West First Round Bracket Breakdown

This is a breakdown of the first round of the NCAA brackets. Today we continue the breakdown with the West Bracket. Yesterday, was the breakdown of the Midwest bracket.

The west bracket looks like it will be the easiest for the top two seeds. Memphis and UConn should dominate through this bracket and match up against each other in the elite eight. But there is a possibility of upsets in this round.

1) UConn vs. 2) Chattanooga- Hashem Thabett and UConn should have no problem with the Mocs. I expect Thabett to have a big game.

8)BYU vs.

9)Texas A&M- This game was the toughest matchup to look at. Texas A&M blew a 21-point lead to Texas Tech in the Big 12 tournament. BYU is looking for their first tournament win since 1993. In the end though I have to go with Texas A&M. They played a tougher schedule in the Big 12. Chinemelu Elonu can dominate for A&M and he could be a huge mis-match for BYU.

5)Purdue vs. 1

2)N. Iowa- This has the makings of an upset. You have a tough Missouri Valley Conference opponent versus a team hampered by injuries. But Robbie Hummels back injury forced the young Boilermaker team to grow up in a hurry. E'Twaun Moore was huge in the Big Ten tournament, and Hummel is almost all the way back from his back injury. I have to go with Purdue in this game.

4)Washington vs. 13)Mississippi St.- Washington has it all. Quickness, size, experience, youth, and a deep bench. Also they will be well rested before this game. Mississippi St. on the other hand, is tired after making a run to the SEC championship. The match up between Mississippi St. center Jarvis Varnado and Washington's Jon Brockman should be the best player match up in the first round. I expect Washington's deep bench to take over in this game to come out with the win.

6)Marquette vs.11)Utah St.- Marquette never recovered when Dominic James went down with an injury. Jerel McNeal has to have a big game for Marquette. Utah St. is one of the best offensive teams in the nation. They can score from all ranges and they have five players who can shoot from the 3-point range. I like Utah St. in this game to pull the upset.

3)Missouri vs. 14)Cornell- Missouri's full-court press will be too much for Cornell. '40 minutes of hell' will carry Missouri all the way to the sweet sixteen.

7)California vs. 10)Maryland- Cal coach Mike Montgomery teams are like Dr. Jackell and Mr. Hyde when it comes to the tournament. His Stanford teams would either reach the elite eight or the final four. Or they would get bounced in the 1St. round. I do though like Cal in this game against Maryland. Jerome Randle is one of the best point guards in the nation. And Patrick Christopher can be deadly from the 3-point line. Also Cal is the best 3-point shooting team in the nation.

2)Memphis vs. 15) Cal St. Northridge- Northridge is known more for the 1994 earthquake that rattle Southern California and not basketball. I don't like their chances at all against Memphis.

This bracket has the potential for numerous 1st round upsets. While I do like the top seeds to advance, and think there could be at least two upsets in the first round of the west bracket.

Tomorrow will be the breakdown of the East first round bracket.