January Contenders

 

With about 2 months left before Selection Sunday now is a good time to Tier out the top 16 teams in my bracket and put them in buckets.  In my estimation this is the strongest top 10-15 teams we’ve seen in awhile and I can’t argue with prognosticators who think there are at least 10 teams that can win it all.  I don’t believe the group is that large but I’m going to see where I end up as I type this out.
 
Tier 1 – Definitely can win it all this year
Arizona – still undefeated
Iowa State – loss to Kansas last night changes nothing
Michigan – losing to Wisconsin might give them motivation
Houston – I might have them as my favorite right now
Connecticut – I debated putting them in Tier 2 but now that they are at full strength they look dominant
 
Tier 2 – Need to see more; they have a flaw
Duke – contender but they need a consistent third scorer and to stop digging an early hole
Gonzaga – can probably never be a Tier 1 team until they actually win it all
 
Tier 3 – I *think* they are underrated; I need to dig deeper
Purdue – have the talent and guard play.  Only loss is to Iowa State
Illinois – I said they were overrated early in the season.  All losses are to top 20 teams
Vanderbilt – Look solid but they are Vanderbilt
 
Tier 4 – I’m confused; are these teams really contenders?
Nebraska – undefeated and the best story in college but they are Nebraska
BYU – great metrics but only played 1 team in the top 25…and lost
Florida – Jekyll and Hyde all year.  On the upswing but can you trust the guards?
Texas Tech – I want them to be in a higher Tier but outside of Toppin and Anderson…
 
Tier 5 – Frauds
Michigan State – Every year I hear how great they are, but they have 1 Final Four in the last 10 years
North Carolina – I can’t believe I’m typing this, but they are going to really miss Elliot Cadeau.
 
Kurly – What do you got for contenders?