Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork. Calais Campbell Jersey .com) - Not even Nostradamus couldve foretold that TCU would begin 13-0. Or prognosticate that Temple would beat Kansas by 25. Or forecast that Old Dominion would be in the top 25 for the first time after winning just five games two years ago. Or even predict that Notre Dame, Maryland, West Virginia, Seton Hall and Washington would all return to the national landscape. The Big 12 never had six teams ranked in the top 25 until last week. The Horned Frogs werent one of them, but theyve been the conferences most surprising squad. They may not make it into the NCAA Tournament come March, but an appearance in any of the postseason tournaments would make this season successful. Granted, TCU had a non-conference schedule ranked in the 300s, doesnt really own a signature win and has begun 0-3 in the Big 12. But this is a school that failed to win a conference game a year ago and has posted just two since joining the Big 12 in 2012. The Horned Frogs solid start had them ranked in the top 25 for the first time since the 1998-99 season. They raced off to their best start in the programs 106-year history and have already surpassed last years win total. The Owls have been flying high since the second-semester acquisitions of Jesse Morgan and Devin Coleman, evidenced by a 77-52 shellacking of Kansas on Dec. 22. Theyve greatly improved their 3-point shooting, 35.7 percent (60-of-168), since the duo joined the fray. Temple had shot just 24.5 percent (45-of-184) prior to their arrival. You have to take the good and the bad with streaky- shooting Morgan, however. He was 0-of-13 from beyond the arc in the Owls 63-56 loss to Tulsa on Saturday. The biggest difference between this year and last has been the Owls much- improved defense. Temple allowed opponents to score 78.1 points per game and shoot 47.4 percent from the floor last season, but have surrendered just 61.8 points while combatants are connecting on just 38.2 percent of attempts during this campaign. Old Dominion already has four top-100 wins, VCU, LSU, Georgia State and Charlotte, which might be enough for an at-large bid come March. This depends on how the Monarchs finish in Conference USA or if they slip up in the conference tournament. Jeff Jones took over Old Dominion a year after it won five games and his team notched 18 victories. This season, the Monarchs got off to their best start in school history, although they suffered a 72-65 defeat at Western Kentucky on Saturday. Notre Dames ACC debut last season was a bust. The Irish (15-17) finished 11th in the conference and endured their first losing season since 1998-99. One of the main reasons for their futility was the suspension of Jerian Grant, who was lost after 12 games due to an academic issue. Notre Dame was 8-4 with him and just 7-13 without their star. This season, like TCU, Notre Dame also had a weak non-conference strength of schedule (299), but last Mondays road win at North Carolina gave it some credibility. And so much for coach Mike Breys Burn offense; the only thing the Irish are burning are the nets. They are scoring 83.3 points per game, lead the country in field-goal percentage (53.5) and are among the nations leaders in 3-point field goal percentage (40.7). Maryland shocked many when it took down Iowa State in the CBE Classic title game on Nov. 25, but what mightve been even more stunning was its continued success despite the loss of Dez Wells. The Terrapins went 6-1 during his absence -- the lone defeat to unbeaten Virginia on Dec. 3 -- after he broke his wrist in that victory over the Cyclones. They can thank freshman Melo Trimble for that. Trimble, who was Marylands first McDonalds All-American since Mike Jones in 2003, is currently leading the team in scoring with 16.3 points per game. The Terps havent made the past four NCAA Tournaments, their longest drought since 1989-93, but that should change this year. Even with star guard Juwan Staten on the roster, nobody expected much from West Virginia this season in a loaded Big 12. But so far the Mountaineers have just two blemishes on their resume, home losses to LSU on Dec. 4 and Iowa State Saturday. They have wins over Connecticut, NC State and Wofford. Coach Bob Huggins full-court pressure has paid huge dividends this season. The Mountaineers are currently forcing more turnovers than any team in the country (22.3). The momentum of Sterling Gibbs game-winning shot in Seton Halls Big East Tournament first round upset win over Villanova has carried over into this season. The emergence of heralded recruit Isaiah Whitehead has also been a huge factor. Gibbs leads the team in scoring (16.0 ppg) and assists (3.9 apg), while Whitehead is second in both categories (11.9 ppg, 3.4 apg). The Pirates made it into the top 25 last week after garnering a pair of upset home triumphs over then-No. 15 St. Johns and then-No. 6 Villanova, then lost at Xavier before a one-point win at Creighton. Washingtons suffocating