Can Roy Williams lead UNC past his ex-team, or will Kansas force him to assume the position?
For the first time in the history of the NCAA tournament, the selection committee nailed it. Four teams left; four number one seeds. The closest to a mid-major scare was Davidson, who got barely brushed aside by Kansas in the Elite Eight. That leaves just four big time programs in Kansas, UNC, UCLA, and Memphis.
With the exception of the Kansas-Davidson game, the other three Elite Eight games could hardly be called close. Number two seed Texas got blown out by Memphis (the trendy number one seed who everyone picked to lose). UCLA produced its first blowout since the opening round as the Bruins dispatched Xavier by 19 points. Finally, UNC controlled the number three seeded Louisville Cardinals as the Heels punched their ticket to the Final Four.
So onto San Antonio for the finale of the big dance, where scouts will drool at the talent and millions of eyes will be enthralled with their television sets (more than usual, that is). And this writer will be rooting against the Tar Heels who easily dispatched my Cougs (WSU) in the Sweet 16. But that’s beside the point! [Note from the editor -- there's no accounting for taste.]
UNC vs. Kansas, Saturday, 6:07 p.m., EST
Tar Heels coach Roy Williams once led the Jayhawks of Kansas to four Final Fours (say that quickly five times). Now, he has moved on to RotoRob’s favourite, Tar Heel Nation, where he has UNC in the Final Four against his former school.
If you did not know any better, you would think Kansas is the only vulnerable team entering this Final Four as, previously stated, it had the only close Elite Eight contest. But not so fast. The Jayhawks played the Cinderalla of the tourney, scorching Davidson Wildcats (also of North Carolina) featuring scoring machine Stephen Curry. In last week’s column, I told you to watch out for Curry and it is hard to say he disappointed, pouring in 25 points against Kansas. But the Jayhawks were able to avoid a last second upset as a desperation three by Davidson clanged off the rim at the buzzer.
Davidson was the surprise seed of the tournament, and was really one of the only Cinderellas. But the fact that Kansas could overcome the Wildcats in itself shows that the Jayhawks are real. Coach Bill Self finally led his squad to the Final Four after failing in all his previous tournaments as Williams’s successor.
Junior guards Mario Chalmers and Brandon Rush played stifling defense on Curry, and despite scoring 25, Curry was held to just 9-for-25 from the field. Chalmers also contributed 13 points and three rebounds while Rush poured in 12 points and a nice seven rebounds.
Kansas has above average guard play so can match up well with the Tar Heels in the back court, but the question is if its big men can hang with National Player of the Year Tyler Hansbrough. Sasha Kaun had a solid game against Davidson, pouring in 13 points on 6-for-6 from the field, but I’m not quite sure he is quick enough to guard Hansbrough.
UNC just might have too many offensive weapons for Kansas. Not only do the Tar Heels have Hansbrough, but guards Wayne Ellington and Ty Lawson are a lock for double-digit points every game as well as a probable first round selections if they were to enter the draft this April. Throw in with super sixth man Danny Green and you have no weak spots up and down the Tar Heels’ roster.
This will be a great game, but my bold prediction is Tar Heels walk away with it.
UCLA vs. Memphis, Saturday, 8:47 p.m. EST
For making three Final Fours in the last three seasons, the Bruins are not getting a ton of respect. Coach Ben Howland has his strongest team out of all the recent Final Four runs, and the Bruins look poised to make more noise in the Finals than they did last season.
Led by guard Darren Collison and freshman sensation Kevin Love, this team is tough. Xavier made a somewhat surprising run to the Elite Eight where it was just absolutely controlled by the Bruins of UCLA. Love chipped in his typical 19 points and ten boards while Collison chipped in with 19 points and five assists. The Bruins’ stifling defense also held Xavier to only 36 per cent shooting from the field. UCLA has a solid rotation with Russell Westbrook, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, and Josh Shipp joining Love and Collison. All of these players can score, and all of these players can play extraordinary defense as well. They are athletic enough to run with Memphis but, most likely, will try to control the tempo and play a much slower pace than Memphis likes to play.
Memphis has really surprised so far in the tournament despite being a one seed. On ESPN’s predictions of the Sweet 16 last week, all eight analysts picked Memphis as the number one seed most likely to lose. Well, it didn’t. In fact, it wasn’t even close. The Tigers blew out Michigan State by 18 points which was not even a real indication of how lopsided that contest was. Memphis actually led 50-20 at the half in that game! The Elite Eight pitted them against Texas, a game which most thought the Tigers would lose. That did not happen either as they destroyed the Longhorns by 18. In that contest, do-it-all guard Chris Douglas-Roberts chipped in 25 points while freshman Derrick Rose tossed in 21 points. Texas was not able to rally and handle the amazing length of the Tigers.
If you’re a fan of the Tigers, you better enjoy your last glimpse of Rose. More than likely, he’s bolting to the NBA after this season and with good reason as he will be one of the top picks in the draft. With a backcourt of Rose and Douglas-Roberts, Memphis can score with anyone in the nation. Throw in the horses in the middle, Joey Dorsey and Robert Dozier, and you have a tough starting squad to defend. If Memphis gets into an uptempo game with UCLA, it has the edge and might be able to take the game from the Bruins. But if the game is close at the end, the Tigers might be in trouble as they were the third-worst free throw shooting team in Division I basketball this season.
