MARCH MADNESS - SOUTHWEST REGIONAL

SOUTHWEST REGIONAL


Seed – Team – Rating
1. Kansas – 92
2. Notre Dame – 88
3. Purdue – 88
4. Louisville – 87
5. Vanderbilt – 83
6. Georgetown – 85
7. Texas A&M – 82
8. UNLV – 85
9. Illinois – 84
10. Florida State – 81
11. VCU – 77
11. USC - 80
12. Richmond – 81
13. Morehead State – 74
14. St. Peter’s – 72
15. Akron – 73
16. Boston U. - 70

Thursday, March 17



Pepsi Center – Denver, CO


(5) VANDERBILT vs. (12) RICHMOND
We’ve championed the Commodores much of the season, and continue to maintain a high regard for their broad abilities, when they find themselves in optimum situations. But at this point, we’re not crazy about chasing them as favorites in intersectionals far from home, though the marketmakers appear to agree with us, and this number has been moderated. With the two A-10 favorites having bowed out earlier, Richmond strangled Dayton by restricting their transition opportunities – and it wouldn’t surprise us in the least to see the same sort of thing happen here. No cinch, as you’ll recall Richmond’s bad loss to St. Mary’s CA last year, in large part because of their inability to deal with a tall tree like Festus Ezili. But for now, RICHMOND, 66-64


(4) LOUISVILLE vs. (13) MOREHEAD STATE
Despite the Cards superior recent form (having done everything but win the Big East Tournament), caution is urged, with the ‘Ville having played four challenging games in a row through last Saturday. Proper attention must also be paid after the Ohio Valley’s Murray State having taken out Vanderbilt last year, Morehead center Kenneth Faried’s presence as a legit NBA prospect, G Demonte’ Harper’s splendor, and Louisville’s presenting a fat Kentucky big-brother target. But Morehead lost to the ‘Ville by twenty (though covering!) in this spot two years ago, and the sheer depth of Rick Pitino’s squad suggests the gap hasn’t closed by more than the dozen points you’d need to make a date with Morehead. LOUISVILLE, 74-60


Friday, March 18


BOK Center – Tulsa, OK


(1) KANSAS vs. (16) BOSTON UNIVERSITY
Jayhawks have been known to look ahead, especially off staging a success in one of the program’s favorite crusades, i. e., winning the Big XII Tournament. But the Terriers of the America East are unlikely to be able to take advantage, even given the hefty handicap involved. Stony Brook plus was the right side in the AE final, a fact which makes serious consideration of John Holland and friends in this spot, as broad NCAA parity hasn’t quite reached the America East, yet. KANSAS, 85-60


(8) UNLV vs. (9) ILLINOIS
Illini devotees are salivating, after finding themselves in the NCAA cubbyhole, which theoretically gives them the opportunity to take out ex-Illini coaches Lon Kruger and Bill Self in one weekend. We emphasize the word “theoretically”. This isn’t Air Force that Illinois is facing, this time around. Vegas isn’t perfect – you knew that when they were unable to win the Mountain West tourney on the Thomas & Mack floor, but they took the Aztecs to the wire, and that kind of form will get them home against the perimeter-shooting, tentative, confidence-shredded Illini, who are unlikely to be able to get their transition game going with any consistency versus this foe. Vegas’ foul- and three-point shooting are a concern, but Rebs are flat-out more physical (like, who isn’t?), and should prevail. UNLV, 66-62


United Center – Chicago, IL


(6) GEORGETOWN vs. (11) USC or VCU
PG Chris Wright is the hub of the Hoya wheel, and without him and his broken (non-shooting) left hand, G-Town’s been fuckin' ugly. The plan all the way was to have him back up and functioning for this, and we’re presuming he’ll give it a go, and while not sold on how effective he’ll be, 70% of Chris Wright at his best will relieve some of the pressure that’s been placed on Austin Freeman, who can’t do it all by himself. It would be careless to prematurely formulate a strong opinion versus either of the two possibilities, given Trojan’s broad inconsistency and VCU’s sustained difficulties in dealing with outfits of G-Town’s talent level, when Hoyas are healthy. For the moment, GEORGETOWN over USC, 67-63, or GEORGETOWN over VCU, 65-62


(3) PURDUE vs. (14) ST. PETER’S
It certainly was a shock result when the Peacocks took out Iona in the MAAC Championship. Well-balanced scoring and dedicated defense will frequently reward the diligent at any level, but it’s tough to envision a parallel success for St. Pete’s at this point. The Boilermakers didn’t finish well, finding themselves dispatched from the Big 10 tourney by Michigan State, but that gave Matt Painter’s troops a full week off to recharge their batteries and get ready to resume the kind of pressing defense which has supported the entire Purdue enterprise all season. PURDUE, 79-56


(7) TEXAS A&M vs. (10) FLORIDA STATE
This is for bump-and-grind defensive aficionados, only. Presuming Chris Singleton and his bad foot will be back for Seminoles (not a certainty, at press time; check status, though FSU’s been serviceable without him), looms close call between two stop-unit stalwarts. In near-pick situation, two items lead us towards the College Stations: (1) The Big XII was without question deeper than the ACC this year, especially at the top and the bottom, and (2) We’ve been more impressed with A&M when away from home this year than the Sems, whose resume is largely based on some nifty home-cooking upsets. TEXAS A&M, 66-60


(2) NOTRE DAME vs. (15) AKRON
Why is the MAC tournament champ a #15? The MAAC, the Southern Conference, and the Summit Conference are all better on the top rungs than the MAC, at this point. Five years ago, they weren’t close. Zips won their title-game local-grudge match against clearly-superior Kent, and will now pay the Leprechaun. The Irish are deep, experienced, and can handle any pace you throw at them. Their vulnerability lays in the same neighborhood which shadows all 3-ball-specialist teams – heaven help you on the nights they aren’t falling. But for now, NOTRE DAME, 84-66