Final Four Picks 2016

Brice Johnson

1 North Carolina Tar Heels vs. 10 Syracuse Orange
Who would have ever thought that Syracuse, who entered the NCAA Tournament 19-13 and extremely cold would be playing in the Final Four this season? The Orange certainly have gotten some help from sheer luck (such as Michigan State, their likely second round matchup, bowing out early) but they also have played great and have shown amazing will power late in games against Gonzaga and Virginia. The Orange will now get a chance to continue their crazy run against the tournament's last remaining No. 1 seed, the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Syracuse doesn't have a lot of big-name NBA prospects, but the talent on their roster is undeniable. Former Duke guard Michael Gbinije has been terrific this tournament, freshman Malachi Richardson has turned into a true weapon, and underrated Tyler Roberson has made his impact felt. The Orange lack a true point guard, but their entire lineup has great length and playmaking ability, and Jim Boeheim's patented 2-3 zone has worked to perfection throughout this tournament. North Carolina's biggest weakness is their three-point shooting, and it is hard to really have success against the 2-3 without at least hitting some threes. Marcus Paige has turned it on as of late, but beyond that, UNC may be pressed to score. Sharpshooting senior Trevor Cooney is sure to make an impact as well for Syracuse, and freshman Tyler Lydon has had a great couple of games. Though, the Orange run just seven guys, and UNC runs the floor extremely well, because their bigs are just so athletic. That could be a major problem for Syracuse, and it will be interesting to see how Boeheim counters it. Talent-wise, I think UNC is by far and away the best team left in the tournament. Paige can run the show, Justin Jackson has turned it on significantly after a turbulent year, and I don't think there is a team in the nation that can match up with the Tar Heels' frontcourt of Brice Johnson, Kennedy Meeks, Isaiah Hicks and Joel James. Johnson will play a huge role for the Tar Heels; the senior has been an absolute monster all year long and will be determined to go out on top. He likely will spend a lot of time positioned right in the heart of Syracuse's 2-3, where UNC will rely on him hitting mid-range shots, which he has proven he can do. He will also have to do work on the glass, because he is definitely a better rebounder than Lydon or even Roberson.

Talent-wise North Carolina is a better team, and they have more experience and depth. But, the Tar Heels also have choked away many games away throughout the Roy Williams era, and the Orange have capitalized this tournament, coming back in big ways against both Virginia and Gonzaga. However, I think UNC may just be too much for the youthful Orange too handle. Unless Richardson and Gbinije absolutely dominate, and Johnson struggles or gets in foul trouble, the Heels should roll. Physically no team can match up with UNC, and their experience and discipline should also help guide them to a win over the Tournament's dark horse.
North Carolina by eleven

2 Villanova Wildcats vs. 2 Oklahoma Sooners
Earlier this season, Oklahoma and Villanova squared off in a non-conference clash. The Sooners thoroughly dominated, winning by 23 points, and waking up the nation that this team is a legit National Championship threat. Months later, the two teams will meet again, but with vastly different circumstances. Villanova has made a very surprising Final Four run behind a veteran lineup and plenty of sharpshooters, while Oklahoma has continued to play great behind likely National Player of the Year Buddy Hield and scorching hot Jordan Woodard. While the Sooners will be a tough out, one thing is nearly certain: they will not be coming out with a 23-point victory in this one.

The Villanova Wildcats don't look a ton different this year than the past few years, when they have had disappointing and short lived NCAA Tournament trips. Though, they are much more balanced than in year's past, are on fire from three and have a dominant big man for the first time in a long time. The addition of Jalen Brunson has enabled Jay Wright to use two ball-handlers, with senior Ryan Arcidiacono also playing a huge role. It gives Villanova more options, consistent point guard play and a good offensive attack. It also helps that Arcidiacono is playing some of the best basketball of his long four-year career at Villanova. Josh Hart and Kris Jenkins are playing terrific as floor-spacers, and Hart has proven that he can take over games when this team needs him to. Perhaps even more important than these other things for 'Nova is the play of center Daniel Ochefu. Ochefu has been strong all year long but has been even better this NCAA Tournament, showcasing a tireless motor and an aggression we hadn't seen much before. Oklahoma is notoriously weak in their frontcourt beyond Khadeem Lattin and Ryan Spangler, and Villanova will likely use Ochefu as a serious advantage. On the other side, Oklahoma has well, Buddy Hield. Hield has only continued his absolutely dominant play throughout this March, and there doesn't appear to be a complete, lockdown defender on Villanova's roster. Also supporting Hield will be Isaiah Cousins and Woodard, who has stepped up in a big way this tourney. A former Gonzaga transfer, Ryan Spangler is another vet that should push Oklahoma to success. A very notable thing about these two teams: neither are extremely deep beyond their strong starting lineups. Both definitely have options off the bench but they don't go exactly 12 guys deep. Pace will be a major factor in this game, and so far Villanova has done a great job of dictating it in their run, which has been instrumental in wins over Miami and Kansas.

I will be the first one to admit it: I was not at all a believer of Villanova when the tournament began. Enough first weekend exits had convinced me the team was basically doomed when March rolled around, and a rather weak showing against Seton Hall in the Big East Championship did little to assuage me. However, their play this NCAA Tournament has made me a believer. I think Kansas may have been the most balanced and best team in the entire nation, and the Wildcats really outplayed them start to finish. Hield may be tough to stop, but forcing him to attack the rim instead of just chucking up threes can at least hurt him somewhat. Villanova also should employ a more up-tempo, attack offensive and defensive strategy, because it is very likely Oklahoma may not respond well. Like I said, the Sooners are going to be a very tough out. But, the way Villanova is playing, it is hard for me to pick against the Wildcats.
Villanova by nine

NCAA Tournament By The Numbers -- Religious Affiliation

Of the 22 Private Schools in the tournament, the Religious affiliation of these breaks down like this:

• Non-Sectarian - 10 (USC, Miami, Yale, Butler, Duke, Fairleigh Dickinson,Syrcause, Vanderbilt, Hampton)

• Catholic - 10 (Notre Dame, Xavier, Holy Cross,Seton Hall, Iona, Dayton, Saint Joseph's, Villanova, Providence, Gonzaga)

• Baptist -1 (Baylor)

• Presbyterian - 1 (Tulsa)

As of this writing 7 of these 21 schools are left:  Miami, Duke, Syracuse, Notre Dame, Gonzaga, and Villanova

Of the nine Catholic Schools three of were founded by the Jesuits: Xavier, Gonzaga, Saint Joseph's.    

McGowanMania once attended a session at Marquette University and one of the Priests gave the following definition of a Jesuit college, "A Jesuit College is quite simply a Catholic College that has a good basketball team"

Sweet 16 Picks: South Region, West Region

Devonte' Graham

South Region

1 Kansas Jayhawks vs. 5 Maryland Terrapins
Before the year began, it looked as though a Kansas Jayhawks-Maryland Terrapins meeting in the NCAA Tournament would be a Final Four battle, if not a National Championship Game. But, the Terrapins underachieved throughout a large portion of the season, with the lowpoint coming in a loss to Minnesota, who was winless in the conference at this point. Though, Maryland was able to overcome two upset-minded teams in South Dakota State and Hawaii, to face a flaming hot Kansas team in the Sweet 16. Talent-wise both teams match up extremely well; the Jayhawks have a talented backcourt of Frank Mason, Devonte' Graham and Perry Ellis underneath, while the Terps bring Melo Trimble, Rasheed Sulaimon, Jake Layman and big men Robert Carter and Diamond Stone to the equation. The difference in the game is the Jayhawks' experience and depth, with guys like Svi Mykhailuk, Brannen Greene, Carlton Bragg and Chieck Diallo able to come in off the bench. That should give them a major advantage in crunch time, and it is hard to imagine the Terrapins can keep up with the playmaking of Graham, Wayne Selden and the versatile Ellis for a full 40 minutes. However, it would be foolish to believe Maryland won't give Kansas one heck of a fight. The Jayhawks don't have a lot of big men that can counteract Stone and Carter's power down low. The power of those big men can open up space for the Terrapins' plethora of shooters, mainly Layman and Sulaimon, who are both deadly when they get going. It definitely has not been an ideal year in College Park for Maryland, but this team could very well give Kansas a major challenge. They'll have to play great defense and get some help from their big guys in order to hand the Jayhawks their first loss since late January. It won't be easy though, and this Kansas team has the look of a Championship team.
Kansas by seven

