Men's College Basketball Sleeper Teams - 2008

We are just over a month away from selection Sunday. I'd like to highlight four teams I think will not only make the dance, but have a really good shot at moving towards the sweet sixteen. You all know about Memphis, and Kansas, and UNC, and Duke and so on and so forth, so I am going to highlight four teams that are currently unranked in either the AP poll or the coaches poll, that I think have what it takes to make a run at the sweet sixteen. Some of these teams are going to need to work just to make the tourney, and none of them have been pegged by anyone as a squad expected to go far. But I think you WILL see one of these teams in the sweet sixteen. Read why (teams listed alphabetically):

ARIZONA WILDCATS 15-8 (5-5) PAC-10

There are many reasons I feel this team is in a position to make a run this year. The main reason: Jarryd Bayless. The Pac-10 is considered by many to be the strongest conference in basketball this year, and Bayless is dominating it. He ranks 3^rd in the conference with 20 PPG, and 4^th in the conference with 4.4 assists per game. He put up 39 in a loss to Arizona St, 26 in a win vs Washington, and 23 in a win against Washington St. This is a guy I could see taking his team on the same kind run Carmelo Anthony took Syracuse on in 2003. The Wildcats also have faced the most difficult schedule in NCAA men's hoops so far this year, which makes their average record a little more understandable. Joe Lunardi's most recent Bracketology (espn.com) projection has Arizona as a 12 seed. The wildcats will earn a higher seed that 12 though, and look for them to make a solid run at the sweet sixteen, if not deeper.

DAYTON FLYERS 16-6 (4-5) ATLANTIC 10

One generally doesn't regard the Atlantic 10 as a power conference. And Dayton's record has them sitting in eighth place in the Atlantic 10. Now, I make few guarantees, but I will bet you all the money I never had that the Atlantic 10 won't be sending eight teams to the dance this year. So why I'm I so high on the Flyers? They have the 24^th hardest schedule in the nation, higher than any of the seven teams ahead of them in the conference standings. They are also 4-4 against top 50 RPI teams, with key wins at Louisville, and against Pittsburgh and Rhode Island. Their best player, Brian Roberts, is capable of taking a game over, but that is not how the team generally plays. They do what they have to do to win games. They have shown they are capable of winning a big game against a 'better' opponent, and if they are get on a roll in the tourney, they could do things. Bracketology currently has them as a 10 seed (ahead of AZ), and I predict they will make something happen on the big stage.

MISSISSIPPI REBELS 17-5 (3-5) SEC (WEST)

Here I go again. Loving a team that has a losing record in it's conference. One thing the Rebels have going for them, within the SEC, is the fact that they play in the weaker of the conference's two divisions. Granted, they are only third in that division, but I still like their odds of making the dance, and will not question their ability to put a couple of W's up once they get there. Now Chris Warren leads the team in scoring (and assists) but Dwayne Curtis is the player to watch on this squad. He has the ability to go for a double-double on any given night. Curtis's body down low, combined with Warren's ability to pass and shoot make Mississippi a team that is hard for anyone to beat. That, and the fact that Mississippi has played three ranked teams all year, where they beat number 15 Clemson by 3, lost to number 8 Tennessee by 2, and rolled over number 19 Vanderbilt by 16. They also knocked off defending NCAA champions Florida by 2. They are able to win big games, and they are able to win close games. The Rebels may open some eyes come tourney time. By the way, Bracketology has the Rebels as a 10 seed.

RHODE ISLAND RAMS 20-4 (6-3) ATLANTIC 10

I hate including Rhode Island on this list. I'm still upset about learning that the state really isn't an island at all. Posers, if you ask me. However, this team cannot be denied inclusion on my list. 20-4 speaks for itself. I love this team because it is made up of role players. Parfait Bitee ranks second in the conference in assists. Kahiem Seawright ranks second in the conference in rebounding. And Will Daniels ranks Eight in the league in scoring. Not a bad combo. Each player is allowed to do what they do, knowing that they have another stud playing next to them doing what they need to do. This is a team that plays as a TEAM. I love it. Bracketology has them as a 9 seed right now. They lack any big wins, but they also only have four losses. This is a team that knows how to win and will continue to do so.

Keep an eye out for these teams. Unranked now, but I believe all of the Cinderella's have what it takes to dance.

I originally wrote this article for The Love of Sports

Joe Lunardi, ESPN - Bracketology, ESPN

Yahoo Sports,NCAA Basketball on Yahoo! Sports, Yahoo