HOME COOKED
The NCAA decision to keep as many teams close to home is a good one academically but it’s going to eliminate some of those first-round upsets everyone loves.
If East Tennessee State were playing Cincinnati at a neutral site, the Buccaneers would be a great bet to pull a first-round shocker. But the game will be played in Columbus, where Cincy should have a ton of fans. We still like ETSU guards Darren Brooks and Stetson Hairston to make life miserable for always cheery Bob Huggins.
Richmond is one of the best-kept secrets in college basketball. Former St. Raymond’s coach Gary DeCesare is an assistant at Richmond and has helped coach Jerry Wainwright assemble some hard-nose depth. Too bad the Spiders have to play Wisconsin in Milwaukee, where the breakfast special is brat and cheese.
Illinois-Chicago, with its Chicago-Westinghouse High School backcourt of Cedrick Banks and Martell Bailey, would have a chance against inconsistent Kansas if the game weren’t in Kansas City. Yes, we know K.C. is in Missouri, but that’s a short trip for the Jayhawks faithful.
Don’t rule out BYU making life tough for Syracuse in Denver, and Air Force might hang with North Carolina for a few minutes before the Falcons realize they’re not in the WAC anymore
Alabama State, which plays Duke in Raleigh; and Valparaiso, which plays Gonzaga in Seattle, have no chance at a first-round upset.
CON GAME
Conference USA got six teams, all with at least 20 wins, into the Big Dance; five of them went 12-4 in league play. But look at the league’s non-conference schedule:
Cincinnati lost to A-10 Xavier, the only non-league team on its schedule that made the field.
Memphis is 0-2 against non-league teams in the Big Dance, losing to Wake Forest and Illinois.
Charlotte beat Syracuse and Southern Illinois but lost to Alabama.
DePaul lost to Michigan State and Seton Hall.
UAB beat Richmond and VCU but lost to Mississippi State and Western Michigan.
Louisville is 4-0, having beaten Seton Hall, Florida, Kentucky and Murray State.
Conference USA was 8-8 vs tournament teams. Louisville, which finished the season losing seven of its last 10, won half of those eight games early in the season.
GAMES WITHIN THE GAMES
EAST RUTHERFORD REGION
Wisconsin’s Devin Harris vs Richmond’s Tony Dobbins
Harris’ scoring jumped almost nine points to 19.3 per game and one coach said he’s the second-best guard in the country after St. Joe’s Jameer Nelson. Dobbins is the Atlantic-10 defensive player of the year.
ATLANTA REGION
Seton Hall’s Andre Barrett vs Arizona’s Mustafa Shakur
Shakur, a freshman, was considered the best incoming point guard in America – he’s a dazzling talent. Barrett has as much talent and the advantage of being a senior, which is why the Hall will stun Arizona.
ST. LOUIS REGION
Washington’s Nate Robinson vs Alabama-Birmingham’s Morris Finley
Nate the Skate is listed at 5-9; Mo-Go is listed at 5-11. Both heights might be an exaggeration, but there’s no overstating their quickness and tenacity. Finley loves the 3; Robinson is a slam-dunk contestant.
PHOENIX REGION
Vanderbilt’s Matt Freije vs Western Michigan’s Mike Williams
Freije is the best player in the SEC you haven’t seen. At 6-9 he’s got range to hit from behind the arc and he’s tough inside. Williams, 6-8, made the first 3 of his career in the MAC title game; he uses quickness to beat guys inside.