2 Villanova Wildcats vs. 3 Miami Hurricanes
Villanova's struggles in March have been well-documented. Ever since a 2009 Final Four trip, Jay Wright's Wildcats have struggled on the grand stage, including an uninspiring performance as a No. 1 seed last year, losing on the first weekend to NC State. A second-round thumping of seven-seeded Iowa didn't completely erase the questions about the program, but it did give Villanova serious momentum as they entered a Sweet 16 meeting with a solid Miami squad. The first order of business for the Wildcats will be containing the Hurricanes' talented backcourt of Angel Rodriguez and Sheldon McClellan. McClellan and Rodriguez, both transfers, have cut down on turnovers and mistakes and given Miami an up-tempo, efficient attack. Expect Villanova to counteract with senior Ryan Arcidiacono, Jalen Brunson and underrated Josh Hart, in what could turn out to be a three-point contest. I think this game will be decided not by the backcourts though, but by the big guys on the block. Daniel Ochefu has had some beastly moments this season for the Wildcats, but Tonye Jekiri is tough to handle, and has become more of a two-way player. Miami will also bring forward Kamari Murphy to the equation, a master shot blocker who does work on the boards. With the size and length of Jekiri and Murphy, it may be very tough for 'Nova to get effective play in the paint, and no matter how great they play on the outside, that is going to leave them very vulnerable. The addition of Brunson as a second point guard to Arcidiacono has made Villanova more balanced, but the Wildcats may just not have enough grit and toughness to hang with the Hurricanes, even after a long rest. Miami head coach Jim Larranaga could have his best team yet in Coral Gables, and they could get him back to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2006, when his George Mason squad made their miraculous run to the Final Four.
Miami by ten

West Region

1 Oregon Ducks vs. 4 Duke Blue Devils
Talk about an interesting matchup: this West Region semifinal pits two programs that are nearly polar opposites in just about everything. East Coast vs. West Coast, traditional powerhouse vs. rising program, smart, guard-orientated basketball vs. athletic, aggressive basketball, etc. One thing that does not differ between the two is winning. The Ducks rose to a No. 1 seed late in the year and managed to sneak past St. Joseph's this past weekend, while Duke rose above UNC-Wilmington and Yale, who of course upset Baylor. The reigning champs may be undermanned (Blue Devils usually only play seven, due to Amile Jefferson's injury), and that may put them at a disadvantage from the get-go, particularly considering how fast and tireless Oregon does like to play. But, those seven are some terrific basketball players. Controversial Grayson Allen is an incredible athlete and has proven he can take over in March, while lengthy forward Brandon Ingram is my pick to the No. 1 overall selection in this year's NBA Draft. Oregon really lacks guards that can defend very well, and it will be interesting to see how Coach K, who is so good as analyzing weaknesses and attacking them, plans to play. The strength for Oregon is their frontcourt, which includes Dillon Brooks, Tyler Dorsey, Chris Boucher and Elgin Cook, all forwards. Brooks and Dorsey can handle the ball and step outside, while Boucher and Cook are not only glass-eaters, but terrific defenders in the low post. Outside of Marshall Plumlee and the sparingly-played Chase Jeter, Duke does not have any true big men. Having to deal with Boucher and Cook, plus the versatile Brooks for an entire game will be difficult to contend with and may force Duke to utilize their outside shooting. Dana Altman has done a great job with this Oregon program, and they have the size and strength to just simply overpower Duke. If the Blue Devils were fully healthy and had say, two more bigs, they would easily be my pick. Unfortunately, they are just too overmanned and the Ducks should feast on that weakness.
Oregon by five

2 Oklahoma Sooners vs. 3 Texas A&M Aggies
Texas A&M simply should not be here, but that is March for you. The Aggies were down ten points with 45 seconds left against a good Northern Iowa team that shoots very well from the free throw line, in what was shaping up to be a relatively unexciting second round clash. Instead, UNI suffered one of the worst collapses in tournament history, and the Aggies roll on to a clash with the Oklahoma Sooners and the nation's best player, Buddy Hield. Hield led the charge to a victory over VCU the past weekend, and it will be interesting to see who Texas A&M rolls out to defend him. It is going to be tough to match his power, size and ability to get down into the paint, or his quick shooting stroke. Oklahoma will also present Isiah Cousins, Jordan Woodard and youthful Christian James, all who could challenge a pretty limited Aggies' backcourt. Though, the real battle in this game, like many others in March, could come down to the battle down low. Tyler Davis and Jalen Jones will square off against Khadeem Lattin and Ryan Spangler in what could be a very interesting matchup. Spangler is not much of a true big man, and Lattin will have his work cut out for him against the freshman Davis, who is an absolute beast. Neither team is very deep in the frontcourt either, which could make it a very lengthy battle between the two sides. Personally, I never love jump-shooting teams in March, and Oklahoma is definitely one. It is a real possibility Hield, Cousins and Woodard could go ice-cold, and the Sooners don't have enough elsewhere to manage a win if that happens. Plus, Danuel House and company are on fire, and the Aggies will be eager to prove they belong. However, it is hard to bet against Hield and Oklahoma head coach Lon Kruger. Kruger does a terrific job of keeping his team poised and calm, (A&M will not encounter another last-minute meltdown in this one) and they are good enough late in games to sneak out a close victory.
Oklahoma by three

Bracket Analysis: Midwest Region

Denzel Valentine

The story of the Virginia Cavaliers' 2015-2016 campaign was very similar to their last two seasons: suffocating defense, methodical offense and well, success. The Cavaliers used their pack-line defense to create one of the NCAA's stingiest defenses, and found more offensive success this season, headed by ACC Player of the Year candidate Malcolm Brogdon, steady guard London Perrantes and big men Anthony Gill and Mike Tobey. They wound up going 26-7, finishing off second in the ACC in the regular season and conference tournament, and earning a No. 1 seed for the second time in three years. Yet, for all the Cavs have done under head coach Tony Bennett over the past few years, something they have not done is have any real success in the NCAA Tournament. Virginia has lost to Michigan State the past two years, once in the Sweet 16 and last year in the second round (formerly the third round). While the committee did give them a rather questionable top seed, they gave them no favors by once more putting Michigan State in their field. The Cavaliers are a talented and disciplined team, but I see the same issues on this team as I did the last two years. They don't shoot the three very well, and they just get in fits offensively where they simply can't score. In a region filled with explosive offenses, one has to be worried about Virginia's chances to really go deep. The Cavaliers win a lot of games because they do play such great defense, at one point the offense really has to step up, and even with Brogdon leading the way, I don't know if that will happen, which makes them perhaps the iffiest top seed in the field for me.

Lubbock, Texas, is not your first thought for a major college basketball hotbed. Texas Tech has long been a football school, and the program's basketball has lagged way behind some of the region's top schools, such as Texas, Texas A&M, Baylor, SMU and both Oklahoma schools. Yet, Tubby Smith has found redemption at TTU, using a number of timely upsets to work the Red Raiders back into the field, even with a relatively iffy 19-12 mark. The major reason for the Red Raiders' sudden improvement has been their backcourt play, more experience, and a smarter offense. That backcourt is led by veterans Toddrick Gotcher and Devaugntah Williams, who lead the team in scoring. Gotcher especially is a threat other opponents should take notice of. He not only averages 11.1 points per game, he shoots nearly 86 percent from the line and 40 from deep, making him a very versatile weapon. The eighth-seeded Red Raiders will meet Butler in the first round, a team who started off the year flaming hot before struggling mightily in Big East play. Chris Holtmann doesn't possess the magic that Brad Stevens does, yet the Bulldogs have put together back-to-back strong years and should be a tough out in this year's tournament. Much like the rest of the Big 12, Texas Tech is unbelievably inconsistent, and you really never know which team you are going to get on any given night. This team has games where their offense looks explosive and where they play really complete team basketball, and on those nights they look like a team that has legit Sweet 16 potential, and possibly even further. They also have nights where they look out of sorts on both sides of the ball, and their flow just seems completely disrupted. If they can get past the gritty Bulldogs in their first matchup, they have the type of offense and shooting that they could stun Virginia. Though, considering how downtrodden Texas Tech basketball was when Tubby first arrived, just getting to the Big Dance was a major success.

