College Basketball

East Region: Michigan State on point

This is the point guard bracket, and how apropos since the Garden and New York City will be hosting the East Regionals. No. 3 Iowa State’s DeAndre Kane and seventh-seeded Connecticut’s Shabazz Napier, No. 11 Providence’s Bryce Cotton — fresh off a Big East title at the Garden over the weekend — and fourth-seeded Michigan State’s Keith Appling are just a few of the aesthetically pleasing floor generals who make this bracket so exciting.

It’s not the Midwest, but it’s a close second. Virginia, the weakest of the four top seeds, wasn’t done any favors in a region that includes No. 2 Villanova playing within a two-hour drive of campus if it gets to the Garden, offensive juggernaut Iowa State and resurgent Michigan State.

Best Player:

The improvement of Kane’s perimeter jump shot has transformed the Marshall transfer from a quality point guard to quite possibly the nation’s very best.

Unsung Player:

Cotton can blow up a game with his precise passing, lights-out shooting or deft thievery. The nation will get to know this ironman, who rarely takes a breather for Providence.

Best Second-Round Matchup:

No. 7 Connecticut vs. No. 10 St. Joseph’s.

Two teams playing their best basketball at the right time. UConn has the best player on the floor in Shabazz Napier, but St. Joe’s holds the decided edge up front.

Second-Round Upset Watch:

No. 12 Harvard over No. 5 Cincinnati

Last year, No. 14 Harvard defeated No. 3 New Mexico in the second round. Can lightning strike twice? If Harvard’s shots are falling, offensively challenged Cincinnati will be in trouble.

Bracket Buster:

The seeding committee either wasn’t watching the Big East Tournament or didn’t put much stock in it. No. 11 Providence doesn’t deserve to see a double-digit seed next to its name, and will make a return trip to MSG.

By The Numbers:

39.6

Cotton’s minutes per game, the result of a depleted Providence roster that has just a six-man rotation.

18.5

Average of assists per game for Iowa State, No. 1 in the country by nearly a full assist.

Champion: Michigan State

The Spartans wouldn’t have been a four-seed if not for a rash of injuries. But the senior-heavy group is healthy now, playing like the team many predicted would get to Dallas in November. Tom Izzo doesn’t need talent to excel in March, and the veteran coach has tons of it with this group. Sparty will paint the Garden green in a few weeks.