Previewing the East Region

East Region

So much for being the #1 overall seed.  Ohio State’s reward for the honor?  Try the bracket most littered with landmines as they attempt to tackle the toughest region in this year’s tournament. 

North Carolina, Syracuse, and Kentucky all enter the tournament playing their best basketball of the season, all boast rosters with NBA talent, and all have the size, quickness, scoring and athleticism needed to make a Final Four run.  Compare those three to the Southeast: Florida (who got hammered by Kentucky in the SEC Final), BYU (whose second best player is suspended and just got hammered by San Diego State in the MWC Final), and Wisconsin who scored THIRTY THREE points in their last game.

Not sure what the committee was thinking with those two brackets.  It certainly leaves a lot of room for conjecture and debate.

What can’t be debated is the depth of talent in the East.  West Virginia is an interesting #5 seed.  They were not spectacular most of the season, and their roster certainly doesn’t leap off the page, but they do own wins over Vanderbilt, Purdue, Georgetown, Louisville, UConn and Notre Dame.

George Mason could very well be “this year’s George Mason.”  The Patriots are much better overall than the team that made the miracle run back in 2006.  Throw in Xavier, Princeton, Marquette and Washington and you are looking at one ridiculous bracket.

Ten Best Players in the East Region:

Jared Sullinger (Ohio State), Isaiah Thomas (Washington), Harrison Barnes (UNC), Kris Joseph (Syracuse), Tu Holloway (Xavier), Terrance Jones (Kentucky), David Lighty (Ohio State), Tyler Zeller (UNC), William Buford (Ohio State)

First Round Matchups:

#1 Ohio State vs. #16 UT San Antonio/Alabama St.

Next.

#8 George Mason v. #9 Villanova

Villanova is in an absolute free-fall, losers of 11 of their final 16, including a first-round Big East Tourney loss to lowly South Florida.  George Mason would be my tournament darling if not for an unfortunate draw opposite Ohio State.  I love the Patriots getting the win over ‘Nova.

#5 West Virginia  v. #12 UAB/Clemson

I’m honestly stunned UAB is in the field.  Alabama, Virginia Tech, St. Mary’s and Colorado would all have been more worthy selections.  Clemson apparently got just enough late, making it to the Final Four in the ACC Tourney, losing in OT to North Carolina.  I think they used up the remaining gas in their tank – I like UAB advancing, only to get sent home by the Mountaineers.

#4 Kentucky  v. #13 Princeton

This will be another popular upset pick – don’t fall for it.  Remember what happened when the smart, scrappy, underrated Ivy League team (Cornell) met the Wildcats last year?  Yeah, it wasn’t pretty.  Neither will this one.  Wildcats big.

#6 Xavier v #11 Marquette

Xavier always out-performs their seed in the NCAA Tourney.  Marquette is a tough opening draw, but I think Tu Holloway can pace the X-Men to yet another NCAA Tournament win. 

#3 Syracuse v. #14 Indiana State

The Sycamores did a great job knocking off Wichita State and Missouri State en route to the surprising Missouri Valley championship.  However, both of those teams would have given Syracuse a much more entertaining game.  Indiana State has no clue about the length and quickness of the match-up zone that is about to be unleashed on them.  Besides, Larry Bird is out of eligibility.

#7 Washington  v. #10 Georgia

The rumblings over Georgia’s inclusion and overly-high seed will get louder after Washington and Isaiah Thomas run them right off the floor.  It’s honestly hard to justify how the 8-8 Bulldogs got in over the 12-4 Alabama Crimson Tide, who beat Georgia twice, including a blowout win in the SEC Quarters…  Gimme Washington 80-something to Georgia’s low 70’s output.

