NCAA teams you won’t want to face in March
by Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY Sports
To stay or to go?
That’s the question many college basketball players ask themselves on whether to stay in school or attempt to make the leap to the NBA. Murray State’s Isaiah Canaan was a player who chose to stay after an All-America campaign. The point guard returns as a national player of the year candidate after averaging 19 points a game and leading Murray State to a school-record 31-2 finish.
Oddly enough, his coach was in the same boat. In his first season leading the Racers, Steve Prohm guided Murray State to 23 consecutive wins to start the season. Prohm says multiple bigger schools, including Mississippi State, reached out to him but he never seriously considered leaving.
“There was never a question in my mind,” Prohm says. “Murray State is home for me. I realize that success brings opportunities, but I have the chance to coach a great group of guys again.”
Murray State’s roster will look different, losing three starters from last season. But with Prohm and Canaan returning to Murray, Ky., the Racers enter the 2012-13 season as one of the premier sleeper teams in the country.
Here’s a look at other teams that could be scary in March:
Virginia Commonwealth
VCU coach Shaka Smart was another mid-major coach who said no to leaving after being lured by bigger schools (mainly Illinois), choosing to continue making the Rams a force after a 2011 Final Four appearance and a Sweet 16 finish last season. VCU will get a chance to continue its presence on the national stage — switching from the Colonial Athletic Association to the more competitive Atlantic 10.
Why this team could bust your bracket: Smart’s signature “havoc” defense, which led the nation in steals at 10.6 a game last season, can cause problems for any opponent. Plus, the Rams have serious depth, returning four top scorers and adding a potent freshman class.
Drexel
The Dragons haven’t been to the NCAA tournament since 1996 and were left out of the field of 68 last season despite a 29-win season. That NCAA tournament drought should end this season with VCU leaving the CAA, a league … [For more on NCAA teams you won't want to face in March, click here.]
Loading ...
