The Bracket Big Board takes into consideration past returns,
current performance and expected future gains in determining who should
be included among the field of 65 (31 automatic and 34 at-large bids).
Essentially, the Bracket Big Board is a cheat sheet designed for
amateur bracketologists if they were filling out a Tourney Pick ‘Em ’10
(SIGN UP NOW!!!) entry today. The Bracket Big Board is updated every Monday until the
dance card is officially unveiled March 14.
Despite dropping a critical matchup with Louisville
on Sunday Senior Day, Connecticut’s
motto on campus still remains: "Yes UCann."
Plagued by underachievement and extraneous circumstances no
team could prepare for, the once lifeless Huskies are revived. The return of
head coach Jim Calhoun, who missed several games with health problems, has
sparked his team to three wins in its past four – two against highly ranked
foes Villanova and West Virginia.
The transformation is nothing short of miraculous. Recall just two weeks ago,
UConn’s tournament chances was on par with the Nutmeg State avoiding another Nor’easter – slim. At 14-11 overall and 4-8 in
conference play on February 13, the disoriented Huskies were seemingly destined
for the Not Invited Tournament.
How quickly fortunes can reverse.
Now 17-12 (7-9 in conference) they’re on the brink of bouncing off the bubble and into the tourney field.
The primary reason why UConn has emerged from the dead:
Kemba Walker.
The catalytic force has rapidly ascended into the Pantheon
of college point guards. Last season coming off the bench, he played
unrestrained. His poor decision making led to numerous turnovers. But in his
second season, some of the matured point guard’s rough edges have smoothed.
Though missteps occasionally have happened – he’s averaged 3.1 turnovers per game –
his ability to push the tempo, create, distribute, draw contact and, most
notably, score (23.5 ppg in his last four), has almost single-handedly
propelled the Huskies into the at-large picture. Walker’s brutally honest coach recently spoke highly of the sophomore’s development:
"Kemba Walker is one of the best point guards in
the country, I don’t have any question in my mind about that," Calhoun said.
"It’s a joy for me to coach him and watch him play."
However, there’s no time for complacency.
With three BEASTly teams – Louisville, UConn and Notre Dame –
potentially fighting for two NCAA spots, Calhoun’s club can ill-afford another
setback. Wednesday’s road clash in South
Bend could ultimately decide its tournament fate.
Still, with nine wins against the RPI 100 – more than at-large locks BYU, Texas, Texas A&M, Maryland, Oklahoma St. and Ohio St. – a
disastrous final two weeks may not completely crush dancing hopes. Keep in mind
the Huskies, who’ve played the second-toughest schedule in the country, have
lost seven games by five points or less. The Selection Committee will also
weigh Calhoun’s extended absence heavily.
If UConn does sneak into the Field of 65, consider it,
similar to major conference underdogs Arizona
and Wisconsin
last year, a diseased Cinderella no one wants a one-night stand with.
Offensively, the Huskies are doughboy soft interiorly, but
the same cannot be said on the opposite end. Challenging opponents down low by
bodying up and swatting shots, they rank in the top 12 nationally in two-point
field goal percentage defense and block percentage. Overall, they’re No. 28
in defensive efficiency. Add that with Uconn’s incredible ability to get to the
line, and this is a team which could wreak considerable bracket havoc.
Beware of these dogs.
Here are the movers and shakers on this week’s Triple-B:
*For games played through Sunday, February 28
*RPI data provided
by Rivals
*Efficiency
stats from kenpom.com
On
the Bubble: St. Mary’s (24-5), Dayton (19-9), Minnesota (17-11), San Diego St. (20-8), Mississippi (19-9), Charlotte (19-9)
Dropped
Out: Dayton, San Diego St., St. Mary’s, Robert Morris
Conference
Breakdown: American
East
(1), ACC (7), Atlantic Sun (1), Atlantic 10 (4), Big 12 (7), Big
East (9), Big Sky (1), Big South (1), Big Ten (5), Big West (1),
Colonial (1), Conference USA (2), Horizon (1), Ivy (1), Metro (1),
Mid-American (1), Mid-Eastern (1), Missouri Valley (1), Mountain West
(3), Northeast (1), Ohio Valley (1), Pac-10 (1), Patriot (1), SEC (4),
Southern (1), Southland (1), SWAC (1), Summit (1), Sun Belt (1), West
Coast (1), WAC
(1)
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Image courtesy of US Presswire