ESPN Men's Basketball

To go along with today's feature story on the return of the dominant shot-blockers, here’s my list of the nation’s best. If your favorite guy is missing from the list, let me know (@MedcalfByESPN or mmedcalf3030@gmail.com). But this is not just based on raw numbers. Efficiency is certainly a factor.

Could Nerlens Noel end up being the best swatter in college next season? Yes. In fact, probably. But it's hard to put him No. 1 five months before Midnight Madness.

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John Sleezer/Kansas City Star/MCT/Getty ImagesKansas' Jeff Withey had 31 blocks in last season's NCAA tournament, a new record.
1. Jeff Withey (Kansas): He finished the year No. 1 on Ken Pomeroy’s block-percentage chart (a rate determined by an opponent’s two-point attempts) and is the top returning shot-blocker entering the 2012-13 season, after a phenomenal Final Four that concluded with a record for blocks in a single NCAA tournament (31). With Withey inside, Kansas should remain on its Big 12 perch next season.
2. Gorgui Dieng (Louisville): Withey and Anthony Davis dominated the headlines in March. But Dieng (3.2 blocks per game), a 6-foot-11 sophomore from Senegal, was a very talented shot-blocker, too. He offered a sneak preview in New Orleans by blocking four shots in the national semifinals against Kentucky. Next season, however, he’ll be a star for a top-5 program.
3. Nerlens Noel (Kentucky): I’ve never seen a high school player dominate his peers the way Noel did during the Peach Jam AAU tournament last year. He’s a special talent. Anthony Davis claims Noel is the better shot-blocker between the two of them, and that’s not a crazy concept. It’s just scary for every team that’s scheduled to face Kentucky next season.
4. C.J. Aiken (St. Joseph’s): In a 10-point victory over No. 22 Temple in February, Aiken scored five points. But his five blocks were vital in that upset. You have to appreciate the fact that Aiken is still raw in many ways. I saw him live in Philly a few years ago and watched a bunch of St. Joe’s games this season. And I think he’s on the cusp of emerging on the national radar with his high-octane defense (3.5 blocks per game). Growing every year.
5. Isaiah Austin (Baylor): Another special talent. He’s so athletic and versatile that he played some point guard on the AAU circuit. Austin, a McDonald’s All-America center, averaged 5.0 blocks per game as a senior in high school. He’ll have a similar impact in the Big 12 next season, probably his only year as a collegiate player. His 7-foot-1 frame hasn’t filled out yet but his length and shot-blocking will be a problem for the rest of the conference.
6. Zeke Marshall (Akron): He’s an under-the-radar defensive force. But the MAC knows all about his shot-blocking skills. Mississippi State’s Arnett Moultrie had one of his worst games of the season against the Zips due to Marshall’s defense. The 7-footer blocked 2.9 shots per game. And he altered even more.
7. Rhamel Brown (Manhattan): Here’s why you have to love advanced statistics: Brown, a sophomore at Manhattan last season, averaged 2.4 blocks per game for the Jaspers. But he finished second behind Withey on Pomeroy’s block percentage rankings. He’s only 6-foot-6, but Brown disrupts offenses at a high level.
8. Steven Adams (Pittsburgh): Yes, another freshman on the list. Another guy who hasn’t competed in a collegiate game yet. But I think Davis’ success last season means these youngsters earn early credit on potential alone. This 7-footer has been a beast on the AAU and prep circuits. The standout from New Zealand also has international experience. So he’ll be a young veteran for a Pitt team that needs his physical presence inside. Adams has the athleticism to be a great shot-blocker at this level.
9. Hunter Mickelson (Arkansas): As a 6-foot-10 freshman on a lackluster Razorbacks squad, Mickelson averaged 2.3 blocks in 17.1 minutes per game. He’s an efficient defender who was fourth in the SEC in blocks per contest. And he finished fifth on Pomeroy’s block percentage chart. He’s still raw but the future seems bright for Mickelson.
10. Damian Eargle (Youngstown State): First, he has the best name on this board. But he’s an equally talented defender who squeezed 3.7 blocks out of his 6-foot-7 frame. Youngstown State struggled in most Horizon League stat categories but the squad led the conference in blocked shots thanks to Eargle, who was a junior last season.

