Madness: Breaking down the West bracket
By Paul Jordan
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Seriously I just get giddy this time of the year with looking over all of the matchups and potential upsets. It’s just great. Today you are about to get some expert(?) analysis on the West side of the bracket which actually features some matchup problems for the number one seed, Duke, instead of the cake walk they had last year. Let’s get it going working our way from the top of the bottom and then the road to the final four.
1. Duke vs. 16.Hampton: No way that a 16 is beating a one, the record is like 0-141, it isn’t going to happen but if it is going to happen I really hope it’s Duke…Next.
Winner: Duke
8. Michigan vs. 9.Tenneesee: When I saw this game on the bracket I immediately picked UT despite how badly they’ve played down the stretch. Honestly both these teams hit a rough patch around the same time in the season with Michigan dropping SIX straight games and UT only dropped three games, two at home to two NCAA tournament teams in USC and Oakland and one bad road loss in Charlotte.
Now I am in the camp to think UT shouldn’t have even got in and they weren’t even on the bubble talk for the Volunteers, but fate and a big win against Pittsburgh may have pushed them in.
Anyway, I don’t like mediocre Big Ten teams in any game and I think UT pulls this one out.
Winner: UT
5. Arizona vs. 12.Memphis: Okay, I’ll first start out by saying I’m not very high on this Memphis team at all and Arizona has played solidly all year. Memphis has had some good wins, but I think they would have been a lot more impressive if they hadn’t got blown out by UT earlier in the year. If you let Tennessee score 104 on you, you’ve got some issues. Arizona on the other hand has beaten everyone they are supposed to, but lost to every ranked team they played this year. If Arizona had been playing just about any other 12 seed in this tournament I probably would have picked the 12, but I just don’t think Memphis can handle them.
Winner: Arizona
4. Texas vs. 13. Oakland: Just like last year Texas is showing signs of folding with some late season losses against Colorado and K-State and Nebraska before that. This is my upset game. I really think Oakland has a chance to upset the Longhorns because of how bad they began playing toward the end of the season, going 4-3 in their last stretch of games. Not much can be said about Oakland, but I think they may be the typical team to come out and slay a giant. They’ve only had a good win against UT but they’ve literally played a killer of a schedule ranging from Ohio State to Purdue. They will be ready for the Longhorns.
Winner: Oakland
3. UConn vs. Bucknell: If Bucknell was playing another three seed I may change my mind but I think this is another easy picked game. I think Bucknell may give UConn a scare but if anyone steps up on this UConn team besides Kemba Walker (they have) then they could go to the final four, if they decide not to show up. UConn may lose in the second round.
Winner: UConn
7. Temple vs. 10.Penn State: Again, I’m terribly biased because I hate watching Big Ten basketball and just because Penn. State made that miracle run in the Big Ten tournament, in which one game they won a game in the thirties. Temple has been that solid Temple team they always are and scary to play in the tournament. I don’t think Penn State can keep this game low scoring like they like to do.
Winner: Temple
2. San Diego State vs. 15. Northern Col.: Again, I never pick a 15 over a two and it’s hard to make an argument for Northern Colorado giving San Diego State a game.
Winner: San Diego State
The rest of the story:
Okay, instead of breaking down the rest from here on out, I’ll just give you a couple of things to look out for:
I think UT will beat Duke. Duke lives and dies by the three, doesn’t have an outstanding big man and struggle against athletic and hardnosed teams, Tennessee is exactly that. I look for Duke to shoot poorly and make a second round exit and Bruce Pearl in his last hurrah goes to the sweet sixteen.
I have UConn coming out of this bracket to the final four and not because they are that good but because of the road that they have. I think they have the weakest two seed on their side and like I said if the team steps up around Kemba then they are good.
I only have Oakland winning one game and then out, but I think they may have a chance to go to the sweet sixteen and be the Cinderella darling of the tournament.
Happy madness ya’ll.
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