Mascot Madness: Round of 64 (Midwest)

One of the great things about March Madness is that there are so many small-name teams that you have never heard of playing on the big stage. What makes this so great is that with 347 possible contestants, we are bound to have a handful of interesting nickname/mascot combinations in the tournament year in and year out.

After all, isn't that what you look forward to the most? Spending Thursday afternoon watching the same old plain-Jane, blue-and-white Kentucky Wildcats battle the silver-green-and-red Highlanders of Western Poly Tech State?

It is common knowledge that we here at BIAH are the leaders in unnecessary college basketball information. Since we have this 64-team bracket in-front of us, we decided to try and determine the best mascot in March Madness.

Each day we will reveal a new portion of our bracket, leading up to the Championship game on April 5th, when we determine the best mascot in the 2010 NCAA Tournament.

Round of 64 (Midwest Bracket)

#1 Kansas Jayhawks vs. #16 Lehigh Mountain Hawks

Umm... talk about your first round toss-up. I'm not sure Jayhawks actually exist. Then again, Mountain Hawks aren't actually hawks either, they are eagles. Therefore, the fictitious hawk beats the fake hawk in the first round. There are feathers everywhere.

Winner - #1 Kansas Jayhawks


#8 UNLV Runnin' Rebels vs. #9 Northern Iowa Panthers

I probably should mention that it is more than likely that any mascot which wields a firearm or weapon will usually destroy/kill/mame/defeat any animal-like mascot, except gold ones. (After all, anything made out of gold cannot be destroyed.) Anyways, unfortunately for the Panthers, they aren't made of gold and their opponents are packing heat. No amount of Ali Kabooms from the UNI-bomber can save the Panthers this time.

Winner - #8 UNLV Runnin' Rebels


#5 Michigan State Spartans vs. #12 New Mexico State Aggies

This one looks like it should be a bloodbath, right? I mean, I saw the movie 300 and those guys were fighting an entire empire. Imagine what they would do to a team of agricultural scientists from New Mexico? Like I said before: bloodbath. After all, it would be quite difficult to measure the pH levels of soil when your head has been decapitated and placed atop of a spike. Spartans leave the battlefield looking like a failed science experiment.

Winner - #5 Michigan State Spartans


#4 Maryland Terrapins vs. #13 Houston Cougars

Cougars are mean and nasty. They are the largest breed of cat found in North America. They could rip the intestines out of a grown man in just one swipe. All arrows point towards Houston ripping apart the Terps is a blowout. But have you ever seen a full-sized terrapin? They are scary. Much more scary than you would expect. They could pick your hand clean off your arm in one snap. Plus, the hard outer-shell protects them from almost everything except a baseball bat. The Terps outlast the angry felines and move on.

Winner - #4 Maryland Terrapins


#6 Tennessee Volunteers vs. #11 San Diego State Aztecs

Hmm, I wonder how this one plays out. Let's see. Volunteers are usually known as helpful people, willing to support or help any friend, neighbor or person in need. While Aztecs on the other-hand, are remembered for being the most dominant, powerful, and controlling group of Mexican Indians ever known (well, before the Spanish came in and enslaved them all). Rocky Top is no match for the tribe still angry about the desecration of their entire civilization. Another bloodbath as SDSU advances.

Winner - #11 San Diego State Aztecs


#3 Georgetown Hoyas vs. #14 Ohio Bobcats

This is a really really bad match up. First off, Ohio has a boring nickname (Bobcats) and boring colors (green and white). Everything about Ohio is just sorta mehh. Then you have Georgetown, which has quite possibly the most confusing nickname is all of D-1 sports. There is no such thing as "a Hoya". I'd rather not get into specifics, because well, it's so dumb. Either way I still give the edge to the Hoyas because a) they have better colors (blue and grey) and b) they also feature a live mascot (jack the bulldog). Live mascots rule.

