NCAA Tournament - East Region Preview

Welcome to my NCAA Preview Blogs. I'll predict each region in a blog and then the Final Four in a separate blog. This way, you'll know who not to pick in your office pools....

The at-large field is one of the weaker in recent memory. All of the talking heads on ESPN had all 1 and 2 seeds advancing. Will I? Stay Tuned...

First Round:

(1) Kentucky vs. (16) E. Tenn. St.

Should be a cakewalk for the Wildcats. John Wall will spend most of the last 10 minutes of the game doing his dance for the cameras.

UK wins 101-64.

(8) Texas vs. (9) Wake Forest

Battle of the flame-outs. Both teams struggled mightily down the stretch. Both teams can't hit free throws. Hey, somebody's got to win, right?

Wake wins 71-70 because it would make my wife happy.

(5) Temple vs. (12) Cornell

Cornell is the trendy upset pick. They almost upset Kansas in the regular season. Temple beat Villanova. This should be a great game.

Temple wins 64-62 on a buzzer-beater.

(4) Wisconsin vs. (13) Wofford

Wisconsin plays ugly Big 10 basketball. But that ugly basketball beat both Duke and Maryland. Wofford's mascot is the Terriers. So they can't even count on the Dominant Mascot Theory.

Wisconsin Badgers the Terriers 68-51.

(6) Marquette vs. (11) Washington

Washington had to win the Pac 10 tourney to get a bid. Of course the Pac 10 tourney was almost as competitive as the 1995 NC State Intramural 'C' League tourney that we got robbed in on a crappy over the back call. Of course, Marquette lost at home to NC State, but now that's a quality loss!

Golden Eagles prevail 71-65.

(3) New Mexico vs. (14) Montana

Great mascot matchup. Lobos vs. Grizzlies.

I think the Fightin' Steve Alfords (New Mexico) win easily 81-60.

(7) Clempson vs. (10) Missouri

Each year, my ACC bias makes me pick Clempson to win a game or two and each year they lose. If this works, you owe me, Purnell.

Mizzou 67-61.

(2) West by God Virginia vs. (15) Morgan St.

While Morgan St. is well named, WVU is too good. As they say up there, Let's Go Mountaineers, Let's Go Drink Some Beers!

WVU in a cakewalk 88-55.

Second Round:

(1) Kentucky vs. (9) Wake Forest

Wake has the size to bang with Cousins and Patterson in Aminu, Woods, and McFarland. Wake has the speed and defense to keep up with Wall in Ish Smith and L.D. Williams. So it will come down to coaching. John Calipari vs. Dino Gaudio. Uh, yeah... sorry, dear.

'Ca..., er, Kentucky wins 87-63.

(4) Wisconsin vs. (5) Temple

First team to 50 points wins! This game might be a cure for insomnia, or it might be a classic tourney finish. I'll predict the former.

Wisconsin wins 52-48.

(3) New Mexico vs. (6) Marquette

New Mexico's best wins are against Texas A&M and Cal. Cal?!?!?

Marquette leads the Big East charge into the Sweet 16 67-65.

(2) West by God Virginia vs. (10) Missouri

Should be a very fast-paced game. WVU can handle the pressure, though.

WVU advances 81-71.

Sweet 16:

(1) Kentucky vs. (4) Wisconsin

They just don't have athletes like Wall, Cousins, Patterson, etc in the Big 10. This game is only close if Kentucky keeps it that way.

UK wins 76-63.

(2) West by God Virginia vs. (6) Marquette

These two teams met once in the regular season with the Mountaineers winning on a buzzer beater. WVU is playing better now and while it will be a close game, it won't be a Gus Johnson classic.

WVU prevails 66-59.

Elite Eight:

(1) Kentucky vs. (2) West by God Virginia

Now this game has the makings of a classic. The SEC champs against the Big East Champs for the right to go the Final Four. West Virginia's depth and defense will frustrate Kentucky. Will the Wildcats be able to withstand their first real test of the tourney against the veteran Mountaineers? I say John Wall starts to discover his inner Derrick Rose and wills the Wildcats to a Final Four berth.

UK advances to the Final Four 77-73.

It only remains to be seen whether John Calipari has to vacate this Final Four berth like his two previous trips. Only time will tell.

Next time, I'll preview the South Regional. Stay tuned!