1. Kentucky coach John Calipari said Tuesday afternoon that Rod Strickland, a director of basketball operations, would be staying with the Wildcats and not heading to work for Larry Brown at SMU. Calipari said his entire coaching staff will remain intact; assistants Kenny Payne and Orlando Antigua had interest in a few openings but never got too far in the process. Assistant John Robic has been a steady presence next to Calipari during his tenure. Meanwhile, Calipari said he’s hopeful that the Wildcats can add one more recruit after already securing a top-five class.

2. Tony Benford could have joined Larry Brown’s staff but made the wise choice. Benford has longed to be a head coach and getting a North Texas gig that will be one of the best in its current and possible future league makes sense. The SMU staff situation continues to be an odd process as the school/Brown search for a possible coach-in-waiting rather than dealing with the now and simply turning to recruiting and coaching. SMU was supposed to hire one coach, not one for now and one for the future.

3. Loyola (Md.) coach Jimmy Patsos would be a great choice for Virginia Tech after he made the NCAAs and coached in the ACC as an assistant. Patsos is a tremendous worker and brings unbelievable enthusiasm. But the Hokies will likely look for high-level coaches they can’t get (VCU’s Shaka Smart), flirt with others who may make too much money or have a buyout (Richmond’s Chris Mooney) before looking at coaches who fit for cost, timing and location of this job. I will be surprised if Virginia Tech were to lure a coach who has a solid, stable situation in a top-eight league.

You’ve kept up with his projections for the past few months, but Joe Lunardi doesn’t go into hibernation once the real bracket comes out. Our resident Bracketologist is a hardcore basketball fan who knows his stuff. Here are his picks for the Big Dance:

SOUTH

Second round
1 Kentucky over 16 Western Kentucky
9 Connecticut over 8 Iowa State
5 Wichita State over 12 VCU
13 New Mexico State over 4 Indiana
6 UNLV over 11 Colorado
3 Baylor over 14 South Dakota State
7 Notre Dame over 10 Xavier
2 Duke over 15 Lehigh

Third round
1 Kentucky over 9 Connecticut
5 Wichita State over 13 New Mexico State
3 Baylor over 6 UNLV
2 Duke over 7 Notre Dame

Sweet 16
1 Kentucky over 5 Wichita State
3 Baylor over 2 Duke

Elite Eight
1 Kentucky over 3 Baylor

WEST

Second round
1 Michigan State over 16 LIU Brooklyn
9 Saint Louis over 8 Memphis
5 New Mexico over 12 Long Beach State
4 Louisville over 13 Davidson
6 Murray State over 11 Colorado State
3 Marquette over 14 BYU
7 Florida over 10 Virginia
2 Missouri over 15 Norfolk State

Third round
1 Michigan State over 9 Saint Louis
5 New Mexico over 4 Louisville
3 Marquette over 6 Murray State
2 Missouri over 7 Florida

Sweet 16
1 Michigan State over 5 New Mexico
2 Missouri over 3 Marquette

Elite Eight
2 Missouri over 1 Michigan State

EAST

Second round
1 Syracuse over 16 UNC Asheville
8 Kansas State over 9 Southern Miss
5 Vanderbilt over 12 Harvard
4 Wisconsin over 13 Montana
6 Cincinnati over 11 Texas
3 Florida State over 14 St. Bonaventure
10 West Virginia over 7 Gonzaga
2 Ohio State over 15 Loyola (Md.)

Third round
1 Syracuse over 8 Kansas State
4 Wisconsin over 5 Vanderbilt
3 Florida State over 6 Cincinnati
2 Ohio State over 10 West Virginia

Sweet 16
4 Wisconsin over 1 Syracuse
2 Ohio State over 3 Florida State

Elite Eight
4 Wisconsin over 2 Ohio State

MIDWEST

Second round
1 North Carolina over 16 Lamar
9 Alabama over 8 Creighton
5 Temple over 12 California
4 Michigan over 13 Ohio
11 NC State over 6 San Diego State
3 Georgetown over 14 Belmont
7 Saint Mary's over 10 Purdue
2 Kansas over 15 Detroit

Third round
1 North Carolina over 9 Alabama
4 Michigan over 5 Temple
11 NC State over 3 Georgetown
2 Kansas over 7 Saint Mary's

Sweet 16
1 North Carolina over 4 Michigan
2 Kansas over 11 NC State

Elite Eight
1 North Carolina over 2 Kansas

NATIONAL SEMIFINALS
Kentucky over Missouri
North Carolina over Wisconsin

NATIONAL TITLE GAME
Kentucky over North Carolina

1. The selection committee said BYU and Iona were 14 seeds because of the need to have the Cougars play into a Thursday-Saturday regional if they won. But they also wanted to make sure the Cougars weren’t near a WCC team or out West (too far to travel from Dayton). So that limited the Cougs and dumped them in nearby Louisville. But it also means that Marquette is getting one of the best 14 seeds that a No. 3 seed has seen with the Cougars coming back to beat Iona.