Because I’ve seen UCLA play about 20 games this season (however, I’m not a UCLA fan) I know the squad pretty well and know how great of a coach Howland is. That’s not to take anything away from John Calipari (an outstanding coach as well), but UCLA has the experience from two previous Final Fours and I think it will eventually show as the Bruins will squeak by a very difficult Tigers squad.
The Bold Prediction
I’m calling UNC and UCLA for the championship in what will be a great game. But really you can’t go wrong with any of these four teams making the championship. They are four absolutely quality teams that NBA scouts will be going nuts over during this championship weekend.
If it is in fact UNC and UCLA, I think Love will be the best matchup of the year against Hansbrough and UCLA will pull off the victory giving Love a championship in his first and (most likely) only season in college.
When he wasn’t airing out his abundantly hairy pits, former NBA player Dell Curry was canning treys; now his son Stephen is building his own legend.
There always seem to be those players that step up out of nowhere in the tournament. The guys who have you scratching your head while saying “Wait, who is this guy?” The 2008 head scratcher for many of you (myself included) is Stephen Curry of the Cinderella Davidson squad. In Davidson’s first two games against Gonzaga and Georgetown, Curry has almost single-handedly carried his team to victory. Against the Bulldogs of Gonzaga, he poured in a game high 40 points, and followed that performance with 30 points in Davidson’s upset of number two seed Georgetown. Wow.
So maybe you say the name sounds familiar. Probably true. His dad was Dell Curry, long-time NBA player and three-point specialist. Regardless, I’m sure Stephen Curry was not on too many Players-to-watch lists before the tournament started. But after scoring 70 points in two contests and leading his Wildcats to the Sweet 16, he is plenty well known now. He’s even being projected as a late first round, early second round pick in the NBA draft for his uncanny ability to knock down threes.
March Madness. Where the unknown become the known! [Of course, long-time readers of RotoRob know that we touted Curry in the lead up to last year's tourney.]
Super Sweet 16 (Game of the Week)
Washington State vs. UNC, Thursday 7:40 p.m. EST
Okay, call me a homer (it has to be obvious by now that I’m a Coug through and through), but regardless of my loyalties, this has to be one of the most intriguing games of the Sweet 16. You have the ultimate shutdown defense in Wazzu, and the ultimate high powered offense in UNC. Both teams have absolutely destroyed their first two tournament opponents. Here’s a brief recap of what happened in these teams’ first two games:
Wazzu looked shaky in its first round victory of Winthrop. And by shaky, I mean for a short 20-minute period in which the Cougars went into the half tied at 29. But that disappeared quickly as they outscored Winthrop 42-11 in the second half to win 71-40. Ouch. Talk about defensive prowess.
In its second contest, Wazzu never looked shaky against Luke Harangody and the high powered Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Notre Dame jumped out to a 5-0 lead early on, but that would be its only lead in the contest as Big East Player of the Year Harangody was held to ten points for the game. Final score, Wazzu 61 Notre Dame 41. For those who are counting, that represnted only half of Notre Dame’s season average point wise.
On to UNC. The Tar Heels have not played a game in doubt yet, as Tyler Hansbrough and company steamrolled their first two opponents. After earning the right to get bitch-slapped by UNC by winning the play-in game against Coppin “A Feel” St., Mt. St. Mary’s was, as expected, bitch slapped. It was not a close contest as Hansbrough and Ty Lawson led the team with 21 points apiece in the Heels’ 113-74 victory. Wow. That’s scary good offense right there.
Many people thought UNC would get a much harder challenge from the tough SEC Arkansas squad. Nope. The Tar Heels once again scored in triple digits in a 108-77 victory, this time led by superstar guard Wayne Ellington. What is even better is the squad played everyone on their bench, with all 15 players seeing some action. Talk about a stacked team.
So why is this such a great game? Mostly because it is the best offense versus the best defense in the nation. But also because of the insane amount of future NBA talent in the game. UNC’s Hansbrough might potentially turn pro after this season, as may backcourt stalwarts Lawson and Ellington. All look to be first round picks. For Wazzu, Kyle Weaver hopes to continue to soar on draft boards with his defensive prowess, and what better an opportunity then to face the number one team in the tournament? Also, senior guard Derrick Low will look to continue a strong tournament and move up his draft status from mid second round to early second round selection.
The final reason it will be the best Sweet 16 game? Because I’m flying across country to see it, so damn it, it better be!
Happy bracket watching everyone.
[Note from the editor -- RotoRob has been a UNC fan since he started following college hoops many a year ago, so this matchup pits two of our staff's teams against one another. All I can say, Daniel, is you better watch your back, or else I will arrange to have extremely flat beer served at your next kegger. I might even confiscate your bong.]
This is where Cinderella happens. This is where draft stocks soar. This is where champions are made. As Dick Vitale would say, “It’s awesome baby!” Yes, March Madness is finally here and office pools and bracket battles are starting all across the country. Who will win it all? Who will come up short? We are here to give you the whole scoop, breaking down each bracket and letting you know who we think will make the Final Four. But with all the madness, don’t blame your monetary losses on us!
