Expect these 15 non-BCS schools at the Big Dance

The non-BCS leagues tend to get the shaft on a national level.

I can think of three reasons why.

1. They're typically not on TV or as well known as their BCS counterparts.

2. They're typically not as talented or as good in general as their BCS counterparts.

3. They're typically not as competitive or balanced from top-to-middle as their BCS counterparts.

Sure, Gonzaga is always really good -- as is Memphis and Xavier. But those programs aren't consistently pushed by their league brethren in an ideal way, which is why discussing any of those leagues in depth can become a redundant conversation about why Memphis or Gonzaga might really slip this season. Then five months pass and both win another conference championship. Happens every year, at which time the maybe-this-is-the-time-Gonzaga-and-Memphis-go-down previews end up looking just silly.

So I'm done with those things.

What I've done instead is combined the best of all the non-BCS teams and ranked them accordingly, handed out accolades and realized that if we could put the top 15 non-BCS schools together we'd have a league that is -- ready for this? -- better than most (if not all) of the BCS leagues. Imagine a basketball conference with Gonzaga, Memphis, Xavier, UNLV, Davidson, Nevada and ... you get the point. Obviously, travel would be a headache. But could it be any worse than the WAC, where playing in Hawaii and Louisiana can be required?

I think not (even though I know this concept isn't realistic).

But either way, here are the best of the non-BCS.

All 15 listed schools are expected to make the NCAA tournament.

1. Gonzaga

Jeremy Pargo's Zags are a tad ahead of Stephen Curry and Davidson. (Getty Images)

The Zags have one of the nation's best rosters featuring as many as four possible future NBA Draft picks. Jeremy Pargo (12.1 ppg and 6.0 apg) and Austin Daye (10.5 ppg and 4.7 rpg) are the headliners, but just half of the four double-digit scorers back from a 25-win team. The other two are Matt Bouldin (12.6 ppg) and Josh Heytvelt (10.3 ppg and 4.9 rpg), the latter of whom could be the key to a Final Four run if he's healthy and back to performing the way he did as a sophomore in the 2006-07 season. If that's the case, the Zags will be a serious national contender.

2. Memphis

The Tigers lost three players who are now on NBA rosters -- namely Derrick Rose, Chris Douglas-Roberts and Joey Dorsey -- and will consequently take a step backwards from the 38-win campaign that had them within seconds of a national title. Such is unavoidable. But with Antonio Anderson (8.6 ppg) and Robert Dozier (9.2 ppg and 6.8 rpg) still around to form a veteran core that'll be aided by impact freshman Tyreke Evans, there's little doubt that John Calipari will again have his Tigers in position to A) win Conference USA, B) earn a high seed in the NCAA tournament and C) try to make their fourth consecutive Elite Eight.

3. UNLV

Lon Kruger has done a magnificent job returning the UNLV program to relevance, and this season should only enhance the excitement that has season-ticket sales at their highest point since Jerry Tarkanian's glory days. Wink Adams (16.9 ppg), Joe Darger (11.3 ppg) and Rene Rougeau (9.0 ppg) are back after combining to average 37.2 points last season. They'll be joined by a pair of elite-level newcomers in Tre'Von Willis (transfer from Memphis) and Beas Hamga (redshirt freshman), both of whom should help UNLV end BYU's reign as kings of the Mountain West Conference.

4. Davidson

Patrick Mills returns to Saint Mary's with experience from Beijing. (Getty Images)

Though Kansas won the national title, the real story of last season's NCAA tournament was Davidson and its sweet-shooting guard Stephen Curry (25.9 ppg). In a span of two weeks the Wildcats became the team everybody loved and Curry the player everybody envied. It was a magical time for the Southern Conference institution, and now it's time to see whether Davidson can live up to its lofty preseason expectations that have come as a result. Jason Richards (12.7 ppg and 8.1 apg) being gone is a concern, no question. But Curry has the tools to play more minutes at the point, meaning the Wildcats' 36-game winning streak against league opponents could easily extend above 50 this season.

5. Saint Mary's

The Gaels return four starters from a 25-win team, including heralded point guard Patrick Mills. The Australian native averaged 14.8 points for SMC last season, then 14.2 for Australia in the Olympics. Not bad. But this isn't a one-man show. Diamon Simpson (13.6 ppg and 9.5 rpg) and Omar Samham (10.5 ppg and 7.3 rpg) are also back, which is why the WCC should be exciting at the top, just like last season.

6. Xavier

Sean Miller has developed into one of the nation's steadiest coaches in charge of one of the steadiest programs. He's won 93 games through four seasons at the helm and led the Musketeers to three consecutive NCAA tournaments. This season will be more of a challenge than last because he's replacing Stanley Burrell (9.7 ppg), Drew Lavender (10.8 ppg and 4.5 apg) and Josh Duncan (12.4 ppg). But with Derrick Brown (10.7 ppg) and C.J. Anderson (10.7) back in the frontcourt -- and a strong recruiting class led by Kenny Frease and Terrell Holloway -- you'd be wise to expect Xavier to win the A-10 again.

