With the intramural basketball season drawing to a close yesterday, this Sunday ushers in the beginning of both the Division I and Division II basketball playoffs. Therefore, I take a look at the favored teams, the teams on the rise and teams to watch out for prior to the commencement of both tournaments.

The Favorites

There is no question that Delta Upsilon (DU) has dominated both of the leagues up to this point in the season, and the fraternity will participate in the Division I Tournament. DU A clinched the League A title before playing this week against Phi Kappa Tau. DU B entered the middle of this week at 4-0, highlighted by its 76-32 destruction of Brother 2 Brother on Monday. As the only two undefeated teams entering the Division I Playoffs, an-all DU championship is not out of the question – as long as the seeding works out.

In the Division II bracket, no team has been able to play at the level of $11.49 this season. The young squad has made easy work of its League C opponents, and has gained both the experience and chemistry needed to make an extended run in the playoffs. While teams like the Blazers in League C and Cobra Chi B in League D look to make a run at the championship themselves, $11.49 is clearly the Division II favorite.

The Risers

In the Division I Tournament, no team has finished its season as strongly as Just For Fit. Despite starting its season by losing two of its first three games, the athletic team has won its last two games over Brothers A and Theta Chi to move into second place in League A. It looks like Just For Fit is clicking at the perfect time of year.

While League C has a mish-mash of teams in the middle of its standings, the true team on the rise in Division II is Cobra Chi B of League D. The beneficiary of the collapse of its top A squad, the experienced Cobra Chi B team easily finished its regular season undefeated and may very well catch teams like the Jewce is Loose and Old School by surprise in the early rounds of the tournament.

The Cinderellas

While DU and $11.49 are the clear favorites going into the playoffs, each division has its own potential bracket-busters that could shake up both tournaments.

The Hard Hats out of League B could very well play this role in the playoffs. The experienced squad beat the now 4-2 Great Colgate Ballers to start the season and lost to Phi Delta Theta in an overtime thriller by a mere three points. If the Hard Hats receive a match-up against a weaker League A team, such as Beta Theta Pi or Theta Chi, look for the team to advance into the latter stages of the tournament.

In the Division II bracket, the Cinderella team may very well be one of the three teams in the middle of the League C pack. The Blazers, Jewce is Loose and Old School all entered the last week of the season in a tie for second place in the league at 3-2. If one of these teams gets through the first round and catches $11.49 or Cobra Chi B on an off night, it could be their championship to lose.