NCAA Tournament: Southeast Region Preview

-2011 SOUTHEAST REGION PREVIEW-

(1) Pittsburgh
(16) UNC-Asheville
THURSDAY, 3:10 EST - Washington, D.C. - (truTV)

(8) Butler
(9) Old Dominion
THURSDAY, 12:40 EST - Washington, D.C. - (truTV)

(5) Kansas State
(12) Utah State
THURSDAY, 9:57 EST - Tucson, AZ - (truTV)

(4) Wisconsin
(13) Belmont
THURSDAY, 7:27 EST - Tucson, AZ - (truTV)

(6) St. John's
(11) Gonzaga
THURSDAY, 9:45 EST - Denver, CO - (CBS)

(3) BYU
(14) Wofford
THURSDAY, 7:15 EST - Denver, CO - (CBS)

(7) UCLA
(10) Michigan State
THURSDAY, 9:20 EST - Tampa, FL - (TBS)

(2) Florida
(15) UC-Santa Barbara
THURSDAY, 6:50 EST - Tampa, FL - (TBS)


Top seeds

1. Pittsburgh (27-5) - Is this the year that Pitt finally breaks through and makes the Final Four? Like every year, their regular season performance suggests they will, but historically it doesn't. They've made the dance every year since 2002 and haven't made one Final Four and only one Elite Eight in that span. Doesn't really convince you as a safe pick to go deep, right? Well, the upperclassmen filled Panthers will try and convince you this time around again. Guards Ashton Gibbs and Brad Wanamaker pace the attack while holding down the middle is Gilbert Brown, Nasir Robinson and Gary McGhee (if he can recover from his broken ankles in time). Perhaps no better year to finally break through would be this year, as Pitt plays in presumably the easiest bracket in the tournament, but the key word is presumably. Pitt has made a habit in the past of losing games they should have won, and a potential matchup with Butler in the second round may be that game. Still, head coach Jamie Dixon and the Panthers are having their best season in recent memory and will surely be a tough out like every year.

2. Florida (26-7) - Many argue that the Gators are overseeded this season due to a down year in the SEC, while others would argue that they are flying under the radar heading into this year's tourney. They haven't won a tournament game since their back-to-back national championships in 2006 and 2007, but that will surely change with essentially a home stand in the first two rounds in Tampa. Similar to those national championship seasons, there are several upperclassmen on this team, including forward Chandler Parsons who is a ball-hawker (7.8 rpg) that also demonstrates scoring ability (11.5 ppg) inside and outside (38.1% from three). Junior Erving Walker and sophomore Kenny Boynton lead the scoring charge, and let's not forget about the head coach barking out from the sidelines in Billy Donovan. He knows a thing or two about coaching in the NCAA Tournament and rounds out what could very well possibly be a Final Four forumula for the Gators.

3. Brigham Young (30-4) - Since a decision was made to suspend forward Brandon Davies from the team, BYU has looked nothing like they did earlier in the season. In their first game without Davies, the Cougars dropped an 82-64 decision to New Mexico and more recently lost to San Diego State in the Mountain West Championship. If BYU is going to make a deep run, golden boy Jimmer Fredette will have to play unhuman, but the senior guard who leads the nation in scoring (28.5 ppg) is more than capable of doing just that. The question is, will it be enough? That's the daunting question facing every bracket filler this week.

4. Wisconsin (23-8) - The Badgers have certainly had their fair share of ups and downs this year, perhaps a bit more extreme than most squads. They knocked off No. 1 Ohio State last month to give the Buckeyes their first loss of the year, but a little less than one month later, they lost to Penn State 36-33 in the Big Ten Tournament. And that's not a typo, they scored 33 points in the entire game. The Badgers will look to bounce back, but it won't be easy against a deep Belmont team in the first round. For the Badgers, senior Jon Leur leads the pack with 18.6 points and 7.3 boards per game. The Badgers are a streaky 3-point shooting team, and they may need some hot nights if they have any shot at reaching their first Final Four since 2000.