Winner - #3 Georgetown Hoyas


#7 Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. #10 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Cowboys are cool. Every young boy wants to be a cowboy when they grow up. But somewhere along the line they realize chaps and spurs 24/7 just isn't the life for them. But nobody likes Yellow Jackets. They sting and buzz, and the only way to kill them is by ruining a good magazine. The Cowboys inability to lasso the Yellow Jacket nest comes back to haunt them. Georgia Tech prevails.

Winner - #10 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets


#2 Ohio State Buckeyes vs. #15 UC-Santa Barbara Gauchos

It's the nuts versus the Cowboys in our final Midwest bracket showdown. Getting hit in the head by a falling acorn hurts allot. Gauchos might be tough, and the word "gaucho" is pretty cool, but man, getting hit in the head by a large acorn really, really hurts. Then again, gauchos wear flat-brimmed cowboy hats that would protect them from falling nuts. Plus, can I have a team named "the gauchos" lose to tOSU in the first round? Absolutely not.

Winner - #15 UC-Santa Barbara Gauchos


Round of 32 (Midwest)
#1 Kansas Jayhawks vs. #9 UNLV Runnin' Rebels
#4 Maryland Terrapins vs. #5 Michigan State Spartans
#3 Georgetown Hoyas vs. #11 San Diego State Aztecs
#10 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs. #13 UC-Santa Barbara Gauchos

Next bracket:
Round of 64 (West)
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2010 NCAA Tournament Bracket Breakdown: Midwest Region

Kansas received the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament, and the Jayhawks got a raw deal. The four seed in their region is the tenth in the country according to Kenpom and won a share of the ACC title. The two seed is fourth in the Kenpom ratings and won a share of the Big Ten regular season title as well as the Big Ten tournament. The three seed beat Duke, Villanova, and Syracuse this year and is playing their best basketball of the season.

That said, Kansas is the best team in the country, and regardless of who ended up in their bracket, they are going to have to beat quality teams to win a title.

So with that in mind, here is your Midwest bracket breakdown:



Final Four Favorite: Kansas Jayhawks

How could it be anyone else? The Jayhawks are the best team in the country and the only person that would dispute that is Kenpom himself. The most dangerous aspect of this Kansas team is that they are as balanced as any team in the country, but they start very good, if not great, players at every position. When guys like Tyshawn Taylor and Marcus Morris are the fourth and fifth options in your starting line up, you know you have a team that is scary good. The Jayhawks execute offensively, are outstanding defensively, have role players that are capable of starting while understanding the job they have to do on this team, and they have championship pedigree with Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich.


And if they lose?: Ohio State Buckeyes

With apologies to Georgetown, Ohio State is the second best team in this bracket. What the Buckeyes lack in depth, they make up for in Evan Turner. Turner is flat out the best player in the country. Not because he can go for 30 points, 10 boards, and 10 assists on any given night from the point guard spot, but because he can do that while making each player on the floor better. Jon Diebler and William Buford get so many more open looks when Turner is handling the ball. Dallas Lauderdale is not an offensive threat by any stretch, but he is good for three or four buckets a game when Turner is creating.


Sweet 16 Sleeper (10 or lower): San Diego State Aztecs

The Aztecs may actually have the best front line in this entire bracket (although Georgia Tech is really good up front as well). With Kawhi Leonard -- a name you should familiarize yourself with -- Malcolm Thomas, Billy White, and Brian Carlwell, the Aztecs are long, strong, and athletic. They get to the glass and can finish around the rim. When their back court is making plays and hitting threes, SDSU is a dangerous team.


Final Four Sleeper (5 or lower): Tennessee Volunteers

The Vols are not a team you can trust either way. Their offense is hideous to watch at times. But they have a lot of length and athleticism defensively, allowing them to force turnovers. They have a good big man in Wayne Chism and Scotty Hopson is on his way to becoming a star. They x-factor for this team is Bobby Maze at the point. He has the ability to be one of the best guards at this level, but is maddeningly inconsistent. The Vols will have a tough road ahead, with Georgetown, Ohio State, and Kansas as potential opponents, but wins over Kansas and Kentucky have proven that when this team comes to play, they can beat anyone in the country.


