Now that the 65 team field is set, it’s time to start breaking down the brackets and separating the contenders from the pretenders in an attempt to help you win your office pool. Which squad is overrated, under-seeded, or will become this year’s Cinderella? In our third of four bracket previews, we will take a deeper look at the East Region.
Contenders
#1 seeded Kentucky has a lot going for them as the most talented team in the country. As both the regular season and conference tourney SEC champs, coach Calipari has guided his 4 stud freshmen along with a talented handful of upperclassmen back to the elite. Kentucky, along with Kansas have the best chance of winning a National Championship especially since the East Region shouldn’t be as difficult to navigate all the way to at least the Final Four. The #2 seeded West Virginia is hot, fresh off of winning the Big East Tournament behind Da’Sean Butler, who is as clutch as any player in the country. The Mountaineers should meet up with the Wildcats in the round of 8. Don’t sleep on #3 New Mexico, out of the Mountain West, since they should at least advance to the Sweet 16. With Bo Ryan at the helm, never count out #4 seeded Wisconsin for a deep tourney run. If the #5 seeded Temple can get past a brutal first round match-up with Cornell, the Owls could be the sleeper of the bracket.
Underseeded
Cornell Big Red
As the Ivy League’s best team this year, the Big Red aren’t what we are used to seeing out of the nation’s top academic conference. They very well could be the best squad out of the Ivy in the past 20 years, including the mid 90’s Princeton teams. Don’t forget, Cornell was ranked in the Top 25 for most of the season after winning 27 games and coming within 5 points of upsetting Kansas on their home floor, back on January 6th. They rely on a talented group of seniors led by Ryan Wittman(17.5 ppg), 7 foot center Jeff Foote(12 ppg, 8 rebs, 2 blk), and Louis Dale(12 ppg, 4 ast) at the point. After such a great season, one would think they would at leat be a #8 or #9 seed, but once again the committee punished them for playing in the Ivy. Unfortunately, they play another drastically underseeded squad in the Temple Owls in the first round. It may be the must see game in the opening round.
Overseeded
Marquette Golden Eagles
Although they finished the year strong by putting in a good showing in the Big East Tournament, coach Buzz Williams’ squad is just to small to compete against a number of top tier tourney teams. No offense to Lazar Hayward, who at 6’6, is their tallest starting player. I give them credit for surviving a 2-5 Big East start and numerous close losses, to make the tourney field, but they should be a #8 seed or worse. Behind Hayward(18 ppg, 8 rbs) and Jimmy Butler(15 ppg, 6 rebs), the Eagles are a scrappy bunch, but must play the perfect game to go far in this year’s tournament. Even a match-up in the first round against Pac-10 Tourney Champ Washington is a virtual pick-em. Lack of depth is also an issue since only 6 players average more than 12 minutes per game.
Bracket Sleeper
Temple Owls
The Fran Dunphy coached Owls got a raw deal being selected as a #5 seed and also for drawing a first round game against a tough Cornell squad. But surely coach “Dunph” wont be complaining since this will be his 3rd straight appearance with the Owls after 9 appearances with Penn of the Ivy league. Although he is 1-11 in those 12 appearances, this Temple team is different. The Owls won 29 games, A-10 regular season and conference titles, and have quality wins over 5 other tourney teams. Their most important stat is that they rank 5th in the nation in FG% and 3PT %, while giving up only 56 points per game, meaning that the opposition had better bring their “A” game. They are led by a trio of talented players on offense, namely Juan Fernandez(13 ppg, 46% 3 PT), Ryan Brooks(14 ppg), and big man Lavoy Allen(12 ppg, 11 rebs, and 1.5 blks). If Temple can get past the first round, they could be this year’s Cinderella.
Best Player To Lose In The First Round
Anthony Johnson, Montana Grizzlies
Coaches and opposing players in the Big Sky Conference know just how good Johnson is and not only from his 42 point explosion against Weber State in the Big Sky Championship Game. He led the Grizzlies in scoring(19.6 ppg), assists(3 ast), free throw percentage(88%), and 3 point shooting(46%). He has topped the 20+ point mark in 19 games this year and hit the 30 point plateau on 4 occasions. Johnson’s amazing night in the Big Sky Tourney, where he hit for 34 points in the 2nd half and scored their final 21 points, isn’t even the best part of his story. After not getting any looks coming out of HS, Johnson’s wife helped to get him a chance on the Yakima Valley Community College squad. From there he luckily was given a shot with the Grizzlies, then in turn helped his wife make the womens squad at Montana.
Most Outstanding Player
DeMarcus Cousins, Kentucky Wildcats
Although his fellow freshman teammate John Wall, gets most of the attention for the Wildcats, Cousins is arguably the squad’s most valuable player. By putting up 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks every night, Cousins is the backbone of John Calipari’s young Cats. At 6’11 and 280+lbs and with a bad attitude, Cousins will be the most difficult player in the tournament to defend against. Think about it, how many other teams have a player with that combination of size and skill? An impending 2nd round match-up with Texas and their giant sized center, Dexter Pittman, could be on the horizon, making for a true battle of the titans in the paint. If Cousins can stay out of foul trouble and keep his emotions in check, Big Blue could once again be cutting the nets down in Indianapolis.
Allen Moll is an avid NBA and College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen is a regular columnist for thehoopdoctors.com, Bleacherreport.com, UpperDeckblog.com, and his own site, Hoops Haven.
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