2. Western Kentucky fans have been hammering me on twitter about my criticism of firing Ken McDonald mid-season. I’m not against McDonald being canned. I understand that the situation had gotten out of control. And, yes, Ray Harper did a tremendous job to get Western Kentucky through the Sun Belt tournament title and then to come back against Mississippi Valley State. But unless there are extenuating circumstances, I still don’t like college coaches being fired prior to the end of the season. Let’s also remember, this isn’t the pros. It is extremely disruptive mid-year.

3. One of my pet peeves occurred multiple times during our 68 coaches show Tuesday in Charlotte. It’s not the best 68 teams. It’s the top 37. The selection committee isn’t putting together the best 68 teams. If you were confused then all you had to do was watch the first First Four Tuesday night.

DAYTON, Ohio -- We were all thrilled and confused Tuesday night.

What had we just witnessed?

The evening’s matchups offered surprises that caused grown men to speak in fragments at the University of Dayton Arena.

“I just don’t … I mean … I’ve never …”

At that point, there was nothing to say.

The gym’s floor had been transformed from the site of the postseason’s afterthought to a canvas for college basketball history.

In this season’s First Four -- still fighting for legitimacy among college basketball fans -- the NCAA tournament commenced with the greatest comeback in the final five minutes of a game. Western Kentucky recovered from a 16-point deficit to secure a 59-58 victory over Mississippi Valley State.

And just a few hours later, BYU launched the greatest comeback in NCAA tournament history when it recovered from 25-point hole against Iona and sealed a 78-72 win.

“What an exciting game,” said BYU head coach Dave Rose.

That would qualify as an understatement. After BYU’s victory, fans, scribes, coaches and players spent a few minutes meandering around the building in a stupor, intoxicated by the liquor called March Madness.

President Obama and British prime minister David Cameron sat courtside for the Hilltoppers’ victory over the Delta Devils. And by the end of night, the president’s appearance had become a sidebar to the explosive start of America’s favorite tournament.

As Western Kentucky stormed back, the commander in chief formed a “T” with his hands and mouthed the word “timeout.” He’d gotten caught up in the craze, too.

Obama, however, missed the best game. He left immediately after the conclusion of Western Kentucky’s win over MVSU, in which it rallied from 16 down in the final five minutes.

In the nightcap, Iona scored 55 points in the first 15 minutes and 26 seconds of its meeting with BYU. And then the Cougars tortured the Gaels for the remaining 24-plus minutes, nibbling at that lead until the final minutes.

Iona scored 55 points and shot 69 percent from the field and 71 percent on 3-pointers in the first 15:26 of the game. But in the final 24:34, the Gaels scored 17 points, shot 20 percent from the field and made just 1 of 18 3-pointers. They also turned it over 15 times during that stretch.

At one point, BYU went on a 17-0 run and held Iona scoreless for more than nine minutes. By the time Noah Hartsock (23 points) nailed a 3-pointer with 2:28 on the game clock,the Cougars had a 71-70 lead. By the end of the night, the Cougars had authored a 31-point swing and surpassed Duke’s 22-point comeback against Maryland in the 2001 Final Four.

“I started looking around and didn’t see [Obama]. But I’m sure he had some important things to take care of,” Hartsock said. “But it was just great just being here at the game and just grateful we could man together and get a win.”

This is why America falls for this event every year. This is why President Obama brought Cameron to Dayton.

For the possibilities presented by the NCAA tournament.

There aren’t any ridiculous brackets. Amazing things happen in March.

Iona had locked up a victory. The Gaels looked like UNLV from the early ’90s. Then they ran into a crafty zone, and turned into a team that didn’t know how to score.

“We started getting our hands on loose balls and tipping it,” Hartsock said. “We were just trying to be active.”

Iona’s collapse jacked up part of my bracket. I predicted two Gaels victories.

But I wasn’t concerned.

I’d just watched two of the greatest comebacks in college basketball history. In Dayton. With the President of the United States in the crowd for one of them.

Welcome to March.

That was the message that Western Kentucky and BYU sent during the first two games of the First Four.

And if that was the appetizer, I can’t wait for the main course later in the week.