Most Intriguing Matchup

(6) St. John's v. (11) Gonzaga

If a No. 11 seed seems a bit low for Gonzaga to you, you're probably right. The Bulldogs are riding a 9-game winning streak and a West Coast Championship into the Tournament and sort of have some inside information heading into their tilt with the Red Storm. The Bulldogs are watching game film this week of a loss they suffered back in 2009 to Arizona. Why? Because then-Wildcats assistant coach Mike Dunlap orchestrated a zone defense that defeated the Bulldogs, and now, as an assistant to Steve Lavin at St. John's, has been ushered consent to use that same zone defense that 'Zaga saw in 2009. With that knowledge, the Bulldogs will be primed and ready for their matchup, but that's not to discredit St. John's. Led by senior Dwight Hardy, the Red Storm are back in the big dance for the first time since 2002, and history rests on Lavin's side, as he sits comfortably at a career 12-1 record in first and second round games. This game could really go either way, and should make for a classic in Denver.

Best Player

Jimmer Fredette, guard, BYU

The ultimate game-changer, we don't see a talent like Jimmer very often in college basketball. Averaging an obscene 28.5 points per game, he has revived college hoops at BYU and is one of the top two or three players in the country right now. Can he lead the Cougars to a Final Four solely on his back? If it wasn't tough before, it definitely is now, as teammate Brandon Davies was recently suspended for the rest of the season. If anyone can do it save maybe Kemba Walker (who has a bit more help), Jimmer can, and he has proven time and time again that he can this season with amazing performance after amazing performance. Everyone will certainly have their eyes on him this weekend.

Best Coach

Billy Donovan, Florida

The man who single-handedly brought Providence to the Final Four in 1987 is almost doing the same thing with his Florida Gators as a coach. He's definitely been getting help from his players though, who he recruits with the best in the country. Four years ago, he waved off stars Joakim Noah and Al Horford into the sunset with back-to-back national championships. Four years later, he's built up a new class of players, who may not be as good as those championship teams, but have another legitimate chance at a deep run again. Billy the Kid has done it again, and his Gators are back with a vengeance this year.

Upset Alert

(13) Belmont over (4) Wisconsin

Let's face it: Wisconsin looks like garbage right now. I mean 33 points, really? Belmont is back in the tournament for the first time since 2008, when you may remember them almost upsetting No. 2 seeded Duke before Gerald Henderson saved the day on a game-winning lineup. The Bruins are back, and are ready to claim back what they thought was theirs three years ago, and may in fact be better than that team. There are countless reasons why Belmont is more than capable of winning this game, and most of them can be outlined in this ESPN article, but their depth speaks for itself. Running 11 deep, the Bruins can come at you in multiple ways and seemingly always have fresh legs on the floor. Almost anyone can score for this team, and they average about 10 3-point makes per ballgame. Not convinced yet? Maybe you should be. The Bruins are for real.

Search for Cinderella

(8) Butler

The defending national runner-ups are entering the dance under the radar again, and are more than capable of making another run in the weak Southeast bracket. Minus Gordan Heyward, most of last year's core is back, including top scorers Matt Howard and Shelvin Mack who know a thing or two about playing in March. If they can beat Old Dominion in a difficult first-round matchup, No. 1 Pitt, a team prone to upsets, may suit their fancy in the second round. From there, it's questionable who they would play in a bracket loaded with parity and the possibility for another cinderella story.

The darkhorse

(5) Kansas State

Most of America has caught the fever of Utah State's "I Believe" chant and penciled them in as this year's popular upset pick over K-State, but the Wildcats are no slouch. They have won six out of their last seven heading into the tourney - including wins over No. 1 Kansas, No. 21 Missouri and No. 8 Texas - and despite a loss to Colorado in the Big 12 Tournament, are hot on all cylinders. Jacob Pullen has had a remarkable season (19.5 ppg, 37% 3-pt shooting) who has some experience in March. You may remember that they made the Elite Eight one year ago, only to lose to eventual runner-up Butler. Don't sleep on the Wildcats.


