Wahoo Wire

West Region

South Region

Midwest Region

Round 1

1 Kentucky over 16 East Tennessee State

No sixteen seed has ever beaten a number one seed. That tradition continues this year. Don’t be surprised if Kentucky wins by over thirty, they are too good for tight games this early in the tournament.

8 Texas over 9 Wake Forest

How a team finishes the season dictates to a certain extent how well they perform in the NCAA Tournament. The season ended very poorly for the Demon Deacons as they lost five of their last six, including losses to NC State, UNC, and getting blown out by Miami (who finished below UVA in the ACC) in the ACC Tournament. Wake has also been perennial underachievers for as long as I can remember. Texas, though not finishing the season much better losing three of their last five, at least lost to ranked opponents that are in the NCAA Tournament. The Big 12 was stronger than the ACC in basketball this year. Rick Barnes’ men will win a close one.

5 Temple over 12 Cornell

Tempted as I am to pick this as the 5-12 upset, I think Temple has overcome their inconsistency problems during non-conference play (losing to St. John’s, beating Villanova by ten, losing to Kansas by 32) and will be too athletic and strong to be beaten by Cornell. Watch out for the big red though, on a good day they almost beat Kansas in Lawrence.

13 Wofford over 4 Wisconsin

Picking a 12 seed over a 5 seed is trendy. I am re-writing all the rules though, and telling you given the results of the past two years, the 13 seed is the sleeper pick. Wofford has won 19 of its last 20 games, including 13 in a row on its way to winning the Southern Conference. They also almost beat Pittsburgh at the Petersen Events Center. Wisconsin, on the other hand, seem to play to their opponents level, allowing for teams like UW-Green Bay and Illinois to beat them. Given the especially weak year for the Big Ten, the recipe for upset is solidified.

6 Marquette over 11 Washington

Washington was lucky that they won the PAC 10 Tournament and didn’t have to worry about getting left out of the tournament. The PAC 10 was extremely weak this year, with only three teams (Washington included) making the big dance. Although they have won seven in a row, none of those wins has come against a ranked opponent. The Huskies are 0-2 in games decided by three points or less and lost the only time they went to overtime. Meanwhile, Marquette plays in a much better conference (8 bids, 5 teams in the top 25) that has taught them how to play almost exclusively in close games with an NCAA Tournament type atmosphere. Call it “east coast bias” but expect the Golden Eagles to cruise through the first round.

3 New Mexico over 14 Montana

Though I am unimpressed by New Mexico’s highly exaggerated record of 29 – 4, the Mountain West has as many teams in the tournament as the PAC 10 and is far superior to the Big Sky. Luckily for the Grizzlies, San Jose is warm and not too far away so losing won’t be as bad.

7 Clemson over 10 Missouri

Missouri might play in a stronger conference but they are very inconsistent and their recent results (barely beating Iowa State in overtime, getting beaten badly by Nebraska in the Big 12 tournament) are disheartening. Clemson may not scream consistency either, but I think they have more talent and experience which will be just enough to see them through the first round. In this second matchup of ACC and Big 12 teams in this bracket, the ACC will win.

2 West Virginia over 15 Morgan State

West Virginia comes into the tournament on fire (having won six in a row, including the Big East Conference Tournament) and arguably deserving the fourth number one seed (over Syracuse). A team with those credentials alone should end up at worst in the Elite Eight. Congratulations to the Morgan State Bears on winning the MEAC Tournament, but there’s no way the Mountaineers lose this game. WVU wins this game by a lot.

Round 2

1 Kentucky over 8 Texas

Kentucky is barely beatable as it is, but against a not THAT impressive Texas in the middle of SEC territory, it’s just not going to happen for the Longhorns. John Wall will continue to show why he will be the number one pick in the NBA Draft come this June.

5 Temple over 13 Wofford

Wofford’s upset of Wisconsin will be huge and will fill them with false confidence. Temple is still better and very hot having won 10 in a row including the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament. Expect Temple to push aside Wofford as they reach their first Sweet Sixteen since 2001.

6 Marquette over 3 New Mexico

Marquette knows how to play in close games against very strong opponents. This game will be very close, but expect the experience and superior conference play to guide the Golden Eagles over the Lobos.

2 West Virginia over 7 Clemson

Clemson might have enough weapons to beat an inconsistent Missouri in the first round, but they will need a miracle to beat the much tougher and fiery hot Mountaineers. Expect West Virginia to win big.

Sweet 16

1 Kentucky over 5 Temple

Temple might be strong, gritty, and slow opponents down in the Atlantic 10, but they will not have an answer to the four headed monster that is John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Patrick Patterson, and Eric Bledsoe. Props to the Owls for making it this far in the tournament, but this is the year Kentucky restores its basketball program’s reputation in a major way.

2 West Virginia over 6 Marquette

These two Big East teams are very familiar with each other. The one game they played against each other earlier this season was early on in conference play and West Virginia won by one point. Expect another equally close game with the same result as the Mountaineers make their third Elite Eight appearance.

Elite 8

1 Kentucky over 2 West Virginia

I think Kentucky will win the NCAA Tournament and show, like Syracuse did in 2003, that all it takes is an out-of-this-world talented freshman to take a team to the promised land. Luckily for Kentucky they have three of them. This game will be very exciting but the Wildcats will prevail and continue on to win the National Championship.