Tuesday, March 17, 2015

NCAA Tournament Preview: East Region

Happy Tuesday! We get the First Four starting tonight to whittle the field down a little bit, but in the grand scheme of things, that doesn't impact our selections here.

Yesterday, Adam and I began our region by region look at the 2015 bracket. I'll have a link to that posted below.

With a couple days left, you still have time to join in on the official Confessions of a Sportscaster bracket pool. It's free to join, and while there's no money to be made, you can earn bragging rights, which are pretty cool in and of themselves.

Today, we're going across the bracket to the East Region. Let's get to it.



East Region

Team Going to Indianapolis
Lucas: Michigan State (7). Every year, we always seem to have one "Huh?" team that makes the Final Four, and it's been a while since Tom Izzo got the Spartans there. He's due.
Adam: I think I may be high… high on the Big 10 (which really has 14 teams but don’t ask), I am taking Illinois out of the East… (Wait… Damn) scratch that, Sparty.  I am going Michigan State (7) out of the east. As will become more apparent as you read. Michigan State will have a relatively easy way through the East.

First Round Upset
Lucas: LSU (9) over NC State (8). Weirdly enough, this is the only upset I have from this region in the opening round. I saw something yesterday that the 8 seed is actually the most likely upset victim, and even loses a majority of its first round games. I'll play the percentages.
Adam: Digging deep here- I am going Belmont (15) over Virginia (2).  I just think Belmont is going to come out fired up after taking the Ohio Valley conference…Oh and having a former player doesn’t hurt either. Belmont then falls to Mich. St. in the next game.

Regional Sleeper
Lucas: Northern Iowa (5). I first got introduced to this team back in 2010 when they killed my bracket. Ali Farokhmanesh broke the backs of the Morris twins and the rest of the Jayhawks with four threes while I was at a Chicago Wolves game, and with that, I was out of a pool once again (Kansas was my title pick). This is a different team now, but they're still dangerous. I think they give Villanova a tough game in the Sweet 16 before dropping.
Adam: See above for an obvious one, but I am going to go with Wyoming (12) who I see beating Northern Iowa (5) in the 1st round (I refuse to call it the 2nd round) and will give Louisville a run for their money in the next round (maybe even another upset).

Regional Bust
Lucas: Virginia (2). Just a hunch. I know Virginia was being talked up all season, but I'm not convinced. I'll give them their first round win, but I think Sparty knocks them off after that.
Adam: Again see above upset to see an obvious choice, but I am going with Villanova (1).  I see them falling to a perennial tourney team of NC State (8).  There is nothing much that I see or think of Nova.  A ripe scenario for an early than planned or wanted exit.

Other Regional Predictions
Midwest Region (Monday)

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