-PREDICTIONS-

(1) Pittsburgh over (16) UNC-Asheville
(8) Butler over (9) Old Dominion
(5) Kansas State over (12) Utah State
(13) Belmont over (4) Wisconsin
(11) Gonzaga over (6) St. John's
(3) BYU over (14) Wofford
(10) Michigan State over (7) UCLA
(2) Florida over (15) UC-Santa Barbara

(8) Butler over (1) Pittsburgh
(5) Kansas State over (13) Belmont)
(11) Gonzaga over (3) BYU
(2) Florida over (10) Michigan State

(5) Kansas State over (8) Butler
(2) Florida over (11) Gonzaga

(5) Kansas State over (2) Florida


-FINAL FOUR SELECTIONS-

(1) Duke over (3) Syracuse
(1) Kansas over (5) Kansas State

(1) Duke 73, (1) Kansas 64

NCAA Tournament: Southwest Region Preview

-2011 SOUTHWEST REGION PREVIEW-

(1) Kansas
(16) Boston University
FRIDAY, 6:50 EST - Tulsa, OK - (TBS)

(8) UNLV
(9) Illinois
FRIDAY, 9:20 EST - Tulsa, OK - (TBS)

(5) Vanderbilt
(12) Richmond
THURSDAY, 4:10 EST - Denver, CO - (TBS)

(4) Louisville
(13) Morehead State
THURSDAY, 1:40 EST - Denver, CO - (TBS)

(6) Georgetown
(11) VCU
FRIDAY, 9:50 EST - Chicago, IL - (TNT)

(3) Purdue
(14) Saint Peter's
FRIDAY, 7:20 EST - Chicago, IL - (TNT)

(7) Texas A&M
(10) Florida State
FRIDAY, 4:10 EST - Chicago, IL - (TBS)

(2) Notre Dame
(15) Akron
FRIDAY, 1:40 EST - Chicago, IL - (TBS)


Top seeds

1. Kansas (32-2) - Fifth in the country in scoring, second in assists and first in field goal percentage, the Jayhawks roll into Tulsa with just two blemishes on their schedule, the last of which came over a month ago. The Morris brothers may be the best frontcourt duo in the nation and guards Tyrel Reed, Tyshawn Taylor and Josh Selby also put together one of the best backcourts in the country. Bill Self is an
experienced coach, bringing KU to a national championship victory three years ago, and they are the favorites to advance to yet another Final Four.

2. Notre Dame (26-6) - The Fighting Irish quietly and surprisingly earned themselves second place in the Big East this season. Senior guard Ben Hansbrough is tough to stop, maintaining a 18.5 points per game average this year and the Irish's hopes fall squarely on his shoulders to lead them to the promised land. It also helps that they
start five seniors, a rarity in today's college basketball with the amount of "one-and-dones" we've witnessed over the past five or so years. Experienced and focused on the goal, Notre Dame has a legitimate chance at reaching the Final Four for the first time since 1978.

3. Purdue (26-9) - For the second year in a row, the Boilermakers enter the dance without star Robbie Hummel - this time, however, they've had some time to figure things out, as he was injured at the beginning of the season. Led by two of the most premier scorers in the nation in seniors JaJuan Johnson (20.5 ppg) and E'Twaun Moore (18.2), Purdue is actually entering the tourney on a bit of a cold streak, having lost to Iowa in their regular season finale and laying an egg in the Big Ten Tournament with a blowout loss to Michigan State. Still, Purdue boasts experience and a ton of defensive tenacity, and they are no slouch as a No. 3 seed.

4. Louisville (25-9) - The Cardinals come into the Tournament on the heels of a close loss to UConn in the Big East championship, and have been over-achieving all year without star power and with a balanced, team game. Preston Knowles leads the attack alongside Kyle Kuric and Peyton Siva, and of course hall-of-fame coach Rick Pitino - who hasn't lost a Sweet 16 game in his career - calls the shots from the bench. The
'Ville will surely have the hardest time getting out of the first weekend of the top four seeds, but Pitino has been here before, as well as his senior leaders, and won't go down without a fight, as they have shown all season long.

