Breaking Down The Bracket - Southeast

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 Southeast and you should click here to see our preview of the West.

Top Seeds: (1) Pittsburgh, (2) Florida, (3) BYU, (4) Wisconsin

Analysis: This region is a perfect example for the argument that the committee doesn't know how to seed teams. I hate the debate on which teams didn't get in to the field over the teams that did make it, but I do understand when experts question why certain teams earned specific seeds. Florida as a 2? Really? The bottom line for the Southeast is you should expect upsets.

Must Watch First Round Game: (6) St. John's v. (11) Gonzaga - 9:45 Thursday CBS - The Jonnies come into this Dance as a newbie. The tradition rich program hasn't been among the field in 10 years! Conversely, the Bulldogs/Zags of Gonzaga haven't missed in over 10 years, yet this may be the least heralded of all those teams. I'll be interested to see how St. John's handles the pressure of the tourney and how they handle missing senior forward D.J. Kennedy who tore his ACL against Syracuse last week.

Upset Pick: (12) Utah State v. (5) Kansas St. - 9:57 Thursday TruTV - For almost two weeks I have been on Belmont's bandwagon. They are a team that can absolutely beat Wisconsin in the first round, but I think the Badgers, who were upset last year in round two, will be more mentally ready this year. Therefore, I'm going Utah State over Kansas State because A. it's a 12 over a 5 (always have at least one) and the Wildcats are an underachieving bunch who turned it on very late in the year. Remember the names Tai Wesley and and Brian Green, two Aggies that will give Frank Martin's K State headaches.

Dark Horse Pick: Is this even a question? (7) Michigan State has made 6 Final Fours in the past 12 years! Tom Izzo seems to take the Shaquille O'Neal approach to the season. Which is to say the Spartans loaf around until the postseason starts. Plus, look at Michigan State's road, a not-ready-for-prime-time UCLA in rd. 1, possibly an overrated Florida in rd 2, maybe BYU without Brandon Davies in the Sweet 16. That's cake to Izzo!