TOP TEN “BRACKET BUSTERS” IN 2010 By: Kels Dayton Michael Conroy/AP
TOP TEN “BRACKET BUSTERS” IN 2010
By: Kels Dayton
Michael Conroy/AP
1) CORNELL
The Big Red nearly knocked off No. 1
Kansas in Allen Fieldhouse in January,
leading the entire way before falling,
71-66.
Quinnipiac coach Tom Moore says: “There’s no more helpless a feeling than when you’re guarding Cornell in the half court, and they’re running their flare screens and back cuts and they get a wide open three on you. As a head coach
you’re just praying it doesn’t go in.”
AP Photo
2) NORTHERN IOWA
The Panthers dominated the Missouri ValleyConference, going 15-3 and capturing the regular season title. They are led by guard
Kwadzo Ahelegbe,who is averaging 10.6 points per game.
Matthew Putney/ WCF Courier
“They’re going to give somebody in the NCAA Tournament an ‘L’,”--Wichita State head coach Greg Marshall, after losing to the
Panthers. (Source: http://www.usatoday.com/)
3) BUTLER
The Bulldogs are lead by four players who average in double figures in scoring (Guards
Shelvin Mack and Willie Veasley, Forwards Gordon Hayward and Matt Howard).
Duane Burleson/AP
SCARY STAT: Butler has not lost since December 22 (at UAB). Source: Espn.com
4 BYU
Sweet-shooting guard Jimmer Fredette leads the Cougars with 22.1 points per game.
SCARY STAT: Fredette scored 49 points in BYU’s 99-69 thrashing of Arizona in Tucson in December.
AP Photo
5 NEW MEXICO
The Lobos are led by guard Darington Hobson, (1), who averages 15.9 points and
9.3 reboungs per game.
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
“They’re legit. Darington Hobson is a 6-7 triple double waiting to happen, and they’ve got two great shooters, and a terriffic point guard. They play great
together,”-- CBS Sports analyst Steve Lappas, on WFAN’s “Mike’d Up”
6 UNLV
Tre’Von Willis leads the Runnin’ Rebels with 17.2 points per game. The Rebs are deep in the
backcourt, with Willis and guard Chase Stanbeck.
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
SCARY STAT: UNLV hasn’t allowed an opponent to
score more than 77 points since Decmeber 12. (Source:
ESPN.com)
7 SIENA
The Saints have four players who average over 13 points per game. (Guard Clearance Jackson, and
Forwards Edwin Ubiles, Alex Franklin, and Ryan Rossiter.) Source: Espn.com
SCARY STAT: The Saints have reached the second round of
the NCAA Tournament in each of the past two seasons.
Pete Iorizzo/Albany Times-Union
8 RICHMOND
The Spiders run a Princeton-style offense, and are lead by guards Kevin Anderson (14), and David
Gonzalvez (5).
“I think Richmond presents matchup problems for a lot of teams because of the way they play. I think they have a chance to reach the Elite Eight,”--Doug Gottlieb, ESPN
analyst
AP Photo
9 OLD DOMINIONBill Tiernan/The Virginia Pilot
Forward Gerald Lee (12), and Guard Ben Finney (15) have lead the Monarchs
to a Colonial Athletic Association regular season title.
SCARY STAT: The Monarchs rank sixth in the nation in points allowed, giving
up just 57.5 per game.
Source: bbstate.com
10 UTEP
Ruben R. Ramirez/ El Paso Times
High-flying guard Randy Culpepper leads the Miners with
17.9 points per game.
“If you’re looking for a double-digit seed that could get to the Sweet 16 or beyond in this bracket, it’s
UTEP.” -- ESPN analyst Andy Katz