Welcome to a fourth season spent here scanning NET Rankings, KenPom ratings, tempo-free statistics, and media polls while giving the “eye test” to under-the-radar college basketball teams that could be not just NCAA Tournament worthy — but Final Four worthy — for sports betting purposes.
Last season this space provided one Final Four participant — San Diego State — among the six teams profiled, while another in Kansas State made its regional final. The Aztecs could make a return appearance this season, as they are currently on the cusp of the AP Top 25, but seventh-ranked Marquette has already justified its Top 10 status and will be a well-known entity come March.
Until the NCAA releases its Top 16, usually in mid-February, there is plenty of guesswork involved in picking teams capable of winning the four games to get to Phoenix for the Final Four and possibly cut down the nets as champion while plays. Some teams own flashy records with little substance, while some have less-than-stellar records but have played a non-conference schedule geared to pay dividends come March.