SOUTH REGION
By JORDAN FRANK
Don’t tell Memphis head coach John Calipari that the number one seed in a region is supposed to get preferential treatment by the NCAA tournament selection committee. Two years ago, Memphis was a number one seed and was shipped out West, where it lost the regional final against UCLA in Oakland. This year - it’s déjà vu all over again. The Memphis Tigers are the number one seed in the South Region and the regional final site is Houston - which could lead to a potential quasi-road game for Memphis against the number two seed, the Texas Longhorns.
However, it would be a major mistake for either Memphis or Texas to look ahead to its potential regional final battle. Both teams face a difficult path to get through the South Region - most notably in potential regional semifinal matchups. The South Region may not be the toughest bracket top-to-bottom, but it is extremely top-heavy (mmm…top heavy…bow chicka bow bow). The top four seeds — Memphis, Texas, Stanford and Pittsburgh — are all loaded with talent, well-coached, experienced teams who could potentially win this Region.
Although I believe the South Region is top-heavy, there are potential difficult matchups for two of the top four teams in the second round. Memphis and Pittsburgh better beware of potential matchups against Mississippi State and Michigan State, respectively. Both of the underdogs match up well against the favourites and could play spoiler. As for some other potential early upsets, I like Saint Mary’s to knock off Miami and Kentucky to take down Marquette.
The Best Bets
Memphis Tigers (No. 1 Seed): The 33-1 Memphis Tigers are the first school in NCAA history to enter the NCAA tournament with 30 or more wins for the third straight year. The last two runs in the NCAA tournament for the Tigers ended in the regional final, but this year’s team includes sensational freshman point guard Derrick Rose. Memphis played a tough non-conference schedule this year and beat numerous tournament teams including Connecticut, Georgetown, Oklahoma, USC, Arizona and Gonzaga. The Tigers cruised through the Conference USA regular season without a blemish and easily won the conference tournament. Memphis’ only defeat came at home against Tennessee in a tough No. 1 versus No. 2 battle. The Tigers are led by guards Rose (13.9 PPG, 4.2 APG) and Chris Douglas-Roberts (17.2 PPG) who were both first-team All-Conference USA, and forward Joey Dorsey (7.0 PPG, 10.0 RPG) who was on the second-team. The team has struggled with its perimeter shooting all season and ranks 327th of 328 teams in Division I in foul shooting at 59.2 per cent.
Texas Longhorns (No. 2 Seed): After losing Kevin Durant last season, the number two pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, many predicted a down year for the Texas Longhorns. However, they responded with an 11-0 start to the 2007-08 season, which included marquee non-conference wins over UCLA and Tennessee. Additionally, the Longhorns were mere minutes away from beating Kansas in the Big 12 Championship game to capture a berth as a number one seed. The 28-6 Longhorns, who have won 12 of their last 14 games, are seeded number two in the South and their path to the NCAA championship runs through Little Rock, Houston and San Antonio. Texas beat Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas A&M and Kansas State on its way to sharing the Big 12 regular season championship with Kansas, and is led by its stud point guard D.J. Augustin, who was the Big 12’s No. 2 scorer (19.8 PPG) and leader in assists (5.7 APG). Augustin’s backcourt mate, A.J. Abrams, is a deadly outsider shooter who led the team with 89 three pointers and who averages 16.1 PPG and forward Damion James is the Longhorns’ muscle-in-the-middle, averaging 10.5 RPG and 13.2 PPG. It will be critical for the Longhorns to get interior contributions from James, centre Connor Atchley and especially forward Gary Johnson to advance from a potential regional semifinal matchup against Stanford and its twin seven footers.
Stanford Cardinal (No. 3 Seed): Stanford has been under the radar for most of the season due to the team’s soft non-conference schedule and the suspension of Brook Lopez for the first semester. Don’t look now, but Stanford has won nine of its last 13 in a loaded conference and settled for second place in the Pac-10 after a controversial call at UCLA ended its hopes of a regular season championship. The Cardinal are a defensive juggernaut and are in the nation’s top ten in both two-point field goal defense and overall effective field goal defense. The team also ranks in the Top 25 in both offensive and defensive rebounding. The Cardinal can overwhelm teams inside with its twin seven-footers Brook and Robin Lopez. Brook leads the team by averaging 19.2 PPG and 8.5 RPG, while his brother Robin averages 10.0 PPG and 5.6 RPG. Anthony Goods (10.8 PPG) is the main 3-point threat and point guard Mitch Johnson averages 4.8 APG.
The Sleeper
Pittsburgh Panthers (No. 4 Seed): To call the Panthers a dark horse is a bit of a stretch, but this team has overcome significant injuries and is as dangerous as any team in the country. The Panthers won the Big East Conference tournament by beating Cincinnati, Louisville, Marquette and Georgetown in a four-day span. Despite the injuries, Pittsburgh finished with a school-record seventh consecutive 20-win season. Junior point guard Levance Fields, who averages 11.1 PPG, 3.9 RPG and 5.4 APG, returned in mid-February after missing 12 games with a broken left foot, and the team lost Mike Cook (10.4 PPG) for the season. The Panthers depend on tough, aggressive defense and the inside scoring of DeJuan Blair (11.7 PPG and 9.1 RPG) and Sam Young (18.3 PPG and 6.4 RPG). Because of its strong and tenacious team defense, Pittsburgh could be a difficult matchup for Memphis in a potential regional semifinal.
