There are a few teams that aren't that good that got great draws and therefore could make a run, and there are some pretty solid teams that are going to make the teams they are forced to play look like JV teams. Let's look at who got the best draws of this years bracket.

 

VCU

 

This is a VCU team that pales in comparison to previous years at VCU. But this team is very hungry and well coached. The best things going for them now however, is their possible opponents. VCU starts out with what might as well be a bye. The Akron Zips have a nice little team but they just lost their point guard for the rest of the year, which will only be one game. The odds of beating VCU are not all that high for any team never mind when you do not have a point guard. They get the full court pressure going right from the opening tip and will stick with it through the final buzzer. Without a point guard the Zips are going to turn the ball over a lot against that havoc defense of VCU.

 

Once they get to the weekend they will probably draw Michigan. Yes it's in Michigan but there still is no point guard good enough to break their press. Trey Burke is the most overrated thing of 2013 thus far. Mark my words if they meet VCU will own him. Unless Michigan has some guys step up that have not yet all year for the most part they are going down.

 

Sure I wrote that I think Michigan will lose that opening round game, and I think that the ball handling of Nate Wolters will be enough for South Dakota to beat VCU if the upset does not happen they will be in the drivers seat. Once they complete those two wins, they would get Kansas a team that has had trouble breaking presses all year long. They do not have a true point guard or a true ball handler, that has VCU all smiles.

 

Syracuse

 

Another one of the more overrated teams of the 2012-13 season. As any Jim Boeheim team in the past will tell you they stick to that zone through thick and thin and eventually it will be their undoing. Luckily for them they face a Montana team in the first round that could give them a fit but ultimately the Orange have too much talent to choke to. Then they will either play 5^th seeded UNLV whom has nobody scared or a 12^th seeded Cal team who take the Running Rebels out in the first round thanks to a psuedo home game. Regardless 'Cuse will not be truly tested until Indiana blows them out of the water in the Sweet 16. For a crap team, that is a hell of a pull.

 

Butler

 

Speaking of crap teams with good pulls. I spoke about it a little bit before, but Bucknell in round one should be a relatively easy win for a team that has struggled to beat anybody as of late. They match up well with the winner of the Patriot League and should be able to take care of business. Then if things go chaulk, they will draw the weakest of the three seeds. A three seed that you could argue is not as good as some of the five seeds. Marquette is good but they can't shoot. Any meeting between these two certainly will be low scoring and the great coaching from Brad Stevens will be the difference. That puts the #6 seed with a name also known as Cinderella, into the sweet 16 without all that much talent.

 

Minnesota

 

What a break for a team once in the top 5. First a UCLA team that just lost their best player and that was not all that scary to begin with. Then a weak Florida team that struggled mightily at times this year to not so great competition. This is not a great or even good Florida team. Tubby Smith will be able to lead the Golden Gophers into the sweet 16 with relative ease.

 

Kansas State

 

I am not exactly sold on this Kansas State team but they drew perhaps the weakest of the five seeds and the weakest of the one seeds in their half of the bracket. Once you factor in the fact that Ole Miss is going to knock out Wisconsin in the first round, that means all they really need to beat is Gonzaga to reach the Elite 8. That is a hell of a break.

 

Kansas

 

Thanks to a third win over rival Kansas State and a Big 12 championship they have earned the #2 overall seed and what is in my opinion the easiest path for a one seed. Sure they could land VCU and that would be big trouble for the Jayhawks, but again it is not the VCU of old and I think they lose before then anyway. In my opinion they should be the favorite to win the title. I think besides Miami they match up well with everyone on the right side of the bracket. So look for them back in the Final Four at the very least.

 

Michigan

 

This is going to be a lot more entertaining when they lose in their home state to a 13 seed. Regardless they have two games in Auburn Hills to kick this tournament off. If they win those two like they are supposed to they get Kansas. A rather large hill to climb but a sweet 16 is nothing to scoff at. Especially when Trey Burke is at the helm. If I were a Wolverine fan I would be more than happy with a trip to week two of the tourney with him.

 

mlz

Tuesday, March 19, 2013