Conference tournaments are only hours away, and the NCAA tournament picture is becoming clearer with every passing day.
Teams have built the bulk of their respective resumes, but here are five programs that may play better over the next month than they've performed up to this point.
St. John's Red Storm
Many things have recently changed in the college basketball landscape, but there’s one thing we can still rely on: If Rick Pitino is challenging his team publicly, the players are very likely to respond in a resounding manner.
When Pitino spoke in his postgame presser following a loss to Seton Hall, he claimed to be having the least amount of fun than at any point in his career. That's quite the statement from a coach as tenured as Pitino, especially considering the amount of drama that typically surrounds his programs.
At the time, St. John’s had just lost a home game to Seton Hall. The loss was its third consecutive in the Big East, making that stretch the second time the Red Storm endured a three-game losing streak this season.
Pitino challenged the toughness and defensive effort of his team, likely knowing the Red Storm had zero margin for error if they wanted any chance of making the NCAA tournament.
St. John’s has won three consecutive games since, two of which were on the road. The most consequential win was a 14-point victory against Creighton in Madison Square Garden. That performance proved what St. John’s is capable of when at its best.
The remaining regular season schedule is favorable, as only Georgetown and DePaul remain as tune-ups before the Big East tournament.
If there’s one major strength for the Johnnies, it's their depth. Pitino has shown a willingness to play nine to 10 guys each game, which keeps his team fresh and is part of the reason why the Red Storm rank in the top five nationally in offensive rebounding percentage.
St. John’s depth could be a major advantage if it continues to advance in the Big East tournament and beyond.
Colorado Buffaloes
Colorado’s odds of reaching the NCAA tournament aren't great. A weak non-conference schedule didn’t give the Buffaloes many opportunities to stockpile impressive victories, and losses to Colorado State and Florida State are now significant missed opportunities.
Losses to Arizona State and Cal further dampened the spirits of Colorado fans, as the Buffs failed to assert themselves atop a weak Pac-12.
However, as many bubble teams have started to lose at an inopportune time, Tad Boyle has led his team to three straight wins.
The individual talent is what makes Colorado a potentially dangerous team. Cody Williams is a true freshman who's been projected as a potential NBA lottery pick, making this potentially his only chance to play in an NCAA tournament.
He's battling an ankle injury, but he may be able to return for the conference tournament. He's one of five Colorado players averaging more than 10 points per game this season.
The potency of Colorado's scoring ability has made the Buffs a top-25 offense. Boyle has a full complement of capable options, which keeps him from having to rely upon his leader — KJ Simpson — too heavily.
Boyle led the Buffaloes to an NCAA tournament win just a few years ago (2021), and he could do it again this year if Colorado can earn a bid by making a deep run in the Pac-12 tournament.
Villanova Wildcats
Villanova has been written off many times this year. The Wildcats dropped back-to-back games to Saint Joe’s and Drexel earlier this season. And, to be fair, the five-game losing streak Villanova endured in the middle of Big East play was probably the right time for Kyle Neptune’s team to face criticism.
But it isn’t quite time to forget about the Wildcats just yet.
Neptune has led the Wildcats to a late rally, as they're fighting and clawing to make their way back into the NCAA tournament picture.
The absence of Jay Wright has certainly been noticeable, as Villanova has appeared unprepared in key late-game situations. Wright’s influence is still present within the program, though, especially due to the two remaining pieces of Wright’s last Final Four run.
Eric Dixon and Justin Moore are the two clear veteran leaders who are attempting to carry over the winning culture Wright established.
Dixon is a 6-foot-8 forward with shooting ability who creates a difficult matchup for any opponent.
Moore, unfortunately, was injured in the Elite Eight game of Wright’s final year, forcing him to be sidelined for the Final Four. In the soft-spoken mold of Jalen Brunson and Collin Gillespie, Moore leads Villanova in an understated fashion.
There's plenty of talent and experience on Villanova’s roster, which would make it a scary No. 11 or No. 12 seed in the tournament.
First, the Wildcats need to get there, but their recent play is an indication of actual improvement. And the committee surely wouldn’t mind placing a major brand like Villanova in Dayton to generate additional buzz for the First Four.
Texas Longhorns
It's difficult to call Texas underrated given the attention it always receives. The Longhorns made an Elite Eight appearance last year, but they lost nearly all the production that made the team so successful.
Dylan Disu remains as a major contributor, and he's taken his game to a new level this year. Disu has become a truly dangerous shooter and at 6-foot-9, he's potentially become a capable stretch-four in the NBA — as well as a unique talent at the college level.
If you remember the Sweet 16 run Oral Roberts made a few years ago, then will recall Max Abmas. He was a classic perimeter sharpshooter for Oral Roberts during that run, making impossibly deep 3s that put daggers into the hearts of Ohio State and its fans.
Abmas’ scoring pace has slowed in Big 12 play, but he's gaining momentum lately. He's tallied 33 points over Texas’ two most recent wins over Oklahoma State and Texas Tech to get back to his season average of 16.5 points per game.
As he continues to improve, so do the Longhorns.
The inside/outside combination of Disu and Abmas makes Texas capable of yet another deep run in March.
Michigan State Spartans
It seems a lifetime ago that Michigan State was ranked No. 4 in the country in preseason polls. Coach Tom Izzo was expected to potentially challenge Purdue atop the Big Ten.
However, early losses to James Madison and Duke were disappointing.
The Spartans have struggled to identify an interior presence all season. Mady Sissoko, Xavier Booker, Carson Cooper and Malik Hall all seemed like options that would make for plentiful frontcourt depth, yet Michigan State has continued to lose close games because of this issue.
The good news for the Spartans is that they've remained competitive. The losses have been heartbreaking, but they're not indications of a team that's given up.
And the toughness of Izzo’s teams makes them hard to put away.
There isn’t much time left, but Michigan State is still firmly in the NCAA tournament picture, despite three straight losses. Games against Indiana and Northwestern remain before the Big Ten tournament, leaving the Spartans an opportunity to make one final push.
Tyson Walker fits the mold of a classic leader and “quarterback” at the point guard position.
If the Spartans make the Big Dance — as I expect they will — they'll be the type of team that can survive and advance.