Players to Watch
Derrick Rose - Memphis: The freshman guard for the Tigers is arguably the top point guard in the country and is a sure-fire lottery pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. While Rose’s raw stats are solid (13.9 PPG, 4.2 APG, 4.2 RPG, 1.2 SPG), it is his intangibles that are making NBA scouts salivate. Rose has fantastic vision on the court and has an incredible knack of making his teammates better. He has the ability to take over games with his size and athleticism and can get to the rim with ease.
Brook Lopez - Stanford: Lopez is another player destined to be a lottery pick in next year’s NBA draft. He is a fundamentally sound and strong big man who averaged 19.2 points, 8.5 boards and 1.9 blocks per game this season. Lopez has a strong work ethic and has improved his shooting from both the field and the free throw line this season. As true seven-footers, Brook and his brother Robin will pose a tough matchup for smaller teams in the tournament.
D.J. Augustin - Texas: The floor general for the Longhorns is the second best point guard in the country (see above). Augustin is a pure point guard who models his game after Steve Nash. In his sophomore season, Augustin is averaging 19.8 points, 5.7 dimes, 2.9 boards and 1.3 steals. He is an incredible ball-handler who runs the pick-and-roll to perfection and can easily dribble-penetrate to find the open man.
Jamont Gordon - Mississippi State: Gordon is an explosive guard who averages 17 points, six rebounds and five assists for the Bulldogs. In his junior season, he was a unanimous selection to the All-SEC first team and has shown incredible versatility in leading the Bulldogs into the tournament. Gordon uses his size (6′4”, 230) and strength to get to the hole and his improved shooting has garnered the attention of NBA scouts.
Patrick Mills - Saint Mary’s: Mills is a 5′11” Australian freshman guard who is lightning-quick and could shock some teams in the tournament with his scoring ability. Earlier this season, Mills led Saint Mary’s to a victory over Oregon (who was ranked No. 11 at the time) by scoring 37 points. He averages 14.5 points, 3.4 assists and 1.8 steals for the Gaels.
Others to Watch
Jarvis Varnado - Mississippi State Dominic James - Marquette Chris Douglas-Roberts - Memphis Dionte Christmas - Temple Joe Crawford - Kentucky
Projected Region Winner
The Texas Longhorns will benefit from the favourable venues and cut the nets in Houston on their way to San Antonio.
MIDWEST REGION
By ANDY GOLDSTEIN
At first, I was pretty bummed about getting stuck covering the Midwest. I mean, it’s the antithesis of flash. Instead, I get to go on about muckers (UNLV), grinders (Wisconsin), and plodders (Georgetown). Yes, the Midwest is the slowest region in the whole tournament, but there’s beauty in molassas ball, right? Who doesn’t love a 53-50 second round nailbiter!? I live to see the shot clock in the corner go from serene white to impending-doom-red! Every time! Okay, I can’t do this anymore. Seriously, I must have upset the March Madness gods. I hate stone-age basketball. They might as well get rid of the shot clock altogether. Oh no. I just realized Wisconsin could end up facing Georgetown in the third round. That narcolepsy-inducing game should come with a warning: please don’t listen on the radio if you’re operating a vehicle.
The Best Bets
Kansas Jayhawks (No. 1 seed): The Big 12 Champions will be hard to stop behind a senior-laden team. A high power offense will be thrust forth in the early rounds of the tournament and my guess is they will make the Final Four.
Georgetown Hoyas (No. 2 seed): The Hoyas made a huge run in last year’s tournament and look to follow that up this season. Roy Hibbert elected to come back for his senior season instead of going pro and will lead a team with plenty of experience and a great shot in a tough bracket to make the Final Four.
Wisconsin Badgers (No. 3 seed): The Badgers probably feel snubbed. After winning the Big Ten tournament, as well as being ranked fifth in the country, they were only awarded a three seed in the Midwest. If Wisconsin can play as well as its coach Bo Ryan does the dance to Soulja Boy’s “Crank Dat,” count them in to at least the Elite Eight with a great shot at making the Final Four.
The Sleeper
Michael Beasley’s Kansas State squad strikes me as the team that could surprise the most. Obviously, they will have the best player in every game, which is a nice starting point. Maybe more importantly, they play a faster paced game than anyone else in the region, and they’re the only low-ranked team that will have a shot at controlling the tempo against the high seeds. While I do see them beating USC in first round, I think they’ll run into a wall against the Badgers. The only other double digit seed that I see with a chance to make a Sweet 16 run would be the Villanova Wildcats, who garnered a 12 seed. Interestingly, their first game against Clemson in the 5-12 matchup will be tougher than the second round matchups. Vanderbilt is a very weak No. 4, but Siena isn’t exactly a dangerous 13 seed, so the winner of Clemson-’Nova should make it another round. I am not that bold, since Clemson is very strong and the Wildcats are too inconsistent, but if they do pull the upset, I totally called it.
