The three and half days between the unveiling of the NCAA Tournament bracket and the games themselves were full of predictions, angst and prognostications. Surprise, not all of it was accurate:
Perception » The Midwest Region is overloaded with big names (Big 12 player of the year James Anderson from Oklahoma State, ACC player of the year Greivis Vasquez from Maryland and Big Ten player of the year Evan Turner from Ohio State), a perennial favorite (Michigan State) and teams playing their best basketball of the year (Ohio State, Georgetown). It will be an absolute minefield for Kansas to maneuver through, hardly appropriate treatment for the tournament’s overall top seed.
Reality » It was much more difficult for the Jayhawks to overcome their own history of disappointment — two shocking first-round exits under head coach Bill Self, not the one national title — but that doesn’t give nearly enough credit to Northern Iowa. Still, the Hoyas laid the tournament’s biggest egg, the Terps lost to the hobbled Spartans and the Cowboys made no news at all. The door has swung wide open for Turner and the Buckeyes, who have no one to blame but themselves if they don’t make it to Indianapolis.
Perception » The South Region is filled with reeling and injury-plagued teams and will be a cakewalk for Duke.
Reality » Scottie Reynolds had the worst weekend of his career, helping Villanova live up to its overseeding in fine fashion. The Wildcats went to overtime against Robert Morris before losing to St. Mary’s. After getting the play-in winner in round one, the Blue Devils barely got a scare from California in the round of 32. And in the Sweet 16 they’ll face courageous-but-limited Purdue, the only No. 4 seed to make to the tournament’s second weekend. Talented, but unseasoned, Baylor is the only hurdle between Duke and the Final Four.
Perception » The Big East was deserving of its eight bids and will leave a lasting impression on the tournament.
Reality » If Villanova had lost on Thursday, half of the Big East would’ve been gone on Day One of the tournament. As it was, Louisville clinched it on Day Two. The Wildcats and Pittsburgh made it six of eight out by the end of the weekend. Of course, Georgetown’s disaster skews the results, and the conference’s reputation could be salvaged if both Syracuse and West Virginia make it to the Final Four.
