2017 EAST REGION BREAKDOWN

EAST REGION BREAKDOWN

This is the region of teams on disappointing downturns heading into the Madness

1. VILLANOVA WILDCATS

Josh Hart lead the defending champs to a season that is getting minimal publicity as a defensing champ. Coach Jay Wright went from being underappreciated to coaching a defending champion that is possibly being taken for granted. These guys are a definite tourney favorite.

16. NEW ORLEANS

Good luck.

8. WISCONSIN BADGERS

Great senior talent in Nigel Hayes and Bronson Koenig but many questions on their often stagnant offense. But whole team can hit clutch shots. They were a possible 2-seed as recent as a month ago that have slid down to an 8-seed.

9. VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES

Really less talented team that absolutely grind and find ways to make hoops and get stops despite lack of size.

5. VIRGINIA CAVALIERS

Great defensive team that have problems scoring. Very very stagnant offense!

12. UNC-WILMINGTON SEAHAWKS

Lively 12 seed!

4. FLORIDA GATORS

They’ve had a solid season with their strength on the defensive side of the ball only to lose starting forward John Egbunu to a torn ACL earlier this month.

13. EAST TENNESSEE STATE

A live underdog according to many pundits.

6. SMU MUSTANGS

Longest win streak in nation. I just don’t see it as they’ve done so vs. average teams. Duke transfer Semi Ojeleye is absolutely legit though.

11. USC TROJANS

A very scrappy team that demonstrated scrappiness last night coming back from 17 points down to beat Providence in the play in game

3. BAYLOR BEARS

Top ranked team in January that peaked in January.

14. NEW MEXICO STATE AGGIES

New Coach from Aggie squad that have been a tourney regular outta weak Western Athletic Conference.

7. SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS

Coming from weak SEC. Good defensive team with top heavy talent.

10. MARQUETTE  GOLDEN EAGLES

Have had great wins in tough Big East. Live underdog here.

2. DUKE BLUE DEVILS

Will say it again. Bar none the most talented team in the nation by a mile. They’ve struggled to find identity all season, but may have found it as they won the ACC Tourney this past weekend. Still no PG, but Grayson Allen and Frank Jackson are executing on ball screens better. If they click then they win the Madness. Period. If not then they lose to Villanova in the Elite 8. That’ll be an instant classic

15. TROY

They have brother of former Mississippi State stud Jarvas Varnado in Jordan Varnado and former NBA 3-pt assassin Chuck Person’s son in Wesley Person. Good genetics but nice “Troy”! They won’t touch Duke. #Paulsen Pun