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College Basketball
NCAA Tournament Preview
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EAST REGION PREVIEW
March 18 - 21
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Tournament Bracket
Updated with Results
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This is probably the only region where you wouldn’t consider the #1 seed the favorite. St. Joe's is a good team, but I don’t think you can call them a great team just yet. Eddie Sutton and company have done something no one expected them to do at the beginning of the season, and that is being a legitimate contender for the National Championship. The Cowboys are riding high after winning the Big 12 Tourney and had to beat Texas in the finals to win it. A stat that really impressed me in that game was Oklahoma State held a team that averages 78 points a game to a lousy 49 points. If they continue to play their hardcore defense, the Cowboys will easily find their way to San Antonio.
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I nearly put the Red Raiders in the Final Four, but I expect them to meet the favorite Oklahoma State in the Elite 8, a team which they have already lost too. However, never count out The General and his troops. No disrespect to St. Joe's, but if you were an 8 or 9 seed, I would much rather be in St. Joe's bracket than that of Duke, UK, or Stanford.
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On paper these to teams look nearly identical, which is why I guess they are the 8 and 9 seeds. Texas Tech must find a way to defend the perimeter shot of Charlotte, but don't forget about Curtis Withers underneath. Withers is averaging 16 points and 10 rebounds a game. What Charlotte needs to do is run up and down with the Red Raiders, and if you can eliminate Andre Emmett, you have taken out a big offensive threat.
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There is a troubling trend I discovered for this Gator squad. With the exception of one loss this season, the rest of their losses have been coupled together. After coming off a loss to Kentucky in the SEC Tourney, the Gators are due for one more loss, and that will be one too many. If Manhattan is to beat Florida, it will have to be done behind the play senior guard Luis Flores. (By the way, Flores grew up playing ball with star Louisville guard Francisco Garcia.) The Jaspers are hot coming in, winning 20 of their last 22 games.
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G - JAMEER NELSON : ST. JOSEPH'S : Player of the year in my opinion. Leads the team with 20 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals a game.
G - ANTONIO BURKS : MEMPHIS : Doesn’t get a lot of recognition, but he has been doing it all for the Tigers. Shoots 41% from behind the arc, contributing 16 points and 6 assists a game.
F - ANDRE EMMETT : TEXAS TECH : Plain and simple, this kid scores crazy points. Averaging a little over 20 a game, he can lead his team to great things in March.
F - CURTIS WITHERS : CHARLOTTE : Was named to first team Conference USA and averages a double-double. If teams focus too much on the 49ers 3-point shooting, he can hurt you down low.
C - SEAN BANKS : MEMPHIS : Conference USA freshman of the year leads his squad in points and rebounding, making the inside-outside combo of Burks and Banks very dangerous.
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The biggest complaint I have is Wisconsin getting a 6 seed. I thought they deserved something more like a 4 seed, but playing a late game this past Sunday hurt them to some extent I think. You could also make a case for Oklahoma State getting the #1 seed, but how can you argue that St. Joe's didn’t deserve it after having a undefeated regular season?
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Even though Xavier slaughtered them in the A-10 Tourney, remember they did have a perfect regular season. If you ask me, winning 27 out of 28 is rolling enough.
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There is not a more perfect ball team for this category than the Gamecocks from Columbia. The Cocks have lost 8 out of there last 13, including defeats to Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi. None of those teams made it to the Big Dance.
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Their ability to shut down teams with defense will take them to San Antonio. I do think they need to watch out for a dangerous Memphis team who they could meet in the second round. The Tigers have two players on the all-region team.
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