Most Intriguing Matchup

(7) Texas A&M v. (10) Florida State

Defense wins championships, and both the Aggies and Seminoles can get at it on the defensive end. A matchup with leaders in FSU's Chris Singleton and A&M's Khris Middleton should be intriguing, and this game will find itself in the 50s. The winner of this matchup will have a very good chance at slowing down Notre Dame's offense and upsetting them in the second round (I'm refusing to call it the third round). Watch out for this one.

Best Player

Ben Hansbrough, guard, Notre Dame

In simple terms, when he's on the floor he takes over games, and when he's on the bench the Irish look flat out lost. The senior guard can slash and score with the best in the country, and also step back and be a dominant 3-point threat. He's the clear leader for the Irish and without him they are nothing.

Best Coach

Rick Pitino, Louisville

The most experienced tournament coach in this bracket has done a very commendable job in building Louisville this season through injuries and less talent than you would expect a Pitino-led team to have. As always, Pitino alone will keep Louisville in every game, but the Cardinals may have over-achieved this season and could see an early exit this year. Still, however, Pitino has been to this point several times and can never, ever be counted out.

Upset Alert

(13) Morehead State over (4) Louisville

If you haven't heard about him, you soon will. Morehead State center/forward Kenneth Faried leads the nation in rebounding and also surpassed Tim Duncan's NCAA all-time rebounding record this season. The senior Newark, NJ native is averaging over 14 boards a contest to go along with his 17.6 points and will be a difficult matchup for any Cardinals player. The Eagles are a very solid, defensive team and are capable of pulling off the upset - they lost by six at Florida earlier this season. Outside of Faried, senior guard Demonte Harper is an NBA prospect, and is fantastic shooting the three at 39.9% this year. Watch out for Morehead to shock a Louisville team that may be overlooking them.

Search for Cinderella

(12) Richmond

The Spiders have a very favorable mini-bracket in an unproven Vanderbilt in the first round followed by a potential matchup with Louisville or Morehead State that they can certainly win. Richmond is hot, having just rolled through the Atlantic 10 Tournament to take home that crown, and they are far from through, especially against a vulnerable Vandy team that was upset by Murray State last year. Justin Harper is a capable veteran as well. The senior big man scores about 18 points per game and can also take opposing defenders out of the paint to knock down the three, which opens the lanes for guard Kevin Anderson (16.5 ppg). Don't sleep on the Spiders.

The darkhorse

(6) Georgetown

Most of the recent troubles (four-game losing streak) for the Hoyas have stemmed from the loss of Chris Wright. Well, the senior guard will be back for their first round matchup and his presence will affect Georgetown immediately. Austin Freeman has been playing like a man possessed this year and Jason Clark is a big-time threat as well.
The Hoyas have an extremely tough path to reach the Final Four, but they are led by experienced seniors, and don't underestimate the addition of Wright back to the lineup. G'Town is tested and will be ready for battle.

-PREDICTIONS-

(1) Kansas over (16) Boston University
(8) UNLV over (9) Illinois
(12) Richmond over (5) Vanderbilt
(13) Morehead State over (4) Louisville
(6) Georgetown over (11) VCU
(3) Purdue over (14) St. Peter's
(7) Texas A&M over (10) Florida State
(2) Notre Dame over (15) Akron

(1) Kansas over (8) UNLV
(12) Richmond over (13) Morehead State
(6) Georgetown over (3) Purdue
(2) Notre Dame over (7) Texas A&M

(1) Kansas over (12) Richmond
(2) Notre Dame over (6) Georgetown

(1) Kansas over (2) Notre Dame

NCAA Tournament: West Region Preview

-2011 WEST REGION PREVIEW-

(1) Duke
(16) Hampton
FRIDAY, 3:10 EST - Charlotte, NC - (truTV)

(8) Michigan
(9) Tennessee
FRIDAY, 12:40 EST - Charlotte, NC - (truTV)

(5) Arizona
(12) Memphis
FRIDAY, 2:45 EST - Tulsa, OK - (CBS)

(4) Texas
(13) Oakland
FRIDAY, 12:15 EST - Tulsa, OK - (CBS)

