3.18.2008

REALESTS' NCAA SUPER SLEEPER: SAN DIEGO

Let us first remind you that our other Super Sleeper was the 2006 Northwestern State squad that eventually cost Steve Alford his job.

So yeah... we're kind of a big deal.

While analysts are busy calling teams like Pitt and Clemson their "sleeper," we're actually letting our nuts hang out with this one and limiting our pick to a 13-seed or worse.

We realize picking against Hasheem Thabeet with a team whose tallest starter is a 6-8 dude named "Gyno" could make us look like this. But hear us out:

1. UConn is in typical March form - completely apathetic and biding their time for the NBA Draft. The 2005 squad led by Charlie Villanueva lost to a far-inferior N.C. State team and the loaded 2006 bunch had to come from behind to beat No. 16 Albany in the first round. Five Huskies went in the first 40 picks of the '06 draft.

2. The Toreros killed themselves in nonconference play. Take a look at this slate:

Nov. 17: L, UNLV (66-55)
Nov. 22: L, @ USC (60-50)
Nov. 23: L, @ South Alabama (77-55)
Nov. 28: L, @ Boise St. (77-71)
Dec. 08: L, @ New Mexico (57-47)
Dec. 12: L, @ Nevada (76-62)
Dec. 29: W, @ Kentucky (81-72)

Yeah, they lost most of them, but so did Northwestern State. The point is these kids have onions.

3. This team's got "it" - whatever "it" is. They just can't lose right now. After starting 8-11, they've won 13 of 15, including wins over Saint Mary's and Gonzaga in back-to-back nights in the WCC Tourney. They were even down 17 at one point to the Gaels.

Are we picking them in our bracket? Hell no. But we'll be sure to tell you "we told you so" on Friday...

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