March Madness 2016: Overrated/underrated teams

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Mar 11, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Providence Friars guard Kris Dunn (3) reacts after a turnover against Villanova Wildcats during the first half of Big East conference tournament game at Madison Square Garden. Villanova Wildcats defeated Providence Friars 76-68 .Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Providence Friars (23-10)

Seed: 9

vs. RPI 51-100 teams: 4-0

Kris Dunn might be the best point guard in America. The Providence senior had come back to school for his final year of eligibility to win a conference title and make a run at the Final Four, but the first goal was not completed due to a poor finish to the regular season.

The Friars hit a bumpy patch at the wrong time, dropping 6-of-11 games to finish the year, losing in the Big East Tournament semifinals to Villanova, but they had beaten the Wildcats earlier in the season. The do have a few bad losses to Marquette (twice) and DePaul, but other than that, the Friars did nothing to drop all the way to a No. 9 seed.

At one point this year, the Friars were considered one of the top-10 or 15 teams in the nation and the duo of Dunn and forward Ben Bentil looked to be as formidable as any in the country. The last stretch of the year dropped them from 18-4 to 23-10 and apparently that was enough to slot them at No. 9.

A 6-7 record against RPI top 100 teams is far from ideal, but the Friars are a dangerous team and it’s almost unfair to match them up with an unsuspecting eight-seed with a No. 1 seed in the next round.

North Carolina has that tough draw in round two, if Providence makes it, and the Friars have shown the ability to hang with teams of that caliber this season, playing Michigan State tough and beating Arizona.

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