Seeded too high: Michigan State Spartans

Maybe not based on resume alone, but is this Spartans team really all that good? They beat a Gonzaga team by four that got embarrassed by Duke at the Garden. They beat Wisconsin early in the season as well. But they won a share of the Big Ten by beating 11 teams at the bottom of the league. Their win over Purdue came when Purdue was missing Robbie Hummel. Their losses to UNC, Florida, and Texas look much worse than they did early in the season. And later in the season, they simply did not look like a team that anyone should be afraid of. That said, the Spartans are talented, and it is difficult to bet against Tom Izzo in the tournament, but I would feel uncomfortable having Sparty in the Sweet 16, or further.


Seeded too low: Georgetown Hoyas

Again, based on resume alone, the Hoyas probably don't have much of an argument with a three seed. Their 10-8 Big East record is not all that impressive. But if the decision came down to the Hoyas and Villanova for a two seed out of the Big East, the Hoyas have as big of a gripe of anyone in the Midwest. If they switched spots with Villanova, the Hoyas would likely be the favorite to win the South region, seeing as they have a win over Duke already.


Player to Watch (8 and up): Greg Monroe, Georgetown

Outside of Evan Turner, there may not be a player more instrumental to what their team wants to do than Monroe. His ability as a passer and a threat away from the basket is what allows the Hoya's Princeton-style offense to work. He's the best all around big man in the country, and played his best basketball of the season in the Big East yournament. Greivis Vasquez of Maryland and James Anderson of Oklahoma State also deserve mention here. Vasquez's role for the Terps is similar to what Turner does for Ohio State. Anderson is as dangerous as any scorer you will find in this tournament. If you let him get hot, Anderson can go for 25 points in a half and no one would be surprised.


Player to Watch (9 and lower): Aubrey Coleman, Houston

With apologies to Derrick Favors of Georgia Tech and SDSU's Leonard, Coleman is the guy to watch here. Coleman is the best scorer in the country, literally -- he led the nation with almost 26 ppg. Coleman is a bit on an undersized guard. He's not all that explosive, and while he is a much improved shooter this season, Coleman is at his best when he puts the ball on the floor. He's crafty, understands how to create space, and is very good in the mid-range. His 30 point nights are equivalent to anyone else in the country going for 20.


Best Matchup -- 1st Round: #6 Tennessee vs. #11 San Diego State

When the brackets were released, these were two of the first round games that intrigued me the most. SDSU is long and athletic enough to play with Tennessee. The Vols don't rebound the ball all that well, but they can force turnovers, an aspect of the game that the Aztecs have struggled in. Both of these teams play very hard and both have knocked off some very good teams.


Best Potential Matchup: #2 Ohio State vs. #3 Georgetown Hoyas

Maybe it is just me, but I would love to see this game. It is a matchup of two very different systems. For Ohio State, its give the ball to Evan Turner and let him do what he does. Georgetown is much different. Rarely will you see Georgetown run a play specifically designed for a player. Its all about the Princeton offense for the Hoyas. Two very good teams playing their best basketball of the season. Who doesn't want to see that?


Upset Alert!!!: SDSU, Georgia Tech, and Northern Iowa

As we mentioned, San Diego State matches up very well with Tennessee so long as their guards can protect the ball on the offensive end of the floor. I also like Georgia Tech's chances against both Oklahoma State and Ohio State. The Yellow Jackets have some size and athleticism on their perimeter -- specifically DeAndre Bell, who is a very good defender -- to throw are James Anderson and Evan Turner. The Bumblebees also have a very big, very athletic front line, something that cannot be said for either Oklahoma State or Ohio State. As far as Northern Iowa is concerned, I think they can give Kansas some trouble. The Panthers are a deliberate, experienced team. They are well coached and they have size inside. They are the kind of team that will give any opponent trouble.