Players to Watch
Mario Chalmers-Kansas: Kansas, clearly one of the best teams in the country, is a team that has a number of quality players. It’s almost unfair to single just one or two out, but guard Mario Chalmers has been playing well of late. Against Texas in the Big 12 title game, he scored a career-high 30 points.
Roy Hibbert-Georgetown: The centre from Georgetown can have a big impact on this bracket. Unfortunately, he’s shown a tendency to put himself in foul trouble, which cuts his minutes significantly. But he has plenty of experience after last year’s run.
Michael Beasley-Kansas State: The National Player of the Year runner up, he is an extreme force to be reckoned with. Averaging a double-double, Beasley can almost single-handedly lead his Wildcats to an upset over first round opponent USC and O.J. Mayo.
Others to Watch
Sherron Collins-Kansas Delonte Huff-Portland State
Projected Region Winner
I hate picking chalk. I despise it. I can’t think of anything worse. But the one redeeming part of having to slog through the Midwest Region is that I get to explain that Kansas is not only going to win the bracket, but also the National Championship. It has the balance to get through anyone.
WEST REGION
By RotoRob
Other than UCLA - a legitimate threat to win it all this year - the West Region isn’t exactly brimming with tourney contenders. Duke as a two seed? This is a team that couldn’t even win the ACC regular season title or the conference tournament. And now the Blue Devils have to travel far from home to try to win their region. Frankly, I’ll be shocked if they survive until the Elite Eight.
There are some interesting schools here, however. Drake, who shocked many by sweeping its way through the always fascinating MVC tourney; Jim Calhoun’s UConn Huskies, who seem to be rounding into form at the right time; and the Purdue Boilermakers, who have done an amazing job of turning the program around.
The Best Bets
UCLA (No. 1 seed): The Bruins probably have the easiest road to the Final Four of any of the No. 1 seeds. After wrapping up a third straight Pac-10 regular season title, UCLA swept through a tourney that featured six teams headed to the dance, and it came away unscathed, stretching an overall winning streak to 10 games. This club, capable of controlling games with its defense, has plenty of experience, having made it to the last two Final Fours. In fact, only Kentucky has more tournament appearances in its history. As long as Kevin Love’s back doesn’t act up again and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute’s ankle is okay, this team will roll.
Xavier (No. 3 seed): The Musketeers, normally a superb 3-point shooing team, went ice cold in the Atlantic 10 semis, sinking just 1-of-14. The result? Xavier was held to just 53 points, its lowest output of the season. But this team was headed to the dance either way, and the Musketeers, an excellent FT shooting team, are poised for a very deep tournament run.
Drake (No. 5 seed): I’m going out on a limb here a bit, but those Missouri Valley schools have made sexy choices in recent years, and this team did win 28 games this season. The only thing holding the Bulldogs back is experience - they haven’t made the tourney since 1971. But any team capable of ending the No. 1 seed jinx in the MVC (they’re the first club to win the tourney as the top seed in that conference in a decade) must have some kismet on their side. Besides, did you see what Drake did to Illinois State in the tourney final? Woah. The Bulldogs are capable of shredding opponents with an array of 3-point shooters, featuring four players who average well over one trey per game, including Josh Young and Klayton Korver, who both average better than two per game. Assuming Drake can get by a powerful Western Kentucky squad (and those No. 5 vs. No. 12 matchups are always a minefield), this team has a chance to make some serious noise in the tourney.
The Sleeper
West Virginia (No. 7 seed): Because of its ability to get hot and light it up, West Virginia will always be a threat. The Mountaineers showed this when they knocked off UConn in the Big East quarterfinals. I have my doubts about Duke’s ability to get past the Sweet 16, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Devils bow to WVU in the second round. The Mountaineers have an upset in them waiting to be unleashed.
Players to Watch
Jerryd Bayless-Arizona: The athletic and fast Bayless will be a lottery pick, but whether his NBA future is as a PG or a combo guard remains to be seen. Now is his chance to prove he can run an offense. Compared by some to Gilbert Arenas, another less-than-true PG who is an explosive scorer, Bayless averaged 20 PPG but he turns the ball over too much.
DeAndre Jordan-Texas A&M: With Jordan, it’s not so much what’s he done as what he might do. This seven-footer is blessed with a man-child’s body a la Dwight Howard, so NBA scouts are drooling as they consider him for a lottery pick slot. Coming off the bench this year, Jordan didn’t exactly wow anyone in his freshman season, but with his ability to be a fantastic, young low-post presence similar to Andrew Bynum, teams will be coveting this brimming-with-potential, athletic big man.
Russell Westbrook-UCLA: The first of a host of UCLA stars expected to be drafted this summer, this soph exploded onto the scene this year, and was blazing down the stretch, scoring in double figures in eight straight games until the Stanford game Saturday. Westbrook wears No. 0 but is anything but in scouts’ minds, establishing himself as a clear lottery pick with his athleticism and quickness. This lefty combo guard, compared to Monta Ellis, will need to add strength, and is certainly not someone who will step in to the NBA and make an immediate impact, but Westbrook has a chance to cement his status as a top 10 pick with a big tourney.
