- The West region got crazier. Gonzaga went down to 9 seed Wichita State, joining the 3, 4, 5 and even 7 and 8 seeds in getting upset. The sweet 16 will feature Wichita State facing the winner of a 12/13 matchup: Ole Miss vs. LaSalle. This means a 9 seed or lower will make the elite 8. Arizona, the 6, has already advanced to the 16, and will play the winner of today's first game in Ohio State vs. Iowa State. I fully expect Ohio State to make the final four, as their path will be considerably easier than many top teams, though there is too much uncertainty to be absolutely confident. Maybe Arizona pulls out a final four berth. Maybe Wichita State keeps rolling. Maybe Marshall Henderson leads his team deep, in what would undoubtedly be the story of the tournament. 2 years ago VCU earned an at large bid in the first four, and went to the final four. A few years before that, George Mason went to the final four as an 11 seed. Both of these teams were said to be "bubble teams" going in. Would it shock me if Ole Miss had a story similar? Not at all...
- Michigan looks good. Virginia Commonwealth had been playing some fantastic basketball, and beat Akron in their first game by 44. They looked like a force to be reckoned with in this tournament. In stepped the Wolverines, led by Trey Burke and Mitch McGary, who looks like a Plumlee clone, and decisively took out the Rams. Kansas should not be happy about their draw of Michigan, should they advance past North Carolina.
- The comically underseeded Ducks keep rolling, and have earned a match-up with Louisville in Indianapolis. The Ducks have helped give some credibility, along with Arizona and Cal, back to the Pac-12, who had teams underseeded across the tournament. Do I expect them to beat Louisville? Absolutely not, as Louisville is the best team in the country. Do I expect them to at least make it interesting? Yeah I do. Look for Louisville to pull away late and advance by 12-15.
- Speaking of Louisville, Russ Smith was absolutely Russdiculous. Smith scored an efficient 27, scoring at the rim, from three, and the line. He coupled it with great defense too. I am very impressed by Smith, and, as you may have read previously here, I would draft him in the first round. He looks like a Lou Williams clone at the next level. The biggest issues about Smith are his outside jump shot and decision making, both of which Williams struggled with when entering the league. He figured it out, and is not one of the top 6th man combo guards in the league. I expect great things out of Smith, and would like Portland to find a way to get him should he declare before his junior year. In the tournament, watch out for Louisville. They are crazy deep, and have Smith and Siva running the show. I still like them to take it all.
- Marquette barely advanced again, in a tightly contested game against perennial tournament contender Butler. After similar circumstances against against Davidson, they will now get the winner of the 7th seed SDSU and 15 seed Florida Gulf Coast. Despite less-than-stellar showings, one would have to like Marquette's chances to keep advancing.
-NBA prospects to watch today:
Victor Oladipo and Cody Zeller/Indiana- They should dominate against Temple. Zeller especially should have a big day.
Doug McDermott/Creighton- McDermott is a 2nd round candidate at this point. With a big game against Duke, he could make scouts look at him a little harder.
Brandon Paul/Illinois- Paul has skills to make the next level, but is maddeningly inconsistent. A big game, and upset, against Miami could push him back into late round-1 consideration.
Jamaal Franklin/San Diego State- His motor may be tops in the country. If he can score in a plethora of ways, including an outside jump shot, he could become a first round lock.
Seniors- I've said it before, but seniors with big performances in the tournament rise on draft day. Who is this year's Kyle O'Quinn?
- Finally, Ben Howland has been fired from UCLA after a ten year run, including 3 final fours. He will get another job, but his vacancy has to be considered #1 in the country. Undoubtedly, Shaka Smart's (VCU) and Brad Stevens' (Butler) names will come up as candidates. Both have created stellar programs, and, at UCLA, could run their systems with fantastic recruits. The job will be tempting, though the niche both have created at their respective schools will be hard to leave. Both have made a final four (2 in Stevens' case), and continually make the tournament. If I am the AD at UCLA, these two have to be my top candidates, but if I am Smart or Stevens, I think long and hard about this choice. It could be a job similar to what Coach K and Jim Boeheim have in Duke and Syracuse, where they have lasted 30+ years. Likewise, many coaches have not found success at top programs. I think Smart and Stevens are two of the top coaches in the country, and will find fantastic success at UCLA, should they choose. It will be a tough choice.
- Best chance of an upset today: Minnesota over Florida.
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