Warning: I will not be responsible if you copy this bracket and are out of your NCAA Tournament pool by Sunday. However, if you do listen to my college basketball wisdom and win some money, I want 20% of the pot or at least a shout-out on your twitter or facebook page.
The biggest headache for my bracketology was who would earn the fourth number one seed in the 2014 NCAA Tournament? With their ACC regular season and conference tournament titles, Virginia was rewarded with the top seed with Villanova earning the number two. The real dangerous team in this portion of the bracket is Michigan State. Here is a preview and my NCAA Tournament predictions for the East Regional.
Bracket Overview:
You cannot fault the committee for giving Virginia the number one seed and Villanova shot their chances by losing to Seton Hall in the Big East Tournament Quarterfinals. Neither team is “sexy” or has any NBA talent on it but plays terrific team basketball. #3 Iowa State and #4 Michigan State each won their respective tournament titles and are equally as capable of making the Final Four as the top two seeds. I was surprised that UConn only earned a seven seed but the American Athletic Conference was downgraded as a whole as evident by SMU not making the tourney and Louisville only getting a four seed despite being one of the hottest teams in the country. Another thing worth keeping an eye; this bracket is loaded with talented backcourts and superb guard play.
Most Intriguing First Round Game: #6 North Carolina vs. #11 Providence
No team played down or up to the level of their competition this season as much as UNC. The Heels did get hot at the end of the regular season by stringing together 12 straight victories. The Friars needed a strong Big East Tournament since they were firmly on the bubble and ended up winning the whole thing earning an automatic bid. The Friars only go six deeps which is a concern but Bryce Cotton has been a beast all season and has what it takes to single-handedly lead his team to the upset. Then again, Carolina point guard Marcus Paige is in that category as well.
Opening Round Upset: #12 Harvard over #5 Cincinnati
As a 14 seed last season, the Crimson upset New Mexico in the first round and they are poised to do the same to Cincy in the dreaded 5/12 matchup. Most of the core is in tact from that team along with the addition of two key players who were suspended for last season. Harvard relies on their depth as they have six players who average at least nine points per game while the Bearcats lean heavily on Sean Kilpatrick since the rest of their team is rather anemic offensively. Contain Kilpatrick and Harvard should once again pull off the upset.
Sleeper: #7 UConn
You always hear that guard play carries a team in the NCAA Tournament and the Huskies have an All-American point guard in Shabazz Napier and a pretty decent backcourt mate in Ryan Boatright. Napier was on the 2011 team that won a National Title so the experience is there. A second round game versus former Big East foe Villanova is looming in the second round and that would be a battle of guard-heavy talent.
5 Players to Watch:
DeAndre Kane, Iowa State
Kane arguably made the biggest impact of any first-year transfer in college basketball. While the Cyclones have plenty of talent and scoring ability, Kane has been the driving force all season long due to his ability to make an impact in all areas of the game.
Joe Harris, Virginia
Tony Bennett’s team has excelled all season due to their team concept and unselfishness. Still, they will need someone to hit big shots down the stretch if the ‘Hoos are going to make the most of their number one seed. Harris has been streaky this season from the outside but is UVA’s go-to option when need be.
Keith Appling, Michigan State
There’s good Keith Appling and bad Keith Appling. If the former shows up, MSU can cut down the nets. If the latter makes his presence felt, Tom Izzo will freak and the Spartans could get bounced early. Sparty will go as deep as Appling takes them.
Devon Saddler, Davon Usher, Jarvis Threatt, Delaware
I’m cheating here by choosing three guys for one spot. Deal with it. This trio of experienced guards combined for about 57 points per game, the highest scoring threesome of players in college hoops. If the Blue Hens were pitted against a four seed other than Michigan State, I would like their upset potentiall. I just don’t see it happening against Sparty.
Halil Kanacevic, Saint Joseph’s
The big fella came up huge for the Hawks during their run to the Atlantic 10 Conference championship and must keep that momentum going if St. Joseph’s is going to get past the first weekend. Kanacevic can bang down low but also use his face up game to knock down mid-range jumpers.
Opening Round Picks:
Virginia over Coastal Carolina
Memphis over George Washington
Harvard over Cincinnati
Michigan State over Delaware
Providence over North Carolina
Iowa State over North Carolina Central
UConn over Saint Joseph’s
Villanova over Milwaukee
Second Round:
Virginia over Memphis
Michigan State over Harvard
Iowa State over Providence
Villanova over UConn
Sweet 16:
Michigan State over Virginia
Iowa State over Villanova
Elite 8:
Michigan State over Iowa State
David Kay is a senior feature NBA Draft, NBA, and college basketball writer for the Sports Bank. He also heads up the NBA and college basketball material at Walter Football.com and is a former contributor at The Washington Times Communities. David has appeared on numerous national radio programs spanning from Cleveland to New Orleans to Honolulu to Milwaukee. He also had the most accurate 2011 NBA Mock Draft and the most accurate 2012 NBA Mock Draft on the internet , AND the second most accurate 2013 NBA Mock Draft. (Yup, nearly 3peat champ… #humblebrag.)
You can follow him on Twitter at David_Kmiecik.
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