NCAA Tournament Preview: South Region

Two regions down, two to go.

Adam and I are halfway through our early set of predictions for the NCAA Tournament. If you're just joining us, we're going region by region to make some picks about what we think will happen.

If you want to join us for some overall bracket filling, you can join my Yahoo! group and see if you can beat us.

Today, we are on to the South region.



South Region

Team Going to Indianapolis
Lucas: Iowa State (3). I'm riding the Cardiac Kids this year. ESPN ran a fun graphic on Saturday during their game against Kansas showing the deficits they had faced in recent weeks, and how none of those deficits mattered en route to their Big XII tournament title. I'll ride the hot hand for now.
Adam: I like the Gonzaga (2) out of the South. I just think the Zags have a solid program and team. And with some of the craziness (see my 1st round upset). I project in this bracket, I am going with the Zags.

First Round Upset
Lucas: Stephen F. Austin (12) over Utah (5). Obligatory 12-5 upset? Obligatory 12-5 upset. This is actually the only one I have this season. I look forward to your destruction of my bracket, Buffalo and Wyoming.
Adam: University of North Florida (16) over Duke (1). …I know, I know, a 16 has never won against a #1; well, it is bound to happen sometime, and what better time than with Duke on the top line in the South. Of course UNF has to make it past Robert Morris in the play-in round.  Assuming they will, ESPN had a stat I seem to recall that UNF had something like a 5%+ chance of winning against Duke… that seems like a monster number to me.

Regional Sleeper
Lucas: San Diego State (8). I only have them winning their opening round game before falling to Duke. That said, this is Duke we're talking about. I don't trust them, so it's entirely possible we could see the Aztecs sneak into the Sweet 16. Maybe even the Elite Eight, depending on what Georgetown brings to the table.
Adam: Despite taking UNF in the 1st round upset, I am going with Eastern Washington University (13) as my biggest Sleeper.  They have gotten some pretty good hype on TV. And it seems like people are picking them with at least one win, I have them going all the way to the Elite Eight, only succumbing to the Zags.

Regional Bust
Lucas: North Dakota State (15) Duke (1). Trust me, I was thrilled when NDSU won its conference tourney, and then mad when they got matched up with Gonzaga in Round 1. That makes them the unofficial bust, but the official one is and always will be Duke. Every time I pick them to do something, they drop the ball in the worst possible way. I refuse to fall for it again.
Adam: Duke (1). …Nuf said.

Other Regional Predictions
Midwest Region (Monday)

East Region (Tuesday)
West Region (Thursday)