DAYTON, Ohio -- Reaction from BYU's 78-72 win over Iona.

Overview: The scouting report on Iona was simple. The Gaels can run with anyone (they have the top scoring offense in the country), but they can’t guard anyone.

Both proved to be true in their loss to BYU on Tuesday in the First Four matchup at University of Dayton Arena.

With 4:34 to go in the first half, the Gaels held a 55-31 lead.

Get out your calculators for this one.

That’s a 24-point margin, right? Well, for the next 16 minutes and 31 seconds, the Gaels recorded just seven points.

Huh? How does a team score 55 points in the first 15:24 of the game and then register seven during the next 16:31?

They couldn’t score against BYU’s zone. The Cougars forced Iona to slow down and rely on sets instead of the up-tempo game that had carried the Gaels to that crazy start. Iona was perplexed as BYU kept cutting into its lead.

As Iona’s offense stalled (going scoreless for more than nine minutes), BYU mounted a comeback that resulted in a 71-70 lead for the Cougars on a Noah Hartsock 3-pointer with 2:28 to play. Brandon Davies hit a pair of late free throws, and a Brock Zylstra three-point play with 23 seconds to go gave BYU a 76-70 lead. More late free throws sealed the win for the Cougars.

It was the biggest comeback in NCAA tournament history. That followed the greatest comeback in the last five minutes during Western Kentucky's late push against MVSU in the first game.

The largest deficit of the game was 25 points, making this a 31-point turnaround for BYU. Welcome to March.

Key Player: Davies had 18 points, and Hartsock scored 23. Both were crucial in the win.

Key Stats: Iona scored 55 points and shot 69 percent from the field and 71 percent on 3-pointers in the first 15:26 of the game. But in the final 24:34 of the game, the Gaels scored 17 points, shot 20 percent from the field and made just 1 of 18 3-point attempts.

Misc.: Wow. Again. I know a lot of folks have knocked the First Four setup, but we were treated to a pair of thrilling finishes in Dayton. And that was only Day 1. ... How on earth did that happen? How did Iona blow that lead? I’ve never witnessed that kind of collapse in person.

Saddle Up is our semi-daily preview of the night's best basketball action. Today’s edition focuses on the first two NCAA tournament games in the First Four. And how’s this for a storyline? President Obama will be in the building.

BYU (14) vs. Iona (14), 9:10 p.m. ET on TruTV, University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio: This is an intriguing matchup that should spur recollections of VCU’s Final Four run last year. Last year, the Rams endured critics who didn’t buy their case for inclusion in the field of 68. They proved them all wrong with a Final Four run.

Iona was arguably the lone surprise in this year’s field. And many have questioned its invitation. But the Gaels are dangerous. They possess one of the most talented trios in the country. Mid-major, high major, doesn’t matter. Scott Machado, Michael Glover and Lamont “Momo” Jones can play with the best. The Gaels own the No. 1 scoring offense in the country (83.3 points per game). Not only could they advance Tuesday night, but the Gaels have an offensive potency that could lead to an upset of 3-seed Marquette in the second round, too.

If only it were that simple. The Gaels’ defense has been shaky all year. This team can run with anyone and can lose to anyone, too, because its defense is so suspect.

BYU challenged Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s during its first year in the West Coast Conference. The Cougars had the league’s No. 1 scoring offense (78.2 ppg). They also held WCC foes to a 41 percent clip from the field, the No. 1 mark in the WCC.

But BYU has not been the same team since Noah Hartsock (16.7 ppg) injured his knee in mid-February. He’s played through pain but his health has impacted his team and it could affect Tuesday night’s game, too. Iona is the kind of team that can separate itself quickly with its up-tempo offense. BYU will have to slow the Gaels enough to keep the game close. That challenge becomes more difficult with Hartsock’s mobility issues caused by the knee injury.

Iona could turn this matchup into a NASCAR race. Or BYU could force the Gaels to play D and disrupt their rapid tempo and send them home.

Should be a great game.

Mississippi Valley State (16) vs. Western Kentucky (16), 6:40 p.m. ET on TruTV, University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio: The first official game of the NCAA tournament features two of the best storylines. Both Mississippi Valley State and Western Kentucky have overcome adversity to earn NCAA tournament invites. No. 1 Kentucky awaits the winner. But it’s amazing that these two squads have even reached this point.