(6) Cincinnati
(11) Missouri
THURSDAY, 9:50 EST - Washington, D.C. - (TNT)

(3) Connecticut
(14) Bucknell
THURSDAY, 7:20 EST - Washington, D.C. - (TNT)

(7) Temple
(10) Penn State
THURSDAY, 2:10 EST - Tucson, AZ - (TNT)

(2) San Diego State
(15) Northern Colorado
THURSDAY, 4:40 EST - Tucson, AZ - (TNT)


Top seeds

1. Duke (30-4) - Not many teams can grab a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament without its best player (freshman guard Kyrie Irving) playing over half the season. But then again, not many teams have a hall-of-fame coach patrolling the sidelines. The defending national champs are the odds on favorite to cut down the nets in Anaheim and advance to another Final Four, and the depth and experience of the Blue Devils are the reason why. Senior leaders Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler, as well as the Plumlee brothers of Miles and Mason are back again, and will be tough to dismantle. If Irving can somehow return to the court before it's all said and done, Duke will become nearly unstoppable.

2. San Diego State (32-2) - The Aztecs rolled this season, only slipping twice - both times to BYU, who they ended up beating in the MWC championship. They have never won an NCAA Tournament game, but they are in good hands with head coach Steve Fisher, who coached a team you may have heard of in the Fab Five some 20 years ago. SDSU is built for March, boasting six players who average at least 7 points per contest, and have a fabulous frontcourt with Kawhi Leonard and Malcolm Thomas leading the charge. If the Aztecs are able to advance past the first weekend, they will essentially be hosting games in the regional semis/finals in Anaheim.

3. Connecticut (26-9) - The Huskies entered Madison Square Garden for the Big East Tournament last week slumping, having lost four out of their previous five games. What a difference a week can make, though. UConn won five games in five days against the Big East's best to take home the Big East Championship and a threshold on the No. 3 seed in the West. In case you've been living in a hole this year, Kemba Walker (23.5 ppg) does it all for the Huskies who will surely need him to carry them on his back again. But just how much juice will he have left? Kemba will need his sidekicks in big man Alex Oriakhi and freshmen Jeremy Lamb and Shabazz Napier to step up in a big way, especially against opposing defenses who will surely be focusing on him.

4. Texas (27-7) - The most misseeded team in the Tournament next to Florida in my opinion, Texas as a No. 4 seed is very scary. They are extremely talented with the likes of Jordan Hamilton and Tristan Thompson leading the pack and they are one of the best rebounding teams in the country. A lack of experienced guard play may be the
Longhorns' demise, but there's no doubting their resume against a difficult Big 12 conference and one of the toughest out-of-conference schedules in the nation. With their dominant inside game, Texas may be the team that dethrones Duke in a potential Sweet 16 matchup.

Most Intriguing Matchup

(7) Temple v. (10) Penn State

Temple relies heavily on 3-point shooting as their top five scorers are shooting at least 31.3% from beyond the arc this season. A bad shooting night could spell trouble for the Owls, especially against a battle-tested Penn State squad, no pun intended to senior guard Talor Battle. Needing some big wins in the Big Ten Tournament to advance to the dance, the Nittany Lions were able to do just that, defeating Indiana, Wisconsin (a ridiculous score of 36-33), and Michigan State before finally falling to Ohio State in the championship game. PSU is senior-laden with Jeff Brooks and David Jackson accompanying Battle, and the trio can also shoot the deep ball, each averaging at least 34.9% 3-point shooting on the year. It should be a wild west shootout in Tucson.

Best Player

Kemba Walker, guard, Connecticut

The Bronx, N.Y. native made a strong case for National Player of the Year with his performance in the Big East Tournament. His quickness and scoring ability is unmatched by any player in this region and he'll be a matchup nightmare to any defender. Just ask Gary McGhee. Does he have the legs left to carry UConn to the promised land? If his performances on zero days rest for four days last week didn't answer that question, then I don't know what will. He is more than capable, and he will be motivated now more than ever as he prepares to enter the NBA Draft this June as this will be likely be his last opportunity at a national championship.

