NCAA: Gonzaga, still on top; Tar Heels on the rise

Excitement is bubbling. There’s a cold, crisp, crackling of eager anticipation in the air. NCAA March Madness is just around the corner. The Gonzaga Bulldogs continue their reign atop of the rankings. They remain undefeated at 28-0 and have a good shot at a clean sweep of their regular season games. While their run this season is praise-worthy, experts find it difficult to brush aside to other serious contenders. Former number one team, Villanova remains a threat that cannot be discounted. Their 26-2 record, combined with their strong roster keeps them in the mix as far as title contention is concerned. Kansas, at 24-3, is also a powerhouse in the Midwest. They are heavy favorites to capture a 13th-straight Big 12 crown.

Baylor University is in a downward spiral and the former top-ranked team has lost four important games that could have marked a turnaround in their recent woeful trend. They have fallen out of the Top 4 after several solid weeks of holding on. They are eighth in the rankings.

As expected, the Arizona Wildcats (25-3) are currently in first place in the PAC-12 and look to keep their trajectory with a potential head-on collision with with Kansas in the Midwest bracket, further down the road.

A team that his been on the rise recently is North Carolina. The Tar Heels are 23-5 and have a one-game lead over other tough notable squads in Duke and Louisville. They have a good shot for a strong finish in the regular season and are poised to be finish atop of the South.

These teams are great, there’s no doubt. Then again, once the brackets are locked in and it comes down to the knockout stages of the tournament, anything is possible. As maddening as that may sound, it’s just how it is. One thing is for sure though, we’re all in for one hell of a wild ride come March.