Western Kentucky fired Ken McDonald in January after a 5-11 start. Assistant Ray Harper took over as interim coach and instilled a new level of intensity within the program. The Hilltoppers won the Sun Belt tournament despite possessing a 15-18 overall record. They’ve won six straight. Freshman George Fant was a stud in the Sun Belt tournament. He scored 17 points in his team’s title game victory over North Texas.

The Hilltoppers are hot entering their First Four meeting against Mississippi Valley State. But the latter has lost once in 2012. The Delta Devils regrouped after a brutal nonconference schedule that featured road games against Notre Dame, North Carolina, Iowa State, Wisconsin and Florida. They started the season at 1-11 and didn’t play their first home game until early January.

The Delta Devils play that hectic nonconference slate to keep their program afloat financially. It’s a tough task for Sean Woods, who had to use a middle school gym for practice last year due to a leaky roof in his team’s home gym. But players and coaches said competing against some of the best Division I teams in the country made them a better squad. Paul Crosby (13.4 ppg, 7.6 rebounds per game) is the SWAC Player of the Year. The Delta Devils led the SWAC in scoring offense and they were also one of the league’s top 3-point shooting teams.

This might not be the sexiest matchup within the bracket. But I can’t think of a better story.

As you all are filling out your brackets, you’re searching for possible upsets. Well, put down your pens and read about the following mid-major stars who could send shockwaves through the field of 68:

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AP Photo/Ricardo ArduengoIona point guard Scott Machado will lead the Gaels against BYU in the tournament's first round.
1. Scott Machado (Iona): Now that Iona is in the field, the field has to worry about Iona. The Gaels have star power with Machado, Michael Glover and Lamont “Momo” Jones. Machado is one of the best point guards in America, as he’s leading the nation with 9.9 apg. And he’s the key to Iona’s top-ranked scoring offense (83.3 ppg). The Gaels open up the tournament with a matchup against BYU in Dayton. Machado will be the best player on the floor.
2. Will Cherry (Montana): He’s scored 20 or more in 10 games this season. He’s a versatile scorer (16.0 ppg) and he’s also a stubborn defender (2.6 spg, sixth in the nation). He’s the explosive, under-the-radar star that could break a multitude of brackets. Wisconsin is a strong defensive team, but Cherry could give the Badgers a lot of problems on both ends of the court.
3. Doug McDermott (Creighton): He’s a finalist for the Wooden Award. A true star. Yes, everyone knows what McDermott is capable of. But he will shift to another gear in the Big Dance. Proof? He’s averaged 25.3 points in his team’s last six games. I think the 8-seed is low for the Bluejays. But the Midwest region presents an opportunity for McDermott to meet former high school teammate Harrison Barnes in a third-round matchup against North Carolina. McDermott could be the star of that game.
4. Joe Ragland (Wichita State): The Shockers open up the tournament with a tough matchup against VCU. But with Ragland, a senior guard averaging 13.4 ppg, they can get through the first weekend. Ragland had 30 points during a BracketBusters matchup against Davidson. Most casual fans have never heard of the senior from West Springfield, Mass. Well, give it a few days, especially if the Shockers end up in the Sweet 16.
5. Nate Wolters (South Dakota State): I saw the Minnesota native in high school. Even as a prep, he had the same offensive savvy that’s translated to the collegiate level. The Jackrabbits star is averaging 21.3 ppg, ninth in the nation. He’s the reason some Baylor fans are worried about their team’s matchup against South Dakota State in the second round. He’s scored 30 or more in six games.
6. Casper Ware (Long Beach State): The 49ers won’t be complete without Larry Anderson (knee injury). But even if the defensive standout can’t go against New Mexico, Long Beach State will still be dangerous. Ware (17.4 ppg) is a 5-foot-10 assassin. He scored 33 points in the 49ers’ Big West tournament title game victory over UC-Santa Barbara. Not impressed? He scored 29 against North Carolina, 26 against San Diego State and 16 against Kansas. Don’t let the mid-major tag fool you. Ware has high-major game.
7. D.J. Cooper (Ohio): The junior guard is averaging 14.6 ppg for the Bobcats. He’s a threat, however, for a multitude of reasons. He’s an efficient distributor (5.7 apg). He’s a game-changing defender (2.4 spg). And he’s experienced. Two years ago, the Bobcats played in the NCAA tournament. Cooper was only a freshman then, but those early experiences helped him and the other youngsters on that team prepare for tough matchups away from home. I don’t think the Bobcats will beat the Wolverines. But John Beilein won’t take them or Cooper lightly in their second-round matchup.
8. Kerron Johnson (Belmont): One of the catalysts for a Belmont team that averages 81.5 ppg, Johnson could help the Bruins send Georgetown home early. In the Bruins’ first two games of the year -- road losses to Memphis and Duke -- Johnson recorded 28 points, 12 assists, nine rebounds and five steals combined. If he can keep his turnovers down (2.4), he might lead Belmont to an upset against the Hoyas.
9. Ray McCallum Jr. (Detroit): It has taken McCallum (15.6 ppg) two seasons to really showcase his potential. But he dominated the Horizon League tournament and looked like the coveted prospect who had a multitude of high major offers before he decided to play for his father at Detroit. Great players show up in March, and McCallum has really taken his game to the next level in recent weeks during his team’s five-game winning streak.
10. Wendell McKines (New Mexico State): He’s an interesting guy (just check his Twitter feed). But he’s also an underrated athlete. McKines (18.8 ppg, 10.8 rpg) scored 27 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in his team’s 82-57 victory over Louisiana Tech in the WAC title game. With McKines leading the way, the Aggies have won nine out of their last 10 games.