Best Coach

Mike Krzyzewski, Duke

This selection needs no explanation. He's coached the Blue Devils to four national titles and 11 Final Fours in his tenure and they haven't missed the NCAA Tournament since 1995. He is the premier game planner in college basketball and every high school prospect dreams of playing for him. He always has his team ready and this year is no exception. Coach K is and always has been the key to Duke's success.

Upset Alert

(13) Oakland over (4) Texas

Remember Oakland? They were a lot of people's upset pick in last year's dance as a No. 14 seed against Pittsburgh, but couldn't get the job done, ending up losing by 23. This year is a different story, however. The core guys are back in upperclassmen Keith Benson (18 ppg, 10.1 rpg), Reggie Hamilton (17.4 ppg) and Will Hudson (12.5 ppg). They rank second in the country in scoring (85.6), 14th in rebounds (39) and second in field goal percentage (49.4). Watch out for the experienced Golden Grizzlies to possibly steal this one away from the Longhorns, who may be looking ahead to a potential matchup with Duke.

Search for Cinderella

(10) Penn State

Starting four seniors and led by star Talor Battle, the Nittany Lions have the makeup of something special this March, and as evidenced in their recent run in the Big Ten Tournament, they can win several games in a row with the right matchups. If they can catch Temple on a cold shooting night, they will advance to play against a San Diego State team that has never been here before. A win there would vault them into the Sweet 16 where UConn is the odds on favorite to be waiting, and where a Talor Battle v. Kemba Walker matchup could stir up a classic. UConn isn't invincible, and Kemba seemingly has to cool off at some point. If that doesn't convince you, then history lands itself on PSU's side. The last time they made the NCAA Tournament was in 2001
when they beat No. 10 seeded Providence and knocked off No. 2 seeded North Carolina on its way to the Sweet 16. If that also doesn't convince you, Arizona has been the site of several cinderella stories in its history of hosting NCAA Tournament games. No. 12 seeded George Washington (1993), No. 6 seeded Stanford (1997), No. 10 seeded Gonzaga (2000), and No. 6 seeded teams Texas Tech and Utah (2005) all made unlikely Sweet 16 trips in The Grand Canyon State. And if that still doesn't convince you? Just pick Temple.

The darkhorse

(5) Arizona

These might not be your Lute Olson led Wildcats, but they are definitely a team not to be overlooked this year. They boast a balanced attack with seven players averaging six or more points per game and go 10 deep with players who have seen action in every game this season. Derrick Williams is the star; the sophomore forward is having one of most underrated seasons in the country with 19.1 points per game and 8.1 boards, and he can also step beyond the arc if given the opportunity. He is 35-for-58 from 3-point range, which is a ridiculous 60.3%. The Wildcats will be riding on Williams' shoulders to have any shot at getting out of the first weekend, but don't be surprised to see them surprise some people.

-PREDICTIONS-

(1) Duke over (16) Hampton
(9) Tennessee over (8) Michigan
(5) Arizona over (12) Memphis
(4) Texas over (13) Oakland
(11) Missouri over (6) Cincinnati
(3) Connecticut over (14) Bucknell
(10) Penn State over (7) Temple
(2) San Diego State over (15) Northern Colorado

(1) Duke over (9) Tennessee
(4) Texas over (5) Arizona
(3) Connecticut over (11) Missouri
(10) Penn State over (2) San Diego State

(1) Duke over (4) Texas
(3) Connecticut over (10) Penn State

(1) Duke over (3) Connecticut

NCAA Tournament: East Region Preview

The month of March. For many of Irish descent, it's the time of year to celebrate and engage in the activities of St. Patrick's Day with friends and family. For those warm-weather lovers, the snow is finally disappearing, and spring is right around the corner. And for college basketball fans across America, it's that time of year to sharpen the pencils and print out the brackets for the much-anticipated NCAA basketball tournament. Die-hard fans call in sick for the third Thursday and Friday of the month to catch all of the action, office pools are organized, and normal everyday Joes like you and me try and defy the odds by trying to create the perfect bracket, filled with ridiculous upset predictions that make you look like a clown when they don't happen. Remember Siena over Purdue last year? Yeah, I thought I was being clever too.

