MARYLAND TERRAPINS
Talk about a value pick. While the current Top 25 says that Kevin Willard and Maryland don't belong. The eye test does, and we won't be at all surprised if the Terps make a late season push up the rankings and emerge as a very trend pick to make a deep run come tourney time.
In freshman dynamo Derik Queen, the Terps have one of the best interior scorers in the country and Julian Reese has proven to be a tremendously complimentary player alongside the first-year star. Not many teams have the luxury of rolling out multiple double-double machines in the frontcourt like Willard's squad.
Belmont transfer Ja'Kobi Gillespie has been much better than advertised and is one of the very best transfers in the country. His ability to score and set others up isn't matched by many other point guards. After sitting out for nearly two seasons, Rodney Rice has been a value add while Selton Miguel gives this team an edge. Like many teams, the Terps aren't particularly deep, but they've got a top 20 offense and top 25 defense per KenPom so they appear to be doing just fine.
MICHIGAN WOLVERINES
It hasn't taken long for Dusty May to erase many of the painful memories of the Juwan Howard era at Michigan. After taking Florida Atlantic to unprecedented heights, he's ahead of schedule on his rebuild of the Wolverines.
Making the trip to Ann Arbor with May was FAU transfer Vladislav Goldin and he's proven to be a formidable alongside Yale transfer Danny Wolf in the Wolverines twin towers offense. Goldin is immovable in the paint while Wolf has captured the imagination of college hoops fans thanks to his rare combination of size and creative playmaking with the ball in his hands. Figuring out how to deal with that duo – especially with a short turnaround between first and second-round games – isn't going to be easily come March.
Auburn transfer Tre Donaldson is emerging as a dangerous floor general and his ability to shoot from deep helps to keep the floor spaced for the 14-feet of centers they have roaming the floor. Veteran Nimari Burnett finally seems to have found his place in the world and is another valuable piece when it comes to spacing the floor.
Small ball teams that can spread the Wolverines out defensively are a bit worrisome, but overall, this looks like a team that no top four seed is going to want any piece of in the second round of the tournament.
NEW MEXICO LOBOS
The Mountain West isn't the juggernaut that it was last season when it sent six teams to the NCAA Tournament. But make no mistake, it's still a tremendous league that could get three teams into the dance. As of today, Utah State and New Mexico look like the best bets. They are set to meet in a massive game on Saturday night. Either could be capable of making a run, we lean ever so slightly towards the Lobos.
The reason is pretty simple: New Mexico point guard Donovan Dent. The junior is arguably the best player in America that nobody – well outside of hardcore hoops fans – is really talking about. Dent is good for nearly 20 points and seven assists per outing, but his impact goes way beyond statistical measures. A pretty compelling argument could be made that Dent is among the top five floor generals in the game and he's capable of wrecking a favorite's March dreams.
As good as Dent is, he's not a one-man show. Richard Pitino has surrounded him with legitimate players in guys like Nelly Junior Joseph, Mustapha Amzil and Tru Washington. If the Lobos can get hot from deep a time or two in the tournament, they could be a really dangerous matchup. No, they aren't the most efficient, but they are top 10 overall in pace and that breakneck speed could be really problematic.
UCLA BRUINS
Don't look now, but the UCLA squad that was pretty much written off after losing five of six during a three-week stretch between December and January is righting the ship. In fact, Mick Cronin and the Bruins have gone a bit of heater since he called out his team after a home loss to Michigan and got the heave-ho during a road loss to Rutgers.
Now riding a four-game winning streak, the Bruins have a huge test ahead of them as they are set to host Oregon and Michigan State. A sweep, or even a split, of those games should establish them as a legitimately dangerous tournament team who is capable of winning ugly if they have to.
For the Bruins' sake, they need leading scorer Tyler Bilodeau back to 100% health as soon as possible, but his supporting cast is stepping up. Eric Dailey Jr. has been pretty reliable and most notably, highly touted big man Aday Mara is finding his way. After a forgettable freshman year and mostly slow start to the season, the 7-foot-3 Spaniard is averaging 15.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and four blocks per game over his last three outings. Can that be expected from here on out? No, but if he can be relied upon for even half of that output a night, he can seriously change the trajectory of this team.
If UCLA's guard trio of Sebastian Mack, Dylan Andrews and Skyy Clark can be just a little more efficient and wing Kobe Johnson gives them just a little more offense, this team has a lot of room to get better. Especially if they remain a top 20 team on the defensive side of the ball.
