NCAA Tournament West Region Preview
Sizing Up The Top Seeds
#1 Wisconsin had their hands full in the Big Ten championship game, but ultimately emerged victorious. While an overtime game of that intensity will have added to some fatigue, that experience will have come in handy for an already-experienced lineup. Every single one of the Badgers’ top 6 in minutes played was on the roster last season, where they came within seconds of advancing to the national championship game.
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All-Everything Frank Kaminsky will be looking to end his college career with a bang, and has been outstanding this season in leading the team in points, rebounds, blocks, and shooting percentage. Oh, and he also shoots a healthy 39.5% from beyond the arc. Not too shabby for a 7-footer.
After all the debate about whether or not this team deserved a #1 seed, they have proven themselves to be worthy, and are a legitimate contender to cut down the nets in Indianapolis.
Sean Miller has been one of the hottest coaches in the country since ascending to the head position at Xavier and then Arizona. After 3 visits, however, one glaring omission remains on his resume: a Final Four berth. This team might be his best chance yet to take the next step, as T.J. McConnell’s ball-handling and distribution (6.4 apg, 10th in the nation) allow the team to take advantage of Stanley Johnson’s and Rhondae Hollis-Jefferson’s imposing play on the inside.
Players to Watch
#2 Oregon has a scoring machine in Joseph Young (20.2 ppg) who stays on the court (36.5 mins. per game), and don’t even think about fouling this 91.8% free-throw shooter: Young has missed all of 10 attempts this entire season.
You know how the 3-point shot is regarded as an equalizing factor for smaller programs who do not have the size or depth to cope with major-conference teams? Karl Cochran, senior guard for #12 Wofford, might tend to agree. Sure, his 37.5% from downtown may not be among the nation’s leaders, but his two hundred and fifty-six attempts clearly show that he is not afraid to fire away, and if you averaging close to 8 3-point attempts per game, you’re going to be a factor.
Much is being made of the #4 UNC vs. #13 Harvard matchup, what with the subplots of Tommy Amaker taking on Carolina once again and the embattled academics of one school facing off against the esteemed academics of the other. The truth is that UNC simply has too much size and power for the Crimson to handle, and this one could become a showcase for the speedy but inconsistent Marcus Paige. There are plenty of assists to be had for him here, and if his shot is on, then the only crimson sighting of the night might be (metaphorical) Harvard blood.
#MakeYourFreeThrows
Free throw shooting is always a great adventure come Tournament time, and this year is no exception, where the difference between victory or defeat may rest squarely on the shoulders of a player at the charity stripe (see: Okafor, Jahlil). This may come into play during the late First Four game on Tuesday night: Of BYU’s top 6 in minutes per game, the lowest free-throw percentage is Anson Winder’s 72.4%. Slacker. Meanwhile, Ole Miss is even more successful at the line, making 77.8% of their attempts this season. A favorable matchup might pave the way for a play-in team to replicate Tennessee’s run to the Sweet 16 last year – or even outdo it.
Upset Alert!
See above.
Also, #7 VCU, riding the back of the much-ballyhooed “Havoc” defense that head coach Shaka Smart has employed to devastating effect the past few seasons, will do well maintain their focus against #10 Ohio State. The Buckeyes shoot a solid 48.6% from the field, and in guards D’Angelo Russell and Shannon Scott, they have a backcourt that is well-equipped to handle a high-pressure defense and cause some havoc (ahem) of their own. At 6′ 5″, Russell is also big enough to mix it up inside (he leads the team in rebounding), which can create a matchup headache for Smart.
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“What about 5 vs. 12,” you might ask? It might actually be wiser to keep a closer eye on the 3 vs. 14 game, where Baylor should have their hands full with Georgia State. Don’t be fooled by the Panthers’ paltry 38 points in winning the Sun Belt championship game last Sunday – their 72 points per game is good for 64th in the country, and they shoot even better: 48% for 17th overall. Bonus: getting to see Kevin Ware make a return to the NCAA Tournament after that horrific injury while he was playing for Louisville.
PICK!
A rematch of last season’s epic Elite Eight matchup between Wisconsin and Arizona is on the cards here. In an inside-the-paint battle for the ages pitting Kaminsky, Sam Dekker, and Nigel Hayes against Johnson, Hollis-Jefferson, and Brandon Ashley, give the edge to the Arizona backcourt, with McConnell leading the way for the Wildcats to advance to Indianapolis.
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And keep up with the action on the AOSN.com NCAA Tournament live blog.