Check back Friday morning for Joe Lunardi's full bracket, but here are his basic projections through Thursday night's action.

SINCE THE LAST UPDATE

• Texas moves above “Last Four In” (No. 47 overall) with its victory over Iowa State.
• Mississippi State drops to “Last Four In” with its loss to Georgia.
• South Florida stays in the field (No. 46 overall) despite its loss to Notre Dame.
• Oregon moves from "First Four Out" to the last spot on "Next Four Out."

LAST FOUR IN

Washington
Mississippi State
Drexel
Seton Hall

FIRST FOUR OUT

Tennessee
Northwestern
NC State
Miami (Fla.)

NEXT FOUR OUT

Iona
Arizona
Saint Joseph's
Oregon

Also considered: Dayton, Marshall, Ole Miss

CONFERENCE BREAKDOWN

Big East (10)
Big Ten (6)
Big 12 (6)
SEC (5)
ACC (4)
Mountain West (4)
Atlantic 10 (3)
West Coast (3)
Colonial (2)
Conference USA (2)
Missouri Valley (2)
Pac-12 (2)

AUTOMATIC QUALIFIERS

Belmont (Atlantic Sun)
Creighton (Missouri Valley)
Davidson (Southern)
Detroit (Horizon)
Harvard (Ivy)
Lehigh (Patriot)
LIU Brooklyn (Northeast)
Loyola-Md. (MAAC)
Montana (Big Sky)
Murray State (OVC)
Saint Mary's (West Coast)
South Dakota State (Summit)
UNC Asheville (Big South)
VCU (Colonial)
Western Kentucky (Sun Belt)

1. The Atlantic 10 needs to go on the offensive because it could potentially get poached by the MWC-CUSA merger. Charlotte is ripe for the picking since the 49ers are going to Division I football. The A-10 actually would be better if it was slimmed down by a few teams from 14. But losing Temple for 2013-14 isn’t the answer. The A-10 could definitely use a marquee program in the footprint (like VCU or Old Dominion).

2. Louisville coach Rick Pitino was right back in the fall and his influence with John Marinatto must have paid off. Adding Temple and Memphis for football is out of necessity. But the Big East had to add two established, tradition-rich basketball programs. Everyone in the Big East should fully expect Temple and Memphis to be fulltime players near the top of the conference for the foreseeable future.

3. Weber State’s Damian Lillard and Iona’s Scott Machado may end up being the top two playmaker guards in the NBA draft. Yet, neither one will be in the NCAA tournament after Lillard’s Wildcats were knocked out by host Montana in the Big Sky tournament title game. Machado lost to Fairfield in the MAAC tournament. The NCAAs will have plenty of stars, but not having Lillard and Machado on this stage is a shame for those that hadn’t seen either play this season.

On Monday night, the NCAA tournament became approximately 8,000 times more quotable. Why? Because Loyola (Maryland) topped Fairfield in the MAAC tournament title game, 48-44, reaching the tournament for the first time since now-deceased, beloved former Wake Forest coach Skip Prosser guided them there in 1994. And because coach Jimmy Patsos -- one of God's own originals, to paraphrase Hunter S. Thompson -- is the man that led Loyola there.

