Who’s the best of the best in The Sweet 16? Here’s my take.
Landfills all across America are beginning to fill to the brim with torn up, burnt, shredded, and otherwise disfigured brackets. It’s because this has been one of the craziest NCAA Tournaments in recent memory.
Nine lower seeds upset higher seeds in the first round. UMBC (University of Baltimore, Maryland County) made history by becoming the first 16-seed to knock off a 1-seed in NCAA men’s basketball. The craze continued last weekend as giants Xavier, North Carolina, Michigan State, Cincinnati, and Tennessee each went down to lower- seeded teams.
Here’s a synopsis of the 16 teams that remain with my picks for The Final Four.
SOUTH REGION
#5 Kentucky: When the brackets came out on Selection Sunday, many thought the SEC champion Wildcats received a raw deal by being put in the same bracket as Virginia, Cincinnati, Tennessee, and Arizona. Boom, bang, bam…all four of those teams were eliminated and Kentucky now finds itself as the top dog in the region. I think UK could make its 18th appearance in the Final Four … if the offense continues to produce.
Courtesy: USAToday
#9 Kansas State: The Wildcats faced a rather difficult task by playing a fiery UMBC squad. But K-State pulled away late and punched its ticket to the Sweet 16. Coach Bruce Weber’s squad now faces UK.
#7 Nevada: Howl, Wolf Pack, howl! Last Sunday Nevada erased a 22-point deficit with just 11 minutes left in a 75-73 victory over Cincinnati. Now a game awaits with Loyola-Chicago and Sister Jean.
#11 Loyola-Chicago: The Ramblers keep rumbling. Loyola knocked off 6-seed Miami 64-62 and then beat 3-seed Tennessee. Paced by a balanced attack that boasts five players who average double digits, the Ramblers are seeking their first Elite Eight appearance since 1963–the year they won the national title.
REGIONAL CHAMP: Kentucky
WEST REGION
Courtesy: Deadspin
#3 Michigan: What an incredible finish against Houston!. UH forward Devin Davis missed a pair of free throws that would have sealed the win. Michigan freshman Jordan Poole made Davis pay by drilling a 3-pointer at the horn for a thrilling 64-63 victory. Now it’s going from the frying pan to the fire. UM will be tested against a Texas A&M team that dumped 86 points on North Carolina.
#4 Gonzaga: The Bulldogs are trying to return to the Final Four for the second straight year. And if GU can repeat if it performs the way it did against Ohio State. The Zags shot over 53% and always play fundamentally sound basketball.
#7 Texas A&M: Even though I picked Texas A&M to upend North Carolina, I didn’t expect the Aggies to thrash the Tar Heels the way they did. The Aggies’ overwhelming size inside could be their ticket to The Final Four.
#9 Florida State: How about them Seminoles?! Florida State was never fazed against 1-seed Xavier. Now, FSU is two wins away from its first Final Four since 1972.
REGIONAL CHAMP: Texas A&M
EAST REGION
#1 Villanova: The Wildcats looked nearly unstoppable in a dominating 81-58 win over Alabama. Villanova has won six straight games by 19 points or more. Jay Wright has a lineup of shooters, too.
Does WVU have a chance against favored Villanova? (photo, Big 12 Conference/West Virginia University)
#2 Purdue: The Boilermakers survived 10-seed Butler and are back in the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive season. Purdue’s challenge is simple: Make 3-pointers. Texas Tech will show the Boilers the door if Purdue doesn’t shoot at least 40% from downtown.
#3 Texas Tech: The Red Raiders entered the NCAA Tournament on a losing jag (losing five out of its last seven games). But Texas Tech quickly righted the ship with wins against SF Austin and Florida. Tech is a defensive team and you know the ‘ole saying…..
#5 West Virginia: PRESS. VIRGINIA. I don’t think I need to say anything else about this Mountaineers’ squad.
REGIONAL CHAMP: West Virginia
MIDWEST REGION
#1 Kansas: Even though the Jayhawks held off two upset bids–16-seed Penn and 8-seed Seton Hall–the BIG question remains: Can Kansas finally get over the hump? Bill Self’s squad has a thing for choking in either the Regional Semifinals or Finals. Kansas has made the Final Four only once since winning the title in 2008.
Courtesy: Pinterest
#2 Duke: As much as I hate to say it, the Blue Devils are starting to look like a team that could bring home the bacon. Duke’s 25-point demolition of Rhode Island was especially eye-opening. Duke will be tough to beat if it shoots nearly 50% as it did against the Rams.
#5 Clemson: Last weekend, Clemson whipped Charles Barkley’s alma mater. That win told the country that the Tigers were underseeded … big time. Clemson outrebounded Auburn 50-32 and dished out 19 assists. You’ll win a lot of basketball games that way.
#11 Syracuse: Jim Boeheim always seems to find a way. His Orangemen had to play in the First Four and then beat 6-seed TCU and 3-seed Michigan State over the weekend. You’d think teams would’ve figured out that 2-3 zone by now.
REGIONAL CHAMP: Duke
There you have it. My Final Four 2018:
Kentucky, SEC
Texas A&M, SEC
West Virginia, Big 12
Duke, ACC
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Cameron Brown is a former Webster County basketball player and an undergraduate student at Western Kentucky University, double majoring in journalism and history—with a minor in broadcasting. Contact him at Cameron.brown288@topper.wku.edu
