Breaking down the brackets
Two words: March Madness
ROMER BAUTISTA STAFF
It’s March Madness baby! 65 teams, 64 games, and only one winner. The NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament, which kicks off Thursday, will once again captivate the continent, and result in an estimated $1.1-billion loss in business due to fans opening up scoreboards instead of spreadsheets, over its three-week span.
This year’s edition of the tournament is especially intriguing because of the lack of a clear-cut favourite to win it all. That’s not to say that there aren’t any strong teams this year; in fact, the situation is the complete opposite. An influx of talented freshmen, coupled with the NBA’s new rule forcing players into one year of college before turning pro, has produced the strongest, most unpredictable field in years. As many as six teams can legitimately claim to be the team to beat. Here’s a breakdown, region by region, of how the tournament is shaping up.
MIDWEST (ST. LOUIS)
THE CONTENDER: FLORIDA
POSSIBLE CINDERELLA: WINTHROP
PLAYER TO WATCH: JOAKIM NOAH, FLORIDA
The Florida Gators are looking to become the first back-to-back champions since Duke won in ’91 and ’92. Of all the number-1 seeds in the tournament, Florida has the easiest road to the Final Four. It’s not as if they needed it either. The Gators are stacked with talent, depth, and most important of all, experience. Those are the ingredients of a championship team.
The only other teams that have a shot at challenging the Gators in this bracket are the Wisconsin Badgers and the Oregon Ducks, but both teams will need some help.
Wisconsin will need to continue to ride the shoulders of senior Alando Tucker, but with a thin supporting cast, the Badgers might not have enough offensive output to make a prolonged run.
Oregon, on the other hand, will need to have several more heroic performances by Bryce Taylor. In the Pac10 Tournament final, Taylor dropped 32 points on the USC Trojans, but more remarkably, shot a perfect 11-for-11 from the field. If Taylor’s shot continues to fall during the next three weeks, the Ducks will be able to compete with any team.
If you’re looking for a dark horse in this region, then look no further then the Winthrop Eagles. The Eagles went 28-4 this season, and are currently riding an 18-game winning streak. Their four losses this year? North Carolina, Wisconsin, Maryland, and Texas A&M — all teams with at least a number-4 seed in this year’s tournament.
WEST (SAN JOSE)
THE CONTENDERS: KANSAS, UCLAPOSSIBLE CINDERELLA: VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH
PLAYER TO WATCH: MARIO CHALMERS, KANSAS
The Kansas Jayhawks are the most balanced team in the nation, sporting a roster that has four players averaging double digits in points. Kansas also has the uncanny ability to rally back from early deficits, as they have shown the past two weekends in their Big 12 tilts against Texas. Logic says they’re the team to beat but . . .
The selection committee did them no favours placing them in the West region with the UCLA Bruins. Last year’s runner-up will have the home-state advantage, as all their games are scheduled to be played in California. This is a distinct advantage, especially considering that the Bruins were the beneficiaries of the same good luck during last year’s trip to the finals. And if that isn’t enough to stifle the Jayhawk’s Final Four plans, the Bruins also have a pretty solid team. They will be led by guards Darren Collison and Aaron Afflalo, and the man with the funnest name to say in all of basketball, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute.
The biggest storyline of the first couple of rounds in this region, however, may be the Duke Blue Devils. Perennial contenders no more, the Blue Devils have stumbled into an undeserving number-6 seed. They have lost three games in a row, seven of their last 11, and went a pedestrian-like 8-8 in the ACC. You now what that spells? U-P-S-E-T, and the Virginia Commonwealth Rams would be pleased to serve it up.
EAST (EAST RUTHERFORD)
THE CONTENDERS: NORTH CAROLINA, GEORGETOWN, TEXASPOSSIBLE CINDERELLA: ORAL ROBERTS
PLAYER TO WATCH: KEVIN DURANT, TEXAS
The East region is easily the hardest region of the four. The region is home to two of the most talented teams in all of college basketball (North Carolina and Georgetown), the best player in all of college basketball (Durant), and the winningest coach in all of college basketball (Bob Knight, Texas Tech). It will be a real dog-fight to see who comes out of East Rutherford alive.
Starting at the top of the region, one cannot discount the Tar Heels of North Carolina. Like the other top-seeds, North Carolina is loaded with talent. However, this team is young. They are led by freshmen Brandon Wright and Ty Lawson. Plus, their other star, Tyler Hansborough, has struggled since being forced to wear a mask after breaking his nose in the ACC tournament. Head coach Roy Williams will have his hands full getting his boys ready for the tough road ahead of them.
Likely to be waiting for the Tar Heels on the other side of the bracket will be the Georgetown Hoyas. The Hoyas won the Big East conference by dominating the paint. And with post players like Jeff Green and Roy Hibbert they should do the same in this tournament, where the slow, grind-it-out system usually prevails.
The only team standing in the way of a dream North Carolina/Georgetown Elite Eight matchup is the Texas Longhorns. While not as talented as either the Tar Heels or the Hoyas, the Longhorns do have the most talented player in college basketball at their disposal, Kevin Durant. Only a freshman, Durant has put up amazing numbers (25.6 PPG, 11.3 RPG), and is a must-watch every time he steps out onto the court. Whether or not he can lead Texas to a national title on his own, a la Carmelo Anthony in 2003, remains to be decided however.
SOUTH (SAN ANTONIO)
THE CONTENDERS: OHIO STATE, MEMPHISPOSSIBLE CINDERELLA: ALBANY
PLAYER TO WATCH: GREG ODEN, OHIO STATE
The number-1 ranked team at the end of the regular season, the Ohio State Buckeyes should have no problems making it to the Elite Eight. The team is led by the likely number-1 draft pick in the upcoming NBA draft, Greg Oden. On the court, Oden looks like a man among boys. And his numbers reflect that. Oden is averaging 15.5 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks a game. The most amazing part? He’s done this damage while playing most of the year recovering from a broken right hand — his strong hand. As the injury has continued to heal, the numbers have continued to soar. Oden is a match-up nightmare for any of the teams in the field.
If there is one style of play that can derail the Buckeyes, it is the run-and-gun style of the Memphis Tigers. The Tigers’ up-tempo game may be too fast for the Buckeyes. Guards Chris Douglas-Richards and Jeremy Hunt are lightning-quick, and can get to the basket with ease. The Tigers are also on a roll, winning 22 straight, and completely abusing Conference USA all year.
Should the two teams meet in the Elite Eight, it will be interesting to see which style wins out.
