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In the week leading up to the selection committee convening in Indianapolis, it appears there will be plenty of work to do.
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| Derrick Brown gives Xavier great athleticism and possibly a big boost in the tourney. (AP) |
This is one of the best 10-day stretches of the season. I love watching the conference tournament championship games, especially in the conferences that don't get much or any television exposure until now.
For many of these conferences, their champion is the only team that will qualify for the tournament. The competitive spirit and the range of emotions on display is part of what captivates all of us who enjoy college basketball.
I'm especially looking forward to the CAA, Horizon, MAAC, MVC, Summit, Sun Belt, and WCC tournaments that will all be decided by next Tuesday.
As I expressed last week, I have refrained from looking at any mock brackets, bubble sheets, or RPI reports (though I have been tempted) thus far. And I won't until early next week. For me it's a more rational approach compared to the daily game played by so many about a team's tournament prospects.
Although there are still some teams I've yet to see that could be at-large selections, I have seen enough to have roughly 24 teams I consider to be "locks" for at-large selections if they aren't automatic qualifiers. And as promised last week, I will name them in my column next week.
Today is a day to highlight a few "undervalued" players to keep an eye on come tournament time. So indirectly you will get a peek at six of the teams on my "locks" list a week early. Enjoy the weekend, as the Madness begins.
Connor Atchley, Texas: Overshadowed a bit (and also helped) by the brilliance of D.J. Augustin, this 6-foot-10 forward leads the Longhorns in 3-point percentage and blocked shots. There aren't many guys doing that in college hoops. His 9.0 points-per-game average is modest, but because of his length (a condor's wingspan) and shooting range, he's hard to defend. And he's also proved to be a clutch shooter.
Derrick Brown, Xavier: This 6-7 sophomore is a high riser and a playmaker. He rebounds effectively, runs the floor, finishes inside and is an improved ballhandler and perimeter shooter. He's also a versatile defender. On a team that is a bit undersized, his athleticism and versatility on the wing enhances Xavier's chances to have a strong tournament run.
Lee Cummard, BYU: The junior swingman does it all. His averages per game are 16 points, seven rebounds and three assists, and he's also a 50/50/80 guy (56 percent from the field, 50 percent from beyond the arc, and 80 percent from the charity stripe). He's a stat-sheet stuffer with a knack for making clutch plays on offense and defense. Relentless and fun to watch.
Leonard Houston, Drake: Listed at 6-3 and 180 pounds, this senior has a lot of "bounce to the ounce". He can drop your jaw with the plays he can make above the rim. He's second on the team in points, assists and steals, and third in rebounding. He averages 14 points and gets his numbers in a variety of ways. He can shoot the three, but is most effective slashing and getting into the paint.
Terrence Olgesby, Clemson: The quintessential "allen wrench" with a single, designated purpose. His is knocking down 3s off the bench for the Tigers. He averages 11 points in just 18 minutes per contest and shoots 41 percent from behind the arc. In last Sunday's come-from-behind win at Maryland, he splashed home four 3-pointers, including the winner. Shooters like him can be difference makers in the tournament.
Diamon Simpson, St. Mary's: No Diamon in the rough here. He is consistently productive for the Gaels. He averages 13.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, and is the school's all-time blocked shots leader. In the past four games he has averaged 22 points and 11 rebounds. If he keeps that up I'll be calling him "Double Dub" Diamon. For the unaware, that is parlance for double-doubles -- double digits in two statistical categories in a given game. Seems to me that Diamon is polishing up his game at just the right time.