Non-Traditional Basketball Powers That Can Make the Final Four

If you are a fan of men's college basketball, you probably know the traditional basketball college powers that be. You know about Kentucky and their army of one-and-dones. You know about Rock, Chalk, Jayhawk. You probably know about the next North Carolina Tar Heel to become a member of the Charlotte Hornets. You probably know about Tom Izzo. You probably hate Duke. But which of the non-traditional basketball teams has a legitimate shot at making the Final Four this season?

• Oregon: The obvious choice, Oregon has reeled in one of the best recruiting classes this season. With five-star players such as their gargantuan center Bol Bol and power forward Jalen Smith, Oregon may just dominate the entire Pac-12 this season.
  
• USC: One team that may give Oregon a run for their money in the Pac-12 are the USC Trojans. Incoming freshmen Kevin Porter and Elijah Weaver look to make a sudden impact on the team. They look to help players like senior Bennie Boatwright get USC to that next step.
  
• Tennessee: Junior Grant Williams returns along with junior Lamonte Turner and senior Admiral Schofield as Tennessee hopes to dominate in a suddenly competitive SEC. Tennessee's rebounding and balanced size may help them get to the big dance this season.
  
• Nevada: If you're looking for a true mid major to make the Final Four this season the same way Loyola-Chicago did last year, look no further. This is a team that's fairly big and Jordan Caroline (17.7 ppg and 8.6 rpg last season) and the two senior Martins named Caleb (18.9 ppg and 5.4 rpg) and Cody (14 ppg, 6.3 rpg, and 4.7 apg) are all returning to take the Wolfpack far this year.
  
• Auburn: Bruce Pearl generally constructs quality squads and this year should be no different. Losing Mustapha Heron to St. Johns will hurt, but Isaac Okoro is a nice pickup for Pearl. Three-point man Bryce Brown is a nice outside shooter for Pearl's squad as well and could make for being the Chauncey Billups of this team.
  

Photo courtesy of Tulane