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5 Teams You Don’t Want To Face In The NCAA Tournament

By Nathan Giese

Jan 10, 2016; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks forward Dillon Brooks (24) falls backward following an officials call against Oregon Ducks at Matthew Knight Arena. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 10, 2016; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks forward Dillon Brooks (24) falls backward following an officials call against Oregon Ducks at Matthew Knight Arena. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 12, 2016; Morgantown, WV, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers guard Richard Romeo III (30) and guard Teyvon Myers (0) celebrate after beating the Kansas Jayhawks at the WVU Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 12, 2016; Morgantown, WV, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers guard Richard Romeo III (30) and guard Teyvon Myers (0) celebrate after beating the Kansas Jayhawks at the WVU Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports /

West Virginia Mountaineers

This one’s cheating a bit, but is anybody actually talking about them being a dark horse Final Four contender? After the week they had, they should be.

After knocking around top-ranked Kansas at home earlier in the week, West Virginia came one rare missed boxout assignment at Oklahoma away from pulling off the first back-to-back No. 1 and No. 2 upsets in nearly 40 years. Even if they lost, they showed that they’re capable of doing great things and it’s made them a lethal team that’s especially scary to play in the postseason.

Had it not been for some ill-timed words from a certain player adding more fuel to an already more-talented team, West Virginia could’ve very well snuck up on Kentucky in the Sweet 16 last year. Instead it was one of the most lopsided losses in NCAA tournament history. All of that, and I do mean all of it, is in the past.

Juwan Staten did a lot of great things for the Mountaineers, but they never had the offensive successes they’re having this year with him. In fact, the defense is even better than last season. WVU finished 45th in both adjusted offense and defense last season while they currently sit 29th in offense and second in defense.

Currently, they’re 10th nationally in points per game (85.3), 22nd in points allowed (63.4), second in scoring margin (21.9) and second in turnover margin (6.6). Press Virginia turns that pressure defense into scoring opportunities. Four players average double-digit scoring numbers, three more average between 6.4 and 9.2 and nine average over 16 minutes per game played.

They’re deep, they’re fast and they’re relentless. Playing them in March, especially if you have a thin bench, is a recipe for disaster.

Next: Say Ah For Wichita