This year’s March Madness field is as wide open as any in recent memory, with upwards of 10-15 teams having a chance at college basketball’s ultimate prize: the 2010 National Championship. Of course, a lot is determined by seedings and who gets an easier route to the Final Four in Indianapolis. This year just like any other, a number of teams were either under or over-seeded and will undoubtedly produce some great 1st round games. Here are my choices for must see games that could be some of the most difficult to predict:
Temple(5) vs Cornell(12) – East Region
Friday March 19th 1230PM
As two conference winners and 25+ game winners, both squads are greatly under-seeded. Temple won both the regular season and conference tournament crowns in a tough A-10, while Cornell won the Ivy league crown outright(Ivy League does not have conference tournament) and was ranked in the Top 25 for most of the season. As we’ve covered in our story of Cornell previously, even though the Big Red are from the Ivy league, they are no push-over and are well equipped for at least a Sweet 16 run behind the 7 foot Jeff Foote and Randy Wittman, both of whom have potential at the next level. Cornell also is one of the best 3 point shooting teams in the nation. Temple is one of the most underrated squads in the nation and could make a deep tournament run if they can get past a ridiculously tough opening game. The Owls rely on perimeter scoring from Juan Fernandez and Rich Brooks along with rapidly developing big man Lavoy Allen in the paint. Temple also plays some of the stingiest defense in the nation and regularly holds opponents in the 60’s.
Prediction: Temple
The Owls win in a low scoring contest where every possession counts. The Owls have a way of taking away what you like to do and making you play their style of slow down basketball. One interesting side note is that Cornell has been idle since the Ivy league doesn’t have a conference tourney while Temple played 3 games in 3 days to win the A-10 Conference Tourney.
Oklahoma St(7) vs Georgia Tech(10) – Midwest Region
Friday March 19th 715PM
This shapes up to be an absolute barn-burner as both teams have been good, but had a hard time beating the elite teams all season. Oklahoma St is led by quite possibly the best 2 guard in the nation in James Anderson(23 ppg) and diminutive sparkplug Keiton Page at the point, with Marshall Moses and Matt Pilgrim holding down the front-court. Anderson can go off for 30+ points at any time while Page, now a sophomore, once averaged a ridiculous 40 ppg in HS. The Yellow Jackets have been hard to figure out this season. Possessing one of the better RPI’s in the tournament, they were good early, slumped mid-season, and have started to play well again in the ACC Tournament, reaching the finals. Behind NBA lottery bound freshman Derrick Favors(13 ppg, 9 rebs, 2blks) at PF and a talented group of young and athletic swingmen in Glen Rice Jr, Gani Lawal, and Iman Shumpert on the perimeter, GT will be a tough out.
Prediction: Oklahoma State.
The Cowboys played in a tougher conference(Big 12) and has star power in Anderson. More times than not big time players live for big moments. The Yellowjackets, who are average defensively, will have problems keeping the Cowboys leading scorer in check. Anderson hitting for 40 points isn’t out of the question.
Butler(5) vs UTEP(12) – West Region
Thursday March 18th 445PM
Although they had their struggles early, Butler ran through the Horizon League regular season and conference tourney without losing a game(18-0). The Bulldogs have been ranked in the Top 25 all season even though they are 1-3 against ranked teams, with their one win coming against a Evan Turner-less Ohio St squad. With that being said, Butler, along with Gonzaga have established themselves as mid-majors who win games come tourney time, and that counts for something. Behind a trio of talented players in Horizon POY Gordon Hayward(15 ppg, 9 rebs), guard Shelvin Mack, and Matt Howard, the Bulldogs have the total package to go far in the tourney. UTEP has overtaken Memphis as the best team from C-USA this year. Even though they lost the conference final, the Miners finished the regular season 15-1, finishing the year on a 15 game winning streak. UTEP has an imposing inside-outside combo in Randy Culpepper(18 ppg) and Derrick Caracter(14 ppg, 8 rebs), formerly of Louisville.
Prediction: Butler
The Bulldogs superior overall talent and experience should prevail in a nail-biter. While most will once again chose this as a 12 vs 5 upset pick, the Bulldogs are the better team, if Matt Howard can stay out of foul trouble.
Purdue(4) vs Siena(13) – South Region
Friday March 19th 230PM
Once again in a seeding mix-up, Purdue is overrated while Siena is under-rated. Purdue is hardly belongs as a Top 4 seed without the services of Robbie Hummel and possibly point guard Lewis Jackson. The Siena Saints have proven to be capable of tournament upsets as they have made it to the 2nd round or better in recent years. They also have experience behind one of the best point guards in the nation in Ronald Moore, Edwin Ubiles, guard Clarence Jackson, and leading scorer and MAAC POY Alex Franklin, all of which average more than 13 ppg and have been to the ‘Big Dance” before. One X-factor is the injured Clarence Jackson, who was on crutches on Selection Sunday.
Prediction: Siena
The Saints have as talented a starting 5 as anyone in college basketball and seem to revel in destroying higher seeded teams. Both have injury concerns, with Purdue getting the short end of the stick. The Boilermakers may surprise us, but don’t count on it.
Notre Dame(6) vs Old Dominion(11) – South Region
Thursday March 18th 1225PM
Both have taken different routes to get in the “Big Dance.” Notre Dame needed a nearly flawless final two weeks of the season to pad their resume while the Monarchs proved to be the best team in in the much improved Colonial Athletic Conference, by winning the regular season and conference tournament. Behind one of the staunchiest defense in the nation and an outstanding European frontcourt player in Gerald Lee(15 ppg), Old Dominion has a good chance of upsetting the higher seeded Irish. How much does Notre Dame have left in the tank and how will the team play with Big East’s leading scorer, Luke Harangody back in the line-up. Do they start Gody, or continue to do what works and bring him off of the bench? In his absence, Tim Abromaitis(16 ppg) and Ben Hansborough(12 ppg, 4.5 ast) have stepped up.
Prediction: Old Dominion in an upset.
As discussed above, the Irish may have more questions than answers with the return of Harangody. The Monarchs play stifling defense and Notre Dame may be spent from emptying the tank just to get here.
Be sure to sign-up and follow Allen, who has been chosen to participate in the 2010 Last Fan Standing College Basketball Elimination Game. It is a NCAA Tourney game with a twist. 64 of the nation’s best sports bloggers were selected, bracket style, with each getting one of the 64 teams in the tournament. While the writers submit unique and interesting content, fans and followers have the chance to win new laptops, a weekend getaway to the Mirage in Las Vegas during Final Four weekend, or even a trip to see the National Championship Game in Indianapolis. All you have to do is sign-up at Lastfanstanding.com and continue to visit the site and vote up Allen’s articles, starting on Wednesday, March 17th, to win prizes. The farther he advances in the brackets, the more prizes you could win!
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.
