Sprint to the finish: picking the alpha teams and trends heading into the 2002 NCAA Tournament is made A to Z easy - Men's NCAA Tournament Preview

Basketball Digest, April, 2002 by Tom Kertes

And how would you like a rookie who shoots 48% from the arc, is a flawless ball-handler, passes the seed like he's got eyes on the back of his head, and defends like a veteran guard? That's Western Kentucky's Patrick Sparks. "The high school gurus sure made a mistake ignoring him," Felton says. "But thank God for that. That's the only way we could end up with this guy. If there's a freshman around the country who's better than Patrick, you'll have to show me. Then you'll have to show me again--and I still won't believe you."

S is for ... Sleepers

Take your pick, snoozer fans: do you like the so-called lesser teams from the power conferences? Some of those--Wisconsin, Mississippi State, et. al.--have managed to sneak into the Final Four over the past few years. The best of the mid-majors, however, haven't.

This may just be the year that will change. Sure, lightly-regarded Oregon, Arizona, Georgia, Ohio State, Minnesota, Indiana, Pitt, and Miami have been prominent at one time or another in their power leagues this season. And any or all of them could do some business in March. But this year, middies Gonzaga, Butler, and Western Kentucky--and perhaps Utah State, Hawaii, and Tulsa--could stand an equal or better chance. "We're just as good as those power-conference teams," Butler coach Todd Lickliter says. "The talent gap is closing. In fact, maybe it has already closed."

T is for ... TORBERT, KELVIN

This was the freshman superstar who wasn't. And, given the nature of his well-coached--but early entries-ravaged and otherwise talent-short--team, he had to be "all that" and more if Michigan State was to reach its supposed potential.

It wasn't to be. From the get-go, Torbert--who drew Michael Jordan comparisons in high school and was alleged to be at Dajuan Wagner's level as an impact rook--appeared slow, sluggish, top-heavy, and entirely lacking in confidence or touch. "He lifted way too much over the summer," a Big Ten observer said. "Here is a guy who should have gotten the heck out of the weight room."

U is for ... UP ANOTHER NOTCH

These potential NCAA impact players were good last year, but really have stepped it up to another plateau this season:

PG: STEVE LOGAN (Cincinnati)--"Another Tim Hardaway" according to scouts, he owns tremendous court vision and unlimited range.

SG: KIRK HINRICH (Kansas)--A nice complimentary piece as a soph, this crazed aggressor is now nationally ranked in assists (5.7 pg) and owns the nation's highest field-goal percentage (.567) for a guard.

C: WESLEY WILSON (Georgetown)--Huge Hoya with surprising agility and mucho moves is beginning to dominate the paint.

PF: RYLAN HAINJE (Butler)--A very intelligent player whose huge body (6'6", 240 pounds) hides surprising perimeter skills. "He's been a true leader, the key to our team execution," Lickliter says. "And we are an execution-type team."

SF: MIKE DUNLEAVY, JR. (Duke)--Just what the rest of the nation needed: Dunleavy's shocking improvement--from one-dimensional jump-shooter into legit all-around great--gave the Blue Devils about seven more options.