NCAA Tournament 2014: Bracket, Games, Previews And Predictions

Midwest Region:

(1) Wichita State Shockers vs. (16) winner of Cal Poly Mustangs vs. Texas Southern Tigers

First things first, the selection committee really put the screws to Wichita State in their bracket. Lesson learned: don’t be an undefeated mid-major or you will pay for your sins in the NCAA Tournament.

Anyway, the Shockers are still a 1-seed despite everybody complaining about it. Fred Van Vleet is a top-notch player and Wichita State is for real. Whether or not they make it out alive of the Midwest Region will be very interesting. However, I do think we’re all a little quick to write off Wichita State as winning more games. Sure the bracket is tough but show a little faith, huh?

I’ll take Texas Southern in the 16 vs. 16 game to play Wichita State. Despite having supreme temper and ego issues, Aaric Murray is a force down low and will be too much for Cal Poly to overcome. The overall talent for Texas Southern doesn’t come close to what the Shockers have to offer. Plus it’s a 1 vs. 16 game.

Prediction: Wichita State by 17

(8) Kentucky Wildcats vs. (9) Kansas State Wildcats

Don’t look now but John Calipari just got more fuel added to his fire, stating numerous times that his team has been the mostly highly scrutinized in recent memory. Well now he has a chance to prove his point. While Kentucky may not be the national championship favorite like they were before the season being an 8-seed also seems rather low but we’ll see how it goes. Kentucky still has Julius Randle leading the way so they’ve got that going for them.

Kansas State has lost three games in a row after their triumphant victory at home over Iowa State. Marcus Foster and Thomas Gipson are good but they are really struggling right now and Kentucky is playing their best basketball of the season.

Prediction: Kentucky by 9

(5) Saint Louis Billikens vs. (12) winner between N.C. State Wolfpack and Xavier Muskateers 

After a tremendous 25-2 start the Saint Louis Billikens have hit a bump in the road, dropping four of their final fives games of the season. Dwayne Evans and Jordair Jett have been great this season but you don’t hear about it much. Saint Louis plays some of the best defense in the country.

I’ll take N.C. State here with ACC Player of the Year T.J. Warren having a great game to propel the Wolfpack into the official NCAA Tournament. N.C. State snuck into the field this year after a solid end to the year, including four straight wins before losing to Duke in the ACC Tournament. The Wolfpack are rolling and Saint Louis is struggling. Something as to give, right? Not this time.

Prediction: Saint Louis by 4

(4) Louisville Cardinals vs. (13) Manhattan Jaspers 

Some felt that Louisville should’ve been in the conversation for a 1-seed (Louisville head coach Rick Pitino and myself included) but somehow the tournament committee decided on a 4-seed. Russ Smith and Montrezl Harrell would like a world with Manhattan regarding this matter.

Poor, Jaspers. They had a shot to win a game in the tournament and now they’re being fed to a Cardinals team that has destroyed opponents recently and now have a huge chip on their shoulder with their seeding. George Beamon can do great things but it probably won’t be enough to help the Jaspers past Louisville.

Prediction: Louisville by 10

(6) UMass Minutemen vs. (11) winner of Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Tennessee Volunteers

UMass, one of six Atlantic 10 teams in the NCAA Tournament, sports a solid early season résumé but struggled down the stretch in conference play, having a bit of an up-and-down A-10 record (10-6). Senior Chazz Williams has one last shot to lead the Minutemen into the promised land and earn a victory or two along the way.

Tennessee seems like the better team in this 11-11 matchup as Iowa has just imploded on itself in the last month or so of the season. Tennessee is playing inspired basketball winning five games in a row to close things out before battling Florida down to the wire in the SEC Tournament. Jordan McRae and Jarnell Stokes will have to continue their solid play if the Volunteers want to keep their season alive.

Prediction: Tennessee by 6

(3) Duke Blue Devils vs. (14) Mercer Bears

Jabari Parker and Rodney Hood have been fantastic this year for the Duke Blue Devils, leading the way in both scoring and rebounding. Duke has the talent to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament  but some wonder about their inside game and defensive lapses.

Mercer could’ve been a trendy pick for an upset but the matchup with Duke makes that a risky option here. The Bears have already played Texas and Oklahoma this year, so they aren’t unfamiliar with playing elite teams this season. Langston Hall is the Bears’ leading scorer at 14.7 points per game. Mercer is 0-2 all-time in NCAA Tournament games.

Prediction: Duke by 14

(7) Texas Longhorns vs. (10) Arizona State Sun Devils 

Another Big 12 team that surprised the college basketball landscape this season, the Texas Longhorns will be making their 31st appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Texas uses a quartet of double-digit scorers to spread the floor, highlighted by Jonathan Holmes and his 13 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.

Arizona State has a talented point guard in Jahii Carson that helps to set the tempo and provides them with an electric scoring burst whenever the Sun Devils need it. The key for Arizona State will be Jermaine Marshall and whether he can take some of the pressure off of Carson.

Prediction: Arizona State by 4

(2) Michigan Wolverines vs. (15) Wofford Terriers

The Wolverines were expected to be good but not as good as they were this year, winning the Big Ten regular season title by three full games. Nik Stauskas emerged as a potential Player of the Year candidate, even taking home Big Ten POY honors this season. Michigan has been wonderful this year and look to keep their great season going with another run to the Final Four.

Wofford finished the year winning 13 of their final 15 on their way to the Southern tournament championship, to the surprise of many. Karl Cochran and his 15.7 points per game give the Terriers some hope but they are easily overmatched in this game.

Prediction: Michigan by 19