Last year, I felt nearly certain that it was Iowa State's year to really breakthrough on the national stage, and make a very deep tournament run. I had them in the Final Four in my official bracket, and even saw them as a possible National Champion in others. Then, March did what March does, and the Cyclones faltered in the first round to an underrated UAB team, in one of the bigger upsets of the year. This year, I think that I have wised up on this Iowa State team, and I can confirm that they are not going to the Final Four. In fact, their first round game very well could end up being on the bigger upsets of this year's tournament. The Cyclones do have a great backcourt in Monte Morris and Abdel Nader, a four-year starter and star in Georges Niang, and forward Jameel McKay, who has moments where he dominates. Yet, this is a team with major deficiencies, the first one starting on the defensive side of the ball. The Cyclones are simply not a good defensive team; they don't rotate well, they don't communicate well and they have no premier, lock-down defenders. That leaves them very vulnerable against one of the Tournament's best offensive teams, Iona, in the first round. Led by electrifying guard A.J. English, Iona has put a beating on opponents all year long. They don't have great size, but neither does Iowa State, which could leave the Cyclones very vulnerable in transition, where the Gaels love to do damage. If Steve Prohm's Cyclones do make it past Iona, they will get a tough meeting with a hot Purdue team or sneaky Arkansas-Little Rock, and even greater tests await further on. I think Prohm has the program moving even closer to true national relevance (which is an extremely difficult job, considering how great Fred Hoiberg was), but this team has too large of issues to overcome, particularly in the toughest region.

As great as Tubby Smith's redemption has been at Texas Tech, perhaps even greater has been Kevin Williard's story at Seton Hall.  The Pirates had been beat up for years in the old Big East, and Williard likely entered this year with one last chance to save his job. All the Pirates did after that was go 25-8, finish third in the conference in the regular season then prove just how good they truly were by winning the Big East Tournament, knocking off Villanova. The Pirates are led by Isiah Whitehead, a former big-time recruit, who has not disappointed since he stepped on campus. Whitehead's great size and strength allow him to get to the rim and finish consistently, and smaller defenders stand no chance. UMass and Western Kentucky transfer Derrick Gordon has played big minutes as well next to Whitehead, while forward Angel Delgado leads a frontcourt that is one of the best rebounding teams in the nation. Williard gets the team to play with so much energy, and it's a Seton Hall team that is just so much deeper than in year's past. While the Pirates enter this year's Tournament as one of the nation's hottest teams, they have a tough road ahead of them. Gonzaga is perhaps the most difficult No. 11 seed, considering their talent and experience. After that, dates with Utah and likely Michigan State could be rough. Yet, Seton Hall has the talent and playmaking to really make some noise and prove they prove they are a program on the rise.

Picking the Midwest Region
First Round
1 Virginia over 16 Hampton... Hampton won 21 games and the MEAC this past season en route to a second straight NCAA Tournament berth. Much like last year, their time in it won't last long.
8 Texas Tech over 9 Butler... If Williams and Gotcher can hit some big shots, and the Red Raiders can get an advantage on the boards, they should be able to get out in a close one.
5 Purdue over 12 Little Rock... The Trojans are a very sneaky team, but they don't have the size to matchup with Purdue's A.J. Hammons, Vince Edwards and Caleb Swanigan underneath.
13 Iona over 4 Iowa State... Unless somebody on ISU steps up in a big way defensively, A.J. English and Iona could have a field day.
6 Seton Hall over 11 Gonzaga... Sston Hall has the advantage in the backcourt, Gonzaga has the advantage up front. If the Pirates can get out and finish in transition, they should be able to sneak by.
3 Utah over 14 Fresno State... Prior to a 30-point loss to Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship, Utah was playing great basketball. Led by Jakob Poeltl down low, they should still have enough to get past the Mountain West Champs.
10 Syracuse over 7 Dayton... Dayton has been very dangerous in March as of late, but is trending in the opposite direction lately. Without too many great shooters on their roster, they could have some problems against Syracuse's 2-3 zone.
2 Michigan State over 15 Middle Tennessee... Middle Tennessee, coming out of the C-USA, probably won't be this year's UAB (who also came out of the C-USA). They don't match up well against Sparty whatsoever.

Second Round
1 Virginia over 8 Texas Tech... The Cavaliers will be on upset alert in this one. But, Tubby Smith's teams tend to really struggle against great defensive teams, and Virginia could lock down the Red Raiders.
5 Purdue over 13 Iona... Purdue is playing great basketball, and Matt Painter preaches great, aggressive man defense. That defense should be enough to slow down the Gaels' offensive attack.
3 Utah over 6 Seton Hall... Even if Seton Hall can get past Gonzaga's bigs, they might not be able to do much against Poeltl and forward Jordan Loveridge for the Utes.
2 Michigan State over 10 Syracuse... Jim Boeheim versus Tom Izzo is always a treat, but the Orange don't have the depth needed to compete with MSU for 40 minutes.

Sweet 16
1 Virginia over 5 Purdue... This one should be very interesting; both teams play great, sound basketball and it could be a real slugfest in the lane. It remains to be seen, though, if Purdue has a defender that can stop the versatility of Malcolm Brogdon.
2 Michigan State over 3 Utah... Even if Poeltl plays well down low, the Utes are going to have a very tough time containing MSU's backcourt of Denzel Valentine, Eron Harris and sharpshooter Bryn Forbes.

Elite Eight
2 Michigan State over 1 Virginia... The nightmare continues for Virginia, as the Cavs just simply can't get past Izzo and the Spartans. They just don't have enough athleticism or playmakers to do enough offensively against the Spartans, who are my national title pick.

Midwest Region Champion: 2 Michigan State Spartans

Bracket Analysis: East Region

Jamal Murray

Prior to the season, the North Carolina Tar Heels were many people's National Title pick, and it is easy to see why. Coming off a Sweet 16 berth, UNC had All-American guard Marcus Paige, senior forward Brice Johnson, big man Kennedy Meeks and rising Justin Jackson all at their disposal. Although there were some early struggles, the Tar Heels ended the season flaming hot, getting vengeance against arch-rival Duke, winning the ACC regular season title and sneaking past Virginia to win the ACC Tournament crown. Paige has had some ups-and-downs this year, but up front, Brice Johnson has been an absolute monster all year long, and forward Isaiah Hicks is really coming into his own. The Tar Heels will not have an easy trip deep into the Tournament. A second round meeting with the winner of USC/Providence could very well be an upset alert, and a Sweet 16 meeting with possibly Kentucky/Indiana also spell peril. Yet, UNC is an extremely deep and experienced team that can score in a plethora of ways. They are certainly going to be a dangerous team, though my big question is going to be late in games. Roy Williams has become notorious for not calling timeouts late in games (see the first Duke meeting) and the Tar Heels have choked too often late in games during the Williams era. Can they really reel off six straight wins, with many of them likely coming down to the closing minutes? We'll have to wait and see.

My favorite upset pick in this region has to be Chattanooga over Indiana, in a classic 5/12 battle. The Chattanooga Mocs were one of the few top seeds in the low major conferences to actually win their conference tournament, as they hung on to win the Southern Conference in impressive fashion. The Mocs can score in a hurry, and also defend the three-point ball exceptionally well. Guards Tre' McLean and Greg Pryor will certainly play an important role, as the main offensive weapons against a Hoosiers' defense that has been average at best this season. The Hoosiers rely heavily on the three-point ball, particularly from senior Yogi Ferrell and underrated Robert Johnson. Though, the Mocs rotate as well as everybody and could put a lock-down on Indiana, which could set the stage for the upset. That most likely set up a meeting with Kentucky in the second round (assuming the Wildcats move on past Stony Brook), which could pit the well-rounded Mocs against Kentucky's elite backcourt. 12 seeds have done plenty of damage in March over the past few years, and this year could be very similar. Although not perfect, the Mocs could very well be one of the major Cinderellas in this year's tourney.

Give John Calipari credit where credit is due. Sure, bringing in McDonald's All-Americans almost looks easy to Coach Cal nowadays but coaching a team of 18 and 19-year-olds through a rigorous schedule year in, year out is no easy task. Though, Calipari always seems to have his Kentucky teams riding a wave of momentum when March comes around, and the same holds true this year. The Wildcats are coming off an SEC Tournament Title, after very nearly missing the regular season title. The Wildcats will be headed by two of the best guards in the game, in sophomore Tyler Ulis and true freshman Jamal Murray. Ulis has evolved from simply a great passer and floor general into a legit scorer, evidenced by his huge day in the SEC Championship, when he dropped 30. Murray can drop big-time numbers every single team he steps on the court, a guy who can snipe from deep and also use his exceptional athleticism to finish. Kentucky is still searching for more consistent play from their big men, but versatile Derek Willis has had his moments and senior Alex Poythress will bring valuable experience to the equation. Stony Brook could be a sneaky first round matchup, but I think Kentucky should be well prepared and should be able to overpower the Seawolves. Indiana/Chattanooga could be a very interesting second round meeting, and then obviously a possible showdown with fellow college basketball blue blood program, North Carolina. UNC has struggled at times to stop explosive offenses, and one could argue Kentucky is even hotter. I think if Murray and Ulis continue to play well and the Wildcats get solid contributions from their bench, this could very well be a Final Four team. Outside of the inconsistent Tar Heels and the third-seeded West Virginia, the East Region is not exactly impossible, and Calipari has a knack for deep March runs. They could very well use their impressive talent to make it yet another memorable March in the Bluegrass State.

