We return to have a look at the remaining two regions, the East, where the #1 seed is North Carolina, and the South, featuring #1 seed Ohio State. There are a lot of good teams out there. Let's take a look at the likely Sweet 16 participants.
First, the East.
- First Round: Once again, you can pencil in Georgetown past Belmont and North Carolina past Eastern Kentucky. Would you like to learn a little more about the losers? So would I, but as #15 and #16 seeds it is highly unlikely that they'll be around for round 2. Don't worry, the rest of the bracket has some very difficult-to-pick matchups. For instance, what do you do with Michigan State vs. Marquette? What I do is look at the Spartans having only one good out of conference win, against Texas in November, and pick Marquette. Boston College isn't spectacular, after losing shotblocker Sean Williams in midseason, but generally doesn't beat itself. They'll take Texas Tech, Bob Knight notwithstanding. We've Arkansas, who made the final of the SEC tournament where they lost to Florida, taking on the Trojans of Southern Cal. Give me the Razorbacks. The WAC was quite good this year, and New Mexico State finished second to Nevada, a #7 seed. I just don't think they'll get past Texas and their splendid future Celtic, Kevin Durant. I'll take Karl Hobbs' George Washington Colonials over the Vanderbilt Commodores, who lost some of their shine late in the season. Finally, Oral Roberts has size enough to bother Washington State. Will it be enough? Survey says ... yes.
- Round Two: Georgetown will not lose to BC, given their defensive strength and forward Jeff Green. Similarly UNC will be able to defend Marquette's quickness and move on. Texas and Arkansas will be a heckuva game, but I'll go with the chalk and take the Longhorns. The #11/#14 matchup of GWU and ORU goes to George Washington.
- That should leave us with UNC, Texas, Georgetown and George Washington. Hmm ... Hoyas and Colonials instead of donkeys and elephants.
Now to the South:
- Round One: You know by now, don't you? Move Ohio State and Memphis to the second round, over Central Connecticut and North Texas, respectively. Xavier and BYU is one of those great #8/#9 matchups that could go either way. I'll take Xavier. The Volunteers should handle Long Beach State easily. Bruce Pearl has experience and Chris Lofton. Virginia did well in the ACC, but lost early in the league tournament. They'll handle Albany, but the Great Danes can play, so it'll be a game. Louisville should beat Stanford, though the Cardinal's size may bother the Cardinals. Texas A&M had better be ready for the Quakers of Penn. They will be. Nevada and Creighton will be a terrific game. I'll go with the seedings here and take the Wolf Pack.
- Round Two: Ohio State and Greg Oden are too strong for Xavier, but it is an intrastate game. Tennessee and Virginia should be a very tough game. I'll take the Cavaliers of Dave Leitao, but they'll need to refocus. Louisville and the Aggies of A&M should be a fun game. I suspect Louisville's pressure will get the job done. Finally, look for Nevada to end Memphis' long winning streak behind Nick Fazekas.
- That leaves Ohio State, Virginia, Louisville and Nevada heading to the second weekend.
You're free to disagree, and I'd certainly be interested in any informed commentary telling me I'm full of it. Go ahead.
