Early look at March Madness

SELECTION SUNDAY is March 17 so it is that time again. Here is my field of 68 at the moment. The vast majority of the 37 at-large teams are set in stone. There are approximately six spots in play. In the one-bid leagues, I either projected a winner, went with the team leading or both. Unlike last season's NCAA Tournament, there is no logical champion, not even an obvious favorite.

Hartford.

I plead guilty to hoping old friend John Gallagher gets his young, improving Hawks team to the NCAA. Hartford, presently third, beat top dog Stony Brook on Sunday.

La Salle, Temple, Butler, VCU, Saint Louis

La Salle was a good team last season, a very good team this season, absolutely the most exciting team in the city. The Explorers play the modern guard-centric game and play it well. This next stretch (road games with St. Bonaventure, Temple and Rhode Island) and Saturday's game at the Palestra against Saint Joseph's will tell the tale. The Explorers already have six true road wins and that loss at Miami actually helps the résumé.

Temple is probably among the last four teams in at the moment. If that holds, the Owls could play in the First Four. Playing anywhere is the object. Khalif Wyatt looks like he plans to shoot the Owls back into the NCAA.

Miami, Duke, North Carolina, Virginia, North Carolina State

Miami really is this good. Just watch the 'Canes and ignore the history. Jim Larranaga has to be front-runner for Coach of the Year. Wonder what might happen to Duke when it comes up against a really athletic team on a neutral court.

Florida Gulf Coast

The Eagles beat Miami on Nov. 13. The 'Canes were without key players.

Kansas State, Kansas, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Baylor, Oklahoma

Bruce Weber (K-State) also has to be in play for C/Y. If KU could play K-State all the time, it would never lose. Three-game losing streak ended emphatically with blowout win Monday night.

Syracuse, Marquette, Cincinnati, Louisville, Georgetown, Pittsburgh, Notre Dame

Note that Cincinnati will be the only team left in the league (if the Bearcats are actually still there) in a year or two when all defectors actually defect. Two of the "Catholic Seven" are represented.

Syracuse and Louisville are Final Four contenders.

Villanova is in the vicinity of an at-large bid. The opportunities are there. The Wildcats are dramatically improved from November. One could make the case this is Jay Wright's best coaching job. Can they do it? Not sure, but definitely possible.

Montana

The Grizzlies are 14-0 in the league and really who can stop them?

UNC Asheville

The Bulldogs lost just about everybody from the team that nearly upset Syracuse in the first round last year. They started 1-6. They have now won seven straight. Eddie Biedenbach, the onetime N.C. State star, has to be one of America's best, unknown coaches.

Indiana, Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois

Indiana, Michigan State or Michigan could make the Final Four. IU's offense can be breathtaking, but if the Hoosiers get a team with a unique style in the NCAA, they could have issues. Michigan can play any style. MSU's Tom Izzo has a team he really likes.

Long Beach State

Did you know James Ennis averages 17.2 points to lead his team? You do now.

Northeastern

The Huskies are 12-1 in the league, but seven of the wins have been by five points or less, three in OT. So the tournament is wide open. Could Drexel get hot for 3 days and win it? Technically, yes, but this team really misses the shooting of Chris Fouch, the post play of Samme Givens and the toughness they each brought.

Memphis

The Tigers are getting in whether they win the tournament or not. They are 20-3 and have won 14 straight.

Valparaiso

Bryce Drew, who made the most famous shot in school history, is the head coach.

Princeton

Can't explain how the Tigers lost to Yale and Harvard lost to Columbia last weekend, but these are still the best teams. Princeton is at Harvard Saturday.

Niagara

Joe Mihalich's team was winning all the close games. Lately, it has been losing them. Juan'ya Green (Archbishop Carroll) and Ameen Tanksley (Imhotep Charter) are two of the team's best players.

Akron

The Zips have the longest winning streak (15) in America. Center Zeke Marshall, from McKeesport, Pa., is on the NBA radar. He shoots 69 percent from the field and has 81 blocks.

Norfolk State

Norfolk and North Carolina Central are unbeaten in the league, but, strangely, don't play.

Creighton, Wichita State, Indiana State

Each has very good nonconference wins.

New Mexico, Colorado State, San Diego State, UNLV

Lot of good teams here, but not likely any Sweet 16 teams.

Bryant

The Bulldogs' top three scorers average 49 points among them.

Belmont

Belmont, Murray State and Eastern Kentucky will all win 20 and are fully capable of winning the tournament.

Arizona, UCLA, Oregon, Colorado

Not sure if there are any Sweet 16 teams out there. Arizona State is in the hunt.

Bucknell

Be a great final between Bucknell and Lehigh, if it comes to that. Hopefully, Lehigh's C.J. McCollum is back by then. Bucknell's Mike Muscala and McCollum are both firmly in NBA conversation. Who could have imagined the Patriot might have two NBA players?

Florida, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi

Florida can win it all. UK is getting better. Ole Miss is getting worse. Mizzou is pathetic on the road.

Davidson

No Steph Curry, but still very good.

Stephen F. Austin

Taylor Smith averages 16.0 points and 8.9 rebounds while shooting a ridiculous 70.4 percent from the field.

Southern

You can never have enough Jaguars in the tournament.

South Dakota State

We need more Nate Wolters who had 53 points in a game last week.

Middle Tennessee

The Blue Raiders have won 11 straight and will have an upset chance against a high seed.

Louisiana Tech

No Karl Malone, but 12-0 in the league

Gonzaga, St. Mary's

This might be the best Gonzaga team, but will it be able to stop the athletic teams it will face, rather than having to outscore them.