Confusing is just one way to describe West Virginia. Obviously you can point to their "Press Virginia" and up-tempo style as the most notable thing about this year's Mountaineers team, but you could also choose to focus on just how incredibly inconsistent they are. West Virginia has had moments where they look like a legit Top Five squad, when their full-court press is working to perfection, and when they are hitting their shots from the perimeter. Then, they can also have moments like an earlier loss to Florida, who isn't in the field, in which they couldn't do anything offensively and looked almost lost out there. I think the X-factor for the Mountaineers has to be big man Devin Williams. On a team full of capable and talented guards, Williams has emerged as WVU's most consistent offensive force. Few teams can match the big man's raw power in the low post, and he is a very underrated athlete, particularly when you consider his size. Though, much like the team as a whole, Williams has had some moments where he is just simply off. If he doesn't really have a great March, this team could be very vulnerable against teams that have more talent and depth in the frontcourt. Stephen F. Austin will be an intriguing first round meeting for the Mountaineers. The Lumberjacks have been a popular dark horse pick over the past two years, but haven't really delivered. Though, wing Thomas Walkup is maybe the nation's most underrated scorer, and the Lumberjacks are about as consistent as they come, really contrasting WVU. Who knows, this West Virginia team could falter completely against SFA... Or they could catch absolute fire and play very deep into the tourney. But, teams like WVU are what makes March interesting and insane, and they'll add plenty of intrigue to the region.

Through the first half of this season, Wisconsin was looking very un-Wisconsin-like. The Badgers, a longtime staple at the top of the Big Ten standings, were struggling mightily. They missed Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker, and Bo Ryan's patented "swing" offense seemed to all of the sudden fall apart. Then, Greg Gard took over, and the outlook completely changed. Longtime viewed as the mentor to Ryan, Gard did not disappoint a bit, as the Badgers reeled off 11 wins in 12 games at one point during the season, including wins over Indiana, Michigan State and Maryland. Gard has let the Badgers seemingly play more free and less rigid, and it has resulted in big seasons from Nigel Hayes, Bronson Koenig and a number of other veterans. Hayes,especially, has to be seen as one of the major X-factors not just for Wisconsin, but in the entire region. Hayes has some amazing moments but much like Williams, can seemingly not make any impact at times. If the junior can help lead Wisconsin past a relatively weak Pittsburgh first-round meeting the Badgers could be very interesting down the stretch. Xavier is getting overlooked in my opinion, but Wisconsin could smother their offense, and the Badgers are a more complete team than either of their likely Sweet 16 meetings, either West Virginia or Notre Dame. It may be tough to imagine Wisconsin going to their third straight Final Four, as some serious magic would have to occur. But, March is crazy, and the Badgers have enough experience to make things interesting.

Picking the East Region
First Round
1 UNC over 16 Florida Gulf Coast... The Eagles actually played very well in their First Four victory over Fairleigh Dickinson. But, they just don't the roster to compete and beat the Heels over the course of 40 minutes.
9 Providence over 8 USC... Andy Enfield's revival of USC has been a great story this year, but the Trojans have nobody than score and make plays quite like the Friars' Kris Dunn.
12 Chattanooga over 5 Indiana... If Hoosiers struggle from downtown in this one, the Mocs could ride their stingy defense and efficient offense to a big upset.
4 Kentucky over 13 Stony Brook... Although 'Cats search for low post scoring is still ongoing, the backcourt of Jamal Murray, Tyler Ulis and even Isaiah Briscoe is too much for SB to handle.
6 Notre Dame over 11 Michigan... The Irish have quietly put together a solid encore to their Elite Eight berth a year ago. Demetrius Jackson and big man Zach Auguste put them over the top against Michigan here.
3 West Virginia over 14 Stephen F. Austin... Stephen F. Austin does have plenty of experience and toughness, but even they might panic against West Virginia's frantic, up-tempo style.
7 Wisconsin over 10 Pittsburgh... Both of these teams play smart, tough and controlled basketball. Though, the Badgers just have a little bit more scoring punch, headed by Nigel Hayes.
2 Xavier over 15 Weber State... Don't overlook the Musketeers this season. They consistently do well in March and have a potent backcourt, led by Trevon Bluiett.

Second Round
1 UNC over 9 Providence... This could be one heck of a test for North Carolina early, but outside of Ben Bentil Providence lacks the necessary big men to counteract Brice Johnson, Kennedy Meeks and Isaiah Hicks down low.
4 Kentucky over 12 Chattanooga... The Wildcats should end Chattanooga's Cinderella run quickly, particularly if they can control the pace of the game.
3 West Virginia over 6 Notre Dame... The advantage in low post scoring may actually go to Notre Dame, but the Mountaineers should make up for it with their attacking, basketball for 40 minutes, which could expose some Irish depth issues.
2 Xavier over 7 Wisconsin... Few teams are tougher to overcome in March than either of these two schools. While the Badgers second half play has been a great story, they don't have the offensive weapons needed to slow down Xavier.

Sweet 16
4 Kentucky over 1 UNC... Maybe I'm buying way too much into the Kentucky hype, but this team is scorching hot and when it comes down to the final 30 seconds, I trust John Calipari more than I trust Roy Williams.
3 West Virginia over 2 Xavier... Interesting matchup between efficient and methodical Xavier, and hectic West Virginia. Though, WVU's advantage in this tournament is that "Press Virginia", which so many teams aren't ready for, and won't have a ton of time to prepare against.

Elite Eight
4 Kentucky over 3 West Virginia... The last time these two teams met in the Elite Eight, the Mountaineers stunned John Wall and Kentucky. The Wildcats should be able to get vengeance, particularly with Tyler Ulis, who never seems to turn it over, leading the charge.

East Region Champion: 4 Kentucky Wildcats 

Bracket Analysis: Overview

Are you having trouble filling out your bracket?   No problem, McGowanMania has you covered.

• South Region
• West Region
• East Region
• Midwest Region

Bracket Analysis: West Region

Buddy Hield, Oklahoma

Seemingly out of nowhere, Oregon ascended all the way to a No. 1 seed, hanging on to it in the West Region. It was well deserved, considering the Ducks had won both the regular season and conference tournament in the Pac-12 and had beaten Baylor non-conference. Though, Oregon is still looked at by many as undeserving or maybe more of a dark horse, just because they haven't got a ton of national exposure. Though, the Ducks are legit, headed by a strong frontline including Elgin Cook, Tyler Dorsey, Chris Boucher and leading scorer Dillon Brooks. Dana Altman, the former Creighton head man, is also one great coach. He not only does a great job throughout the season, he is terrific in in-game adjustments and keeping his team calm. In the hectic NCAA Tournament, those things should obviously be important. The Ducks don't have an overly difficult route to the Final Four, though there are obviously some perils. Cincinnati/St. Joe's could be sneaky, but a Sweet 16 bid against either inconsistent Baylor or undermanned Duke should be nice. Plus, Oklahoma is a jump-shooting team that could go cold, and Texas A&M isn't completely proven. While some may think the Ducks are the most likely No. 1 seed to fall early, I think they are a strong, capable team. An Elite Eight berth is a very real possibility, along with possible higher honors.

Baylor remains as perhaps my biggest wildcard in this entire, 68-team field full of inconsistent squads and plenty of dark horses. The Bears were solid throughout the year, finishing off in the top half of the Big 12 and clearly earning a five seed. They simply beat they should have and didn't really beat any major powers, seemingly coasting to a solid season. They have plenty of talent; Rico Gathers and Jonathan Motley are warriors on the block, and plenty of shooting help exists. But, they also don't have a very deep bench, and Scott Drew's teams have too often not living up to their potential in March (including their stunning loss to Georgia State last year, in which they basically gave the game away). They will also get matched with a very interesting Yale team. Coming from the Ivy League has been a good omen as of late, as Harvard has done some serious damage in the tourney. Yale also has great fundamentals and is a team that does well in transition, which could be a problem for Baylor. A second round meeting with likely Duke (although UNC Wilmington should not be overlooked) is an advantage to the Bears, but beyond that is anyone's guess. This team could very well end up being a Final Four-caliber or fall flat on their face. But, the same thing can be said about 30 other teams in this bracket, and that is what makes this particular NCAA Tournament so intriguing and scary at the same time.

