NCAA Tournament Breakdown and Predictions: West Region

BY: Josh Kay – Staff Writer and Matthew Stone – Contributing Writer

West Region

1. Gonzaga vs. 16. Southern University:

Matt: Gonzaga crushed all 18 WCC opponents by an average of 19.1 ppg. Kelly Olynyk and Elias Harris are the biggest reasons why Gonzaga shoots 50 percent from the field. Gonzaga will roll Southern, but that doesn’t mean they will dance deep into March. Winner: Gonzaga

Josh: Kelly Olynyk (17.5 PPG) and Elias Harris (14.9 PPG) are mismatch nightmares for most opponents including Southern. The Zags also have to very dynamic guards in Kevin Pangos and Gary Bell Jr. Look for the Bulldogs to get out an run through their second round matchup. Winner: Gonzaga

 8. Pittsburgh vs. Wichita State:

Matt: Pittsburgh has  size with Talib Zanna and Steven Adams inside and experience with senior point guard Tray Woodall (5.2 assists/2.1 turnovers per game). Wichita State has lost three of their last five. Winner: Pittsburgh

 Josh: The first one to 50 points wins, ready… go! What both of these teams lack in offense they sure do make it up on the defensive end. For all the height that Pitt has (Talib Zanna and Steven Adams) they do not rebound the ball well. (35.3 RPG = 138^th nationally) That’s a spot where the Shockers may be able to take advantage of. On the flip side. Wichita state does not shoot the ball well from the field. (44.3%) That’s where the panthers can swing momentum back on their side because they are very efficient from the field. (47.5%) In a coin toss I will give it to the Panthers. Winner: Pittsburgh

5. Wisconsin vs. 12. Mississippi:

Matt: The Badgers are only a 5-seed after postseason wins over Michigan and Indiana. Marshall Henderson (Ole Miss) hasn’t seen a defense this good all season. Wisconsin wins going away. Winner: Wisconsin

 Josh: One thing I have learned of the last few years of doing research around tournament time, is that Wisconsin always goes to the sweet 16. This year is no different. The late season emergence of Ryan Evens (10.2 PPG) has really sparked a run for the Badgers. They like to slow the tempo down and force you to take bad shots. They bang inside and are not afraid to get physical. Should be a fun one with Marshall Henderson on the court. Winner: Wisconsin

NCAA Tournament Breakdown and Predictions: East Region

East Region

1. Indiana vs. 16. LIU Brooklyn/James Madison:

Matt: The Hoosiers will not become the first No.1 seed to lose to a 16-seed regardless of their opponent. The Hoosiers are the most “ Tourney-Ready” team and I expect nothing less than a monster performance in the second round. The Hoosiers will have a size advantage with Cody Zeller (16.9PPG, 8.2RPG) and Christian Watford down low. Victor Oladipo is already a star, and the perimeter shooting (Indiana is second in the country from 3-point range) of the Hoosiers will have them dancing late into March. Winner: Indiana

Josh: A good argument could be made that 6 teams from the Big Ten could make it to the elite 8. Indiana, one of those teams also has a good chance to get to a final 4. Led by Wooden Award candidates Cody Zeller and Victor Oladipo, the Hoosiers will power their way to the round of 32. Winner: Indiana

8. North Carolina State vs. 9. Temple:

Matt: If you don’t know who Khalif Wyatt (Temple) is by now, you are about to find out. The Owls have won seven of its last eight games, and not to mention, their last win of the regular season was over Final Four sleeper VCU. NC State can beat anybody with the inside-outside duo of C.J Leslie and Scott Wood, but Temple will be more efficient. Winner: Temple

 Josh:So far of the nine games Matt and I have picked, we have had the same winners. (He is copying me!) That trend doesn’t change here. The owls, a team that is always dangerous, has arguably the best pure scorer in the tournament. Khalif Wyatt (19.8 PPG) can score off the dribble, off a pick and role and his stroke from down town is scary good. However, Temple is not just a one man team either. Scootie Randall and Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson compliment Wyatt very nicely. Don’t count out C.J. Leslie and Scott Wood of NC State though. This could be a buzzer beater type game. Winner: Temple