Anything Else?:

• You better believe that NBA scouts are going to descend upon Spokane. Greivis Vasquez and Aubrey Coleman are two prospects that are on the NBA radar, and while both have been fantastic at this level, their potential as pros has been called into question. Seeing as both are seniors, this may be the last chance that the NBA people get to see these guys play in a team setting.
  


• For those that care about tempo-free stats, there are eight players in the top 31 of possessions used nationally. Five of them -- Coleman, Vasquez, Anderson, Turner, and Jordan Eglseder of Northern Iowa -- reside in the Midwest.


• The Midwest is by far the most likely of the four regions to see the top five seeds advance.
  

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2009 NCAA Tournament Bracket Breakdown: Midwest Region Preview

Louisville was the #1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, but they drew what looks to be the toughest region, at least #'s 1-4. Kansas and Michigan State won their regular season conference championships, while Wake finished second, spent some time ranked #1 in the country, and has seven wins over the top six in the ACC (Duke, UNC, FSU, BC x2, Clemson x2).

And that is completely ignoring the fact that West Virginia, who is the 8th best team in the country if you listen to KenPom (you should, his top four last year were UNC, Kansas, Memphis, and UCLA) is seeded sixth in this region.

So with that in mind, let's take a look at the Midwest Region.



Final Four Favorite: Louisville

This should be obvious. Not only are the Cardinals arguably the hottest team coming into the dance (they rolled through the Big East tournament relatively unchallenged), but they are the second best defensive team in the country, according to KenPom (seriously, trust him). My biggest concern with the Cardinals is that they lack a go-to scorer and a true point guard. They are an interesting team in that respect, but with Terrence Williams and Earl Clark's play making ability, if the Louisville bigs are finishing at the rim and the guards are knocking down three's, this is going to be a tough team to beat. I don't envy anyone that has to go against that pressure.

And If They Lose?: Michigan State

I know, it is cheesy to go #1 and #2 as the two favorites, but I dare anyone to bet against Tom Izzo in the tourney. And remember, the Spartans were a popular Final Four pick in the pre-season. They struggled through an inconsistent regular season, mainly because of injuries and illnesses (Goran Suton and Raymar Morgan both missed significant time). But the bottom line is this - the Spartans defend, they rebound, and they have a point guard that can take over a game in Kalin Lucas.

Sweet 16 Sleeper (10 or lower): Arizona

Yes, Arizona was the last team that made it into the dance. But they have a great first round match-up with Utah and a potential second round match-up with Wake Forest, who hasn't played well against a zone defense all season. Arizona has three guys that can go for 25 any night (Jordan Hill, Chase Budinger, and Nic Wise), and if you remember, they won seven in a row at one point this season. They have also beaten Washington, Kansas, and Gonzaga (all top four seeds and conference champs). If they get hot the first weekend, don't be surprised to see Russ Pennell get them into the Sweet 16.

Final Four Sleeper (5 or lower): West Virginia

The Mountaineers have been one of my favorite teams all year long. Da'Sean Butler and Alex Ruoff form what was arguably the best shooting guard/small forward combo in the Big East (vs. Jerel McNeal and Wesley Matthews? Close). Freshman Devin Ebanks is turning into a star (16.3 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 3.7 apg in the Big East tourney). They have what seems like 17 guys that are 6'8" or 6'9", athletic, and aggressive rotating through their front line. The biggest issue I see is with Truck Bryant at the point, who is just a freshman. But I've seen him play about 10 times this year, and I think he will be able to handle it because the Mountaineers don't rely on him to do too much - get the ball over half court, don't turn it over, defend hard, and knock down an open three. Just for the record, West Virginia is almost always a safe bet for an upset in any tournament. Big East this year? They beat Pitt. NCAA's last year? It was Duke. And do I even need to mention the Pittsnoggle era (for the record, I loved that team - Pittsnoggle, Herbert, Beilein, Gansey. Their Elite 8 game against Louisville in 2005 was one of the best I have ever seen)?