If there is a major dark horse coming from this region, I would put my money on the winner of the Texas/Northern Iowa game, particularly the eleventh-seeded Panthers. The Panthers were a popular dark horse pick a year ago, after having major success in the Missouri Valley, but they didn't completely live up to it. This year, they have rode guard Wes Washpun to wins over UNC and Iowa State, and then a Missouri Valley Conference Championship. Head coach Ben Jacobson always seems to have success because his teams are always experienced, play hard and good defense, and never really have a superstar they will sorely miss. If UNI can handle the pressure of Texas and their multiple offensive weapons, they very well could be lethal down the stretch. Texas A&M would be very interesting, pitting size and power against more size and power. While this bracket won't be kind for Northern Iowa (when is March ever kind, though?) this team has grit and toughness, and they remind me of Wichita State a few years ago. They very well could chaos some mass chaos, something they are familiar with, reminiscent of their stunner of No. 1 overall seed Kansas all the way back in 2010.

Perhaps there was no story just simply as cool as Oregon State and Gary Payton II this season. The son of NBA legend Gary Payton, who dominated in his days back at OSU, used his senior year to become a national star. His incredible athleticism, explosive dunks, great defense and playmaking ability became popular Vines, and he was so fun to watch. He helped lead the Beavers back to the NCAA Tournament, in just head coach Wayne Tinkle's second year. It set up a meeting with VCU, a team well known for their March prowess, but has looked a little different this year under first-year head man Will Wade. Oregon State is the more talented team in my opinion, but something to note: the Beavs are likely going to be without their true starting point guard, Tres Tinkle, the coach's son. Tinkle is vastly underrated, the more calming presence to Payton's thunder. He scores a decent rate, passes very well and engineers the offense. Without him in the Pac-12 Tournament, Oregon State looked absolutely lost against California. VCU still often runs a variation of Shaka Smart's "Havoc", designed to create chaos and cause turnovers. Gary Payton II, a.k.a. GP2, is one heck of a player, but turnovers have been a problem. A turnover guard against VCU? I don't like those odds very much. Yet, if Oregon State does manage to survive or Tinkle does indeed play, this could be very interesting team. They don't have a ton down low, but they have a great overall backcourt, and Tinkle gets them to play hard every single night. A likely meeting with Oklahoma in the second round could be a chance for Oregon State to reappear on the grand stage. Every single NCAA Tournament needs a star, and how crazy would it be if it was GP2?

Yet another team that is tough to get a read on is Oklahoma. Ever since my "Scouting the Contenders" post on the Sooners proclaiming they will make the Final Four, they have been pretty iffy. Buddy Hield still has moments where he drops 40 (ahem, Iowa State), but they also have had some poor losses and remain a relatively iffy No. 2 seed. Hield is an absolute superstar and he can carry you to wins. But, even for him, six would be pretty difficult. Of course, Oklahoma isn't just Buddy Hield. Guards Isaiah Cousins and Jordan Woodard have had their moments, but they have been inconsistent, and I think Cousins takes too many dumb shots. Former Gonzaga transfer Ryan Spangler is good, but he isn't really a true big man, he spends too much time on the perimeter. That puts more pressure on Khadeem Lattin down low. He is one of the few true Sooners' bigs and he has looked dominant at teams. Jump shooting teams can go through very cold stretches obviously, which makes Oklahoma very scary to work with. I'm assuming they'll move on to round two (although crazier things have happened), but their second round matchup could be scary. A Sweet 16 date with possibly Texas A&M could also expose their problems down low. I have Oklahoma plunging deep into the tournament this year, and I firmly expect Buddy Hield to just wow the nation some more. But, they certainly aren't perfect and having them, Oregon, Baylor and unproven Texas A&M in the same bracket makes the West Region tough and confusing to read.

Picking the South Region
First Round
1 Oregon over 16 Holy Cross (First Four winner)... The Ducks may experience some hangover from their Pac-12 Championship and No. 1 seed but even they won't fall to Holy Cross.
9 Cincinnati over 8 St. Joseph's... Mick Cronin's Bearcats will have to contain Isaiah Miles and the sneaky Hawks. But, they have more March experience, and will be motivated following their stunning loss in the AAC Tournament to UConn.
5 Baylor over 12 Yale... I do think Yale will make things interesting. But, I just don't think the Bulldogs have the defense down low to contain Gathers/Motley.
4 Duke over 13 UNC Wilmington... Duke is crazy talented, but they have six players on their roster that can play. That could leave them vulnerable against the Seahawks, but Brandon Ingram and Grayson Allen will overpower them.
6 Texas over 11 Northern Iowa...Really pits speed and fast-paced against grit and power, and I'm excited. Isaiah Taylor might just go off, seriously sinking UNI's chances.
3 Texas A&M over 14 Green Bay... Green Bay stunned Valparaiso en route to the Horzion League crown, but they won't have any magic left to stop Tyler Davis and Jalen Jones down low.
10 VCU over 7 Oregon State... As mentioned, OSU could be without Tres Tinkle in this one. That leaves them very vulnerable, and the Beavers will have to stop a plethora of playmakers.
2 Oklahoma over 15 Cal State Bakersfield... The Roadrunners have also had a great March moment, beating the buzzer, as they won the WAC. But, they have nobody that can stop Buddy Hield nor Isaiah Cousins.

Second Round
1 Oregon over 9 Cincinnati... Bearcats may have muscle to actually match up well with Oregon in the paint. But, they don't have the scoring punch Ducks have, nor the momentum.
5 Baylor over 4 Duke... Without Amile Jefferson, Duke only has Marshall Plumlee and Ingram as their really only bigs (Chase Jeter doesn't inspire confidence). Unless those two can dominate over 40 minutes, the Bears should roll.
3 Texas A&M over 6 Texas... Somebody loved setting this old, classic rivalry up. Although mainly football rivals, Texas and A&M are certainly ready for bragging rights on the court. Longhorns simply don't have enough to counter Davis in the post.
2 Oklahoma over 10 VCU... Can the Rams pull off a major upset here? They would have to hope for some poor play from Hield and company, and also hope Spangler and Lattin don't hurt them too much in the paint.

Sweet 16
1 Oregon over 5 Baylor... Battle of two high-paced, exciting football teams. Will feature plenty of dominant posts, but Ducks may just have enough shooting and momentum to overcome Bears.
2 Oklahoma over 3 Texas A&M... Texas A&M matches up very well against Oklahoma, and there is a chance Hield could be absolutely worn by this game. But, the Sooners did get an extra day of rest by losing earlier than hoped in the Big 12 Tournament, and could get scorching hot.

Elite Eight
2 Oklahoma over 1 Oregon... Lon Kruger's teams always play with great poise and energy, and this Oklahoma edition is no different. The Ducks are a very tough challenge, but can they really stop Hield, Cousins, Woodard and underrated Christian James?

West Region Champion: 2 Oklahoma Sooners

NCAA Tournament By The Numbers - Public vs. Private

There for 46 public schools and 22 private schools in the field of 68.  This makes the percentages:

• 68% public
• 32% private

McGowanMania will do further research to see how this compares to historical averages.  When it
comes to appearances in the Final Four in the last 7 years, a private school has appeared in 5 of those including 2 in 2010.

• Villanova - 2009
• Butler - 2010, 2011
• Syracuse - 2014
• Duke - 2010, 2015

Bracket Analysis: South Region

Wayne Selden

Out of the over 300 teams that play college basketball, perhaps no team is playing as well as the Kansas Jayhawks. Bill Self's team has not lost since all the way back on January 25th, and have rolled to their 12th straight Big 12 regular season title, the Big 12 Conference Championship, and of course, the top seed in the South Region. The Jayhawks have one of the most experienced teams in the nation, headed by a group of motivated veterans. Forwards Perry Ellis and Wayne Selden, along with guards Frank Mason and Devonte' Graham have won a lot of games in their Kansas career, but have yet to really have a grand moment in March. Ellis and Selden may very qualify as the team's X-factors for their tourney run. Ellis is about as fundamentally sound as you'll see in college basketball, and Selden has moments where he is unstoppable, on both sides of the ball. However, the pair also has moments where they are invisible, which obviously hurts the Jayhawks. Forward Carlton Bragg seems to be improving each and every single game, and youthful forwards Svi Mykhailiuk and Chieck Diallo are also taking steps. That gives Self plenty of options to work with and also raises questions that this Kansas team may be just scratching the surface of what they could be. Not only did the NCAA Selection Committee give Kansas the top overall seed (which they are deserving of), they also gave them, in my opinion, the easiest region to make a deep run. Yes, Maryland, Cal and Arizona are dangerous teams and peril exists throughout the region, but there isn't a worse No. 2/No. 3 seeds than Villanova and Miami. Neither have done anything noteworthy in March for a long time, and the Jayhawks match up very well against them. Kansas won't have an easy path to the Final Four, nobody ever does, but if they can play smart basketball they should be able to overcome some of the dark horses in the region and get Self back to the Final Four, after a few years of fruitless NCAA Tournament performances.

