Breaking Down the Brackets

The Madness is set for the next 22 days after the NCAA Tournament brackets were unveiled on Selection Sunday. It signaled the end to a wild regular season and an even wilder few weeks of conference tournaments. More importantly, it signaled the beginning of the wildest time in college basketball, and perhaps, in sports. There is always the talk about who had their bubble bursted, who belonged in, who is lucky to be in and all that. Those discussions are for the so-called experts to discuss on ESPN and CBS, but here on the World of Wadley it's all about the actual games and matchups. Here is a breakdown of the bracket.

South Region

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

Kentucky was the obvious choice for the overall number one seed despite losing to Vanderbilt in the SEC tournament final. However, that does not mean their path to New Orleans is an easy one. Do not sleep on UConn at the nine seed. The Huskies were picked in the Top 10 before the season, but had a disappointing year. Still, they looked good in the Big East tournament and they have the players to match up with the Cats in the second round. I also like the 5-12 match up between Wichita State and VCU. Those are two quality mid-major programs and while I do think the Shockers are the better team, I am going to pick VCU. That's not to say Shaka Smart and the Rams will be making another Final Four run. In the second round they would be faced with Indiana most likely. The Hoosiers have turned it around and I would love to see them take on Kentucky in the Sweet 16 again. UNLV is a mid major to fear and I have them making a run to the Elite 8. They can beat Baylor and they will beat Duke. In the end though Kentucky will win the South Region in Atlanta.

Kim English

West Region

The West is a very interesting bracket because it contains some of the best mid major teams in the tournament. It also has arguably the best top four seeds with Michigan State, Missouri, Marquette and Louisville. Throw in Murray State, a team that only lost one game this season, and this is a tough bracket. Missouri may feel snubbed that they didn't receive a one seed from the committee, but they actually have the best half of any bracket they could have asked for. I say that because every team is like them. Florida, Marquette and Murray State are all teams without dominant big men. Mizzou does not play with a dominant big man and that's why I see them meeting Michigan State in the Elite 8. This makes for a very appealing matchup. It's hard to pick due to the fact that Michigan State has the size advantage. However, Mizzou has beat teams like Kansas and Baylor who play big. I am picking Missouri to advance to their first Final Four in the end. Also, sleeper team of the West is Long Beach State.

Kris Joseph



East Region
I do not regard the East as a very tough region. I see it as a very tough one to pick because I don't view very many teams as Final Four worthy. Vanderbilt and Florida State are hot right now and I've seen people picking them to face each other in the Elite 8. That is wishful thinking because Syracuse and Ohio State are too good to not be in Boston. I love Jim Boeheim's Syracuse team and have them playing in New Orleans. Ohio State is a solid team, but I see loopholes in their game. I do believe that Florida State and Vanderbilt will be in the Sweet 16. West Virginia and Gonzaga in the 7-10 game is going to be a very good matchup and I think the Mountaineers will win. Kevin Jones is too tough and has not been given his due this season. To me, this is the easiest bracket and it makes the path for the Orange an easier one than other number one seeds have.

Harrison Barnes

Midwest Region

Contrary to the East Region, the Midwest has some very good teams and some very enticing potential matchups. I like the first round 6-11 game between San Diego State and NC State. The Wolfpack were denied a chance to play in the ACC championship on a bad no call against North Carolina, but C.J. Leslie is a player to watch. Look for NC State to pull off the upset and meet Georgetown in the second round. St. Mary's is going to beat Purdue in the first round and it will mean the end for Robbie Hummel. I think Kansas is going to lose to North Carolina in the Elite 8 due to UNC's size. However, while that will be an exciting matchup, I can't help but be intrigued by the first round game the Jayhawks have against Roy McCallum and Detroit. KU has a bad history of being upset in the Bill Self era, and while I don't think Detroit can do it, I think this game could be a little closer than the Jayhawks would like.

So as of now my Final Four is Kentucky vs. Missouri and Syracuse vs. North Carolina. I have Kentucky and North Carolina in a rematch for the championship. They are clearly the two best teams in my mind and I think Kentucky will win the title. They are too talented and actually have some veterans on their team this season. There will be no Butler or VCU this season and the heavyweights will strut their stuff. The Madness begins Tuesday with the First Four in Dayton, Ohio.