NCAA: 5 Dangerous Teams Heading Towards March

They say it is not how you start, but how you finish. In college basketball, we talk about the importance of peaking going into March.

Here are five teams that can make a serious run in the tournament, in spite of where they are ranked at the moment.

(Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

FLORIDA
Record: 19-6, AP Rank: 12

The reigning champions lost back to back games against top 10 opponents Duke and UConn by a total of five points. Since that point, the Gators have won 14 out of 16 games, including a Saturday drubbing of Kentucky. Loaded with the top three man front line in the country, Florida has taken a leap forward behind the improved guard play of Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee. If the guard play holds up, the Gators will have an outside chance to repeat.

KANSAS
Record: 19-6, AP Rank: 8

The Jayhawks were on an eight game winning streak going into this weekend before getting drubbed by Iowa St., 74-56. The Jayhawks have been without star player Darryn Peterson in 11 of its 25 games this season, and he went 3-of-10 versus Iowa St. Many are questioning whether Kansas is in need of Peterson. Without him, they had an enormous win over Arizona, who was undefeated at the time. Then came the thud on Saturday with him, so the question is still up in the air. The inside-outside duo of Flory Bidunga and Melvin Council have taken over the paint and the perimeter. And Tre White has stepped up his overall versatile game. Having the legend Bill Self in charge is a big plus while they sort out the questions surrounding DP. Will the real Jayhawks stand up?

“If I said OK, I think he would play with his splint on.” UNC’s Hubert Davis on his radio show when discussing Caleb Wilson’s injury

“He’ll be back on the floor soon.”

Again, no official timetable for Wilson’s return, but Wilson has said “it’s not over” for him in Chapel Hill.

— Rodd Baxley (@RoddBaxley) February 17, 2026

NORTH CAROLINA
Record: 20-5, AP Rank: 16

The Tar Heels dropped five spots in the AP, but might have found their magic in an impressive come from behind win over Duke. Now they did have a hangover loss to a quality Miami team on the road in their next game, but I like the potential of UNC in March. There is experience at point guard with Seth Trimble. Big man Henri Veesaar is a highly skilled big man. And Caleb Wilson is a next level forward scorer that North Carolina can count on to be a difference maker, as long as his fracture isn’t a lingering problem. On Monday, coach Hubert Davis said it shouldn’t be.

VANDERBILT
Record: 21-4, AP Rank: 19

The Commodores came out of the gates strongly, winning 16 straight games to start the season. Then three losses in a row and key injuries have Vanderbilt on the back end of the Top 25. The key is the injuries. If Vanderbilt gets back the services of Duke Miles and Frankie Collins, watch out for the Commodores in March. Coach Mark Byington knows how to utilize the versatile skills of Vandy’s big men, and Tyler Tanner is one of the best point guards in the country. After the 3-game slide, this team has won five of six.

The Big East has suspended Providence fifth-year F Duncan Powell two additional games, on top of his automatic one-game suspension for fighting, following Saturday’s flagrant 2 foul on St. John’s Bryce Hopkins and ensuing fight.

Powell will miss:

Feb. 21 at DePaul
Feb. 24 vs.… pic.twitter.com/SpoMtaiih3

— Matt Fortuna (@Matt_Fortuna) February 15, 2026

ST. JOHN’S
Record: 20-5, AP Rank: 17

The Red Storm possesses high level athleticism across the line up, which was on display in their recent 81-72 win over UConn. Led by legendary head coach Rick Pitino, St. John’s plays a special combination of aggressive and intensely focused technical man to man defense. St. John’s has the makings of a team that will be better than a 17 in March. After the 79-69 victory over Providence, St. John’s is on a 11-game winning streak behind star player Zuby Ejiofor. The powerful forward is leading the team in scoring, rebounding, assists and blocks. St. John’s had four players ejected because of the skirmish with the Friars, but knowing Pitino he’ll use it as a rallying point.