NCAA Tournament Bracket Tips: East, the Region of Death
By Jason McIntyre
Best 1st Round Game: Northern Iowa (5) vs. Wyoming (12). The Panthers only lost three games all season, and two of them came against tourney teams (VCU, Wichita State). They’re so good offensively they rank in the Top 20 according to Ken Pom for 2 FG% and 3 FG%. Defensively, they’re 16th in the country. Why is Wyoming compelling? The inside-outside combo of Larry Nance Jr and Josh Adams. They’ll slow it down, ugly the game up and keep it close for at least 35 minutes. Honorable mention: LSU/NC State will be close but unwatchable. Michigan State is only favored by 5.5 against Georgia. Belmont could give Virginia a game for 30-35 minutes the way Coastal Carolina did last year.
2015 1st round NBA Draft picks: Montrezl Harrell (Louisville), Kris Dunn (Providence), Justin Anderson (Virginia), Jordan Mickey (LSU). Dunn was a highly-accomplished point guard recruit in 2012, and one of the top 20 players in the nation. Injuries have slowed his career (torn labrum in 2012, shoulder surgery in 2013), but he’s finally healthy. Harrell is a tweener by NBA standards, but right now, still a lottery pick.
Double-Digit Biggest darkhorse: UC Irvine (14). The Anteaters are a horrible matchup for offensively-challenged Louisville. UC-Irvine is a Top 100 team defensively according to Ken Pom. UCI led Arizona 46-41 with 30 minutes left before giving up a 15-0 run and not scoring for nearly six minutes. Have the size (7-foot-6 Mamadou Ndiaye and 7-foot-2 Ioannis Dimakopoulos) to keep the Cardinals off the offensive glass. Honorable mention: Belmont.
Best Individual Matchup: Ryan Arcidiacono Villanova’s point guard, against Lafayette’s Nick Lindner. They know each other from AAU battles in Pennsylvania, but are different leaders – Arch is smooth, a skilled passer, and the consummate leader (also, co-Big East Player of the Year). Lindner is tough-as-nails, and has emerged their go-to scorer late in the season, topping 20 points in four of their last five games.
Best Coach in the Region: Tom Izzo, Michigan State. This one’s easy. His track record in March terrifies Virginia fans. Honorable mention: Tony Bennett, Virginia, who took Washington State to the Sweet 16, and now has the Cavaliers primed for a trip to the Final Four.
My Starting 5 (and 6th man) in the Region: PG Kris Dunn (Providence), SG Buddy Hield (Oklahoma), SF Larry Nance Jr. (Wyoming), PF Montrezl Harrell (Louisville), C: Seth Tuttle (Northern Iowa). 6th man: Terry Rozier (Louisville). Honorable mention: Branden Dawson (Michigan State), Jordan Mickey (LSU), Justin Anderson (Virginia).
Regional Final, Heart Says: Villanova vs. Virginia. Because both fan bases think I hate their teams, and haven’t given them enough props all season. I’m actually rooting for Virginia to make a run, given my Virginia roots.
Regional Final, Head Says: Villanova vs. Oklahoma. The Sooners have their best defensive team in years, have lost to one non-tourney team in the last two months (Kansas State), and led the Big 12 in free throw shooting (73 percent). Fears: Potential to get hammered on the glass, foul trouble to Hield.
I Filled out 13 Brackets and … Oklahoma 4, Virginia 3, Louisville 2, Villanova 2, Michigan State 2.