#2 North Carolina  v. #15 Long Island

 

Long Island is a nice story, but the fairy tale ends quickly against the tremendous size and athleticism of the Tar Heels

Moving Through the Region:

Ohio State will cruise to the Sweet Sixteen, though George Mason will make them earn it.  I like Kentucky avenging last year’s Elite Eight loss to West Virginia, setting up a nice Kentucky-Ohio State rivalry game in the Sweet Sixteen.  In the bottom half, give me Xavier upsetting Syracuse, and North Carolina narrowly dodging Washington in one of the Tourney’s most exhilarating games.

In the Elite 8, Ohio State v. Kentucky will be another classic, but I like Ohio State’s poise and superior perimeter shooting ousting the Wildcats.  Xavier’s run ends at the hands of the ultra-talented Tar Heels, setting up a brilliant regional final.

Ohio State is the best team in the country, in my opinion, and is a tough matchup for the Heels.  Both teams feature outstanding freshman point guards, and it will be a blast to watch Craft and Marshall square off.  Sullinger against the UNC bigs will be spectacular as well.  In the end, I think the defensive brilliance of David Lighty will fluster UNC frosh sensation Harrison Barnes, and that the Heels will lose track of Diebler in transition a few too many times to advance. 

SOUTHEAST CHAMP: OHIO STATE BUCKEYES

UPSET PICKS:

Xavier, with Washington being a dangerous sleeper

How the West Will Be Won

The West has unfolded pretty much according to plan. Other than #5 Purdue beating #4 Washington (Purdue was the Vegas favorite) every better seed advanced to Glendale. Will the upper-seed dominance continue or will this tourney start getting shaken up Thursday night?

GAMES: #1 UConn v #5 Purdue (7:07 ET) & #2 Memphis v #3 Missouri (aprx. 9:37 ET)

#1 Connecticut:

Why the Huskies Will Win: Because they are the biggest, best, and most talented team in the region. They have experienced point guard play in senior AJ Price. They have the nation's most intimidating defensive force in 7'3'' Haskeem Thabeet, scoring and defense and toughness in senior Jeff Adrien and off-the chart athleticism in Stanley Robinson. Add in the excellent job Kemba Walker has done filling in the void at 2-guard, an able bench and 2-time national champion Jim Calhoun steering the ship and you have a pretty imposing task in eliminating the Huskies.

Why they Won't: Pitt has shown the blue-print for beating the Huskies; beat them up and grind them down. If that doesn't work hip-toss Thabeet like PJ Brown did Charlie Ward in the '97 Playoffs (great idea DeJuan Blair). It seems like the kind of recipe a Big Ten-tough team like Purdue could cook up. If they don't Memphis has no problem playing a physical, helter-skelter style that could give the Huskies problems.

#2 Memphis:

Why the Tigers Will Win: Speed kills. This team can run and rebound all day long. They don't shoot it well from the perimeter, but if they can turn the other team over and get out on the break they are deadly. They lost a lot of points off last year's squad, but do still return a core of tourney-tested vets, along with super-frosh Tyreke Evans. Jump shots have a funny way of going AWOL over a 6-game tourney; defense does not.

Why They Won't: Media folk like to point out that the Tigers haven't lost in several months, ever since making the switch to Tyreke Evans at the point. The Maniac likes to point out that other than Gonzaga those wins were all against bums. Conference USA is terrible. Really, it sucks. UAB and Tulsa were fringe bubble teams who bowed out early in the NIT. The rest of that conference is even worse. What is going to happen when they get up against a Top 10 caliber opponent under the bright lights of March? Mizzou might not be the answer, but I'd take UConn over this squad 8 times out of 10.

#3 Missouri:

Why The Tigers Will Win: This Tiger team tied for the Big 12 regualr season crown; a conference that has proven it's mettle this tourney over the more heralded ACC and Big Ten. Three Big 12 squads still remain in the draw; Oklahoma State and Texas showed themselves well, and even Baylor is headed to MSG in the NIT. The point is, the Tigers have played and beaten a ton more quality foes than have the other Tigers in Tennessee. Missouri prefers the scrambling up tempo game that Memphis thrives off of, and has the athletes to run with them. Should the game slow down, Missouri is a superior half court team with a legit inside-out presence in DeMarre Carroll.

