Each day here on the Blog leading up to the start of the NCAA tournament (well the start of the now title Second Round) we will break down a particular region. We're talking best games, sleepers, and other notable notes from the East, West, Southwest, and Southeast. Today we take a look at the West.
Top 4 Seeds - (1) Duke, (2) San Diego State, (3) Connecticut, (4) Texas
Analysis: Last season Duke was considered the easiest road to the Final Four. This season it's likely the defending champion Blue Devils may have the toughest road. Duke may have to face teams like Arizona, Texas, and Connecticut just to reach Houston! The Huskies of UConn will be an interesting and entertaining team to keep an eye on. Can Jim Calhoun's bunch overcome the fatigue of playing five games in five days last week/weekend and stay hot enough to win this region? Duke is the favorite, but Kemba Walker may be on a run unlike anything we have ever seen.
Must Watch 1st Round Game - (6) Cincinnati v. (11) Missouri - 9:50 p.m. TNT - Thursday. The Bearcats came on late in the season earning quality wins over Louisville, Georgetown twice, and Marquette. Meanwhile, Mizzou was a perpetual top 25 team until a late season collapse. At one point Cincy looked like an NIT team while Missouri looked like a top seed. Something will give here.
Upset Pick - (13) Oakland v. (4) Texas Friday 12:15 CBS - It's not the most likely upset pick out there, but Oakland is a very good team and the Longhorns haven't been the same team over the last month of the season. The Golden Grizzlies have only lost one game since December 28 and they are second in the nation for points per game (86 ppg) and field goal shooting (49%). Oakland did beat Tennessee this season and gave Michigan State a big scare early in the year, I like Texas as a tough out, but this game will be a challenge.
Dark Horse Team - (3) Connecticut - I hate that the Huskies are coming in to the Big Dance dead tired. The Fighting Kemba Walkers won five games in five days in the toughest basketball conference in the country. I don't care if they are teenagers or not, that will be tough to overcome. However, if they aren't too gassed, I like Connecticut's potential road to the Final Four. Again, fatigue will be an issue, but there is something to be said for the Huskies beating five teams (4 ranked) in one week. That stretch will be tougher than any stretch they face in the NCAA tournament.
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