7. UAB

With Paul Delaney healthy again, UAB might be going places. (Getty Images)

Paul Delaney averaged 15.5 points two seasons ago but missed nearly all of last season with a torn ACL. When that ligament snapped, so too did UAB's realistic hopes at returning to the NCAA tournament. But now Delaney is healthy and ready to team with Robert Vaden (21.1 ppg) and form a backcourt capable of standing toe-to-toe in C-USA with what Memphis will put on the floor. That's improvement. So if the Blazers can get anything from the interior they'll be a force good enough to ensure C-USA gets at least two bids to the NCAA tournament.

8. Siena

Kenny Hasbrouck (16.1 ppg), Edwin Ubiles (17.0) and Alex Franklin (15.1 ppg and 7.8 rpg) return from a 23-win team that routed Vanderbilt in the NCAA tournament. Throw Ronald Moore (8.6 ppg and 4.1 rpg) into the equation, and the top four scorers are back, which is why the Saints have high expectations that will either be validated or squashed Thanksgiving weekend when they travel to Orlando for the Old Spice Classic. First up is Tennessee, then either Georgetown or Wichita State, then either Gonzaga, Michigan State, Oklahoma State or Maryland. Simply put, Siena needs to exit Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex with a 2-1 record to ensure it enters December with its at-large credentials still intact.

9. Temple

Temple went from 6-8 in January to the NCAA tournament, and that's not the easiest route to take. It had the Owls in a position where winning the A-10 tournament was necessary, but they did it and made the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2001. Now Dionte Christmas (19.7 ppg) is back to try to do it again, and he'll have some help in Lavoy Allen (8.1 ppg and 5.7 rpg) and Ryan Brooks (8.6 ppg). So even though the loss of Mark Tyndale (15.9 ppg and 7.2 rpg) will leave an obvious hole, the Owls should be capable of challenging Xavier and positioning themselves for another A-10 tournament championship.

10. Creighton

There's no reason to think Creighton won't win at least 20 games for the 11th consecutive season, not with three players who averaged at least nine points last season back in the fold. The best of the bunch is P'Allen Stinnett, a 6-3 guard who was good for 12.6 points and 3.4 rebounds per game last season while sweeping the MVC's Freshman of the Year and Newcomer of the Year awards. He's the centerpiece that has Creighton as the easy pick to win the Missouri Valley Conference and return to the NCAA tournament after missing the event last season.

11. BYU

The Cougars would be the MWC favorites if Trent Plaisted (15.6 ppg and 7.7 rpg) had returned for his senior season. But he didn't. So UNLV gets the nod. But with Lee Cummard (15.8 ppg and 6.3 rpg) and Jonathan Tavernari (13.1 points and 5.1 rpg) back it's hard to imagine BYU not making the NCAA tournament for the sixth time in nine years, especially when you consider Dave Rose is never bad. In three years at BYU, he's won 20, 25 and 27 games and gone 38-9 in the Mountain West.

12. Virginia Commonwealth

That Anthony Grant remains in charge has VCU fans optimistic, and for good reason. The Billy Donovan protégé has won 54 games in his first two years on the job and established himself as perhaps the hottest young coach in the country. Meantime, Eric Maynor has developed into an All-American candidate after hitting a game winner against Duke in the 2007 NCAA tournament and then averaging 17.9 points last season. So even though Jamal Shuler (15.5 ppg) and Michael Anderson (7.2 ppg) are no longer around, the Rams are the clear favorite in the CAA and a threat to do some damage come March.

13. Dayton

Gone is Brian Roberts and his 18.4 points per game, which is a huge loss. But a healthy Chris Wright could be what launches the Flyers back to the NCAA tournament given how they were on their way there last season until Wright's fractured ankle sidelined him. Dayton was 12-1 in games where Wright played but 11-10 without him. That's not a coincidence. But now Wright is healthy and expected to do big things, and if he improves on the 10.4 points and 5.7 rebounds he averaged last season the Flyers could challenge Xavier and Temple at the top of the A-10.

14. Nevada

A petty larceny charge against Brandon Fields (12.4 ppg) was dropped this week, and assuming his suspension is lifted that'll give the Wolf Pack one good guard on which to rely. Armon Johnson (11.5 ppg) is another. And those two combined with the addition of local star/McDonald's All-American Luke Babbitt should be enough to help Mark Fox overcome the early departure of JaVale McGee (14.1 ppg and 7.3 rpg). As for Babbitt, he'll be a star from the outset. He's good enough to lead Nevada to a WAC title and eventually join McGee in the NBA.

15. UTEP

Tony Barbee has done a nice job accumulating talent, and now is the time to make a move in Conference USA. The Miners return their top two scorers -- namely Stefon Jackson (23.6 ppg) and Randy Culpepper (12.8 ppg) -- and add Memphis transfer Kareem Cooper, a 7-foot center who never tapped into his potential under Calipari but is obviously gifted enough to be a difference-maker in C-USA. Remember, Cooper played for the same Laurinburg Prep team that finished 40-0 with Antonio Anderson, Robert Dozier and Shawne Williams, and if the Washington D.C. native can keep his head together both on and off the court it's possible Barbee could reach the NCAA tournament in just his third season in El Paso.