5 Basketball Teams Worth Watching Before March

By Christy Flom on January 22, 2015

With plenty of time until March, college basketball is already filled with upsets, struggles and hardships. ESPN reporters at each game heavily debate questions of who will be eligible to enter in March, and who will win each conference title.

With more and more teams looking to grab the wild card spots and have a fantasy season, the competition is always tough and any game is an opportunity for teams to highlight their skills. No teams are safe and if college basketball is known for anything it is its unpredictability.

After the original AP and USA Today Coaches polls were set back in November, there are only roughly 14 of the preseason top 25 teams still ranked as teams begin to head into the middle of their seasons.

From Michigan dropping out of the rankings to Kentucky maintaining the No. 1 spot, there are many teams eager to make a name for themselves this season. While the polls are no set way to determine the best of the best as every March Madness has shown year after year, they do help keep track of the top teams in each conference.

This gives players and fans a better idea of what to expect when cross-conference games take over after teams enter the NCAA tournament.

Now that conference play is well under way, here are five teams worth following before and during March.

Kentucky in the Final Four in 2012. Image via Flickr.com

1) Kentucky: As the undefeated and unanimously voted No. 1 ranked team, Kentucky has all eyes on them. They won the National Championship back in 2012 and could easily do it again.

While Kentucky is the only nationally ranked team in the Southeastern conference, Kentucky has beaten No. 4 Louisville, No. 6 Texas, No. 5 Kansas and No. 21 North Carolina earlier this season. Whether you want the big upset or for Kentucky to go all the way, watching them play all season will prepare fans for the NCAA March Madness tournament.

2) Northern Iowa: They play basketball in northern Iowa? As ignorant as it may sound, Iowa and Iowa State are really the only schools you ever hear about from the great corn state. This No. 20 team slyly inched its way onto the polls this season without garnering major media coverage.

Like Dayton upsetting Syracuse last year in the NCAA tournament, Northern Iowa has the potential to sneak up on fans for the big upset.

Duke’s Head Coach Mike Krzyzeski. Image via Flickr.com

3) Duke: Duke has always been one of my favorite teams. From the longstanding traditions of the program to their rivalry with North Carolina, Duke is seemingly always ranked in the top 25 nationally.

Their coach Mike Krzyzeski is a legend on his own and this year’s No. 5 ranked Blue Devils are sure to be a top contender for the championship game in March. The Atlantic Coast Conference is full of tough teams this season so as a Duke fan I’ll be watching them continue to fight, especially on Feb. 18 and March 7 against North Carolina.

4) Wisconsin: I have to throw a Big Ten team into the mix and with Michigan and Michigan State out of the game, I have faith Wisconsin will come up big, especially during tournament play.

After whooping No. 25 Iowa earlier this week, it’s my depressing and pessimistic prediction they will whoop my beloved Michigan Wolverines on Saturday, too. While they may have lost to Rutgers, Wisconsin has the ability to be a powerhouse team and the rest of their season will show what they are truly made of as they face off against Indiana and Maryland.

Wisconsin should not underestimate the power of other Big Ten schools but if they continue to shoot the ball and win, they have a great chance of playing for the Big Ten championship and going very far in March.

5) Baylor: Is it just me or do other people get Baylor and Butler mixed up, too? Either way, both teams could be huge underdogs going into the NCAA tournament and great picks for upset wins.

Baylor has a tough schedule ahead of them facing off against Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, and West Virginia, not to mention all the other tough teams gunning for wins in the Big 12. If Baylor can hang tight against higher ranked teams, and finish their conference strong, anything could happen for them in March.

These are just five teams out of countless that are all determined to make it to the March Madness tournament. With these five teams already having crazy seasons, it is easy to see why March is so infamous for the rollercoaster ride teams endure.

Anyways, March is still over six weeks away so in the meantime make sure to stay updated on the biggest upsets, wins, and losses of all your favorite teams this season.

I’m personally dreaming/hoping/wishing/praying for the Wolverines to win the Big Ten championship game so that they will have a shot at entering the tournament as an underdog in March ready to upset top ranked teams.

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