Stop me if this sounds familiar: a UConn team underachieving throughout the regular season, and then suddenly finding their rhythm come March, winning the conference tournament, and appearing very dangerous behind a number of veterans and great guard play. Though, this UConn team is not the same type of teams that made runs behind the play of Kemba Walker and Shabazz Napier. They are too thin in their frontcourt to be thinking of a deep run, and they don't have an absolute superstar. But, this Huskies team could still do plenty of damage. Daniel Hamilton emerged as one of the American's best players down the stretch and he took over at times for the Huskies. The wing doesn't have a crisp jumper, but he is a crazy athlete and finds ways to finish. Joining Hamilton will be forward Shonn Miller, another terrific athlete, and former NC State wing Rodney Purvis, who is terribly inconsistent, but has so much talent. Paired with Amida Brimah down low, this Huskies team has legitimate potential to cause some damage this March. Colorado is no breeze in the first round, and Kansas beyond that would obviously be a large challenge. Yet, with Kevin Ollie on the sidelines, you can't ever overlook the Huskies. Ollie is one of the best in late game situations, and always gets his players to perform on the biggest stages.

From a strictly talent outlook, California is one of the best teams in the nation. Former five-star recruits Jaylen Brown and Ivan Rabb are studs, and Tyrone Wallace, Jabari Bird, and Jordan Matthews are veterans with a proven pedigree. Yet, basketball games aren't won on talent alone. The Golden Bears had moments where they struggled mightily this season, and they are still extremely youthful. Yet, Cuonzo Martin's club won nine of their last 11 games, and you get a feeling this is team could be dangerous, if they can survive a scary first-round game against Hawaii. The Bears aren't a great halfcourt team; they don't have much to support them in the paint, and they are inconsistent from deep, which hurts their spacing. But, in the open court, they have amazing flow, great vision and fantastic finishing ability. They can't win games solely in transition, but it will be a major supporter to their offensive game throughout the NCAA Tournament. What would help even more is if Ivan Rabb took over. Rabb has put up solid numbers across the board this year and appears to be a likely lottery pick in the 2016 NBA Draft this summer. Though, he has never been especially dominant, and it has hurt Cal, who could really use a piece to punish opponents in the low post. Even if their amazing talent doesn't completely come together perfectly, this Cal team should still win a couple of games. Perhaps, they might even be prepared for an upset down the stretch against Kansas.

I'm not going to sugarcoat it at all: Vanderbilt has no business being in the NCAA Tournament. Yes, center Damian Jones is a star, and guard Wade Baldwin is extremely underrated, but the Commodores are 2-7 against the RPI Top 50, and didn't do anything notable in the SEC Tournament. That is a good thing for their First Four opponent, the sneaky Wichita State Shockers. Wichita State fell off the national scene early on in the year when they lost a number of non-conference games, when star guard Fred VanVleet was out with injuries. Though, the Shockers would find their mojo once VanVleet got healthy, only to suddenly go back on the bubble following a loss to Northern Iowa in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. The Shockers deservedly got into the field, and could be ready for a deep March run, reminiscent of their run in the 2013 NCAA Tournament. Ron Baker and VanVleet are two of the nation's most underrated players, only because they play in little Wichita, Kansas. Baker is one of the country's best shooters, and a physical defender that should be set to lock down a number of studs. VanVleet won't fill a box score all the time, but he is a great passer, and runs the Shockers' offense to perfection. The Shockers also possess forward Anton Grady, a beast on the block, and Kansas transfer Conner Frankamp, both who could play a major role in the Tournament. Experienced teams that play great defense and have veteran leaders are always threats to go deep in March, and Wichita just so happens has that. Arizona isn't an extremely tough matchup and Miami wouldn't be after that. While Wichita State isn't the trendy dark horse they once were (only know because we expect them to do damage), it doesn't mean anyone should sleep on them.

Per typical Fran McCaffrey-at-Iowa standards, the Hawkeyes rolled through the first three months of the season like a Top 10 team. Jarrod Uthoff, Mike Gessell and a veteran lineup swept Michigan State, would compile five total Top 25 wins, and were perched on top of the Big Ten standings for awhile. But, like typical Fran McCaffrey-at-Iowa standards, the Hawkeyes completely fell apart come February and early March. Their offense lost any bite, they couldn't defend and they didn't know how to do anything late in close games. An upset loss to Indiana on February 12th ushered in an era where the Hawkeyes six of their last eight games, including a loss to lowly Illinois in the Big Ten tournament. That left Iowa, who once stood as the nation's No. 4 team, to a seven seed. Though, the Hawkeyes could still have a little fight left in them. Uthoff is about as good as they come, the former Wisconsin transfer is a good shooter, good penetrator and uses his freakishly long arms to make plays on the defensive side of the ball. Gessell is a great point guard, Anthony Clemmons and Adam Woodbury are solid, and Peter Jok has moments where he is the best player on the court. Now, the Hawkeyes just have to figure out how to put it all together and close out games, and luckily for them they don't have a very tough draw. Temple is a decent team but they also have major deficiencies and a win against them likely draw Villanova, and their recent March struggles have been well documented. Few teams enter this year's NCAA Tournament as cold and out-of-sync as Iowa does. Yet, I'm picking them to head to the Sweet 16, and they should not be overlooked as the Tournament goes forward.

Picking the South Region
First Round
1 Kansas over 16 Austin Peay... The Austin Peay Governors have already had a pretty magical March, as the eight seed in the Ohio Valley, they won the conference. That magic won't survive against Kansas, plain and simple.
9 UConn over 8 Colorado... If the Huskies can contain massive Josh Scott and the great-rebounding Buffaloes, they should be able to ride Daniel Hamilton to a win.
5 Maryland over 12 South Dakota State... The Terps have underachieved this year, but the Jackrabbits will have no match for Robert Carter and Diamond Stone underneath.
4 California over 13 Hawaii... Stopping Stefan Jankovic (a Missouri transfer), will be no easy task for California, but Jaylen Brown and Ivan Rabb will more than make up for it on the offensive side of the ball.
11 Wichita State over 6 Arizona... The Wildcats are very talented, but haven't exactly been able to dominate offensively this year. Can they really outscore Wichita, perhaps the nation's best defensive team?
3 Miami over 14 Buffalo... First-year head coach Nate Oats has done great work with Buffalo, but they will have no match for Miami's athletic wings.
7 Iowa over 10 Temple... I still believe that a team led by Uthoff, Jok and Gessell can go deep in the tourney, and the Owls aren't exactly a great team.
2 Villanova over 15 UNC Asheville... The lethal three-point shooting of Villanova guards Ryan Arcidiacono and Josh Hart will be too much for UNC Asheville to overcome.

Second Round
1 Kansas over 9 UConn... The Huskies just don't have the depth to compete with Kansas for 40 minutes, particularly if the Jayhawks get big contributions from Wayne Selden and Devonte' Graham.
5 Maryland over 4 California... Expect Maryland to do the exact same thing they did against SDSU; pound the ball against a Cal team without a true, dominant big man.
3 Miami over 11 Wichita State... The stingy Shockers will put up a fight, but even they can't stop the playmaking of guards Angel Rodriguez and Sheldon McClellan.
7 Iowa over 2 Villanova... Adam Woodbury and Uthoff should neutralize Daniel Ochefu down low, making the Wildcats extremely one-dimensional and vulnerable.

Sweet 16
1 Kansas over 5 Maryland... So many future NBA studs in this game, and the talent on display is impressive. But, Maryland just doesn't have the experience, nor a coach that knows how to consistently win in the craziness of March.
3 Miami over 7 Iowa... The Hurricanes dictate tempo so well and they should be able to speed up Iowa. That should set the stage for plenty of mistakes and turnovers, and a Miami trip to the Elite Eight.

