South Region Round of 64 Game Breakdowns
#1 Kansas vs. #16 Austin Peay
Kansas should cruise to a victory in this game. Austin Peay has a couple of good scorers in center Chris Horton, with 18.9 points per game, and guard Josh Robinson, with 16.7 points per game, but after a sub .500 conference record this season, they don’t have the firepower to knock off the top seed Kansas. The Jayhawks feature six players on the interior that will wear out Austin Peay. The Governors have no players taller than 6-foot-8 and going up against a frontline led by Perry Ellis, that is a big problem. On the perimeter for Kansas, the trio of Frank Mason III, Devonte’ Graham and Wayne Seldon are veteran presences that should control the game. Austin Peay doesn’t matchup with the Jayhawks well in any position on the floor.
#8 Colorado vs. #9 Connecticut
This 8 vs. 9 matchup is one that pits teams with contrasting styles against each other. Colorado is led inside by forward Josh Scott (16.1 points and 8.7 rebounds per game) and are a very physical team. Six of Colorado’s top nine players stand 6-foot-5 or taller, giving them the edge on the boards. Connecticut is a perimeter-based team and their top five scorers are guards. Key to winning this matchup will be whichever team gets the production from the supporting cast. For Colorado, guards Dominique Collier, Josh Fortune and George Kind will need to slow down UConn’s guards and seven-foot center Amada Brimah will be tasked with covering Josh Scott inside. The height and inside play gives Colorado the edge in this one, but with the way UConn is playing right now, don’t be surprised to see the Huskies advance.
#5 Maryland vs. #12 South Dakota State
Maryland is one of the most talented teams in the country. With Melo Trimble at the point, Diamond Stone inside, and Rasheed Sulaimon and Jake Layman on the wings, they can matchup with anybody in the country. A preseason top-five team, Maryland didn’t live up to expectations but has a chance to change that in the tournament. South Dakota State will get the challenge of slowing the Terrapins down. The Jackrabbits can score in bunches, with guards George Marshall and DeAndre Parks and forward Mike Daum all averaging more than 14 points per game, but their defense will be key in this one. South Dakota State has the talent to keep this one close, but in the end, Melo Trimble is going to be too much for the Jackrabbits defensively.
#4 California vs. #13 Hawaii
California improved big-time this season thanks to the influx of top freshmen Ivan Raab and Jaylen Brown. The Golden Bears have benefitted from those additions and now feature a team that has five players averaging double-digit points per game. Their matchup in the Round of 64 is with Hawaii, who won the regular season and tournament title in the Big West. They feature a talented forward in Missouri transfer Stefan Jankovic and a pair of veteran guards that will give Hawaii a chance in this one. California is a young team and if that youth leads to some early struggles, Hawaii has a chance in this game. At 27-5 on the year, the Rainbow Warriors are talented enough to pull an upset, but California has the edge in this one with their balance and should advance.
#6 Arizona vs. #11 Vanderbilt/Wichita State
Arizona got a tough test with two bubble teams looking to prove they belong in this field. This year’s Wildcat team doesn’t have the first round NBA Draft talent like the last two years, but with Gabe York and Alonzo Trier on the perimeter and Ryan Anderson and Kaleb Tarczewski inside, there is a good balance on this team. Vanderbilt and Wichita State pose different challenges. If Vanderbilt wins the play-in game, this game will be a matchup of two very balanced teams. Both teams have quality players inside and guards on the perimeter that can really score. If Wichita State advances, Arizona will have their hands full in the backcourt. Seniors Fred VanVleet and Ron Baker have the experience but the team lacks inside depth. Arizona would need to capitalize inside on the Shockers to win. Either way, it will be a tough test for Arizona in their opener.
#3 Miami (FL) vs. #14 Buffalo
Miami got a pretty good matchup in their opener. Led by redshirt-senior guards Angel Rodriguez and Sheldon McClellan, Miami is going to control the tempo of the game. Both players can score in bunches and will cause lots of problems for Buffalo. The Bulls will have a tough time in this one. Making the NCAA Tournament for a second consecutive season wasn’t an easy road. Buffalo lost head coach Bobby Hurley after last season as he went to Arizona State, taking second leading scorer Shannon Evans with him. Then reigning conference player of the year Justin Moss was kicked off the team before the season. Getting back under first-year head coach Nate Oats is a big accomplishment. Balanced scoring on the perimeter led by guards Lamonte Bearden, Blake Hamilton give the Bulls their offensive output, but the duo of McClellen and Rodriguez, as well as the coaching experience of Jim Larranaga, gives the edge to Miami.
This is a matchup of two teams that faltered down the stretch. Iowa was the Big Ten frontrunner but lost five of their last six games. Temple was the top seed in their conference tournament, but lost to UConn in the semifinals. Iowa has a big edge in the experience factor. The Hawkeyes start four seniors and a junior and have played in a lot of big basketball games. Jared Uthoff and Peter Jok give the Hawkeyes two big time scorers. Temple has a big presence inside in Jaylen Bond and a proven scorer in Quenton DeCosey on the perimeter. Neither team is very deep so foul trouble could play a big role in this one. If Iowa can break out of their slump and get someone to step up alongside Uthoff and Jok, the Hawkeyes could make a serious run in this tournament. If the scoring falls all on Uthoff and Jok, Temple has the talent to advance.
#2 Villanova vs. #15 UNC Asheville
A team that was set for a one seed before losing in their conference tournament final, Villanova has the talent to win the whole tournament. Senior Ryan Arcidiacono and juniors Josh Hart and Kris Jenkins give the Wildcats a big presence on the perimeter and can put up points against anybody. UNC-Asheville has a solid, balanced style that features five double figure scorers, but it will come down to their defense in this one. Villanova has a weakness inside that UNC-Asheville will need to expose. With that being said, stopping the Villanova guard attack is not easy. Villanova should win easy in this one as they try to improve on their previous misfortunes in the NCAA Tournament.
Midwest Region Round of 64 Game Breakdowns
East Region Round of 64 Game Breakdowns
West Region Round of 64 Game Breakdowns
