The Midwest is the most difficult region. South is the area that can fly. The No. 1 Baylor has shown a late loss in defeats to Kansas and Oklahoma State, and will see more-than-capable No. 8 seeds, Roy Williams and North Carolina, in the second round. There are dangerous double digit seeds that will prevent significant threats, from No. 10 Virginia Tech to No. 14 Colgate to No. 15 Oral Roberts. Texas Tech is a living sixth seed, and although both No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Arkansas are Final Four threats, it will not be a surprise either way.
Final Four Pick: Texas Tech
The Big 12 will have a team cutting the Nets. Just what the team does not expect from anyone. Baylor does not even meet until the second weekend. Texas Tech is the last team to ride the hot hand of Georgetown transfer Mack McClub and coach Chris Beard is usually a tough defenseman. McClubb sent home Arkansas with a late jumper in the second round and the Red Raiders entered an elite eight matchup with North Carolina against Ohio State in the Sweet Red 16. Texas Tech’s pressure reaches the young guards of the Tar Heels, and Beard and Co. reach their second straight Final Four.
Player to Watch: Moses Moody, Arkansas
The landing of the top-50 wing for Eric Musselman in Arkansas established this breakthrough season. A one-in-a-lottery pick since losing in a National Championship game in 1995, Moody has also surpassed most expectations, leading the Razorks to their highest tournament seed.
Unsung Players: Max Abs, Oral Roberts
The nation’s leading scorer can fill it deep with 24.2 points per game, where the Texans are 43.3 percent strong, and specializes in entering the free-throw line (he attempts 5.2 tries per game). . The opponent will not scare him. Abbas dropped 33 on Oklahoma State and 28 on Wichita State.
Best First-Round Matchup: No. 3 Arkansas vs. No. 14 Colgate
Defensive purists turn away. It will be a track meet. Two teams that let it fly deep, average in the 80s and run, run, and run some more. Expect assets to be small and to be high. Triple digits will be in play.
First-Round Upset Watch: 12throp at No. 5 Villanova
Jay Wright’s team, considered a Final Four favorite in November, is literally a hobby in the tournament. Trin-Big East Player of the Year Colin Gillespie is out for the season. Backcourt Justin Moore has a higher ankle sprain and is unlikely to be close to 100 percent. And the depth-challenged Wildcats will have to face a deep team playing at the 11th-fastest pace in the country and running them into the fray.
Bracketbuster: No. 8 North Carolina
This is not your traditional eighth seed. The Tar Heels proved that they were in the tournament with a pair of late wins over Florida State and Virginia Tech, and when they get to play good guard to complement their elite frontcourt, North Carolina will give anyone Can be defeated. Roy Williams’ team will open the field by knocking at Baylor by the end of the first week.
Leave a Reply