TEAM TO BEAT: Syracuse. The Orange have been a No. 1 team this year, won the Big East regular season title and have one of the toughest styles to prepare for.
TEAM THAT WILL WIN THE REGION: Pittsburgh. I don't know why, but I have a hunch that the scrappy Panthers will make a run. I think they upset a game Kansas State team before facing a Syracuse team that they've already beaten this year (in Syracuse).
TEAM TO WATCH FOR (LESS THAN NO. 3 SEED): Butler. The Bulldogs have been entrenched in the rankings all year long and everyone is eager to see if they can make a deep run in this tournament.
YOUR CINDERELLA: Murray State. This is a very balanced team who is very talented. They can beat Vandy in the first round and then up-end either Butler or UTEP in the second round.
WORST SEEDING ERROR: UTEP. I don't get how UTEP is a No. 12 seed when Houston is a No. 13 seed in the Midwest. Some background: both play in Conference USA, UTEP blew through the regular season with a 15-1 record (Houston was 7-9) and these Miners were recently ranked.
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: BYU. If the Cougars can get out of their Oklahoma City bracket (that would involve beating Florida and Kansas State), they'll get to play a virtual home game in the regional final in Salt Lake City. And, most likely, they'll be the only western school there.
MUST WATCH GAME: Butler vs UTEP. There are a couple of interesting choices (Gonzaga-Florida State, BYU-Florida, Vandy-Murray State) but both Butler and UTEP have been among the top mid-major teams this year.
MUST WATCH (POTENTIAL) SECOND ROUND GAME: Kansas State vs BYU. Great guard play and a star in the making with Jimmer Fredette.
TEAM THAT WILL WIN THE REGION: Pittsburgh. I don't know why, but I have a hunch that the scrappy Panthers will make a run. I think they upset a game Kansas State team before facing a Syracuse team that they've already beaten this year (in Syracuse).
TEAM TO WATCH FOR (LESS THAN NO. 3 SEED): Butler. The Bulldogs have been entrenched in the rankings all year long and everyone is eager to see if they can make a deep run in this tournament.
YOUR CINDERELLA: Murray State. This is a very balanced team who is very talented. They can beat Vandy in the first round and then up-end either Butler or UTEP in the second round.
WORST SEEDING ERROR: UTEP. I don't get how UTEP is a No. 12 seed when Houston is a No. 13 seed in the Midwest. Some background: both play in Conference USA, UTEP blew through the regular season with a 15-1 record (Houston was 7-9) and these Miners were recently ranked.
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: BYU. If the Cougars can get out of their Oklahoma City bracket (that would involve beating Florida and Kansas State), they'll get to play a virtual home game in the regional final in Salt Lake City. And, most likely, they'll be the only western school there.
MUST WATCH GAME: Butler vs UTEP. There are a couple of interesting choices (Gonzaga-Florida State, BYU-Florida, Vandy-Murray State) but both Butler and UTEP have been among the top mid-major teams this year.
MUST WATCH (POTENTIAL) SECOND ROUND GAME: Kansas State vs BYU. Great guard play and a star in the making with Jimmer Fredette.
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