But it's a new year, which of course means you have a fresh slate. Maybe this is finally the year when your 16 over 1 prediction comes through, right?

-2011 EAST REGION PREVIEW-

(1) Ohio State
(16) Texas-San Antonio/Alabama State
FRIDAY, 4:40 EST - Cleveland, OH - (TNT)

(8) George Mason
(9) Villanova
FRIDAY, 2:10 EST - Cleveland, OH - (TNT)

(5) West Virginia
(12) UAB/Clemson
THURSDAY, 12:15 EST - Tampa, FL - (CBS)

(4) Kentucky
(13) Princeton
THURSDAY, 2:45 EST - Tampa, FL - (CBS)

(6) Xavier
(11) Marquette
FRIDAY, 7:27 EST - Cleveland, OH - (truTV)

(3) Syracuse
(14) Indiana State
FRIDAY, 9:57 EST - Cleveland, OH - (truTV)

(7) Washington
(10) Georgia
FRIDAY, 9:30 EST - Charlotte, NC - (CBS)

(2) North Carolina
(15) Long Island
FRIDAY, 7:00 EST - Charlotte, NC - (CBS)


Top seeds

1. Ohio State (32-2) - The overall No. 1 in this year's dance and there's no doubt why. No. 1 in both polls, fresh off the Big 10 championship, just stomping on everyone with no questions asked. They can take you down low with Jared Sullinger's 17.3 points and 10.1 rebounds, they can take you outside with the terrific backcourt tandem of William Buford and Jon Diebler. They're the whole package and will be tough to dethrone.

2. North Carolina (26-7) - The ACC regular season champions didn't look like it early on in the season, but have since recovered and will fill a well-deserved No. 2 seed in the East. Since ACC play began on Jan. 8th, the Tar Heels are 16-3 with two losses coming to the hands of arch-rival Duke (who they did beat once). The Heels are a resilient bunch, displayed by comeback efforts against Miami and Clemson in the ACC Tournament, and that's good to see in a club led by a freshman in forward Harrison Barnes (15 ppg, 5.7 rpg). UNC leads the nation in rebounding and will no doubt be a force inside, but will a lack of consistent guard play and a roster that yields just two seniors - who both get little to no minutes - be their demise?


3. Syracuse (26-7) - After beginning the season 18-0, the Orange then dropped four contests and six out of their next eight, and it looked like they were falling deeper and deeper out of the championship picture as games wore on. However, a recent six-game winning streak followed by a narrow loss to red hot Connecticut in the Big East Tournament might be just what the doctor ordered as the Cuse seems to be peaking at the right time heading into the dance. They won't 'wow' you with any star players that will take over games, but they have a strong, well-rounded roster that has been tested and are ready for tournament battle. On the perimeter, Scoop Jardine and Brandon Triche can dazzle, and big man Rick Jackson (13 ppg, 10.6 rpg) can go at it with the best of them down low, while leading scorer Kris Joseph can make you pay from any point on the floor. Don't be surprised to see the Orange playing in Houston come April.

4. Kentucky (25-8) - Inexperience - similar to last year's John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins led team - will once again be a big factor for the Wildcats this March, but that won't stop them from making a run at the crown. With one senior on the roster, head coach John Calipari will rely heavily on the freshman star duo of Brandon Knight (17.5 ppg, 4.2 apg) and Terrence Jones (16.5 ppg, 9 rpg) to produce and produce often. The 'Cats are hot, riding a six-game winning streak and an SEC championship victory as they head to Tampa, and a hot streak is sometimes all you need. It doesn't hurt to have a guy in Calipari calling shots from the sidelines either, too.

