Wisconsin would prefer to play plodders
In all four of their defeats, your Big Ten champion was bested by opponents with exceptional quickness on the perimeter. Now, the Badgers did go to Texas and hang with another such team, eventually winning by one. But I believe that's because the challenge the Longhorns present is more an offensive issue. When Wisconsin has problems, it is with teams that can pressure out defensively and make it hard for the Badgers to start their offense. Duke, Purdue and Marquette all have this ability. The Badgers either need a fortunate draw in the NCAA Tournament or to find a way around this concern. They are not going to get any practice unless they meet Purdue in the Big Ten final.

USC is the most dangerous bubble survivor
The high seeds will have one wish on Selection Sunday: Put those guys in another bracket. No one will want to deal with O.J. Mayo, Taj Gibson, Davon Jefferson, Daniel Hackett and coach Tim Floyd's creative defensive schemes in the round of 16. UCLA will get a(nother) break because bracket rules almost certainly will force the Trojans into another region.

The referees are struggling
Has there ever been a season in which it seemed so many games were decided by so many iffy calls? UCLA got a season's worth of last-second good fortune over the weekend, which helped the Bruins to beat both Stanford and California. Georgetown has had that magic throughout the Big East season.

Officials appear less capable than ever of distinguishing between all the wanna-be Daniel Day Lewises flopping to draw charges and genuine efforts to defend the basket. They continue to treat players attempting drives as though they have no business in the lane. They allow defenders to punish these intrusions however they wish.

Officiating needs serious help, and continuing to put retired officials in charge of the cleanup is not going to get it done. They keep making all these debatable decisions, so they must believe there's nothing wrong.

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