Hasheem Thabeet-Connecticut: This dude is a serious blocking machine, recording at least two swats per game for the past 14 contests. At 7′3″, he is an incredibly intimidating presence under his own basket, earlier this year putting up a 10-block game. However, as dominating as Thabeet is on D, he is a weak post player, only capable of scoring when he gets position within a few feet of the bucket. Still, Thabeet, who averaged 4.5 BPG this season, looks like he’ll be a lottery pick and take his place as the next Dikembe Mutombo, throwing nightly block parties in the NBA.
Kevin Love-UCLA: Love has scouts drooling with his combination of size (6′10″, 271), strength and skills. There’s almost nothing he can’t do, whether it’s scoring, rebounding, blocking or stepping behind the arc to can a 3-pointer. Gifted with a great jump shot as well as superb post skills, Love looks like a mid first round pick right now, but a big tourney could vault him into a lottery slot. The only major knock on Love is his lack of speed, so he’s best suited to thrive on a half-court team.
Others to Watch
Darren Collison-UCLA Trent Plaisted-BYU Luc Richard Mbah A Moute-UCLA DeMarcus Nelson-Duke Courtney Lee-Western Kentucky
Projected Region Winner
UCLA is on its way to a third straight Final Four, and is a good bet to go to the Championship game.
EAST REGION
By DANIEL OLSEN
In this writer’s humble opinion, the East is the toughest region in the tournament. Not only does it have the number one overall seed in UNC, but Indiana is an eight seed! The Hoosiers have obviously struggled since the dismissal of cheater, ahem, coach Kelvin Sampson, but still they had a very solid year in a strong Big Ten Conference.
Speaking of Indiana, look for a potential huge matchup with UNC in the second round, assuming the Hoosiers can escape Arkansas in a tough opening round contest.
Also in this bracket you have a previously ranked number one (Tennessee), a former Cinderella mid-major in George Mason, always tough Louisville, and a new Pac-10 powerhouse in Washington State.
With the exception of a few of the lower ranked teams, just about anyone could potentially win this bracket.
The Best Bets
UNC (No. 1 seed):
Tell me you want to bet against the number one overall seed in the tournament and team who finished number one in the final AP rankings. Then I will tell you that you’re crazy. Led by centre Tyler Hansbrough and guard Ty Lawson, this team is tough. Fresh off the ACC championship, the Tar Heels are gunning for the national championship and are poised to make a huge run led by coach Roy Williams. However, after round one, there will be no easy games for the Tar Heels.
Tennessee (No. 2 seed): While the Volunteers stumbled a bit after briefly being ranked number one in the nation, they still finished with a two seed in the East and look poised to dominate the bottom half of the East bracket. Chris Lofton will have to continue to be a super stroker for Tennesse to make a run at the Final Four. With Bruce Pearl at the helm, it looks like the sky might be the limit for the Volunteers. They have plenty of experience with a team that made a deep run into the tournament last season as well.
Washington State (No. 4 seed): Sure they are from Pullman, Washington (where?) and are only making their second tournament appearance in the last 14 seasons. But, it is their second tournament appearance in a row and is being led by one of the most promising young coaches in the nation in Tony Bennett (just ask Indiana, a school that can’t stop gazing at him after the dismissal of Sampson). The Cougars are a senior-led team with guards Kyle Weaver and Derrick Low. They can shoot the three almost as well as anyone in the country with four legitimate three-point threats on the team. Factor in the Pac-10’s best defense statistically, and they could advance to at least the Sweet Sixteen.
The Sleeper
George Mason (No. 12 seed): These guys know how to win. Just two years ago they made it to the Final Four out of nowhere! They still have two starters from that squad in Folarin Campbell and Will Thomas. The Patriots have had some big wins this season, including one over Beasley’s Kansas State. They have plenty enough offense, but they will have to play big time defense in order to have a chance in this tournament.
Players to Watch
Kyle Weaver-Washington State: The 6′6″ senior guard is one of the best defensive players in the land and has had a shutdown season leading him to be a probable late first round pick in the upcoming NBA draft. While he doesn’t always light up the scoreboard with points like Beasley and Mayo, he will chip in 10-15 points a game and a couple of steals per contest. He is the heart and soul of the Cougars.
Tyler Hansbrough-UNC: He’s only the National Player of the Year. No big deal right? Wrong. Hansbrough is unstoppable at times and the centre will only continue to shine in the tournament. Look for him to have a double-double in every contest in the tournament and drop even more scouts’ jaws with his uncanny ability to score and rebound. He should be leading his Tar Heels deep in the tournament.
Reggie Larry-Boise State: Sure, the Broncos are from the mediocre WAC conference, but Larry is definitely something to write home about. The forward is averaging 19.6 points per contest as well as pulling down 9.3 rebounds. The team barely made the tournament after a triple overtime victory in the WAC championship against New Mexico State. What did Larry do in that contest? Oh, he merely poured in 31 points and pulled down 16 points. No big deal.
