On Sunday evening, the networks revealed the sixty-eight teams that qualified for the 2014 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. The first round of games begins tomorrow evening in Dayton, Ohio, and the tournament will continue until the National Championship game airs on April 7th from AT&T (Cowboys) Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Tonight's post will be a brief analysis of the four regional divisions that make up the NCAA Tournament bracket.
SOUTH REGION
#1 Seed - Florida Gators, #2 Seed - Kansas Jayhawks
Regional Championship Venue: FEDEX Forum, Memphis, Tennessee.
After going undefeated in regular conference play, and winning the Southeastern Conference tournament, the Florida Gators are the #1 Seed in the South Region. But their path to the regional finals will be a struggle. There are plenty of top-tier teams in this region, including Kansas, Syracuse, Ohio State, Virginia Commonwealth, Pittsburgh, UCLA, and New Mexico. Kansas went to the round of sixteen last year, and I can see them repeating that feat unless a team like New Mexico, the Mountain West Champion, gets the upset. Syracuse may be in a very good position to make a run if they can overcome Ohio State, but that may be a difficult task since the Buckeyes were undefeated in non-conference play this season. Another dangerous team is PAC-12 champion UCLA, who received a #4 seed and will play Conference-USA champion Tulsa in the second round. Can Florida make it all the way to the Final Four? I am not so sure. Going through a conference undefeated is an incredible achievement but the SEC was arguably the weakest of the "power conferences" in basketball this season. Florida's losses to UCONN and Wisconsin, along with narrow escapes against Kansas and Memphis, prove that this team is beatable. Look for a potential upset.
WEST REGION
#1 Seed - Arizona Wildcats, #2 Seed - Wisconsin Badgers
Regional Championship Venue: Honda Center, Anaheim, California.
Despite losing their conference championship game, Arizona deserves their status as a number one seed. The Wildcats were undefeated in non-conference play and their only regular season losses were by single-digit margins (and two of those losses were in overtime). Arizona is in an excellent position to advance all the way to the Final Four, but their main obstacle will be one of two teams from the BIG XII, Oklahoma or Oklahoma State. Oklahoma received a #5 seed, and they represent a conference that sent seven teams to the tournament, more than any other league. San Diego State is in this bracket as well, and despite losing the Mountain West Championship game to New Mexico, the Aztecs still finished the season ranked #13 in the Associated Press Top 25. Wisconsin secured the #2 seed, but their path to the Final Four is a difficult one, since they may have to play either Creighton or Baylor. And both teams were runner-ups in their respective conference championships.
Look for Arizona to do very well in this bracket.
EAST REGION
#1 Seed - Virginia Cavaliers, #2 Seed -Villanova Wildcats
Regional Championship Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York City
It seemed like the #1 seed in this region would come down to either Virginia or Villanova. But, as they say, Villanova's loss was Virginia's gain. Virginia had to defeat Duke in order to put itself in a favorable position to secure its first Final Four appearance since 1984. However, the team most likely to block that road is Big Ten Conference tournament champion Michigan State. The Spartans finished the season ranked #11 in the AP Top 25 and their resume includes wins over then #1 ranked Kentucky in November, and #3 ranked Ohio State in January. Cincinnati is a dangerous #5 seed, but it still has to beat Ivy League champion Harvard. Iowa State, the BIG XII tournament champion, drew a #3 seed while teams like North Carolina and UCONN face the possibility of getting upset in the second round by Providence and Saint Joseph's, respectively. Not sure who will win this region. No clear favorite.
MIDWEST REGION
#1 Seed - Wichita State Shockers, #2 Seed - Michigan Wolverines
Regional Championship Venue: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana.
More than one commentator had their fair share of critiques for this bracket. Charles Barkley referred to it as a "stacked deck" because Wichita State, the #1 seed, has the most difficult path to the Final Four out of all the top seeds. Indeed, this bracket contains three out of the four teams that made it to the National Semifinals of last year's tournament. My main problem with this bracket is the fact that Duke, though a #3 seed, practically plays in a home venue for its opening round games. Duke plays #14 Mercer in RALEIGH (26.5 miles from campus). That is less distance than any of the #1 seeds have to travel for their opening round games. Let us compare distances right now:
#1 Wichita State - plays in St. Louis, distance from campus: 440 miles.
#1 Virginia - plays in Raleigh, distance from campus: 178 miles.
#1 Florida - plays in Orlando, distance from campus: 111.7 miles.
#1 Arizona - plays in San Diego, distance from campus: 410 miles.
#3 Duke - plays in Raleigh, distance from campus: 26.5 miles.
Not sure why no one has mentioned this problem of fairness and favoritism. Meanwhile, some commentators have asked why Louisville only received a #4 seed, despite winning their conference championship. Two teams from the BIG XII, Kansas State and Texas, are in this bracket, as are two teams from the Atlantic 10: Massachusetts and St. Louis. Can Wichita State become the first team since Indiana back in 1976 to go through the season undefeated? I guess we will find out in a couple of weeks.
Enjoy the tournament, everybody!!
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