Patsos wasted zero time in announcing his presence to the college hoops world Monday night, and the New York Times' Pete Thamel was there to document the revelry:

In an epic, rambling postgame news conference, he name-dropped everyone from Red Auerbach to Bobby Seale of the Black Panthers to the team trainer Steve Austin, mentioned a trip to the Guggenheim and chastised ESPN’s Joe Lunardi for not having Iona in his N.C.A.A. tournament field. (Lunardi was not in attendance.) [...] On Monday, Patsos provided nonstop entertainment, pointing his fingers inches from his players’ faces, egging on the crowd and gyrating on the sideline as if he were auditioning for a role in a “Kung Fu Panda” sequel.

“Fortunately, he’s matured,” said the former Loyola athletic director Joe Boylan, who hired Patsos. “However you define Jimmy and maturing, that’s a tricky thing.”

Patsos, if you'll recall, was the infamous coach that in 2008 decided that Stephen Curry, then a junior star for Davidson months removed from a legendary NCAA tournament performance, wouldn't beat his team single-handed. So he double-teamed Curry for all 40 minutes and refused to waver as Curry happily stood in the corner and watched his teammates play 4-on-3 against an overmatched Greyhounds team. Davidson won by 30. Patsos was roundly mocked. (In Thamel's piece, he says it was a "bad idea, stupid idea.") But don't let the wackiness obscure the guy's coaching ability, and this latest accomplishment -- getting Loyola, a program he took over after a one-win season in 2004, to its first tournament since the mid-90s -- is only more proof.

In any case, SB Nation's Andy Hutchins is right: You be ready to hear countless Patsos stories in the coming weeks from college hoops writers on Twitter; perhaps no coach in the tournament will be -- this much fun. And if you need further background reading, be sure to check Kyle Whelliston's definitive profile of the man from 2010.

Welcome to the tournament, Coach Patsos. We'll have our notebooks ready. The rest is up to you.

Loyola-Maryland defeated Fairfield 48-44 in the MAAC championship game to earn its way back into the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1994.

Saddle Up is our semi-daily preview of the night's best college hoops action.

VCU vs. Drexel, CAA final in Richmond, Va., 7 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN3.com: Will the CAA be a multiple-bid league on Selection Sunday? Tonight’s conference tournament title game between the Rams and the Dragons might determine that. The loser of the matchup will still deserve consideration. VCU (No. 54 RPI) has lost just one game since suffering a six-point road loss to Drexel in their only previous meeting this season Jan. 8. The Rams also have a nonconference win over Seton Hall.

Drexel has won 19 in a row. And the Dragons (No. 65 RPI) beat the Rams and George Mason on their way to the CAA’s regular season title. VCU, a Final Four team last year, lost most of its starters from that team but Bradford Burgess (13.5 ppg) has been a critical leader for Shaka Smart’s squad, which has played well down the stretch. Drexel is known for its suffocating defense. The Dragons’ first two CAA tournament opponents (UNC-Wilmington and Old Dominion) recorded 47 and 51 points, respectively.

Should be another thrilling CAA finale. For the winner, an NCAA tourney guarantee. The loser, however, will have to sweat it out on Selection Sunday.

Fairfield v. Loyola (Md.), MAAC tournament championship in Springfield, Mass., 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2/ESPN3.com: Sydney Johnson has found more postseason success a year after leading Princeton to the NCAA tournament via a last-second shot over Harvard in the Ivy League playoff. Fairfield struggled early (the Stags lost five out of six from Dec. 22 through Jan. 13), but they pulled off one of the biggest postseason upsets thus far with an 85-75 victory over Iona Sunday.

Loyola (Md.) has won three in a row. It finished second in the MAAC standings to Iona. The Greyhounds owned the league’s No. 2 scoring defense this season (64.5 ppg allowed). The Stags have the league’s top scoring defense (61.7 ppg allowed.) Both have obviously come on strong.

But it’s shocking that Iona missed the tournament title game despite possessing three of the most talented players in the country (Scott Machado, Michael Glover and Lamont “Momo” Jones). So this matchup is proof of the craziness that defines college basketball in March.

No. 18 Saint Mary’s v. No. 25 Gonzaga, WCC title game in Las Vegas, 9 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN3.com: Both squads have earned at-large bids to the NCAA tournament. So this isn’t about résumés or Selection Sunday jitters. This matchup is about one thing: bragging rights.

Yes, the Gaels earned the WCC regular season title. And they did it alone this year. It was the first time since 2000 that Gonzaga failed to earn a share of the WCC regular season championship. But the Zags have won 10 WCC tournament titles since the 1998-99 campaign.

