I, like so many others, was shocked Colorado didn’t make it. Everybody has talked about it since the moment Greg Gumble announced Gonzaga as the 11 seed to round out the field of 68. Colorado beat Kansas State three times, Texas and Missouri, played Kansas tough twice and finished fifth in the Big 12. VCU did not win its league title or tournament title. Yes, it was strange, but it is what it is. Here’s what I see come bracket time:
If Illinois beats UNLV, Bill Self will be able to show Champaign exactly why they should have done more to make him stay. He is a far better coach than Bruce Weber.
A potential Elite Eight rematch looms if West Virginia and Kentucky can avoid first round upsets. If it happens, expect a different result than the one that sent Cal’s kids packing last year.
Duke beat Texas in the second round of a physical 2009 tournament thanks to spectacular play from Jon Sheyer. Duke doesn’t have him this time, and should be mighty worried about a potential sweet sixteen rematch with the underseeded ‘Horns.
There is potential for Big East teams to face each other in two separate cases in round three should they all win their first games. In the East, Syracuse and Marquette could meet up in the round of 32. In the West, UConn and Cincinnati appear to be on a collision course.
This could be an interesting tournament for Ben Howland if chips fall in UCLA’s favor. He starts by facing a Hall of Fame coach in Tom Izzo. Win that, and it’s likely a third round date with Billy Donovan, the man who beat him in consecutive years on his way to two titles. A potential sweet sixteen matchup with Steve Lavin, who made his career at UCLA, looms if both schools win two. And if the Bruins get past all that, Howland may face his former team, Pitt, in the regional final.
The battle for Indiana could be decided in the sweet sixteen if Notre Dame and Purdue avoid upsets until then. That is, of course, unless Indiana State makes a rumble.
The committe showed the Big 12 no love on Selection Sunday. Texas was hit with a 4 seed, A&M dropped to 7 and Missouri was seeded 11th. Colorado missed the tournament. It appears all that love went to the Big Ten, where potential bubble schools Illinois, Michigan State, Michigan, and Penn State all got 10 seeds or higher, avoiding the First Four.
Two recent cinderella stories, Butler and George Mason, will have to win 8/9 matchups and take down 1 seeds in the round of 32 if they want to repeat 2010 and 2005 respectively.
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