Making sense of the Madness

As bracketology experts begin the painstaking process of calculating the positions for the 2013 NCAA Basketball Tournament, Kansas, Gonzaga, Indiana and Miami fans can rest easy knowing that they’ll be seeing some March Madness action. All four schools are predicted to enter the tournament as No. 1 seeds, and if each team continues its incredible run, they’ll most likely be a part of the Final Four pandemonium. But what would the tournament be without some upsets? Here is a list of five teams that have the momentum to shake up the top ranks of college basketball.

5. New Mexico Lobos

The Lobos are on a tear right now—10 wins out of their last 12 games played, including victories over every ranked team they have come across in the regular season. With their firm grasp on the No. 1 position in the Mountain West Conference and a healthy Kendall Williams in the mix (who recently scored 46 points against Colorado State), the Lobos pose a serious threat to the rest of their section.

4. California Golden Bears

Gliding on a seven-game winning streak (with wins over ranked Arizona and Oregon along the way), coach Mike Montgomery’s squad has been getting the attention of sports pundits lately. For the first three weeks of February, the Pac-12 Player of the Week was awarded to two different Cal players—Allen Crabbe and Justin Cobbs. The team relies heavily on its defense; opponents will have to break through that wall if they hope to make any headway against the Golden Bears.

3. North Carolina Tar Heels

In a conference with both Duke and Miami stealing the spotlight lately, North Carolina have been forcing their way into the headlines. They currently have the highest average for assists and boast one of the most underrated forwards in college basketball—James Michael McAdoo. Although not as consistent as someone like Creighton’s Doug McDermott, McAdoo has the ability to dazzle the opposition. Look for this confident team in the late stages of March Madness.

2. Saint Louis Billikens

It’s tough to take a team seriously with a mascot named and modeled after a charm doll, but the Billikens have beaten their last 11 opponents, including two over Butler, and with eight of those wins coming by double-digits. What makes the Billikens so formidable is their well-rounded offense—they have five players with an average above nine points per game. Their rise out of the ashes of the Atlantic 10 Conference was a surprise to most, so expect this passionate team to take some major strides this year at the big dance.

1. Wichita State Shockers

Wichita State was one of the big stories in the first few months of NCAA ball, losing only two of their first 21 games. They slipped a bit at the end of January with a three-game losing streak and recently lost their last two games, to Evansville and Creighton. But their well-reported resiliency should play to their advantage when trailing on the scoreboard—the Shockers are always looking for a chance to do exactly that, and shouldn’t be counted out come tournament time.