This region has some deep history behind it. The top three seeds account for 24 national championships. If you count the two won by Cincinnati in the 1950's and Arkansas in 1994, that means this region has 27 national championships between five different schools. This
is the toughest region to predict. Here is what it looks like
1) North Carolina
2) Kentucky
3) UCLA
4) Butler
5) Minnesota
6) Cincinnati
7) Dayton
8) Arkansas
9) Seton Hall
10) Wichita State
11) Kansas State
12) Middle Tennessee State
13) Winthrop
14) Kent State
15) Northern Kentucky
16) Texas Southern
ROUND OF 64
#1 North Carolina over #16 Texas Southern
Texas Southern is probably the best of the 16 seeds, but they are still a 16 seed, so that doesn't really matter.
#9 Seton Hall over #8 Arkansas
This match-up doesn't excite me whatsoever. I have not been impressed by Arkansas or the SEC all year long. I'll take Seton Hall.
#12 Middle Tennessee State over #5 Minnesota
The Gophers are a good team who is playing well, but they should NOT be a five seed. This is a better Middle Tennessee team than the one that knocked off Michigan State last year.
#4 Butler over #13 Winthrop
I wanted to pick Winthrop, but Butler always finds a way to win games.
#6 Cincinnati over #11 Kansas State
I think this will be the first time since the First Four was implemented that they will fail to have a team advance out of the Round of 64. Cincinnati is just a tad better than the Wildcats in what could be Bruce Weber's last game
#3 UCLA over #14 Kent State
This one could be ugly.
#10 Wichita State over #7 Dayton
The doofuses on the committee seeded the Shockers as a 10 seed and Dayton has to pay for the committee's mistake.
#2 Kentucky over #15 Northern Kentucky
I think it's probably pretty obvious that Kentucky is the best team in the Bluegrass state. They prove that against the Norse.
ROUND OF 32
#1 North Carolina over #9 Seton Hall
North Carolina takes care of the Pirates advances to Sweet Sixteen
#12 Middle Tennessee State over #4 Butler
Blue Raiders to the Sweet Sixteen! Like I said this is a better team than the one that upset Michigan State last year. I look for the Blue Raiders to use Giddy Potts, Reggie Upshaw and Ja'Corey Williams to advance past Butler
#3 UCLA over #6 Cincinnati
Lonzo Ball, TJ Leaf and Bryce Alford spells trouble for the Bearcats.
#2 Kentucky over #10 Wichita State
While this could be a potential upset, I think Kentucky is just a bit too much for Wichita State.
SWEET SIXTEEN
#1 North Carolina over #12 Middle Tennessee State
The dream ends for the Blue Raiders in Memphis, They meet their match in the Tar Heels
#2 Kentucky over #3 UCLA
These two teams played one of the best games of the year back in December when UCLA knocked off #1 Kentucky 97-92. Kentucky is playing so good right now that I'm not sure Lonzo Ball is enough to get by Malik Monk, Bam Adebayo and company,
ELITE EIGHT
#2 Kentucky over #1 North Carolina
These two teams also played in a classic this year. Malik Monk went off for 47, I don't think that will be necessary. Kentucky is playing like a team on a mission. They advance to the Final Four.
No comments:
Post a Comment