The brackets are set and while everyone in your office pool scrambles to find new inventive ways to predict the winners – like flipping a coin or having their girlfriend pick their favorite color or mascot — we here at CraveOnline got you covered. You wanna have a chance at Warren Buffett’s $1 billion dollars for a perfect bracket? Here you go. You can thank us later.
Toughest Region: Midwest
The committee did no favors for the undefeated 1 seed, Wichita State. The selection committee basically said “You want respect? Alright, here ya go,” and gave them the most difficult road to Dallas. The Shockers have pre-season No. 1 Kentucky possibly awaiting them in the second round which seems to have transformed during the SEC tournament. They also have defending champion Louisville in the upper half bracket, who has been on a tear.
At the bottom half of the bracket, they have Jabari Parker’s Duke squad as the 3 seed and a hot Michigan squad as the 2 seed. That is three of the 2013 Final Four teams in one region.
Weakest Region: West Region
What was the committee doing? There has been too much emphasis put on geographical location as opposed to evenly splitting up the teams and this is a prime example. Every single year the committee puts together a difficult region and an embarrassingly easy bracket. This is this season’s easy bracket. An injured Arizona team looks to have the easiest path to the Final Four. Only a disappointing Oklahoma State team seems to be what stands in their way of a Sweet 16 appearance. The 4 seed in the upper bracket is San Diego State with Wisconsin as their 2 seed and the Doug McDermott led Creighton Blue Jays as the 3 seed. Wisconsin is no joke and has beaten Florida, Michigan, and Michigan State but Bo Ryan’s clubs always seem to disappoint.
Likely Second Round (round of 64) Upsets
(Note: I was correct on three out of four upset picks last season)
South: 12 Stephen F. Austin over 5 VCU
VCU used to be everyone’s popular ‘Cinderella’ pick but now they’re on the other side of the coin. The Lumberjacks of Stephen F. Austin are on a 28 game winning streak. VCU should be afraid because Stephen F. Austin can take care of the basketball, which can work against VCU’s pressure defense. They’re a smart ball club who knows how to get the ball in the right place with their ranking of 8th in the nation regarding assists per game as evidence. With four players averaging double-digits a game highlighted by Senior guard, Desmond Haymon, they’re ripe for a run to the Sweet 16.
East: 10 Saint Joseph’s over 7 UConn
UConn is back from a 2013 postseason ban and have some notable wins on their resume (Florida, Memphis, Cincinnati) but Saint Joseph’s is riding high after winning the Atlantic 10 with a win over VCU. Remember the name Langston Galloway. Galloway is averaging 17 ppg and is averaging 23.7 ppg in his last four contests. He should be able to neutralize UConn’s Shabazz Napier, setting up an intense Philly-base rivalry against Villanova in the next round.
West: 12 North Dakota State over 5 Oklahoma
Midwest: 12 NC State over 5 St. Louis
The wheels have fallen off for the Billikens. They have lost four of their last five games including an embarrassing loss to a 13-17 Duquesne. Teams that are slumping don’t suddenly turn it on in the NCAA tournament. NC State has to get past Xavier first but with ACC Player of the Year, T.J. Warren in control, averaging nearly an incredible 25 ppg, it should be no problem. In fact, the last time Warren scored less than 20 points in a game was January 11th.
For the sake of not boring you to tears with 12 over 5 upsets, we’ll throw you one more bone.
11 Tennessee over 6 UMass
Jordan McRae and Jarnell Stokes will expose an overrated A-1O UMass team.
Sleepers By Region
South: New Mexico
The Lobos are anxious to erase their embarrassing first round loss to Harvard last season and they’re in position to do it. The Mountain West champions have two wins over a really good San Diego State team. New Mexico’s seniors Cameron Bairstow and Kendall Williams are averaging a combined 36.7 ppg, 11 rpg, and 6 apg. They are set up for a rematch with a 2 seed Kansas team in the second round. Kansas, a 9 loss squad should not have been a 2 seed but did beat the Lobos by 17 back in December. However, Kansas had big man, Joel Embiid go for 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 blocks, but he’s injured and won’t be able to play this weekend. That puts New Mexico in position to go deep in the tourney.
