6. Illinois
I can’t really punish Illinois a whole lot for losing to Michigan, even though the game was at home. They have the closest thing possible to a BYE week in the Big Ten, playing Oregon and Maryland to close out the season, and perhaps Keaton Wagler can lock up Big Ten POTY with two great performances.
7. Houston
You know what can get a whole lot of “bad mojo” out of your system? Dropping 102 and whomping Colorado on your home floor. This team still has issues, namely their ability to create easy shot attempts, but they have been the same issues for Kelvin Sampson-coached teams for the last 5 years. So if anyone can figure it out in time, it should be Sampson.
8. Iowa State
There is no in between with this Iowa State team. Every time I watch them, they either look like a team that can make the Final Four or a team that will get bounced in the first weekend. They need to find some offense outside of Jefferson and Lipsey, and maybe it could be freshman Jamarion Batemon.
9. Michigan State
Not many teams can complete the Indiana road trip and go 2-0 against Purdue and Indiana, but that’s exactly what Michigan State just did. I will be picking this team to reach the Sweet 16 in my bracket, but I don’t know if I can advance them much further. They play so hard and so smart that I don’t see Izzo losing to an inferior opponent, but I don’t know if they have the firepower to punch above their weight.
10. Gonzaga
The loss to Saint Mary’s, while short-handed, doesn’t really change my opinion of the Zags a whole lot. They are a good, not great, team that needs to get Braden Huff back in action if they want to be considered a serious Final Four contender.