Elite Eight
1 Kansas over 3 Miami... I love Jim Larranaga and I think Miami has been greatly overlooked this season. But, the 'Canes aren't deep enough or good enough defensively to overcome the Jayhawks on a neutral court.

South Region Champion: 1 Kansas Jayhawks

NCAA Tournament By The Numbers - State by State

Now that the 68 team field has been announced, we can analyze what states each team comes from.    The field represents 31 states.   Texas has the most teams in the field with five teams.   There are six states with four teams: California, Indiana, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.   There are ten states with one team.   Here is the complete list:

TX 5
CA 4
IN 4
NY 4
NC 4
PA 4
TN 4
IA 3
KS 3
VA 3
CT 2
FL 2
MI 2
NJ 2
OH 2
OK 2
OR 2
UT 2
WI 2
AZ 1
AR 1
CO 1
HI 1
KY 1
LA 1
MD 1
MA 1
RI 1
SD 1
WA 1
WV 1

NCAA Tournament By The Numbers

The tournament teams have now been announced and as usual the numbers of teams from each conference is always a hot topic.    McGowanMania thinks there are many other metrics that are interesting to look at.   You will be seeing a post about the field for each of the following:

• Teams by State

• Public vs Private

• Private School Religious Affiliation

• Number of Tournament Appearances

• Most recent tournament appearance

• Last Title Won

• Size of Student Body

Grading the NFL's Biggest Offseason Moves So Far

Brock Osweiler

While March Madness is just a few days away, the NFL offseason still has been able to steal
headlines, as deals are pouring in across the landscape of the league. Conservative spenders like the New York Giants and Houston Texans are spending big-time cash, and the offseason could get even more crazy, as the future of Colin Kaepernick and Robert Griffin III are decided. However, so far, here are the grades for some of the past few weeks' biggest deals:

Olivier Vernon, DE, New York Giants (5 year, 85 million)
The moment Miami revoked Vernon's transition tag, the Giants acted quickly, swooping in to nab the pass rusher with the biggest contract ever for a defensive end. Vernon's deal will be worth $17 million/year and offers plenty of financial security. Though, for most casual football fans, the deal came out of nowhere. Vernon, who been has been with the Dolphins since 2012 (and played at Miami prior), has been solid, but 7.5 sacks in 2015 and 29 over the course of a four-year career really worth that type of money? It is easy to see why New York did it; they needed to improve their pass rush in a big way after their disappointing 2015, but this might have been overkill. Even so, Vernon is young enough and productive enough that the move won't be an absolute bust, worst-case scenario.
Grade: B+

Malik Jackson, DT, Jacksonville Jaguars (6 year, 90 million)
The Jaguars have the most cap room in the entire league and they used a big chunk of it to snatch up Jackson, who was a major part of Denver's run to the Super Bowl. For head coach Gus Bradley, it will be a very welcome addition. The former Seattle Seahawks' defensive coordinator has lacked a dominant defensive tackle (a.k.a. the Michael Bennett role in Seattle) since he arrived in Jacksonville. Jackson will not only be a dominant run stopper, for a rush defense that needs help, he could help form a potent pass rush with rising Dante Fowler. It obviously wasn't cheap, but for Jacksonville, who is starting to show signs of progress, it was the right move to make.
Grade: A

Brock Osweiler, QB, Houston Texans (4 years, 72 million)
A list of Houston's quarterbacks over the past two years reads more like a preseason depth chart more than the depth chart of a Playoff team: Brian Hoyer, Brandon Weeden, Tom Savage, Ryan Mallett and T.J. Yates have all seen action. Granted, Bill O'Brien has done amazing things without any quarterback to speak of, but it was obvious Houston needed a new signal-caller, but their No. 22 draft position made that questionable. Instead, the Texans went out and spent big on the relatively unproven Osweiler, who saw his first significant action this past season, but was then benched once more for Peyton Manning. Osweiler has a huge arm and great size, and has shown plenty of potential throughout his time in Denver, but it is hard to get behind a contract that pays $18 million a year, with $37 million guaranteed. The move was understandable, but that doesn't make it any more risky, considering Osweiler has thrown 305 meaningful passes in his career.
Grade: C+

Mario Williams, DE, Miami Dolphins (2 years, 16 million)
Mario Williams was considered one of the NFL's best pass rushers before his arrival in Buffalo. While Williams wasn't terrible in the Northeast, he was not at all worth his hefty price tag and was a cap causality this offseason. Seemingly learning nothing from overpaying Ndamukong Suh this past offseason, the Dolphins gave Williams $8 million/year to replace Olivier Vernon. That type of money won't kill them, but one has to wonder if Williams, who is 31 (and has had questions about how much he actually tried with the Bills), is starting to slow down. The move might help Miami pick up the slack for the loss of Vernon, but it still leaves them one-dimensional on the defensive side of the ball, and doesn't improve them whatsoever.
Grade: C-

Bruce Irvin, LB, Oakland Raiders (4 years, 37 million)
Oakland won seven games this past season, and they seem to be on the verge of a Playoff appearance behind the play of QB Derek Carr, wide receiver Amari Cooper, and linebacker Khalil Mack. That was likely their motivation to go out and sign Bruce Irvin from Seattle, and cornerback Sean Smith. Irvin, a dangerous pass rusher in his fifth year out of West Virginia, had 5.5 sacks this past season and has been extremely disruptive throughout his career off the edge. The move gives the Raiders a dangerous rusher off the edge to help Mack, and replace the troubled Aldon Smith. Around $9 million per year isn't terrible for a presence like Irvin, and the 28-year-old appears to be in the prime off his career. This appears to be just another great move by GM Reggie McKenzie, who has completely transformed the Oakland franchise.
Grade: A-

Matt Forte, RB, New York Jets (3 years, 12 million)
The lifespan of an NFL running back is very short, and Matt Forte is perfect evidence of that. Despite being just 30, the Chicago Bears seemed to think Forte's best days were behind him, and let him go in free agency. That allowed the Jets to snatch up Forte to replace Chris Ivory, who signed with the Jaguars. The move appears to be a win-win for both sides. For New York, it gives them a rock-solid veteran who can be a mentor if they want to draft and develop someone in this year's Draft, and it allows Chicago to test out Jeremy Langford, who showed signs of brilliance this past season. For just four million a year, it was low-risk, high-reward for the Jets.
Grade: B+

Sam Bradford, QB, resigning with Philadelphia Eagles (2 years, 36 million)
Despite the fact Philly limped to a 7-9 lifeless mark this past season under the leadership of Sam Bradford at quarterback, the Eagles opted to resign the former No. 1 overall pick to a 2 year deal worth 36 million dollars with plenty of guaranteed money. While that move was confusing, just as odd was the signing of Chase Daniel days later. Daniel, who was backup for new coach Doug Pederson in Kansas City, has a chance at taking over the starting job, at least according to Pederson. That may indicate the Eagles may try to trade Sam Bradford, but would they really get that big of a haul for an injury prone player like Bradford? Plus, that would make every single free agent who signs with Philadelphia worried about their situation, and would push them elsewhere. Anyway you look at it, I don't understand this move. Bradford isn't absolutely terrible, but personally I don't like signing injury prone players to massive contracts, with too many guarantees.
Grade: D+

Other Moves
Chris Ivory to Jacksonville: The move gives the Jags an absolute monster at running back, but it could lead to less of a workload for T.J. Yeldon, who showed so much potential this past year. Grade: B-

Marvin Jones to Detroit: Unfortunately, it appears Calvin Johnson's career is truly over. Detroit did land the best available target on the market, though, and didn't completely overspend. Grade: B+

Travis Benjamin to San Diego: Benjamin showed plenty of playmaking ability this past year in Cleveland, but this move confuses me. San Diego could add a receiver, but Benjamin is extremely one-dimensional, like a number of Charger receivers. Grade: C

Ladarius Green to Pittsburgh: This may be the most underrated move of the first week of free agency. Green was knocking on the door in San Diego, and Pittsburgh was looking for a tight end after Heath Miller retired. Green could absolutely breakout with a starting role locked down. Grade: A

Conference Tournament Predictions: ACC

Malcolm Brogdon

Considered by many the best college basketball conference in the country, the ACC has been chaotic for much of the year. Virginia, North Carolina, Miami and Duke have all taken turns trying to prove themselves as the conference's best team, but none have been consistently able to lock down the conference. However, North Carolina enters the conference tournament as the No. 1 seed, but with how crazy the conference has been, they are far from a lock.

