In a year where there has been no clear cut number one, the NCAA Tournament is full of question marks and may be the hardest bracket to ever fill out. Here is a region by region analysis of this years tournament.
East- Although the number one overall seed in the entire tournament, Ohio State faces the toughest road to the Final Four. This region is filled with teams that can compete and ones with experience as well. Starting at the top half, Ohio State will win their first round game, but then must face either a George Mason team which could be the sleeper team of the tournament, or a Villanova ball club which will be playing with a chip on their shoulder after losing on day one of the Big East Tournament. Not the ideal spot for the Buckeyes being number one overall. Below those you have (5)West Virginia playing the play in game between UAB/Clemson. For notes wise, UAB does not deserve to be even mentioned, as they do not deserve to be in the tournament. If Clemson defeats this pretender then you may smell the 12 defeating the 5 there. Then you have Calipari's Kentucky taking on Princeton, which mine as well be a wash. Expect a Kentucky/Ohio State match up in the regional semi final (Sweet 16). For Ohio State, their Sweet 16 may be easier then there second round game. On the lower of this bracket is where the competition gets heavy. In the 6/11 game Xavier, out of the A 10, will play Marquette, out of the Big East. Xavier is a tournament accomplished team led by Tu Holloway, the Atlantic 10 player if the year. They are a feisty bunch that can make some noise, but Marquette is as good as anyone when hitting on all cylinders. Syracuse is not worth mentioning yet, as they will run Indiana State out of the arena. Then you have the 7/10 of Washington who defeated Arizona at the buzzer of the PAC 10, going against Georgia, another bubble team who never got busted. Georgia arguably should not be in based on losing to Alabama twice. This will be a great competitive match up, but Isiah Thomas and the Huskies will prevail and are good enough to get to the regional semi's as a 7 seed. The two seed is North Carolina, who just proved their flaws in the ACC Championship. If Harrison Barnes takes too many jump shots, and does not drive the lane, then Washington can pull of the upset in the second round. The reason why the East is the toughest based on the quality of the middle seeds and the potential of the 2-4 seeds. Without a shadow of a doubt Ohio State will face tough game after tough game, but if they are the best team in the nation like people say, then Ohio State will go into the Final Four.
West- Underneath the East region is what I like to call, the "reward," region. The West region is the region is one of the easier ones, but also the one that holds the easiest road to the regionals. It is the reward conference for the following teams, (1)Duke, (3)UConn, and (2)San Diego State. Duke was rewarded a one seed because they won the ACC, they also got an easy road to the regional as their hardest possible opponent may be the Volunteers of Tennessee, who are the 9 seed. San Diego State may be the unknown in the field as they have the most road wins, and have only lost twice all year. Due to their body of work, San Diego State was rewarded with the 2 seed. For all the UConn fans crying about not getting a 2 seed...SHUT IT! The road to the regional is an easier road then any other team in the ENTIRE tournament. It is deserved as they won five games to win their conference tournament, but if you are complaining about not getting a 2, then you are nuts. UConn will win their first round game against Bucknell, and then have the chance to play Cincinnati, who would be a conference opponent, who is not as good as years past. If this regional final (Elite 8) is not Duke against UConn, I will be shocked. I believe the committee set this up because of the media dream it will be. Two of the biggest Basketball programs of all time. Not to mention Kemba Walker going against Nolan Smith will be quite the show in the West.
Southeast- The southeast is even weaker then the West. I will say the same thing everyone else is, how does Florida get a 2 seed?!? This is a travesty, and quite frankly the worst part of this bracket. Florida played a great season but not this great. If you look at the bottom of the Southeast, the favorite to get to the elite 8 may be St. John's who is the 6 seed. If St. John's can defeat Gonzaga in round one then they can get to the Elite 8, even with the injury to DJ Kennedy. St. John's has been the giant killers this season, as they have defeated most of the top Big East clubs, as well as Duke who is the number one seed out West. Up top, Pittsburgh can walk their way to the Elite 8, as they will have opponents who are all Cinderellas and have huge question marks. Butler is not as good as last year, despite still having Matt Howard. Old Dominion does not play competition all year. Kansas State's hype is all because they can beat Kansas once. Please remember this is a team who lost to Colorado THREE TIMES! Colorado, another huge snub. Wisconsin is beatable to say the least. The only worry may be the 14 seed Belmont, as they have all the tools to be the Cinderella of the tournament, and the team that can make noise, that is not from a power conference. Pittsburgh has a walk, and may be playing a revenge game against their Big East foe St. John's for a spot in the final four.
Southwest- This region is the one with the most consistent 1-4 seeds. The one seed is Kansas, who plays team basketball, and has a legitimate chance at winning this whole thing. Notre Dame is the two seed, who has had a magical unexpected season can shoot with any team in the nation, but will be exposed by strong athletic good defensive teams. The three is Purdue, who just missed its chance last season, and will be out for blood this time around. Louisville is another strong Big East team, who is full of talented guards and strong big men. When playing well Louisville can make a statement as the best in the Big East. This may be the region where you see 1-4 seeds make it to there regional. The only mid seed that can make noise is Georgetown, if their point guard and leader Chris Wright returns from his broken left hand. In the actual regional though, Purdue may have the best shot at defeating mighty Kansas.
Here are some final thoughts and things to watch for when watching this year's tournament:
Easiest roads to regional: UConn, Pittsburgh
Cinderella watch: Belmont
Mid-level seeds (5-10) with a chance at Final Four: Washington, St. John's, Xavier
Weakest 1 seed: Pittsburgh (if exposed)
Weakest 2 seed: Florida
Most Vulnerable: Notre Dame, Marquette (if they do not shoot well)
Too much hype: Kansas State, BYU
Biggest Snub: Colorado and Virginia Tech
Biggest Gift: UAB
12 seeds most likely to upset a 5: Richmond, Clemson(if they win play in game)
Will a 16 defeat a 1 this year: NO
Match up to watch: Nolan Smith, Duke vs Kemba Walker, UConn
Team with most to prove: Villanova, UAB, Florida
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