I previewed the cakewalk known as the South Regional. Know it's time to preview the regional that has a lot of question marks. The number 1 seed (Syracuse) lost two games in a row heading into the tournament and may be without their starting center for this weekend. The number 2 seed (Kansas State) is highly overrated. The 3 seed (Pittsburgh) is a overachiever. And no one has much confidence in the 4 seed(Vandy). This bracket could go a lot of different directions. Revenge!
Right when the Syracuse class of 2005 meet for a reunion, it was announced that Syracuse would play Vermont in the 1st round of the tournament. Remember the last time they meet in the tournament? Gus Johnson went crazy.
Gonzaga a Final 4 Team?
That's what the guys over at The Dagger are predicting. Sorry, but I can't predict Gonzaga as a Final 4 team. This team has struggled all year away from Spokane. They lost to Michigan State and Duke on the road. Then they lost to WCC bottom feeders on the road in San Francisco and Loyola Marymount. Then they lost in the WCC tournament in Las Vegas. And now they have to travel all the way cross country to Buffalo to play Florida State and possibly Syracuse. Sorry, but this team isn't going to the Final 4. Plus, their overrated anyway.
Sleeper: Butler
Butler has one of the easiest paths to the Sweet 16. The Bulldogs play an undisciplined UTEP team in the 1st round. Then in the 2nd round they would play either Vanderbilt or Murray State. Butler, a deep team, could make a sustained run to the Sweet 16. Gordan Hayward leads in the frontcourt and they have one of the best point guards that no one has ever heard of in Shelvin Mack. I'm a sucker for the Bulldogs.
Most Intriguing 1st Round Game: BYU vs. Florida
This is the first game right out of the gates. Florida features two great guards in Kenny Boynton and Erving Walker. BYU features Jimmer Fredette and his 21 points per game. BYU also features the same Jonathan Tavernari who got into that argument with New Mexico coach Steve Alford. This was the toughest game for me to pick in my bracket. Both teams are under-the-radar.
Possible 2nd Round Match-Up That's Intriguing: BYU vs. Kansas State
K-State has two experienced, talented guards (Pullen, Clemente) and active bigs (Samuel, Kelly.) Kansas State though has struggled against teams with great backcourts. BYU has Fredette and Jackson Emery in their backcourt and both players average double points. This could be a great 2nd round match-up.
Send It In Jerome!
While Vermont isn't the most athletic team in the tournament, they do have one player who is a beast. Meet Marqus Blakely and he's a beast.
Final 4 Pick: Syracuse
I'm going all chalk. Also though Syracuse might have slumped lately, they were consistently the best team in the toughest conference The Big East. Yes Arinze Onuaku is hurt, but Syracuse is deep enough to make a run without him. Also no one has talked about this, but the West regional isn't the deepest in it's own rights.
I think Syracuse is in trouble without Onuaku. I also K-State is a fraud. I'm going to take a chance with the Butler and their disciplined system.
ReplyDeleteBYU has one of my favorite players in the tourney: the Jimmer.
Butler always seems to be that mid-major team that we always expect big things from but always underachieves. This year they have been a team that becomes complacent once they have a lead, only changing that in the Horizon League Tournament. They are used to sleep-walking through teams and winning by 10. UTEP is going to give them all they can handle in that first round game.
ReplyDeleteI do agree that Syracuse is in trouble. If they can get by FSU, I can easily see Gonzaga upsetting the Cuse. The matchup favors the Zags and seriously, we could use another great Gus Johnson call on a Gonzaga upset. This may not have been their best season, but frankly, I think this year is Gonzaga's best chance in years to make it to the Final Four.
This is going to be the crazy, unpredictable bracket. K-State is overrated without a doubt and if they can make it past BYU (big if), they could easily run into a juggernaut Pitt team. That Sweet 16 game would not end well for K-State.