East: Michigan State
I know, how can Michigan State, a pre-season No. 2 be considered a sleeper? Well, they battled through injuries for most of the season and as a result, got a 4 seed. But their team seems to be clicking and captured the Big Ten tournament championship Sunday.This is a veteran squad with Gary Harris, Adreian Payne, Keith Applying, and Branden Dawson — guys who should scare the hell out of opposing coaches. You can bet on Michigan State taking out 1 seed Virginia in the Sweet 16, but can they get to the Final Four?
West: Creighton
Midwest: Kentucky
You’ll be hard pressed to find a team that disappointed more than this Kentucky squad. The young Cats had what some analysts called the best recruiting class in history — at least on paper — with a chance at going 40-0. That was ridiculous. But not all is lost. Kentucky seems to have turned the corner in the past week and looked like a completely different team in the SEC tournament. They even had the No. 1 overall seed, Florida, on the brink of defeat before losing by one.
If Kentucky can win their first round game, they will meet Wichita State in the next round and as good as the undefeated Shockers are, they have not played anyone nearly as talented as this Kentucky team. If they can stop the undefeated streak, they would likely face Louisville in the Sweet 16, who they already defeated. The Wildcats very well could get to the Final Four and they could also get beat in the first round.
First 1 Seed To Go Down: Wichita State
History shows that every team that went 30-0 after a Final Four appearance made it right back to college basketball’s biggest stage the next season. The Shockers will break that streak early on. The Shockers are a fantastic team and if they were in the East or West I’d put them in the Final Four, but they’re not coming out of this region. Kentucky’s size and athleticism is a nightmare for a squad who’s biggest player is 6’9”. And if they get past Kentucky, they’ll get knocked off by Louisville for sure in the next round.
Final Four Picks
South: Florida
Not much surprise here. The Gators are by far the best team in college basketball this season, running the table in the SEC and are riding high on a 26 game win streak. The senior-led group have suffered three straight Elite Eight losses. They have the experience and the talent to finally burst through that door to the Final Four.
East: Iowa State
Most experts are picking Michigan State to win this region. We’re telling you to ignore those ‘experts’ and read up on Iowa State. Fred Hoiberg’s group just won the Big 12 tournament championship. They’re lead by Big 12 player of the year, Melvin Ejim (18.1 ppg), Deandre Kane (17.0 ppg), and Georges Niang (16.5 ppg). The Cyclones nationally rank 6th in points per game and 1st in assists. They already have wins over Michigan and Kansas so people need to wake up. The Cyclones will be dancing all the way to the Final Four.
West: Arizona
Arizona looks to have the easiest path to a Final Four but have not looked nearly as tough as they did before the Brandon Ashley injury. Guard Nick Johnson and standout frosh Aaron Gordon will determine if Arizona can get back to their first Final Four in 13 years. They are the region’s most talented team and playing in Anaheim will help their chances, but Wisconsin could take this team out so watch carefully.
Midwest: Michigan
We gotta be honest here. This is our least confident pick. 2013’s Runner-up, Michigan, looks great despite losing some major components in last year’s run. The Big Ten champs are lead by conference player of the year, Nik Stauskas and his 17 ppg. Stauskas and Glenn Robinson III return championship game experience, which means everything in a one and done format.
The problem is, their path will be extremely difficult. They could face a good Arizona state team in the 2nd round, and Duke in the Sweet 16. With Jabari Parker and the officials, it will be difficult to beat the Blue Devils. Then if they get past them, they will await an undefeated Wichita State team or an awesome Louisville team for a chance at returning to the Final Four. But make no mistake, Michigan is good enough to come out of this region.
Joshua Caudill is a writer for CraveOnline Sports, a surfing enthusiast, an unhealthy sports fanatic, and an expert on all things Patrick Swayze. You can follow him on Twitter @JoshuaCaudill85 or “like”CraveOnline Sports on Facebook.
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