Since the tournament bracket is already out, it makes absolutely no sense for me to continue analyzing small and mid-major conference teams the way I had been previously doing. However, I still want to cover them. In order to do this, I’m going to refrain from covering conferences like the MAC, Conference USA, Atlantic-10, and Mountain West conferences (which can all argue they’re not even mid-major conferences anyway). Also, in this entry I will be doing a very quick overview of the teams, without much analysis.
Southwestern Athletic
Teams in: Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Seed: Play-in Game
First Round Opponent: Winthrop
Probability of Being a Cinderella: Very Unlikely
Even if the Golden Lions beat Winthrop Tuesday night (which I do not think they will do), they would have to face Duke in the official First Round. Welcome to the NCAA tournament, gentlemen.
Patriot
Teams in: Lehigh
Seed: 16
First Round Opponent: Kansas
Probability of Being a Cinderella: Very Unlikely
Next…
Mid-Eastern
Teams in: Morgan State
Seed: 15
First Round Opponent: West Virginia
Probability of Being a Cinderella: Very Unlikely
Morgan State is a team that likes to speed up the tempo of the game and take lots of shots. Usually, a fifteen seed needs to slow down the pace to keep the game close. I don’t see Morgan State having much success against the Mountaineers.
Western Athletic
Teams in: New Mexico State, Utah State
Seed: 12 (both)
First Round Opponent: Michigan State (NMSU), Texas A&M (Utah State)
Probability of Being a Cinderella: Decent (both)
Due to the fact that I don’t think Michigan State has been playing well as of late, I am labeling New Mexico State with a “decent” status to be a Cinderella. I was very impressed with the way that they played in the WAC Championship game. As for Utah State, I have been impressed with them throughout the year, but moved them down from “good” to “decent” status for being a Cinderella because of their performance in the conference tournament final. We could see both teams in the Second Round.
Southland
Teams in: Sam Houston State
Seed: 14
First Round Opponent: Baylor
Probability of Being a Cinderella: Very Unlikely
Like many other teams in the tournament, they should enjoy and relish the experience of playing in an NCAA tournament game. Baylor is just too strong for the Bearkats.
Big West
Teams in: UC-Santa Barbara
Seed: 15
First Round Opponent: Ohio State
Probability of Being a Cinderella: Very Unlikely
The Gauchos are not a bad team. They have the Big West player of the year in forward Orlando Johnson. However, when you’re going up against potential National Player of the Year Evan Turner, you are going to have your hands full no matter who you have on your side.
America East
Teams in: Vermont
Seed: 16
First Round Opponent: Syracuse
Probability of Being a Cinderella: Very Unlikely
Remember the last time Vermont was in the Big Dance? How about 2005, when as a thirteen seed they upset Syracuse in a dramatic game that went into overtime. It will be much harder to repeat such an effort as a sixteen seed, but you never know…
As I said, this was a very quick overview of each team. In the next few days as we get closer to the first day of competition, I will be covering the NCAA Tournament more in-depth, including a look at potential upsets, teams that can make a run, and my entire bracket for the 2010 NCAA Tournament. This is my favorite week of the year, and I can’t think of any other way to celebrate it than to write about it! No, I’m just kidding. I’m really just excited about not paying attention in class on Thursday and Friday.
– K. Becks
