The brackets have been released and the match-ups are set. We are only a few days away from the most exciting four days in American sports. The first weekend of the NCAA tournament is intoxicating with all its intensity and drama. Everyone will now frantically pour over each section of the bracket looking for upsets and intriguing match-ups. The number one overall seed is the Duke Blue Devils, and they reside in the East Region.
2019 NCAA Tournament: East Region Preview
Duke enters the tournament as the favorite, having been considered the nation’s best team most of the season when fully healthy. They are fresh off an ACC tournament title, after getting star freshman Zion Williamson back from injury. Tom Izzo‘s Michigan State Spartans were placed as the two seed, after winning both the Big Ten regular season and tournament titles. They shared the regular season crown with the Purdue Boilermakers. The SEC regular season champion LSU Tigers are seeded third. With three teams who took home trophies in arguably the three best conferences in the country, the East Region is full of teams capable of cutting down the nets.
Six Days of Madness
Not only was the East Region well represented among the teams taking home trophies in from the Power 5 conferences, but it will also be represented in Dayton. Two of the First Four match-ups will come from this portion of the bracket. The Belmont Bruins will battle the Temple Owls in a game between teams who landed the right side of the bubble. Meanwhile, the North Carolina Central Eagles will face the North Dakota State Bison for the chance at the Blue Devils and all their All-Americans.
1st Round Game to Watch
(7) Louisville Cardinals vs (10) Minnesota Gophers
The Gophers hit a skid in the middle of Big Ten play, losing six of seven games. They rebounded well to win four of their last six, including two wins over Purdue. Guard Amir Coffey leads them in scoring with 16.3 points per game, while forward Jordan Murphy averages a double-double with 14.8 points and 11.5 boards a game. The Louisville Cardinals overachieved under first-year coach Chirs Mack for most of the season. They have hit hard times in the past few weeks though, losing eight of their last twelve contests. Versatile forward Jordan Nwora has led the Cards all season, with 17.2 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. The added intrigue of this match-up is that the Gophers are coached by Richard Pitino, son of former Louisville coach Rick Pitino. The elder Pitino was fired in the off-season amid speculation of broken NCAA rules.
Players to Watch
Justin Robinson – Guard – Virginia Tech Hokies
Virginia Tech will welcome back their senior guard for the NCAA tournament after he missed the last 12 games. Robinson is the all-time leader in assists in Hokies’ program history. In addition to running the offense and setting his teammates up for buckets, the 6’2″ guard also chips in with 13.7 points per night. He shoots at a very high rate, going 47.5% from the field, 82.5% from the free throw line, and 41.1% from beyond the arc. His return to the line-up could boost the Hokies as they look to make a deep run.
Naz Reid – Forward – LSU Tigers
This mammoth freshman from New Jersey has been a force inside and out for LSU this season. He averaged 13.7 points and 7.1 rebounds per game during his first campaign in Baton Rouge. Reid is adept at using his size and nimble feet to score around the rim, but he can also stretch the defense. He shot 37% from three-point range and has the skill to attack off the dribble if you crowd him as a shooter. The big man is also a force on the offensive glass, an area LSU thrives in as a team as well. If the Tigers make a run to the Sweet 16 and beyond, expect the versatile Reid to be heavily involved in their success.
Cassius Winston – Guard – Michigan State Spartans
The Spartans won the double in the Big Ten this season, and they were led by their junior guard from Detroit. Winston’s 18.9 points and 7.6 assists per night helped him earn Big Ten Player of the Year. He is able to take games over on the offensive end. So much of what the Spartans do runs through him. He has scored 20 or more on 18 occasions this season and has eight games with double-digit assists. It is near impossible to keep him out of the paint, and he is an 84% free throw shooter. Winston is also a big shot maker, so look for the ball in his hands late in games.
Miye Oni – Guard – Yale Bulldogs
The Junior from California has led the Bulldogs to the big dance for the first time since 2016. He is looked at as a pro talent and has displayed his high-level scoring acumen all season. Oni averaged 17.6 points per night and has scored in double figures in all but one game this season. He shoots 39% from three, can create his own shot, and at 6’6″ 210 pounds he can absorb contact and finish when he attacks the rim.
Upset Special
Since the opening round games in Dayton have been established, it seems one of the teams that wins always finds more success in the round of 64. Maryland could fall victim to that trend this year, as they face the winner between Belmont and Temple. The sixth-seeded Terrapins are one of the youngest teams in the country, and have lost three of their last four contests. Forwards Bruno Fernando and Jalen Smith will give them a chance because of their ability to dominate inside.
Belmont has a dynamic scorer in Dylan Windler, a 6’8″ wing who can score from anywhere. They are also a great shooting team, at 50% from the field and 37% from deep. Temple is led by their explosive back-court of Shizz Alston Jr. and Quinton Rose. It could be a shoot out among talented guards between the Bruins and Owls. Each team could give Maryland trouble if they bring momentum with them from a victory in Dayton. The Terrapins would need to exercise a decided front-court advantage if they want to stave off an upset bid.
And So It Begins
The East Region is home to multiple conference champions and all-league players, but as per usual, all eyes will be on Duke. The Blue Devils are the favorite to cut down the net at the end of the tournament, and they boast two the nations most exciting players. Freshmen Zion Williamson and R.J. Barrett will look to hit the ground running in their first taste of March Madness, and lead Duke back to the top of the ladder. It will be up to the likes of Michigan State, LSU, and Virginia Tech to try and knock off the mighty Blue Devils.
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