One team we shouldn't have to worry about in this year's tournament (or next years): UConn

Despite the fact that we are over half way into the 11-12 season, I still can't hear about UConn without thinking back to the final four game last season. If we just could have pulled that game off then we most likely wouldn't be talking about banner #8, we'd be talking about banner #9. While we can't go back in time and redo that game, we can take satisfaction in knowing that last years championship team probably won't be giving us any trouble this year if we met them in the tournament.

UConn is currently unranked and sitting in the middle of the Big East with a 5-6 conference record and a 15-8 overall record. Given that they play Syracuse at home tomorrow, you can probably go ahead and fill in one more loss for them. As if playing the number 2 team won't be tough enough for them tomorrow, they will be doing so without head coach Jim Calhoun who is battling a severe back problem for right now. According to EPSN, Calhoun will be back as soon as possible (and we wish him a good recovery since it is never good for anyone to be dealing with severe health problems) but not in time for tomorrow's game.

It looks like we may be able to go ahead and rule them out as a factor in the 2013 tournament as well. The NCAA is looking at keeping UConn from playing in the tournament next season due to academic performance problems. Last years championship team took care of business on and off the court but the teams before them didn't do so well in the classroom and under-performed enough to keep UConn from making the 2 yr and 4 yr academic average requirements. UConn is currently trying to convince the NCAA to let them forfeit regular season games instead of tournament play but if they can't work that offer out then you can go ahead and mark UConn off your bracket next year.

UPDATE: Apparently while I was busy writing this post, the NCAA was busy denying UConn's waiver and keeping firm in their decision to exclude UConn from the 2013 tournament. ESPN reports that UConn will try to appeal the decision.