March 15, 2011 - Being the No. 1 overall seed in supporting the 2011 NCAA tournament has its privileges. Usually get to play a series of pseudo home games are supposed to get a favorable draw. So I understand why Ohio State is playing in Cleveland, Ohio, for the first two rounds, and I understand why their second round match will be against one of the two teams that have no place in the area for March Madness start. It's a dream to walk to the Sweet Sixteen, but that's where the Buckeyes bottom line.
Taking into account the planting, children Thad Matta was jobbed really drawing some heavyweights like four seeds. One to four - State of Ohio, Kentucky, Syracuse and North Carolina - are the best collection of big dogs of any region in the NCAA Tournament. In fact, I would say that each of these four teams is more dangerous than their respective pairs of seeds online for any other reason the media.
As for the rest of the seed in the East, I see great potential upset, and I would be surprised if this group did not play according to the seeds after the first round (with the exception of a possible "Cuse on stomach 3-2 UNC .)
The Headliners
No surprises here. Ohio State, North Carolina, Syracuse, and Kentucky are the class of this region. Obviously, Ohio State is the best team in the land, and here's why. They have the best basketball player Jared Sulling University and surround him with experienced talent that extends the floor. On defense, their length and experience on the perimeter allow the Bucks to bother the teams that really do not run their stuff or get impatient.
The two seed North Carolina Tar Heels pose their own challenges. They have the best offensive frontcourt in college basketball and are one of the few teams that can boast of a true five Zeller, a true four Henson, and most importantly a real man in three Harrison Barnes. Barnes is not a large third guard, a true small forward who can play inside and out making it a nightmare. Do not believe me, ask Kyle Singler.
The three seed Syracuse Orangemen are unique in their style. They are big and athletic as usual, but the active zone defense is what gives opposing offenses attacks, especially in a tournament setting with the preparation time at a premium. Your computer can see an area Syracuse style, once all season, if they are lucky.
Kentucky is a dangerous four seeds which happens to be peaking at the right time. They have more talent in the NBA than any of the other teams in the line of four, and Coach Calipari has them firing on all cylinders on both ends. The committee did a disservice to the Buckeyes here putting the Wildcats as four in this region.
Sleepers
Not many. Maybe Marquette can win two games by 11 to get past Xavier and then use the familiarity with the Syracuse area for a turnaround in the second round. Jae Crowder has to play better than him in the Big East tournament and center Chris Otule have to give the Golden Eagles record more productive for Crowder will slide to its natural position as a hybrid four. If not, beat Xavier. Other than that I do not see any other double-digit seed to make noise out of the first round.
All Region team
My field of attack could go six deep and confrontation with any other region in the tournament. Sulling is my five for obvious reasons. I had drawn in on this computer in May.
The power forward is fellow freshman Terrence Jones of Kentucky. His dynamic inside / outside the set of skills that complement what Sulling made in the boxes. Find me a better pair of big men in this tournament.
My wing is another Frosh, Harrison Barnes. I do not want a third guard in my lineup. We are not building an important here.
At shooting guard is Darius Johnson-Odom Marquette, which is explosive get to the basket and credible shooting the ball from behind the arc. He pushes the electric Demontez Stitt, Clemson and the constant combo-guard Brandon Triche of Orange.
The point guard is going to perhaps the most underrated player in the country in your Holloway. He does everything for the Musketeers Javier, getting buckets in bunches in more than 20 points per game, delivering more than five dimes per game and pulling down five boards with his 6'0 "frame. Not many people know who you are, but Tu Marquette better.
Prediction
When filling in their brackets East, remember that upsets will be the exception and play according to seeds is the rule in this region. Marquette is the only double digit seed to grab a win with the top four seeds advancing to the knockout stages.
In Newark, the Syracuse area is tailored to defeat a UNC squad that lacks a credible outside jumpshooter Harrison Barnes. The Tar Heels lost this game when Reggie Bullock was injured.
The upper half of the bracket is a similar nightmare Kentucky style duel. The savages have no real escape guard needed to harm over Ohio State athletic perimeter defenders. Without a major threat dribble drive, the Buckeyes may be centered around the challenge of arch bridges. At the other extreme, Sulling creates sufficient for manufacture of double criminality by teammates against the young Wildcats. Diebler is June 4 from the bottom and is a direct beneficiary of the aid from the United Kingdom for the post of talent.
In the Regional Final, the Buckeyes can deploy enough shooters against the Syracuse zone, which leaves room Sulling duck into cracks and crevices inside the area for a monster game. As Kentucky, Syracuse lacks the explosive guard play necessary to win a shootout with the Buckeyes.
Ohio State advances to Houston looking like the best team in the land, as predicted in November.
