Conference tournaments are over and so is Selection Sunday, so only one thing remains, the Big Dance which begins on March 15.

Most of the usual suspects were selected (i.e. Louisville, North Carolina and yes, even Duke) but a few colleges will be noticeably absent this year.

Four years removed from the tournament where Carmelo Anthony led them to a title, the Syracuse Orange find themselves on the outside looking in despite 22 wins and a 10-6 conference record. Coach Jim Boeheim was angry but was resigned to his team’s fate.

“You look at the numbers, and it's hard to believe. But it's done. There's no use in talking about it,” said the Orange bench boss.

The Washington Huskies made the Sweet 16 last year but will have no such luck this year. An 8-10 conference record didn’t help matters much.

Earlier in the season, Air Force seemed like a lock for March Madness, but the Falcons lost when it mattered most and will be watching on TV.

But enough of what should’ve been, let’s focus on what is.

Top Dogs
* Odds to win it all in parentheses

Ohio State Buckeyes - No. 1 South Region (+600)

Records: 30-3 regular season, 15-1 conference, 18-12-1 ATS, 12-18 Over/Under

First Round Opponent: Central Connecticut State (Ohio State -22)

The Buckeyes were struggling to score in the first half of the Big Ten title game against Wisconsin on Sunday as mammoth C Greg Oden, who only played six minutes, went scoreless and Ohio State got a steady diet of “iron.”

They pulled their socks up in the second and dropped 40-points—including 12-points from their C.

How far they go will depend greatly on the play of their big man.

North Carolina Tar Heels - No. 1 East Region (+500)

Records: 28-6 regular season, 11-5 conference, 19-12 ATS, 14-17 Over/Under

First Round Opponent: Eastern Kentucky (UNC -26½)

With the likes of Tyler Hansbrough, Wayne Ellington, Ty Lawson and Brandan Wright, the ‘Heels have more than their fair share of players who can score.

Hansbrough will be wearing a mask after taking an elbow to the button in a game against Duke late in the season. Will it affect his game? Will the injury make him tentative? The Tar Heel forward averages 18.1 points and 7.9 rebounds a game.

Page 1, 2