This South Region of the NCAA Tournament bracket looks like it could be fun. All of the teams at the top are great at putting points on the board. There are also some amazing players in this region, and a few possible upsets to be had.
Favorites:
#1 North Carolina Tar Heels
UNC is back at it again with their 7th #1 seed under coach Roy Williams. They came up just short in the title game last season, after running through their region. Despite not winning the ACC tournament, the ACC regular season champs will look to impose their will on everyone else in this bracket. Their main problem may be on the defensive side versus elite guards, especially with Kenny Williams being out. The draws of Kentucky and UCLA in this region may pose tough if they meet.
#2 Kentucky Wildcats
Not sure what to think about Kentucky here. The regular season and tournament champions of the SEC were not as dominant as they usually are in a very weak SEC. Regardless, Kentucky beat UNC back in December and the elite guard duo of Malik Monk and De’Aaron Fox is as dangerous as any backcourt in the country.
#3 UCLA Bruins
Across all five starters, UCLA may be the most complete team in the whole bracket. They can beat you in a variety of ways. Lonzo Ball is the most dangerous player in this region and if him and his teammates can play at a high level, they may be going all the way to the Final Four.
Upsets to Watch:
#12 Middle Tennessee Over #5 Minnesota
For the second year in a row, the Big Ten may fall victim to the Blue Raiders. Last year it was the two seed Michigan State Spartans losing to Middle Tennessee. This year a much improved Minnesota team comes into the tourney after their semifinal loss to Michigan in the Big Ten tourney. To me, it is a bit puzzling why the Golden Gophers are seeded this high. I think the upset here is very very likely.
#10 Wichita State over #7 Dayton
Don’t know if this is really an upset, or rather just poor seeding of Wichita State. Part of me almost feels sorry for Dayton right here. Wichita State is tough draw and could easily wreck into the Sweet Sixteen or Elite Eight in this bracket. They could fall to Archie Miller’s Flyers just as easily.
Possible Darkhorses:
#4 Butler
While the top three teams in the region will get all the love, the Butler Bulldogs may fly under the radar. Finishing second in the Big East, they were towards the top in the nation in top 25 and top 50 wins. This is a very formidable team with a lot of upperclassman leadership. If they can get past Winthrop, a deep run seems like it could be likely.
#6 Cincinnati
While Mick Cronin’s Bearcats faded down the line, failing to win the AAC, they are one of the most dangerous teams in the nation. Running a similar style game to a team like Louisville, the Bearcats could stifle their opponents. Troy Caupain is one of the best players in this bracket and his knack for hitting clutch shots could come into play.
The Pick:
This may be a biased opinion, but I have no idea what is going to happen in this bracket. I’ll stick with the North Carolina Tar Heels to return to the Final Four and look for championship redemption.