5. UNLV vs. 12. California:

Matt: UNLV is Scary good. Anthony Bennett (16.1 PPG, 8.1 RPG) is a Top-5 NBA Draft pick and the Rebels are getting hot. Rarely in the first round do two-teams that met already play each other, but this is the case. UNLV beat California 76-75 without Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year Khem Birch (2.6BPG). Cal will need Allen Crabbe if they want to pull off the 12-5 upset. Winner: UNLV

Josh: Having two teams play each other again after they have played already this year usually favors the losing team the second time around. However Cal was only 4-6 against tournament teams this year. They don’t shoot particularly well from the field and the with the rebels ability to rebound and distribute the ball, I don’t see  the bears getting the revenge they want. Anthony Bennett is also really good. Enough said. Winner: UNLV

NCAA Tournament Breakdown and Predictions: South Region

BY: Josh Kay – Staff Writer and Matthew Stone – Contributing Writer

Over the course of the next few hours our Contributing writer Matthew Stone and I will attempt to preview all 32 second rounds games. This is the time of year were a team that is hot usually makes a deep run in the tournament. Do either of us think that will happen? Or will for only the second time in tournament history, will all number one seeds make it to the final 4? The start of the tournament is less then 24 hours away, but believe me, the madness has already started!

South Region

1. Kansas vs. 16. Western Kentucky: 

Matt: The Jayhawks come into the tourney looking to avenge last season’s title game defeat against the Kentucky Wildcats. Western Kentucky has not played the Jayhawks since the 1997-98 season, where they lost 75-62. The Hilltoppers are led by George Fant, who had 17 points and 13 rebounds in the Sun Belt championship. However, I expect a dominant outing from Kansas and Senior Jeff Withey (13.6 PPG, 8.4 RPG). Winner: Kansas

Josh: Western Kentucky is certainly no stranger to its number 16-seed role. In last years tournament they were a “first four” team that eventually played the overall number one seed Kentucky Wildcats. They ended up only losing by 16 and they do return guard T.J. Price and forward George Fant. Still Kansas is the more athletic team and should have minimal issues advancing to the round of 32. Winner: Kansas

8. North Carolina vs. 9. Villanova:

Matt: Wow. Two historic programs collide in what should be the best No. 8 vs No. 9 matchup of the tournament. North Carolina has been rolling ever since head Coach Roy Williams inserted P.J Hairston into the starting lineup, while Villanova boasts victories over Georgetown, Marquette, Syracuse, and No.1 overall seed Louisville. Jayvaughn Pinkston is a force in the paint, but the perimeter game of the Tar Heels will be too much for Villanova. Reggie Bullock (14.2 PPG) will be the X-Factor. Winner: North Carolina

Josh: The eighth and final Big East team in the field, the wildcats will have their hands full with Roy Williams and the North Carolina Tarheels. Playing in the Big East gives Villanova the edge in games versus tougher opponents with wins over Syracuse, Georgetown and Louisville, but form a pure talent perspective, the boys from Raleigh have a slight edge. Mouphtaou Yarou ( 9.7 PPG, 7.8 RPG) has to be effective down low for the wildcats if they have any change at pulling the upset. Ultimately James Michael MacAdoo and company will prevail setting the stage for a Roy Williams vs. Kansas reunion. Boy will that be fun. Winner: North Carolina

5. Virginia Commonwealth vs. 12. Akron:

Matt: A tough break here for Akron. Shaka Smart’s “ Havoc” defense could have its way in this matchup with Akron point guard, Alex Abreu, out with an injury. With both of these teams playing similar styles, points will not be at a premium. VCU could get caught looking at a possible matchup with Michigan and Trey Burke next round, but I expect VCU to be up to the task. Winner: Virginia Commonwealth

Josh: This would have been one of the most interesting games to pick had the Zips not lost their point guard Alex Abreu. However Akron still has Zeke Marshell and Demetrius Treadwell, the teams top two scorers are rebounders. Still VCU and Shaka Smart are out to prove that they are not a Cinderella team, but a national champion contender. Juvonte Reddic is trying to bring back some of that magic from his freshman year final four run. Winner: VCU