Bubble Teams: Pittsburgh appears to be a near lock for the NCAA Tournament, as they sit at 20-10 and dominated Duke this past week. Though, the Panthers could still use a deep tourney run to strengthen their seeding. Syracuse also should be relatively comfortably in, despite an average 19-12 mark.

First Round
12 NC State 66
13 Wake Forest 60
It has been a rough year for NC State, who looked like a fringe Top 25 team before the year began. But, the Wolfpack could end their regular season on a high note, particularly if ACC Player of the Year candidate Anthony "Cat" Barber goes off.

11 Florida State 70
14 Boston College 55
Boston College hasn't won a single game in the conference all year, and they shouldn't in this one. Florida State is too talented of a team to let this one slip away, even if it isn't very important.

Second Round
8 Pittsburgh 61
9 Syracuse 68
The Orange have been playing terrific basketball since Jim Boeheim returned from suspension, while Pittsburgh really hasn't been able to close out games all season long. If they can't stop dynamic 'Cuse forward Michael Gbinije, they'll have a rough day.

12 NC State 69
5 Duke 72
There is a chance NC State could challenge the undermanned Blue Devils in this one. But, the Wolfpack really lack a forward that can guard the extremely versatile Brandon Ingram, which leaves them extremely vulnerable.

7 Clemson 75
10 Georgia Tech 70
Clemson became a story midway through conference play this year, when they pulled off three straight Top 25 wins, which put them on the NCAA Tournament spectrum. They ended the year with a 10-8 conference mark, and should continue to play high energy basketball in the conference tournament.

11 Florida State 64
6 Virginia Tech 74
Don't look now, but Buzz Williams is building something special at Virginia Tech, who went over .500 in the ACC for the first time in five years. The Hokies are also coming off a dominant win over Miami, and will ride that momentum to a victory.

Quarterfinals
1 North Carolina 78
9 Syracuse 74
UNC may enter the ACC Tournament as the league's top team, but they will certainly get a test from Syracuse. The Orange will clamp down on Marcus Paige, and should at least put up a fight against Brice Johnson and Isaiah Hicks down low.

4 Notre Dame 71
5 Duke 72
Notre Dame quietly put together a very strong year in the ACC this year, and guard Demetrius Jackson is as good as they come. But, Duke is too quick on the perimeter, and should put up a fight in the paint.

2 Virginia 68
7 Clemson 59
The Cavaliers have rode Tony Bennett's pack-line defense to tremendous success this year (it has helped the shot clock was reduced five seconds), and are more dangerous offensively, thanks to ACC POY candidate Malcolm Brogdon.

3 Miami 72
6 Virginia Tech 67
The Hokies just dominated Miami yesterday, and will come into this one with a chip on their shoulder. But, Jim Larranaga is as good as anyone in the nation at adjustments, and the 'Canes should get a much better showing from their talented backcourt of Sheldon McClellan and Angel Rodriguez.

Semifinals
1 North Carolina 76
5 Duke 65
The Rematch: Part III. While Duke and North Carolina have gone toe-to-toe twice this year, the Blue Devils might not have enough left in the tank in this one. Considering they will have to rest their tiny, six-man rotation for the NCAA Tournament, bowing out earlier might not be a bad thing.

2 Virginia 75
3 Miami 62
Unless Rodriguez and Miami are splashing from downtown, they are going to have a rough go in this one. Virginia defends as well as anybody, especially down low, essentially neutralizing Miami's only significant big, Tonye Jekiri.

Championship
1 North Carolina 73
2 Virginia 79
Few teams can match UNC down low, as they boast breakout senior Brice Johnson, along with studs Isaiah Hicks and Kennedy Meeks. Yet, if there is one it would be Virginia, who has a strong rotation full of veterans. North Carolina doesn't possess a defender capable of shutting down Brogdon, and the Cavaliers enter this one flaming hot.

ACC Champion: Virginia Cavaliers 

*Note: Louisville is not eligible for this year's conference tournament

5 Dark Horse NCAA Tournament Teams

Shaka Smart and Texas

Selection Sunday now stands a week away, as one of the greatest times of the year, March Madness, creeps closer. As chaotic and insane as this college basketball season has been already, the NCAA
Tournament could be even crazier, and an event sure to have plenty of dark horses and Cinderellas. Here are five serious dark horses to watch during the NCAA Tournament:

Texas Longhorns 20-11 overall (11-7 Big 12), Projected 5-8 seed
After spurning a number of big-time college basketball programs, Shaka Smart finally decided to make the jump from VCU this past offseason, landing in Austin and immediately energizing the limping Texas program. After a rough adjustment period, Texas has become a serious force in the Big 12, and in the nation. Smart doesn't run his complete "Havoc" defense that he orchestrated at VCU, but the Longhorns still play aggressively on both sides of the ball and are hectic on the defensive side of the ball. Their backcourt is led by explosive Isaiah Taylor (their leader in assists and scoring) and underrated veteran Javan Felix. While the Longhorns lack ideal size, their depth and talent in the backcourt allows them to dictate tempo, a key component to upsets. And Texas has been no stranger to upsets this season, beating West Virginia twice, Iowa State and Baylor. Shaka Smart is very familiar to NCAA Tournament success, and his first Texas team could wreak havoc much like his old VCU ones did.

Valparaiso Crusaders 26-5 overall, (16-2 Horizon League), Projected 11-13 seed
Valpo is no stranger to great March moments. In 1998, star guard Bryce Drew hit a clutch game winner against Ole Miss to lead the 13th-seeded Crusaders to an epic win, as part of a Sweet 16 run. Now, Drew is on the sidelines for a Crusaders team that is as balanced and fundamentally sound as any team in the nation. Valparaiso averages just 75.3 points per game (131st in the nation) but their offense is extremely efficient, headed by forward Alec Peters (who is shooting over 50 percent from the field), along with electric guard Keith Carter. While their defense may not exactly be lethal, Valpo makes a living on the defensive side of the ball, ranking in as the seventh best defense in the entire nation. They have excellent size which allows them to dominate the paint, and they rotate and play terrific help defense. The Crusaders have a couple of tough losses, with three losses to teams with RPI's ranking in over 150. But, experienced teams that play hard defense are always tough outs in March, and the Crusaders could become the next Horizon League team to do damage to brackets.


Utah Utes 24-7 overall (13-5 in Pac-12), Projected 2-4 seed
It is hard to call a team that went to the Sweet 16 last year and could possibly earn as high as a No. 2 seed a dark horse, but Utah still appears to be extremely overlooked. The Utes have never been known as a basketball school, but Larry Krystiowak continues to work magic in Salt Lake City, thanks in large part to his big man Jakob Poetl. The Austrian center has grown into a more complete post, and has evolved into one of the country's best. Though, this Utes team has become more than just the seven-footer down low. Forward Jordan Loveridge is extremely versatile, and guard Brandon Taylor has picked up the slack in the backcourt for the departed Delon Wright. Utah has now won seven straight games, including wins against Arizona and USC. With the way they are playing right now, they very well could win the Pac-12 Tournament and continue their hot streak deep into the Tourney.

Saint Mary's Gaels 26-4 overall (15-3 in WCC), Projected 8-11 seed
This season in the West Coast Conference, it was supposed to be all about Gonzaga, like usual. The Bulldogs had just been to the Elite Eight, and there was enough talent throughout their roster to think they had a legit shot at their first Final Four in the Mark Few era. But, instead the conference has been all about the Gaels, a perennial NCAA Tournament contender. Over the past few years, Saint Mary's has been known as an offensive-orientated team with great guard play. This year the Gaels have been polar opposites, relying heavily on a stingy defense, holding opponents to just 60.4 points per game. Do-it-all guard Emmett Naar will lead the offense, along with veteran Joe Rahon. and Saint Mary's is actually a very deep team. They pass the ball as well as anybody and teams that have seen Wisconsin have success in the Tournament over the Bo Ryan era will see something similar in the Gaels.

Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks 25-5 overall (18-0 Southland), Projected 13-15 seed
It may also be hard to qualify Stephen F. Austin as much of a dark horse in the NCAA Tournament these days. The tiny school from the Southland has gone to two straight Tournaments and been a popular dark horse pick in each (they beat VCU two years ago). The Lumberjacks started off this year slow, but then would end up going 18-0 in the Southland, behind the play of terrific forward Thomas Walkup, who did it all for SFA. While the Southland Conference isn't exactly full of college basketball heavyweights, it is still significant that SFA was able to be so dominant. The Lumberjacks will likely be a relatively poor seed this year, due to their bad non-conference play. That may be a good thing for Stephen F. Austin, as it gives them an opportunity to do damage without much expectations.