Why They Won't: It has been a season that far exceeded expectations in Missouri, but the Tigers are playing up a league this weekend with Memphis and possilby UConn. They are a good frenetic team, but don't really have the answers for the size and depth of Connecticut. The more I look at the two teams, they do match up well against Memphis though...

#5 Purdue:

Why the Boilermakers Will Win: Toughness. Over the past 5 years, the teams that have given UConn tourney fits are not teams that were more talented than them, it was teams that were willing to outfight them. JuJuan Johnson has the springs and athleticism to outmanuever Thabeet and possibly bait him into early foul trouble. Purdue's backcourt is not spectacular, but is deep and solid with Kramer, Moore and Keaton Grant. The real X-factor is Robbie Hummel. They have been really tough since he returned from back problems, and his outside shooting from the 4-spot can loosen up the Huskie defense. Plus, Purdue likes to mix it up, Pitt gave the Huskies fits playing the same way. If Purdue can punch first, they have a shot.

Why They Won't: Connecticut is a better team. Their size and pressure can mean real trouble for a Purdue team that is at times offensivly challenged. If they do not shoot the ball very well from the perimeter, it is difficult to see them pulling off the upset over the Huskies. Should they advance, they face another difficult challenge as both Missouri and Memphis play a faster, more athletic game than the Boilers are comfortable with.


Maniac's Picks: I originally had Purdue besting Memphis for a suprise Final Four birth in my pre-tourney bracket, but admit lacking much confidence in that prognosis. I thought UConn was a bit prone to sleepwalking in big games, and I do like to "Ricky Bobby" my pool entries. I think UConn wins 8 of 10 times, but I will stick with Purdue mustering up every ounce of toughness, shooting well, out-phsicalling (see Pitt x2) the Huskies.

Give me Memphis over Mizzou in a fantastically fun game to watch (score approaching high 80's and up) and Purdue putting the clamps on the Tigers Saturday afternoon and advancing to Detroit.

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One Shining Moment

Ok, maybe a bit cheesy, but don't tell me you don't get a little misty...

Where We Stand

One day from an amazing pair of National Semi-Final Games... and the pool is still WAY up for grabs. I will spare you most of the tedious analysis. Instead here are the front runners for the championship!

North Carolina:

Definitely the most popular champion selection, and it appears to be for good reason. The Tar Heels are the only team to have not been truly pushed and tested in the tourney (though Memphis put that Mississippi State game WAY in the rear mirror last weekend). If the Heels cut down the nets, frontrunners are:

Gavin (87): UNC over UCLA
Kevin J (86): UNC over Memphis
BTown (84): UNC over UCLA
Judy (83): UNC over UCLA

Kansas:

Was anyone OTHER than the people listed below NOT pulling for Davidson???

Chandler (88): Kansas over Memphis
Shanda (84) : Kansas over Texas

It gets real interesting if it is Kansas v. Memphis and Kansas wins... all kinds of math to do....

UCLA:

Can college basketball's most stories program get its first title without cheaping in more than 25 years?? (Sorry, the Harrick one is tainted Bruin fans) If so, there will be a few happy folks below.

Jim (78): UCLA over UNC
Bill (73): UCLA over UNC
John K (71) UCLA over L'Ville

Memphis:

Can Derrick Rose, CDR and company continue to lead by enough that foul foulshooting doesn't matter?? If so, a few people could charge from the back to in the money.

Mike K (71): Memphis over Tennessee (I think it is unlikely Mike can win, with TN costing him points, but it is still nice to call the champ)
Hawks (63): Memphis over UNC (no chance to win - but again, you call the champ - you get a shout out on March Maniacs!)

Enjoy the games! Check back Sunday for an update! Check back often and click some ads to support the commish!