Luke Harangody-Notre Dame: No one said anything about Harangody prior to the season. Now, the whole nation is raving about him. Going into the tournament, the forward is averaging a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds per game. Notre Dame will need him if it has any chance of advancing, as it has no easy games in the bracket, starting off with Cinderella special George Mason. But, Harangody has shown he has what it takes to lead the Fighting Irish and he will do just that.
Chris Lofton-Tennessee: This senior rainmaker has led Tennessee all season in three-point shooting at a 40 per cent clip while averaging 16 points per game. This is his last chance to shine in the NCAA tournament and he hopes to impress NBA scouts and improve his draft stock which he should be able to do as his Volunteers have a favourable first few games.
Others to Watch
Derrick Low-Washington State David Padgett-Lousiville Eric Gordon-Indiana D.J. White-Indiana Sonny Weems-Arkansas Blake Griffin-Oklahoma
Projected Region Winner
I hate being the guy to just go with the obvious, but I will do it anyways. The winner has to be UNC. I do not think anyone can really match up with Hansbrough, and he will dominate all the big men in the bracket. That being said, Tennessee is the one team that can challenge the Heels. But still, go ahead and pick UNC.
The Final Four
Based on our predictions, the Final Four will consist of Texas, Kansas, UCLA, and UNC. That’s right, three number one seeds. Guess we like to play it safe, huh?
Bold prediction: the winner of the best Conference in the land (the Pac-10) will win the 2008 Tournament. Yah, UCLA all the way!
Luke Harangody is an intimidating presence in the post. (AP Photo/Brian Kersey)
[Note from the Editor: This is the 1,000th post in the history of RotoRob.com. A quick thanks to all our readers, all our writers and the rest of Team RotoRob. Okay, enough blathering...on to some college hoops. By the way, stay tuned for our March Madness Preview, coming soon.]
If you see Luke Harangody in street clothes on the campus at Notre Dame, you might think he suits up for the football team. The 6′8″, 251-pound sophomore looks like a fullback or linebacker as opposed to a forward for the Fighting Irish’s tourney-bound hoops team.
Harangody was told coming into Notre Dame that he may never see any playing time and spend his career on the bench. But now, just a sophomore, he has proved everyone wrong and come up big. He currently averages 21 points as well as pulling down 10 boards per game in the tough Big East Conference. Despite Notre Dame’s loss to Louisville last Thursday, Harangody poured in an incredible 40 points on 16-for-28 shooting from the field. Just to make sure people knew there were more aspects to his game, he pulled down 12 boards as well. Before this contest, he had never made a three-pointer in his college career. But he stepped up and knocked down 3-for-4 from beyond the arc, helping turn what once seemed a blowout into a nail biter at the end.
While it is doubtful the impressive Harangody will go pro after this season, look for him to be even more of a force next season. If he can continue his hot streak behind the arc, he could be a more diverse version of Kyle Korver with more tools if he makes it to the league.
Team of the Week
For how much success the Gonzaga Bulldogs have had the last decade, there sure isn’t much talk about them from Spokane.
The Bulldogs wrapped up at least a tie of the West Coast Conference last week with a win over previously ranked St. Mary’s, and then followed that up with a thrashing over Santa Clara on Monday to finish their regular season at 24-6. Believe it or not, they finally re-entered this week’s rankings for the first time in over three months.
The Bulldogs are paced by Matt Bouldin, who is scoring 13 points per game and just poured in 21 in the win over St. Mary’s. But the real intrigue on the team is star guard Jeremy Pargo. His brother Jannero is already a back-up guard in the NBA to Hornets’ guard Chris Paul, and the younger Pargo hopes he can make it to the league as well. Pargo currently averages 11.8 points per game as well as a hefty 6.2 assists. While only a junior, don’t be surprised to see him bolt for the pros after having a successful campaign this season.
Who’s Hot
Brook Lopez, C, Stanford: This 7′0″, 260-pound sophomore has been a tear all season in the Pac-10 with the only other centre in the ballpark being freshman sensation Kevin Love. Lopez is currently averaging 19.3 points per game as well as grabbing 7.8 boards a contest. After having to sit out the first nine games of the season due to academic probation, he has been making up for lost time. Against 22nd-ranked Washington State last weekend, Lopez poured in 25 points and added six rebounds, catapulting his team from an 11-point deficit at halftime to a seven-point victory. It is widely thought that he will go pro after this season, and draft projections have him as a high lottery pick. Look for Lopez to make an immediate impact in the NBA.
Chris Kramer, G, Purdue: Kramer is an undersized guard at only 6′3″, but has been the defensive playmaker all year for the Boilermakers. Think of him as a defensive specialist. While Kramer only averages seven points per contest, his 2.3 steals per game is nothing to frown at. He is only a sophomore, so he has plenty of time to improve his offensive skills and, if he does, look for him to go to the league as a defensive specialist.
Who’s Not
The Pac-10 Referees: It is widely known that the Pac-10 football referees are often off their game, especially after blowing the Oregon-Oklahoma contest a few years ago. But who knew the basketball officials were this awful as well? In Saturday’s Washington State-Stanford contest, the first seven foul calls of the game went against Washington State. After that, the next nine calls went against Stanford, including a technical on head coach Trent Johnson. Talk about lack of consistency. Let’s hope these Pac-10 refs don’t get to officiate the postseason and disrupt our viewing of our soon-to-be NBA stars.