defense and shot-blocking ability had the Huskies in the top 25 prior to a poor early showing in Pac-12 play. Their 11-0 start matched the best during Lorenzo Romars tenure as coach. The Huskies also began 11-0 during the 2005-06 campaign. Opponents are scoring just 60.9 points per game and shooting 34.9 percent from the field. The shot-swatting presence of seven-foot Fresno State transfer Robert Upshaw has made it tough for others to get a good look because of his ability to alter shots at the rim. He leads the country with 4.4 blocks per game. All of these teams have put themselves in position for possible NCAA Tournament berths come March -- besides TCU -- as long as none of them free fall in conference. Note: Projected bracket features predicted conference champions. MIDWEST (Cleveland) 1. Kentucky vs. 16. South Dakota State/Alabama State winner 8. Oklahoma State vs. 9. San Diego State 4. Notre Dame vs. 13. Ohio State/Connecticut winner 5. Seton Hall vs. 12. Wofford 6. Butler vs. 11. Iowa 3. Iowa State vs. 14. Eastern Washington 7. Dayton vs. 10. NC State 2. Arizona vs. 15. American WEST (Los Angeles) 1. Duke vs. 16. Murray State 8. St. Johns vs. 9. Washington 4. West Virginia vs. 13. Georgia/BYU winner 5. VCU vs. 12. SMU 6. Texas vs. 11. Alabama 3. Maryland vs. 14. Stephen F. Austin 7. Northern Iowa vs. 10. Georgetown 2. Gonzaga vs. 15. Northeastern EAST (Syracuse) 1. Virginia vs. 16. Coastal Carolina/New Mexico State winner 8. George Washington vs. 9. Old Dominion 4. Arkansas vs. 13. Buffalo 5. Oklahoma vs. 12. Temple 6. Baylor vs. 11. Green Bay 3. Utah vs. 14. NC Central 7. Providence vs. 10. Syracuse 2. Wisconsin vs. 15. Iona SOUTH (Houston) 1. Villanova vs. 16. UC Santa Barbara 8. Cincinnati vs. 9. Stanford 4. Wichita State vs. 13. Georgia/BYU winner 5. North Carolina vs. 12. Harvard 6. LSU vs. 11. Xavier 3. Louisville vs. 14. Georgia State 7. Colorado State vs. 10. Michigan State 2. Kansas vs. 15. Florida Gulf Coast FIRST FOUR OUT Illinois Indiana Georgia Tech Tulsa Malik Jackson Jersey . - All-Pro quarterback Aaron Rodgers looked spry enough in pregame warmups Sunday for Green Bays divisional playoff game against Dallas. Taven Bryan Jersey . Kelli Stack and Alex Carpenter also scored for the Americans, who avoided a repeat of Finlands upset at the Four Nations Cup in Lake Placid, N.Y., in November. Finnish goalie Noora Raty made 58 saves in that one, but the three-time Olympian could stop just 40 of 43 U. http://www.thejaguarsfansshop.com/Jaguars-Dj-Chark-Draft-Jersey/ . - Leon Draisaitl scored a hat trick as the Prince Albert Raiders stormed past the Swift Current Broncos 5-2 in Western Hockey League action Tuesday.Arsene Wenger has his eyes on a top-three finish in the Premier League as he looks to avoid a Champions League play-off. The Gunners occupy third spot ahead of their Super Sunday game with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light this weekend after they defeated West Brom 2-0 on Thursday night.Arsenals title bid faltered badly amid a poor run of results after the turn of the year but a 20th consecutive season of Champions League football remains on the cards. Wenger disappointed by crowd Arsene Wenger very disappointed by Emirates crowd vs West Brom That may not be enough to appease some of Arsene Wengers increasingly vocal critics but the Gunners boss knows third place still represents a respectable return and would see them go straight into the group stages of the competition.Top four is not Champions League. Top three, yes. Thats why it is important, he said.We want to play against the top teams and we want to be in the Champions League. Jamie Redknapp joins Ed Chamberlain to preview Sundays games in the Premier League as Sunderland face Arsenal before Leicester take on Swansea What has changed over the years is that the impact of the finances in the Champions League is not as big any more. Logan Cooke Jersey. For a period in the past the money was vital for us.But the sporting impact, the planning of the next season, of course it changes completely. Especially when you have a big summer tournament like the Euros which is now like a World Cup because it starts on June 10 and finishes on the July 10. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has urged the clubs fans to come and support the team, insisting theyll like what they see When you have to play Champions League qualifiers the European Championship is still going on. You can play teams in the qualifiers who are in the middle of their championship because they have started already in June.But for us we dont know where we finish. We are not guaranteed top four and we have to fight for that.Man United are behind us and they will fight for it as well. We have difficult games and so do they.Watch Sunderland v Arsenal on Super Sunday. Coverage begins on Sky Sports 1 HD at 1pm. Also See: Wenger disappointed by crowd Wenger admits regrets Sky Live: Sunderland v Arsenal Get a ￡10 free bet! 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