The mission is very clear. Go on a 6 game winning streak. For some teams
that objective is easier said than done, Consider some facts while you
peruse the brackets.
No team #16 has won a tournament game...Niagara beating FAMU doesn't
count they are playing for the right to be the #16 seeded team. Since
the tournament went to 64 teams in 1985 #16 seeded teams are 0-84. About
the closest thing to a a stone cold lock you have is a #1 seed in the
first round.
The chances are a little better if your team is seeded #15 those seeded
there are 2-82...good luck
The best seed to spring an upset is the 5-12 which has seen
No team seeded lower than 11 has made it to the Final Four. George
Mason last year joined LSU as the only double digit seed to make the
final four.
There has yet to be a Final Four with all four #1 seeds making it
through. There have been 3 #1 seeds making it to the final four and the
team not seeded #1 has won the title. (Most recently Arizona in 1997
who became the first team to beat 3 #1 seeds to win the title (Kansas
was the #1 in the region Arizona won, and the Wildcats beat North
Carolina in Dean Smith's final game and defending champ UK to win the
title)
The Brackets go back to directional regions, (thank goodness) Though
the sites are not regional specfic, the NCAA took the measure of trying
to keep teams as close to home as possible. Which explains how
Louisville (75 mins), Xavier (90 mins) and Ohio State (3.5 hrs) are all
heading to Lexington
Let the madness begin, we'll look at the Thursday Games today and the
Friday Games tomorrow. If I can do it I'll try to preview the second
round games as well. I've grouped the games by the venue
1st Round games played at HSBC Center; Buffalo, NY
#13 Davidson (29-4, SoCon Champs) vs #4 Maryland (24-8 ACC At Large)
12:20 EDT-Midwest Regional
Led by sharpshooter Stephen Curry (son of former NBA Dell, a
sharpshooter in his own right) the Wildcats play a frentic high tempo
game. They are a handful. A team with tourney experience they took #2
seed Ohio State to the last minute last year. The Terrapins are a wild
combo of experience and youth with a veteran frontcourt led by Senior
Forward DJ Strawberry (Son of MLB slugger Darryl) and a young backcourt
led by guards Greivis Vasquez and Eric Hayes. Look for Davidson to try
to jack up the tempo and try to rattle the young Terrapin guards. I
think the Wildcats make the Terrapins sweat but lose a tight one.
#12 Old Dominion (24-8, Colonial At Large) vs #5 Butler (27-6 Horizon
At Large)
approx. 2:45-Midwest Regional
Two teams that come from mid-majors but have the chops to earn at-large
bids meet in an intriguing 5-12 matchup. Butler plays a methodical
disciplined game and AJ Graves has the long range accuracy to bomb any
opponent into submission. They won the preseason NIT by knocking off
Notre Dame, Indiana, Tennessee, and Gonzaga which adds serious weight to
their resume since all of the aformentioned squads are all in the field
of 64. Old Dominion has a solid team in its own right led by Drew
Williamson and Valdas Vasylius. Vasylius was a first team All-Colonial
and averages close to 16 ppg. This game reeks of upset potential, but
the Bulldogs want to validate their high seeding and I think they will
pull away late.
#11 Virginia Commonwealth (27-6 Colonial Champs) vs #6 Duke (22-10 ACC
At Large)
7:10 West Regional
Its A Fact-This is the lowest the Blue Devils have been seeded since
1996 and only their 3rd time being placed in the West region
#14 Wright State (23-9 Horizon Champs) vs Pittsburgh (27-7 Big East At
Large)
Approx 9:40 EDT West Regional
Its A Fact-This is the first time that two Horizon League teams have made the NCAA in the same year
The Raiders have pluck by winning the Horizon, but in all reality the Panthers have too much muscle and brawn
Games played at Lawrence Joel Coliseum, Winston-Salem NC
#10 Texas Tech (21-12 Big 12 At Large) vs #7 Boston College (20-11 ACC At
Large)
12:25 EDT East Regional
Its A Fact- Texas Tech has had a winning season in each of its four seasons under Bob Knight
The Red Raiders were a bit of a surprise getting into the tourney. BC made it into the tourney based on a strong start and sloughed off at the end. I think that Knight's postseason experience is a bit overrated. BC has a smallish front line and Tech might be able to exploit that with the scoring of Jarrius Jackson. This will be a good game but I think BC will pull it out
#15 Belmont (23-9 Atlantic Sun Champs) vs #2 Georgetown (26-6 Big East
Champs)
2:45 EDT East Regional
Its A Fact-Georgetown comes reaches the tourney as Big East Champs for the 1st time since 1989
The Big East Champs come in on a roll, Belmont is solid but they have no answer for Roy Hibbert and Patrick Ewing Jr. and should consider it a moral victory to keep the game close for a half.
#9 Michigan State (22-11 Big Ten At Large) vs #8 Marquette (24-9 Big East
At Large)
7:20 EDT East Regional
Its A Fact-This is the first tourney meeting between Tom Izzo and his protege Tom Crean
Many people were surprised to see the Spartans get a bid, but Tom Izzo always has a rugged team come tourney time and will be a handful. Marquete has flown under the radar for the most part all season, but has a talent guard corps in Dominic James and Wes Matthews. But without defensive stopper Jerrel McNeal the Golden Eagles could be in some trouble against the Spartans Drew Nietzel who is never scared to shoot. Problem is for both teams is that the winner gets a UNC team that is hella good. I still think in the first meeting, teacher beats student almost every time. No exception here.
#16 Eastern Kentucky (21-11 Ohio Valley Champs) vs North Carolina (28-6
ACC Champs)
9:40 EDT East Regional
Its A Fact
This game is in the Heels backyard, and it could get real ugly.
Games played at Rupp Arena; Lexington, KY
Stanford (18-12 Pac-10 At Large) vs Louisville (23-9 Big East At Large)
12:30 South Regional
Its A Fact-The Cards have played four tourney games in Lexington
The Cards are playing less than two hours from home, the Cardinal should be apologizing for even being here. Look for the Cards experience to shine through here.
#14Penn (23-9 Ivy Champs) vs #3Texas A&M (25-6 Big 12 Champs)
2:40-South Regional
Its A Fact-Penn or Princeton has represented the Ivy Group in the NCAA 14 of the past 15 years
#16 CCSU (22-11 NEC Champs) vs #1Ohio St (30-3 Big Ten Champs)
7:10 South Regional-
Its A Fact
This game may be close for a couple minutes...maybe. The Oden gang have bigger things to look at than a scrappy Blue Devil team just happy to be in the dance
#9 Xavier (24-8 Atlantic 10 At Large) vs #8 BYU (25-8 Mountain West)
approx. 9:50 South Regional
Its A Fact-
An intriguing matchup indeed,
Games played at Arco Arena, Sacramento
#14 Oral Roberts (23-10, Mid-Continent Champs) vs Washington State (25-7 Pac-10 At Large)
2:40 East Regional
Its A Fact
#11 George Washington (23-8 Atlantic Ten Champs) vs Vanderbilt (20-11 Southeastern At Large)
5:00 East Regional
Its A Fact
#15 Weber State (20-11 Big Sky Champs) vs #2 UCLA (26-5 Pac-10 At Large)
7:25 West Regional
Its A Fact
#10 Gonzaga (23-10 West Coast Champs) vs #7 Indiana (20-10 Big Ten At Large)
9:45 West Regional
Its A Fact
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