Alford, but somehow leave me unimpressed when I see them.

I am impressed with the guards of Murray State. Real deal. Not sure I will bet on them, but they play as a team and they have TWO shooters who can light it up. Creighton and Wichita State are the real deal. Very good teams.

I just can not get my head/hands around how to rate Illinois, Memphis, Notre Dame, or St Marys. For some reason, I have an inability to formulate an opinion on them worth betting on. I might add Georgetown to that. They are so hot and cold, up and down, high scoring and low scoring. They are so young, though, I need them to find their identity.. quickly.

I worry that Purdue, Wisconsin and West Virginia are typical of their teams, but with just a TAD less talent than years past.

I have to overcome my bias with Vanderbilt and Minnesota. I hate them and their coaches but they may be getting better at the right time.

I think teams that could surprise moving forward are Setan Hall, NC State, Virginia, Dayton.

Teams I love but spreads may temper my enthusiasm.. Kansas State, UNLV, Florida and Indiana.

I think I like the “states” in most March matchups including Michigan State, Miss State, and Florida State.

Teams I kinda like but I need more input on include Marquette, Virginia, San Diego St. and Michigan.

Some teams I think I dont like but I am not set include Louisville, Xavier, and any PAC 12 team.

Feb 25th Bilas: This team can really score and is one of the best and most efficient offensive teams in the country. But to win in the NCAA tournament, Creighton has to defend better. The win against Long Beach State was a shootout, which was great to win, but the Bluejays need to start limiting teams rather than just outscoring them.