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ESPNTheMag.Com Presents: All-World Power Rankings

What Bracketbuster game should you be most psyched for?

by Ted Bauer

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When Gus Johnson screamed "He learned it all ... FROM HIS DADDY!" last year in the Dance, we kinda lost it.

BRACKETBUSTER GAME WE'RE MOST HYPED FOR? DAVIDSON VS. BUTLER!

[Ed's note: Not sure what All-World Power Rankings is? Please click here.]

The Super Bowl is over, so let's assess sporting options: (1) MLB. Sure, pitchers and catchers report soon, but you ain't got any legit games until early April ; (2) NHL. Hmm. Valid, but playoffs don't start 'till late April ; (3) NBA. The Slam Dunk contest this year should be a doozy, but again, playoffs are third week of April ; (4) NFL Draft. That's even later! Frankly, that leaves you with one central focus: college basketball. You know the big storylines: UNC, Duke, UConn, Wake, Pitt, all that. Something that's always been good for the little stories is Bracketbusters, coming your way starting February 20. But what should you lock in on? We're here for you.

TOP 5
RANK (YESTERDAY) WHAT WHY
1 (6) BUTLER VS. DAVIDSON (FEBRUARY 21) It's a battle of Stephen Curry ("half-man, half-amazing") and a solid-to-very-strong Butler squad. For some reason, everytime one of our friends brings up Butler, we want to watch this. This Gordon Hayward kid on Butler is pretty good, and has shined in big moments previously.
2 (10) UTAH STATE VS. ST. MARY'S (FEBRUARY 21) You won't get Patty Mills in this game, probably (he's hurt), but you will get Gary Wilkinson, who is quite good. (Additional evidence is here.)
3 (7) BUFFALO AT VERMONT (FEBRUARY 21) Marqus Blakeley is out-and-out fil-fee. (If you don't believe us, check with the Executive Editor of this Magazine.) Rodney Pierce from Buffalo is also fun to see run the floor.
4 (19) VCU AT NEVADA (FEBRUARY 20) Watch this to appreciate Eric Maynor more (then watch this). We haven't seen a frame of Nevada basketball this season, but any school that produced Nick Fazekas and Ramon Sessions is straight with us, ya know?
5 (16) NORTHERN IOWA AT SIENA (FEBRUARY 21) Interesting story: last year, we (moronically, apparently) took Vanderbilt to the Elite Eight in two of our brackets. They lost first round. (We ended up getting a Siena girl's number that night, oddly enough.) Kenny Hasbrouck went nuts in that game, dropping 30. As such, we have an awkward emotional relationship with his success: do we hate him for basically equating our bracket to Charmin, or do we love him for opening up a channel of communication with another failed mid-20something fling? Either/or. We'll be watching!

HONORABLE MENTION
RANK (YESTERDAY) WHAT WHY
12 (39) GREEN BAY AT LONG BEACH STATE (FEBRUARY 21) Watch out for Green Bay. They have four dudes averaging in double figures and are only a half-game behind Butler in the Horizon.
21 (35) GEORGE MASON AT CREIGHTON (FEBRUARY 21) George Mason is always interesting because of what they mean to small-college ball now. (And because of this.) Creighton has a player named "Booker Woodfox," which is like, absolutely amazing. Shouldn't he be at a Wind in the Willows open casting session or something? (Dude is clutch, though.)

RISING AND FALLING
MOVEMENT WHAT
ILLINOIS STATE AT NIAGRA ON FEBRUARY 20 (Click the link for an interview with I-State's head coach. He knows whaddup.)
MIAMI OF OHIO AT EVANSVILLE ON FEBRUARY 21 (Game's not really "falling," but we just love the fact that Evansville has a player named "Shy Ely," kinda like "Cool Ethan" in Slackers)


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