If the Gaels win the WCC tourney, they’ll achieve the sweep of the regular season and tournament titles. But the Zags crushed the Gaels the last time they met (73-59 win in Spokane, Wash., on Feb. 9). And if they beat them again tonight, well, they’ll still have a stake in the “best in WCC” conversation. Saint Mary’s shot 50 percent from the field and only committed five turnovers when they beat Gonzaga in their first matchup this season. Gonzaga returned the favor by shooting 53 percent in the second meeting.

Davidson v. Western Carolina, Southern Conference tournament title game, 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2/ESPN3.com: Bob McKillop’s squad showcased its postseason potential when it pulled off a neutral-site upset over Kansas during the nonconference slate. The Bulldogs earned the Southern Conference’s south division title with a 16-2 record. De’Mon Brooks (15.9 ppg) and Jake Cohen (13.9 ppg) are a potent combo.

Everything about Davidson’s season has pointed toward a tournament title game appearance. It’s not surprising. Western Carolina, however, will play for the league’s automatic bid despite accruing an 8-10 conference record in the regular season. Harouna Mutombo –yes, he’s related to Dikembe (nephew) – has averaged 18.3 ppg for the Catamounts in his team’s last three games. The Catamounts have scored 82 points in each of their last two outings.

It’s hard to imagine a Western Carolina victory. But it’s surprising that it’s even playing for an opportunity to earn an invite to the Big Dance. Gotta love March Madness.

Editor’s note: This update does not include BYU-Gonzaga in the WCC tournament.

NOTABLE

• North Carolina moves up to top line as projected No. 1 seed.
• Belmont (Atlantic Sun) clinches fifth NCAA bid in seven years.
• Texas falls out of field, replaced by Xavier (“Last Team In”).

Last Four In
Xavier
Northwestern
South Florida
Colorado State

First Four Out
Texas
VCU
Oregon
NC State

Next Four Out
Miami
Tennessee
Saint Joseph’s
Dayton

BRACKET MATH

Take the “solid” at-large candidates (current Tournament Odds at 90% or better) and there are now 34 teams in the field. Add in the remaining automatic qualifiers and that’s another 20 spots. All told there are 54 of the 68 spots accounted for, with 14 still up for grabs among current “Bubble” teams.

S-CURVE PROJECTIONS

1-KENTUCKY 2-SYRACUSE 3-KANSAS 4-NO. CAROLINA
8-Ohio State 7-Missouri 6-Duke 5-Michigan State*
9-Marquette 10-Georgetown 11-Baylor 12-Michigan
16-UNLV 15-Florida 14-Indiana 13-Wisconsin
17-Louisville 18-Wichita State 19-Florida State 20-TEMPLE
24-CREIGHTON 23-Notre Dame 22-Murray State 21-Vanderbilt
25-Gonzaga 26-New Mexico 27- San Diego State* 28-MEMPHIS
32-Purdue 31-Kansas State 30-Iowa State 29-SAINT MARY’S
33-Alabama 34-Cincinnati 35-Virginia 36-Southern Miss
40-Connecticut 39-Washington* 38-California 37-Saint Louis
41-West Virginia 42-Seton Hall 43-Harvard* 44-LONG BEACH STATE
48-Colorado State 47-Mississippi State 46-Brigham Young 45-Arizona
49-South Florida 50-Northwestern 51-Xavier 52-IONA
56-NEVADA 55-ORAL ROBERTS 54-DREXEL 53-MIDDLE TENNNESSEE
57-Belmont 58-DAVIDSON 59-AKRON 60-VALPARAISO
64-UNC Asheville 63-UT ARLINGTON 62-MONTANA 61-BUCKNELL
65-LONG ISLAND 66-STONY BROOK 67-MISSISSIPPI VALLEY 68-SAVANNAH STATE
72-NC State 71-Oregon 70-VCU 69-Texas
73-Miami (Fla.) 74-Saint Joseph’s 75-Dayton 76-Tennessee

Bold - automatic qualifier; * - current conference leader.
ALL CAPS: Regular-season champion (NIT auto-bid if needed)

CONFERENCE BREAKDOWN

Big East (10)
Big Ten (7)
Big 12 (5)
SEC (5)
ACC (4)
Mountain West (4)
Atlantic 10 (3)
Pac-12 (3)
West Coast (3)
Conference USA (2)
Missouri Valley (2)

NCAA AUTOMATIC QUALIFIERS

UNC Asheville (Big South)
Murray State (Ohio Valley Conference)
Belmont (Atlantic Sun)

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