TOP TEN “BRACKET BUSTERS” IN 2010

By: Kels Dayton

Michael Conroy/AP

1) CORNELL

The Big Red nearly knocked off No. 1

Kansas in Allen Fieldhouse in January,

leading the entire way before falling,

71-66.

Quinnipiac coach Tom Moore says: “There’s no more helpless a feeling than when you’re guarding Cornell in the half court, and they’re running their flare screens and back cuts and they get a wide open three on you. As a head coach

you’re just praying it doesn’t go in.”

AP Photo

2) NORTHERN IOWA

The Panthers dominated the Missouri ValleyConference, going 15-3 and capturing the regular season title. They are led by guard

Kwadzo Ahelegbe,who is averaging 10.6 points per game.

Matthew Putney/ WCF Courier

“They’re going to give somebody in the NCAA Tournament an ‘L’,”--Wichita State head coach Greg Marshall, after losing to the

Panthers. (Source: http://www.usatoday.com/)

3) BUTLER

The Bulldogs are lead by four players who average in double figures in scoring (Guards

Shelvin Mack and Willie Veasley, Forwards Gordon Hayward and Matt Howard).

Duane Burleson/AP

SCARY STAT: Butler has not lost since December 22 (at UAB). Source: Espn.com

4 BYU

Sweet-shooting guard Jimmer Fredette leads the Cougars with 22.1 points per game.

SCARY STAT: Fredette scored 49 points in BYU’s 99-69 thrashing of Arizona in Tucson in December.

AP Photo

5 NEW MEXICO

The Lobos are led by guard Darington Hobson, (1), who averages 15.9 points and

9.3 reboungs per game.

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

“They’re legit. Darington Hobson is a 6-7 triple double waiting to happen, and they’ve got two great shooters, and a terriffic point guard. They play great

together,”-- CBS Sports analyst Steve Lappas, on WFAN’s “Mike’d Up”

6 UNLV

Tre’Von Willis leads the Runnin’ Rebels with 17.2 points per game. The Rebs are deep in the

backcourt, with Willis and guard Chase Stanbeck.

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

SCARY STAT: UNLV hasn’t allowed an opponent to

score more than 77 points since Decmeber 12. (Source:

ESPN.com)

7 SIENA

The Saints have four players who average over 13 points per game. (Guard Clearance Jackson, and

Forwards Edwin Ubiles, Alex Franklin, and Ryan Rossiter.) Source: Espn.com

SCARY STAT: The Saints have reached the second round of

the NCAA Tournament in each of the past two seasons.

Pete Iorizzo/Albany Times-Union

8 RICHMOND

The Spiders run a Princeton-style offense, and are lead by guards Kevin Anderson (14), and David

Gonzalvez (5).

“I think Richmond presents matchup problems for a lot of teams because of the way they play. I think they have a chance to reach the Elite Eight,”--Doug Gottlieb, ESPN

analyst

AP Photo

9 OLD DOMINIONBill Tiernan/The Virginia Pilot

Forward Gerald Lee (12), and Guard Ben Finney (15) have lead the Monarchs

to a Colonial Athletic Association regular season title.

SCARY STAT: The Monarchs rank sixth in the nation in points allowed, giving

up just 57.5 per game.

Source: bbstate.com

10 UTEP

Ruben R. Ramirez/ El Paso Times

High-flying guard Randy Culpepper leads the Miners with

17.9 points per game.

“If you’re looking for a double-digit seed that could get to the Sweet 16 or beyond in this bracket, it’s

UTEP.” -- ESPN analyst Andy Katz