Alot of the debate this year has been on which teams have the best resumes and whatnot. The way I look at it, you need to see the teams play to make a good decision. I have seen UK play, I have seen Florida play, I have seen Syracuse play. I could go on and on with teams I've seen play and I could also make a list of teams I haven't seen play, that's why I wont pretend to know what Im talking about when it comes to teams like USC, Miami, or Arizona State. These are the teams I beleive DESERVE to be in the tourny. Not taking into account what any other teams have done, these teams on the court, NOT ON PAPER, should be in.
TEAMS WHO SHOULD BE IN
Kentucky 17-11 (11-4 SEC) - Call me a homer but this Kentucky team deserves to be in. They have been undermanned all year, with everyone including Billy Clyde missing time due to injury (He missed 1-2 practices with a stomach flu). It's a real joy to see a team you've had an emotional connection too since you were young do good, especially after the fiasco that was November and December for the Kentucky Wildcats. I truly beleive, given a chance in the tournament, we could pull an upset or two. Everyone saw how we competed against UT without Big Pat. And you know Kentucky will bring money for the NCAA and thats probably what will be the selling point, unfortunately, other deserving teams like WKU or South Alabama could be left out in the cold if UK gets in.
Florida 21-9 (8-7 SEC) - Sure they had a EASY non-con schedule, but wouldn't you if you lost your entire starting lineup and 6th man to graduation/ NBA? Sure the SEC has exposed some chinks in the Gator armor but I still beleive watching this team that they are solid. One of their weaknesses is youth, players being thrusted into the spotlight by the departure of one of the great lineups of the last 20 years in college basketball. If not this year, the Gators will be back in the tourny easily next season. Mark my words.
Houston 22-7 (11-4 C-USA) / UAB 22-8 (12-3) - Having watched both of these teams dismantle my Kentucky Wildcats in December, I have to say I was more impressed with Houston. UK dominated most of the UAB game until Robert Vaden decided to go all Reggie Miller on us in the second half. Houston, led by Robert McKiver, is a great team that SHOULD be in, but the fact that they play in a weak conference, doubled by their loss to ECU could push them out of the field. If UAB can knock of MemPis on Saturday than they should be a shoo-in for the tourney over Houston. But if UAB loses (which is more likely) than the team who goes farther in the conference tourney should be the team getting the 2nd C-USA bid.
TEAMS WHO SHOULD'NT BE IN
Syracuse 17-12 (8-9 Big East) - After watching this team blow an 11-point lead at HOME against Pittsburgh, that sealed the deal for me. This team is too centered around freshmen phenoms Donte Greene and Johnny Flynn, and that leads to an mental lapses at times, which was evident in the Pitt game. This team will be left out of the tournament barring a run in the Big East tourny.
Ohio State 18-12 (9-8 Big 10) - Sure the win vs. Purdue was huge, but can they take that victory and turn it into consistency? That's where the road ends for me, I saw a tournament team in December with a blowout win over Florida, but also saw an NIT team lose to the Fightin' Tubby's of Minnesota. If they could make the finals of the Big 10 tourny OR beat Michigan State decisively, then I might change my mind.