The No. 5-vs-No. 12 matchup has become the petri dish from which Cinderella has sprung in the NCAA Tournament.
Villanova and Western Kentucky two years ago made runs. Arizona did it last year.
And this year in the East Regional, we have No. 12 Cornell, those brainiacs from the Ivy League just sitting in front of their computers figuring out how to save the world and eliminate No. 5 Temple.
CHECK OUT THE FULL NCAA TOURNAMENT BRACKET (PDF)
It will not be easy because Temple coach Fran Dunphy, formerly a coach at Penn, has Ivy League roots, and he has a long, athletic team that is committed to defense. But if the Big Red get red hot from behind the arc, well, just ask St. John’s.
West Virginia, the Big East Tournament champion, had a very strong argument for a No. 1 seed. The Mountaineers’ defense, length and the clutch shot-making of Da’Sean Butler make them dangerous.
But nothing is more dangerous in March than an underdog that becomes a fan favorite.
BEST FIRST-ROUND MATCHUP
No. 6 Marquette vs. No. 11 Washington — The Golden Eagles are the poster children for winning close games. Marquette played 15 games decided by four points or less and won nine of them. But the Huskies have developed a winning mentality under coach Lorenzo Romar, and Quincy Pondexter can take over a game.
BRACKET SLEEPER
Texas — The Longhorns were No. 1 before the bottom dropped out. Yes, there are questions at point guard, but the Longhorns will guard and wouldn’t it be redemption if they knocked off No. 1 Kentucky in a second-round game?
BRACKET BUSTER
Wisconsin — The Badgers are so sound in their swing offense that they have become a tough matchup in NCAA play. But Temple or Cornell will prove to be a tougher matchup. Don’t buy the cheese.
TOP PLAYER
Damion Jones, Texas — There isn’t anything he can’t do. Will the Longhorns let him do it or remain dysfunctional?
UNSUNG PLAYER
Darington Hobson — He had four double-doubles in the last five games and he averages 4.5 assists per game. Volatile, but unstoppable.
SHARPSHOOTERS
Led by Ryan Wittman, Cornell hit 43.4 percent of its 3-pointers and 72.9 percent from the line.
NEW ORLEANS
1. Kentucky 32-2
Location: Lexington, Ky.
Nickname: Wildcats
Points For: 79.2 Points Against: 65.3
POST-ing Up: After reaching the Final Four, but failing to win a national title, with Massachusetts and Memphis, can Coach Cal win it all this year?
8. Texas 24-9
Location: Austin, Texas
Nickname: Longhorns
Points For: 81.2 Points Against: 69.7
POST-ing Up: Stay away from the Longhorns when filling out your bracket — since starting the season 17-0, Texas is 7-9.
16. East Tennessee State 20-14
Location: Johnson City, Tenn.
Nickname: Pirates
Points For: 69.2 Points Against: 66.5
POST-ing Up: Back for a second straight year, the Pirates trailed No. 1 seed Pitt by three at the half last year before losing 72-62.
9. Wake Forest 19-10
Location: Winston-Salem, N.C.
Nickname: Demon Deacons
Points For: 73.0 Points Against: 68.4
POST-ing Up: Sophomore Al-Farouq Aminu, a 6-foot-9 forward who is averaging 15.7 points, 10.7 rebounds,
1.5 blocks and 1.5 steals, does it all.
SAN JOSE
6. Marquette 22-11
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Nickname: Golden Eagles
Points For: 72.9 Points Against: 64.2
POST-ing Up: Senior Lazar Heyward (18.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg) is one of the most underrated players in the country, and Marquette plays a physical style.
3. New Mexico 29-4
Location: Albuquerque, N.M.
Nickname: Lobos
Points For: 76.6 Points Against: 67.1
POST-ing Up: Darington Hobson, a 6-foot-7 junior guard, does everything (16.2 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 4.6 apg) for Steve Alford’s Lobos.
11. Washington 24-9
Location: Seattle, Wash.
Nickname: Huskies
Points For: 79.8 Points Against: 69.9
POST-ing Up: Forward Quincy Pondexter (19.8 ppg, 7.5 rpg) and guard Isaiah Thomas (17.1 ppg) are among the best combinations in college basketball.
14. Montana 22-9
Location: Missoula, Mont.
Nickname: Grizzlies
Points For: 70.0 Points Against: 61.2
POST-ing Up: Anthony Johnson was a one-man wrecking crew in the Big West tournament, including 42 points in Montana’s 66-65 win over Weber State.
JACKSONVILLE
5. Temple 29-5
Location: Philadelphia, Pa.
Nickname: Owls
Points For: 65.2 Points Against: 56.3
POST-ing Up: After losing in the first round the last two years, Fran Dunphy’s Owls will hope to make a deep run in this year’s tournament.
4. Wisconsin 23-8
Location: Madison, Wisc.
Nickname: Badgers
Points For: 67.5 Points Against: 56.2
POST-ing Up: Between Bo Ryan and seniors Trevon Hughes and Jason Bohannon, Wisconsin has plenty of experience on the court and bench.
12. Cornell 27-4
Location: Ithaca, N.Y.
Nickname: Big Red
Points For: 75.3 Points Against: 63.2
POST-ing Up: The leading scorer for the Big Red, Ryan Wittman (17.5 ppg) has good bloodlines — father Randy played in the NBA from 1983-92.
13. Wofford 26-8
Location: Spartanburg, S.C.
Nickname: Terriers
Points For: 69.4 Points Against: 61.2
POST-ing Up: The Terriers, who are making their first tournament appearance, are one of the country’s hottest teams, winning 13 in a row and 19 of their last 20.
BUFFALO
7. Clemson 21-10
Location: Clemson, S.C.
Nickname: Tigers
Points For: 73.3 Points Against: 63.8
POST-ing Up: Senior forward Trevor Booker (15.3 points, 8.3 rebounds per game) is a true low-post presence for the Tigers.
2. West Virginia 27-6
Location: Morgantown, W.Va.
Nickname: Mountaineers
Points For: 73.0 Points Against: 63.8
POST-ing Up: The Metro’neers, fresh off of their first Big East Tournament title, will now try to claim the school’s first national championship.
10. Missouri 22-10
Location: Columbia, Missouri
Nickname: Tigers
Points For: 77.6 Points Against: 65.8
POST-ing Up: Running Nolan Richardson’s “40 Minutes of Hell” defense, Mike Anderson’s Tigers are never a fun team to go up against.
15. Morgan State 27-9
Location: Baltimore, Md.
Nickname: Bears
Points For: 77.0 Points Against: 70.5
POST-ing Up: Once exiled Cal coach Todd Bozeman and the Bears are back in the tournament for a second straight year.