Seeded Too High: Utah

I don't get how the Utes are 9th in the RPI. They went 23-8 and 14-4 in the Mountain West (granted, it was better than the SEC, but still), and while they did have five top 50 wins, they also lost to Idaho State (207) and Southwest Baptist (which does not get included in the RPI because they are D2). 13 road games and 5 neutral site games should have them prepped for the tourney, but I think the Utes as a five is similar to Drake as a five last year. And what happened to the Bulldogs?

Seeded Too Low: West Virginia/Dayton

It depends on what you means by underseeded. These teams both probably deserved the seed they got based on their performance this season, but I also think both teams are much better than where they were put. More on this in a bit.

Player To Watch (8 and up): Tyrese Rice, Boston College

Rice had a bit of a down year this year. Well, down isn't really the right term. His stats were down, but playing with much more talent on this year's team, Rice became more of a point guard and leader, happy to defer to teammates at times. But anyone that remembers this performance from last season should know that he is capable of taking over a game. He had some big games this year as well, going for 21 points, 6 boards, and 6 assists in the Eagles win over Duke, and 25 points, 6 boards, and 8 assists in their win at UNC. If BC wants to make a Sweet 16 run, they will need a great weekend out of Rice.

Player To Watch (9 and down): Ben Woodside, North Dakota State

You remember him. Yes, you do. He is the guy that scored 60 points in a 3 OT game this year (which is up there with Cuse-UConn as the game of the year). It wasn't against just anyone either. NDSU eventually lost to Stephen F. Austin, who was the Southland's auto bid. Anyway, Woodside averaged 22.8 ppg and 6.3 apg to lead the Bison to a regular season and tournament championship in the Summit League. It is a great story too - he and his classmates all red-shirted their first year at NDSU so they could play this season, their last, with the chance to make the dance ... and they did!

Best Match-up, First Round: #6 West Virginia vs. #11 Dayton

As I mentioned earlier, the Mountaineers and the Flyers are the two best teams in the region given their seeding. They both are hard-nosed, aggressive teams that play very similar styles - tough defenses, a ton of athletes, crashing the offensive glass. Dayton was once again hurt by injuries this season as Rob Lowery tore a knee ligament in February. The best match-up to watch in this game will be Devin Ebanks and Chris Wright. Both players are long and athletic, but can play either forward spot. While this will likely not be the most high scoring affair, there may not be a more intense, hard-fought first round game anywhere.

Best Match-up, Potential: #1 Louisville vs. #4 Wake Forest

There may not be two teams in the country with more size and athleticism 1-12 than Louisville and Wake Forest. Can you imagine watching Terrence Williams and Earl Clark do battle with James Johnson and Al-Farouq Aminu? Or how about Louisville's quartet of guards try to slow down Wake's Jeff Teague? I'm not sure if Wake can beat Louisville, but I guarantee this game would be up-and-down with a number youtube-worthy dunks.

Upset Alert!!!: Utah, Kansas, and Wake Forest

Like I said, I think it is very possible that Arizona makes a run to the Sweet 16, but I can also see them losing by 30 to Utah. Kansas needs to watch out for West Virginia in the second round. While I think very highly of Kansas this season, West Virginia has proven the ability to play with and beat some of the best in the country. One other possible upset - Cleveland State over Wake Forest. Wake has a tendency to not show up when they aren't playing a "name" team, and CSU has beaten Syracuse and Butler this season.

Anything Else?:

• If only they could play 1-on-1: Sherron Collins vs. Ben Woodside. Collins in an all-american, but as we detailed earlier, Woodside is a baller too.
• If Ohio State beats Siena in the first round, they play #1 overall seed Louisville in Dayton, Ohio. Really?
• This region may have the best dunkers - Terrence Williams, Jeff Teague, Chris Wright, Durrell Summers, and Demar Derozan are all a defender-trying-to-take-a-charge away from Sportscenter.
  

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