Most Intriguing Matchup

(6) Xavier v. (11) Marquette

Xavier's seed may be a little deceiving this year as opposed to previous years. Before you go ahead and fill in the Musketeers as winners here, check out Marquette's body of work compared to Xavier's. Marquette has played 12 games against Top 25 teams this year, and although they've only won three of them, the experience of playing against the nation's top teams will be valuable come tourney time. Led by upperclassmen Darius Johnson-Odom and Jimmy Butler, the Golden Eagles have been there before and will be a tougher out than many may think. Conversely, Tu Holloway does it all for the Musketeers. He was there last year for their Sweet 16 run with senior big man Jamel McLean. Their 24-7 record may be deceiving however, especially against a rather weak Atlantic 10 where they rolled to a 15-1 record. Xavier only boasts one Top 25 matchup this season, a 20-point blowout loss to in-state rival Cincinnati - who is also an 11 seed in this year's Tournament.

Best Player

Jared Sullinger, forward, Ohio State

No surprise here. The do-it-all diaper dandy is the reason why the Buckeyes are the overall No. 1 this year. Averaging a double-double at 17.2 points and 10.1 rebounds, OSU will more than likely need that kind of production out of him if they want to cut down the nets in April. Carmelo Anthony was the last freshman to lead his team to the promised land (Syracuse, 2003); can Sullinger replicate that kind of performance? That is the golden question for the Buckeyes.

Best Coach

Jim Boeheim, Syracuse

Boeheim is one of two coaches in this region with a national championship under his belt, the other being North Carolina's Roy Williams. Both coaches are on a possible collision course in the Sweet 16, eight years removed from their national championship meeting when Williams was in control of Kansas. The result? Boeheim won. Different from his 2003 squad, the 2011 version boasts a more well-rounded roster in all classes as opposed to the national championship team that was led by underclassmen Gerry McNamara, Carmelo Anthony, and Hakim Warrick. Boeheim knows as much as anyone save Coach K on how to win in March and has built up a squad that is prepared for a deep run this spring.

Upset Alert

(15) Long Island over (2) North Carolina

The Tar Heels have been making a habit out of slow starts lately, as evidenced in the ACC Tournament when they had to come back to beat Miami and Clemson, and also being blown out by Duke in the championship game. Long Island hasn't danced in over 15 years and a matchup with the legendary program of UNC will only motivate them. They can put up points at a quick clip (fourth in the country in scoring) and crash the boards just as well as UNC (third in rebounding) and the young Tar Heels may be looking ahead to sexier matchups in the later stages of the bracket that will cloud their focus in this one, if even for just a little bit. And that little bit may be all the Blackbirds need. This one will be closer than most anticipate.


Search for Cinderella

(7) Washington

Experienced leaders and strong guard play are the key ingredients to success in March, and the Huskies have just that. Isaiah Thomas - fresh off of his buzzer-beating jumper to beat Arizona in the Pac-10 championship - is poised and ready to carry this team. UW matches up very well with UNC in a potential second-round matchup in which Thomas could go off against considerably weak opposing guard play. Matthew Bryan-Amaning and winger Justin Holiday are two strong senior leaders who compliment Thomas well and will make for a tough out for any of their opponents.

The darkhorse

(4) Kentucky

Kentucky is under the radar in this bracket because of the powerhouses that surround them, but they very much have the capability to make a run at the Final Four. They match up well with Ohio State in a potential Sweet 16 matchup and Calipari will have them focused on the task at hand. As mentioned, the 'Cats are blazing hot and have beaten Florida - a No. 2 seed in the Southeast region - twice in the past two weeks, so they're the real deal and are peaking at the right time.

-PREDICTIONS-

(1) Ohio State over (16) Texas-San Antonio
(8) George Mason over (9) Villanova
(5) West Virginia over (12) Clemson
(4) Kentucky over (13) Princeton
(11) Marquette over (6) Xavier
(3) Syracuse over (14) Indiana State
(7) Washington over (10) Georgia
(15) Long Island over (2) North Carolina

(1) Ohio State over (8) George Mason
(4) Kentucky over (5) West Virginia
(3) Syracuse over (11) Marquette
(7) Washington over (15) Long Island

(4) Kentucky over (1) Ohio State
(3) Syracuse over (7) Washington

(3) Syracuse over (4) Kentucky