Warning: I will not be responsible if you copy this bracket and are out of your NCAA Tournament pool by Sunday. However, if you do listen to my college basketball wisdom and win some money, I want 20% of the pot or at least a shout-out on your twitter or facebook page.
Florida earned the top overall seed in the 2014 NCAA Tournament are the favorites in the South Regional. #2 Kansas is a dangerous team but will be without stud freshman center, Joel Embiid for at least the first weekend due to a back injury. Here is a preview and my NCAA Tournament predictions for the South Regional.
Bracket Overview:
Florida was deservingly given the top overall seed and are the favorites to make the Final Four after sweeping SEC play in both the regular season and conference tournament. To put it bluntly, Billy Donovan has a real good, deep, balanced team. I had been planning on picking Kansas to win it all but the Joel Embiid injury is scaring me off but never count out Bill Self in March especially with the Jayhawks having a huge home court advantage in the first two rounds since they play in St. Louis. Syracuse is limping into the tourney while UCLA is coming off an impressive run in the Pac-12 Tournament. The biggest gripe I have with this region is New Mexico’s seeding. After winning the Mountain West Conference Tournament, I thought the Lobos had a five seed resume but are a seven seed.
Most Intriguing First Round Game: #6 Ohio State vs. #11 Dayton
Despite being about an hour drive from one another, the Buckeyes and Flyers have only met six times on the hardwood. Dayton wing Jordan Sibert went to OSU for his first two years of college and Flyers’ head coach Archie Miller used to be an assistant at Ohio State under Thad Matta.
Opening Round Upset: #12 Stephen F. Austin over #5 VCU
Minus the 8/9 game, I have this bracket going as expected in the first round (I refuse to call it the second round) so I am not picking a real gutsy upset. Stephen F. Austin seems to be a sexy upset pick since they haven’t lost since November 23rd and have rattled off 28 straight wins. However, look who they played (and if you don’t want to actually look at their schedule, I’ll save you an internet search; nobody.) The Commodores do struggle scoring in the half-court and must rely on their havoc defensive effort to overwhelm the Lumberjacks. SFA does have the guard play to handle the full-court pressure and that will be vital if they are going to pull off the upset.
Sleeper: Syracuse
A month ago, the Orange were unbeaten and everyone’s favorite to win the NCAA Tournament. Cuse has lost five of their last seven and now nobody is talking about them. Don’t forget though that the Orange dropped four of their final five games last season and still made a run to the Final Four. Jerami Grant needs to be healthy and Trevor Cooney must knock down outside shots for Syracuse to have a chance this year but I wouldn’t underestimate Jim Boeheim.
5 Players to Watch:
Andrew Wiggins, Kansas
I have to start with Wiggins, right? The possible number one overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft has been balling out lately averaging 31 points during his last three games. His outside stroke looks extremely confident and his aggressiveness in attacking the rim continues to rise. With Embiid out for at least the first weekend, Wiggins needs to carry Kansas early on.
Kyle Anderson, UCLA
The 6-9 sophomore is one of the most unique players in college basketball. His combination of size, skill, and ability to play a point forward position makes him a difficult matchup for any team. He helped lead the Bruins to the Pac-12 Tournament title which included convincing wins over Oregon and Stanford.
Cameron Bairstow, New Mexico
Arguable the most improved player in the country after more than doubling his scoring production from last year, the Aussie forms one of the most physical frontcourts in the country with Alex Kirk. Besides being a bruiser inside, Bairstow can also step and knock down mid-range jumpers and is a huge reason why I think the Lobos can make a tourney run.
LaQuinton Ross, Ohio State
Ross came up huge for the Buckeyes during the dance last year and will need a repeat performance this March if OSU is going to make any noise. The Buckeyes are a poor three-point shooting team and Ross is their most dangerous threat from beyond the arc. He needs to hit shots especially with a potential second round matchup versus Syracuse and their 2-3 zone.
Tyler Ennis, Syracuse
It has been incredible to watch the poise in which Ennis runs the point as a freshman. I’m giddy at the thought of seeing Aaron Craft guard him for 40 minutes in a potential second round battle.
Opening Round Picks:
Florida over Albany
Pittsburgh over Colorado
VCU over Stephen F. Austin
UCLA over Tulsa
Ohio State over Dayton
Syracuse over Western Michigan
New Mexico over Stanford
Kansas over Eastern Kentucky
Second Round:
Florida over Pittsburgh
UCLA over VCU
Syracuse over Ohio State
New Mexico over Kansas
Sweet 16:
Florida over UCLA
New Mexico over Syracuse
Elite 8:
Florida over New Mexico
David Kay is a senior feature NBA Draft, NBA, and college basketball writer for the Sports Bank. He also heads up the NBA and college basketball material at Walter Football.com and is a former contributor at The Washington Times Communities. David has appeared on numerous national radio programs spanning from Cleveland to New Orleans to Honolulu to Milwaukee. He also had the most accurate 2011 NBA Mock Draft and the most accurate 2012 NBA Mock Draft on the internet , AND the second most accurate 2013 NBA Mock Draft. (Yup, nearly 3peat champ… #humblebrag.)
You can follow him on Twitter at David_Kmiecik.