As usual, teams like Kansas, North Carolina and Michigan State are expected to be serious Final Four contenders in the 2009-10 college basketball campaign. With 65 spots available in the annual NCAA tournament, there is plenty of room for some surprise teams to emerge by the time March Madness rolls around. Here are five squads that could sneak up and surprise this season:
Vanderbilt Commodores
After consecutive NCAA trips in 2007 and 2008, the Commodores stayed home last season after a .500 finish in the SEC. This year, Vandy could be ready for a rebound campaign. All four of the club’s double figure scorers from last year are back this season. Australian native A.J. Ogilvy has emerged for Vanderbilt. The junior center has averaged at least 15 points and 7 rebounds per game in each of his two collegiate campaigns.
Creighton Bluejays
The Missouri Valley Conference school could be poised to return to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2007 this season. Creighton just missed getting into the dance last year in a 27-8 campaign. Junior guard P’Allen Stinnet (13 points per game in 2008-09) leads a deep team. Veteran head coach Dana Altman should be able to take advantage of his club’s depth to get back to the NCAA tourney this year.
San Diego State Aztecs
Despite three straight 20+ win seasons, the Aztecs have had to settle for the NIT since their last NCAA trip in 2006. Under the guidance of former Michigan head coach Steve Fisher, San Diego State has emerged as one of the top clubs in the Mountain West Conference over the last few years. While this year’s club has only two seniors, there is plenty of young talent on the roster. Fisher has been able to effectively recruit the Southern California area to reload his roster in recent years.
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Former Massachusetts head coach Travis Ford was able to guide the Cowboys into the second round of the NCAA tournament in his debut season at Oklahoma State last year. For a storied program that has been to a pair of Final Fours over the last 15 years, the future appears bright for Ford and the Cowboys. A pair of big guards are set to lead this year’s club. 6-foot-6 junior James Anderson (18 points, 6 rebounds per game in 2008-09) and 6-foot-5 senior Obi Muonelo (13 rebounds, 7 rebounds per game in 2008-09) are difficult matchups for many teams.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Head coach Paul Hewitt was a single win away from a national championship in 2004 at Georgia Tech. Since then, the Yellow Jackets have missed the NCAA tourney in three of the last five years. With the arrival of prized 6-foot-10 freshman forward Derrick Favors and some other promising recruits, Georgia Tech is ranked 22nd in the country to begin the season after last year’s woeful 2-14 record in the ACC. Junior forward Gani Lawal (15 points, 10 rebounds per game in 2008-09) will aid Favors and the other newcomers this season.
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