Game of the Week
UNC vs. Duke, Saturday, March 8, 9 p.m. EST
What’s not to love about the number one team in the nation (UNC) facing the number five team (Duke)? A scouts dream!
Watch National Player of the Year candidate Tyler Hansbrough take on Greg Paulus as this game decides who wins the ACC outright as both teams currently sit at 13-2 in conference.
You gotta love this rivalry, even if (like me) you actually hate both schools. (Do what I do, just wait until the second half with three minutes left and whichever team is losing, half-heartedly cheer for them.)
Reggie Evans, right, could be in jeopardy of losing his “The Collector” nickname if Dwayne Collins makes it to the NBA. (AP Photo/Rusty Kennedy)
The University of Miami (Florida) has always been known as a football powerhouse. The Hurricanes have rarely been known as a threat in basketball in the tough ACC, but after last week’s upset over Duke, maybe it is time to start recognizing their hoops program.
The ‘Canes were led by sophomore forward Dwayne Collins, who poured in a season best 26 points on 12-of-14 shooting from the field and 2-of-3 from the line, while pitching in with seven boards. Collins followed up his performance in the upset over Duke with a solid game of 12 points and six rebounds helping Miami beat Maryland to extent its ACC winning streak to four games. Collins stands at 6′8″ and weighs in at 232 pounds which is the perfect size for a college forward, and he has made it pay off in only his second year, averaging 9.6 points and 6.3 boards a game.
While Collins will need more time to develop in the college ranks, the Miami native already has the body and with improved skills, can be an effective bruiser in the NBA ranks. Think Reggie Evans but with a better scoring touch. Will Collins make it to the NBA and steal “The Collector” nickname from Evans? That would not be a stretch.
Team of the Week
I was going to ask how anyone could argue that the team was Tennessee, but now I think it should just be the state of Tennessee.
Formerly the No. 2 team in the nation, the University of Tennessee came into the FedEx Forum and upset the number one-ranked Memphis Tigers last Saturday. Not only did that lock the school in as the best team in the state of Tennessee, but it will almost assuredly give the Vols a No. 1 seed in the tournament.
Tyler Smith led the Volunteers with 16 points, six rebounds and three assists, continuing his season-long scoring barrage. The 6′7″ forward is currently averaging 13.5 points and grabbing 6.7 boards a game in the tough SEC. The senior leader, Chris Lofton, had an off game, going just 2-for-11 from the field and only contributing seven points, but don’t expect that to hurt his stock come NBA draft time.
But wait…last night, No. 14 Vanderbilt, behind Sean Foster, upset the new No. 1 Tennessee. So that being said, the team of the week is….the state of Tennessee? The union’s 16th state is currently taking a back seat to no one on the hardwood.
Who’s Hot
Al Fisher, G, Kent State: This 6′1″ junior has led the Golden Flashes to a surprising 23-5 record capped by Tuesday’s upset over 23rd-ranked St. Mary’s where he poured in 28 points. While slightly undersized, Fisher has proved he can shoot, averaging 14.4 points per game while canning 83 per cent of his attempts from the charity stripe. If the draft happened today, Fisher would go undrafted, but he has one more year to improve his draft stock and could be a huge three-point threat in the association.
Kyle McAlarney, G, Notre Dame: Another undersized guard at 6′0″, McAlarney proved he has a huge heart. The junior poured in 30 points including nine three-pointers in last week’s win over Syracuse, helping his Fighting Irish to a 21-5 record. He’s currently averaging almost 16 points per game, and shooting an insane 46.4 per cent from downtown. McAlarney will stay in school for his senior year, but look for his shooting touch to impress some NBA scouts and give him a shot to catch on as another deep threat in the league.
Who’s Not
Greg Paulus, G, Duke: The director of Duke’s offense has struggled in his last three contests. The junior has sunk a mere 8-for-27 in his last three games, two of those being losses to Wake Forest and Miami. Paulus is averaging a modest 10.6 points per game, but will need to be much more accurate down the stretch for the Blue Devils to have a shot at the Championship.
Brian Roberts, G, Dayton: The star for the Dayton Flyers struggled mightily against Xavier, going just 4-for-14 from the field as his squad lost 57-51. The senior is averaging a healthy 19.3 points per game and has only been held to single digits four times this season, but his Flyers have gone just 3-8 in their last 11 contests and must pick things up going into the tournament. And Roberts must pick it up in his last year of eligibility if he has hopes of making it to the pros.
Game of the Week
Notre Dame vs. Louisville, Thursday, February 28, 7 p.m., EST
This game will help determine who will challenge Georgetown and Roy Hibbert for the Big East title. Notre Dame is currently ranked 17th and is led by McAlarney while Louisville sits just behind the Irish in the 18th slot in the country. The return of Cardinals’ centre David Padgett has been huge as Louisville has gone 13-3 since he’s come back. Watch this game not only to see the jockeying for position in the Big East, but also for a sneak peak at some future NBA players.
