I will start by quickly looking at the regions.
First the Gonzaga region
Honestly I do not like how this bracket shook out. Gonzaga clearly got an easy bracket consider their 4 is Virginia and not a Oklahoma State. Could Ohio beat UVA in the first round?
Iowa is good but Gonzaga already beat them fairly easily.
Consider the 3 and 4 seeds Kansas/Virginia are both having Covid issues and will miss players and practice time all week and Virginia may be the weakest 4 seed in history.
Then the 5 seed Creighton has seem off court turmoil as well as suffering a humiliating loss to UConn. I know many are picking UCSB here but not really sure that team is good enough to win this game
The 6 seed USC was unimpressive late in the Pac 12 season. The 11s here Drake/WSU can beat USC
Oregon at 7 could be a sleeper here. Can they keep up with the Hawkeyes in the 2nd round and pull the upset. Here would be my sleeper pick to get to the elite 8
Missouri/Oklahoma a pretty good 8/9 matchup but Missouri has been wildly inconsistent and OK played poorly down the stretch
Michigan region
Michigan has shown some vulnerabilities late in the season. Yes it was against top Big 10 competiton but if LSU gets by the Bonnies, they look like the most likely 8 to beat a 1. Either way I do not like Michigan getting to the Final 4
I like Alabama in this region to make the final 4. I dont see a major issue with them getting by either MD/Uconn in the 2nd round.
Texas the 3 seed playing well but I think Izzo and MIchigan State who should easily dispatch of UCLA could give them trouble...should be a great game
Georgetown over Colorado is the most obvious and sexy play right now but I would be cautious going to far in on the Hoyas. What happens in tourney play does not always translate and Colorado when at their best is a pretty good team. I think they were overseeded here
Not impressed with Florida State, they lost to Notre Dame late and didnt even make the ACC finals. I think they are ripe for an upset here and will lose to UNCGreensboro
Baylor Region
I think Baylor should have their way, this is the 2nd weakest region.
I think Wisc/UNC is a great 8/9 matchup but neither should present problems for Baylor
Ohio State played much better in the Big 10 tourney then how they finished the regular season. I do not see their half of their draw all that tough. Arkansas will be their toughest challenge as UF/Va Tech will not pose much of a challenge.
Purdue is solid as a 4 but a cut below the top teams and a bit inexperienced here on the big stage to knock off a Baylor.
Winthrop over Nova looks obvious..is it too obvious?
Texas Tech/Utah State pretty intriguing matchup. I think Utah State has the inside outside combo to pull the upset here.
Illinois Region
By far Illinois was delivered the toughest region overall and screwed with the toughest 4 see and probably the most tricky 8 seed
Loyola Chicago as an 8 is dangerous and yes they can and will hang with Illinois
I think Oklahoma State royally screwed as a 4 when they could be a 2 and its a shame that a game that should be in the regional final will be played in the sweet 16. Cowboys could win this game so Illinois getting to the final 4 is no sure thing.
Tennessee as a 5 would be dangerous in another region but again they are the best 5 matched up with the best 4 and unlucky with the draw
Not a fan of Houston here as the 2, thats a weak 2 and could be picked off by the RU/Clemson winner. I think WVU though should easily dispatch of whoever comes out of here Hous/Clem/RU
First round upsets
Rutgers over Clemson
Utah State over Texas Tech
Winthrop over Villanova
Michigan State over BYU
UNC Greensboro over Florida State
Maryland over UConn
Drake over USC
First the Gonzaga region
Honestly I do not like how this bracket shook out. Gonzaga clearly got an easy bracket consider their 4 is Virginia and not a Oklahoma State. Could Ohio beat UVA in the first round?
Iowa is good but Gonzaga already beat them fairly easily.
Consider the 3 and 4 seeds Kansas/Virginia are both having Covid issues and will miss players and practice time all week and Virginia may be the weakest 4 seed in history.
Then the 5 seed Creighton has seem off court turmoil as well as suffering a humiliating loss to UConn. I know many are picking UCSB here but not really sure that team is good enough to win this game
The 6 seed USC was unimpressive late in the Pac 12 season. The 11s here Drake/WSU can beat USC
Oregon at 7 could be a sleeper here. Can they keep up with the Hawkeyes in the 2nd round and pull the upset. Here would be my sleeper pick to get to the elite 8
Missouri/Oklahoma a pretty good 8/9 matchup but Missouri has been wildly inconsistent and OK played poorly down the stretch
Michigan region
Michigan has shown some vulnerabilities late in the season. Yes it was against top Big 10 competiton but if LSU gets by the Bonnies, they look like the most likely 8 to beat a 1. Either way I do not like Michigan getting to the Final 4
I like Alabama in this region to make the final 4. I dont see a major issue with them getting by either MD/Uconn in the 2nd round.
Texas the 3 seed playing well but I think Izzo and MIchigan State who should easily dispatch of UCLA could give them trouble...should be a great game
Georgetown over Colorado is the most obvious and sexy play right now but I would be cautious going to far in on the Hoyas. What happens in tourney play does not always translate and Colorado when at their best is a pretty good team. I think they were overseeded here
Not impressed with Florida State, they lost to Notre Dame late and didnt even make the ACC finals. I think they are ripe for an upset here and will lose to UNCGreensboro
Baylor Region
I think Baylor should have their way, this is the 2nd weakest region.
I think Wisc/UNC is a great 8/9 matchup but neither should present problems for Baylor
Ohio State played much better in the Big 10 tourney then how they finished the regular season. I do not see their half of their draw all that tough. Arkansas will be their toughest challenge as UF/Va Tech will not pose much of a challenge.
Purdue is solid as a 4 but a cut below the top teams and a bit inexperienced here on the big stage to knock off a Baylor.
Winthrop over Nova looks obvious..is it too obvious?
Texas Tech/Utah State pretty intriguing matchup. I think Utah State has the inside outside combo to pull the upset here.
Illinois Region
By far Illinois was delivered the toughest region overall and screwed with the toughest 4 see and probably the most tricky 8 seed
Loyola Chicago as an 8 is dangerous and yes they can and will hang with Illinois
I think Oklahoma State royally screwed as a 4 when they could be a 2 and its a shame that a game that should be in the regional final will be played in the sweet 16. Cowboys could win this game so Illinois getting to the final 4 is no sure thing.
Tennessee as a 5 would be dangerous in another region but again they are the best 5 matched up with the best 4 and unlucky with the draw
Not a fan of Houston here as the 2, thats a weak 2 and could be picked off by the RU/Clemson winner. I think WVU though should easily dispatch of whoever comes out of here Hous/Clem/RU
First round upsets
Rutgers over Clemson
Utah State over Texas Tech
Winthrop over Villanova
Michigan State over BYU
UNC Greensboro over Florida State
Maryland over UConn
Drake over USC
