The college basketball season is barely a month old and the nation is already buzzing about surprise teams on the rise. Nearly every pundit in the United States has commented on the mid-major teams from the Missouri Valley Conference. Yet several lesser-known schools from the top conferences have also burst out of the gate. While some of these Cinderella teams will go to the Big Dance in March, for others, the stroke of midnight is fast approaching.
Wichita State
After upsetting Tennessee in the NCAA tournament last season, it should not be a shock to anyone that the Shockers have climbed to No. 8 in the country. WSU has already won at then-No. 6 LSU and in the hostile environment of the Carrier Dome against then-No. 14 Syracuse. The Shockers also knocked off a solid Wyoming team and the George Mason Colonials, last season's surprise Final Four participant.
What makes Wichita State's early season run so remarkable is the fact they have posted a 7-0 record after losing conference Player of the Year Paul Miller to graduation. Senior forward Kyle Wilson leads the Shockers with 14 points per game. The larger Sean Ogirri's afro grows, the more points the junior guard puts on the scoreboard. He currently averages 12 points per contest. Although he stands only 6'5'', senior guard Ryan Martin tops the team, snagging 7.3 rebounds per contest. Southern Illinois, Evansville, Creighton and Missouri State will make it difficult for Wichita State to repeat as MVC champions, but sparks will fly when the Shockers return to the NCAA tournament in March.
Butler
Sports analysts from across the country jumped on the Butler bandwagon when the Bulldogs defeated Notre Dame, Indiana, Tennessee, Gonzaga and an underrated Kent State squad in November. And why not? No team from the Horizon League had ever won the Preseason National Invitation Tournament until BU did it this season. The buzz around the Bulldogs may have quieted since the Indiana State Sycamores handed Butler its first loss on Saturday night.
One advantage Butler has over other mid-majors is that the Bulldogs play in the Horizon League, where the sun has already set on a few teams in 2006-'07. Defending league champion UWM looks lost early in the season and only Loyola (Ill.) has a winning non-conference record. As long as the Bulldogs continue to get consistent play from junior guards A.J. Graves and Mike Green, who average 17.3 and 14.6 points per game respectively, Butler should stroll into the Big Dance in March.
Clemson
It appears history is going to repeat itself in Clemson, S.C. A year ago, the Tigers started the season 11-0 and looked poised to make a run in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Then the wheels fell off the Clemson juggernaut. The Tigers lost 10 out of their next 13 games before rebounding to earn an NIT berth.
No. 25 Clemson has posted a 10-0 record, but for the second-straight year, it has built an undefeated mark by picking on lesser competition. The Tigers did notch victories over South Carolina and Mississippi State, but playing Wofford, Charleston Southern, Appalachian State, Western Carolina and Furman is no way to prepare for games in the ACC.
The Tigers do boast a deep, young team. Sophomore forward K.C. Rivers leads Clemson in scoring with 14.2 points per game. Junior center James Mays contributes 7.5 rebounds and nearly 12 points per contest. Nevertheless, tough ACC opponents should devour the Tigers and leave them out of the NCAA tournament again this year.
Oregon
No. 24 Oregon might have an 8-0 record, but like Clemson, the Ducks have feasted on weaker opponents. Wins over then-No. 23 Georgetown, Rice and Nebraska are legitimate, but blowout victories over Portland State, Bethune-Cookman and UC-Irvine are not. With four more easy wins on the horizon, Oregon could easily be 12-0 when it begins conference play.
Five players average double-digit point totals for the Ducks, but 5'6' guard Tajuan Porter leads the team with 19.3 points per game. Junior forward Maarty Leunen averages a double-double, posting 10 rebounds and 11.4 points each contest. If Oregon can continue to win once they face UCLA, Washington and Arizona, then it deserves a spot in the NCAA tournament, but the Ducks have a tough road ahead of them if they expect to be quacking in March.
