The East - 2007 Preview

It’s here. The best sporting event: the NCAA Tournament. That’s a fact.

JC and I have decided to give a comprehensive preview of this year’s tourney. He will take the West and South. I get the East and Midwest.

My prognostications are hit or miss. I’m never kinda right. It’s all or nothing. But enough, let’s get to the preview.

The East in summary:
Who’s Coming Out – Georgetown
Who’s Out Early – Vanderbilt
Most Overrated – Vanderbilt
Most Underrated – Michigan State, Washington State

The East appears to be a fairly tough bracket. Michigan State if they get out of the first round has never lost a second round game under Tom Izzo. North Carolina has the talent to win it all. Texas is inconsistent, but when they are on they look very good. And Georgetown has just gotten progressively better all season. There are no easy outs in the tournament and this bracket truly confirms that.

I like Georgetown in the East. Roy Hibbert is a monster and Jeff Green is one of the most explosive players in the country. The Hoyas have decent depth and play sound defense. Moreover, Georgetown will play in East Rutherford in the Regional Final, which will be like a home game for John Thompson III and his Hoyas.

So who will Georgetown beat to advance to Atlanta? Most people will tell you North Carolina. Some of those people will say North Carolina will advance to the Final Four. Slow down.

North Carolina is a great team, but if the Spartans of Michigan State beat Marquette (and that is my prediction) this will provide a very interesting match-up. Why? Well as already stated, Tom Izzo has never lost a second round NCAA Tournament game, it is an odd year (in 1999, 2001, 2005 State went to the Final Four and the Elite Eight in 2003) and the Spartans have shown the ability to play with anyone in the country. However, State has never beaten the Tar Heels in the NCAA tournament and North Carolina has way too much talent and depth to be upset by a young Spartan team. Call me delusional, but State upsets North Carolina and moves on to the Elite Eight where they run into the mighty Hoyas.

I really like Washington State. Dick Bennett is a great coach and the Cougars play exceptional defense, rebound well and are patient on offense. All of that will get them to the Sweet Sixteen. Vanderbilt is not deserving of a six seed, but I don’t think George Mason has the power to make another run. Vandy advances in the first round, but gets blown out by the Cougars.
The twelve-over-five upset happens every year and I think in general every five seed is very vulnerable this year. In the East Arkansas’ big man Steven Hill and tournament experienced coach, Stan Heath, will pull the upset over the fifth seeded Southern Cal. But will ultimately have their season ended by Texas in the second round. Michigan State has already beaten Texas once and the Longhorns will fall to State again.

So there is my East. Insane? Perhaps, but I put a lot of faith in my Spartans. Washington State could make some noise and Arkansas has the tools to put some fear into USC and Texas. Kevin Durant is a very talented freshman, but overall the Longhorns do not have great focus. I think Georgetown comes out and advances to the Final Four in Atlanta.