So it’s here!!!! The Insanity Report Staff have been working around the clock for the final takes on this year’s Madness! There will be full breakdowns for all 4 regions, but here’s an initial shot gun take of some teams.
Note: there will be an attempt to make this years blogs less like War and Peace and more like a piece you can read in under 40 minutes. (“War!....what is it good for?....absolutely nothing…hhhuuuggghhhhh!)
Let’s start off with the Top 4 teams in each Region:
SOUTH REGION
#1 KENTUCKY WILDCATS
Freshmen-laden line-up with uber-talented sophomore in Terence Jones. They’ve taken all opponents with an undefeated SEC regular season. They have tough offense and an unstoppable defense, led by Uber-browed Freshman, Anthony Davis. Coach Calipari knows how to handle super talented one-n-done freshmen, but the question is not if, but when will Kentucky’s youth and inexperience show up to spark a tight game? They have a pretty cake region led by the #2 seed coming up….
#2 DUKE BLUE DEVILS
Ohhhhh-ver raaaate-ed!!!! Clap! clap!....clap! clap! clap!!! Overall a line up that is still swapping their starters as Coach K can’t find a consistent line up yet. Duke’s defense is atrocious! They can’t stop the drive and dish for open lay-ups or treys all year and it looks like they still haven’t made any adjustments to fix this. Duke is not peaking. #15 Lehigh has a super scorer in CJ McCollum that could give Duke fits if they have an off night in the 1st round.
#3 BAYLOR BEARS
Another team with great talent. They seem to be plateauing as well. The 2 Jones’-ezzzzz are in a lull, and Baylor has not had many big wins in the regular season. Their Big 12 tourney is a fitting storyline for the Bears. What game was the indicator of how they’ll do in the Madness? The big win vs. Kansas in their first game in the Big 12 tourney? Or the poop-kicking they got at the hands of Missouri in the Big 12 final?
#4 INDIANA HOOSIERS
So pumped to being able to see this team in Portland! They came outta the blocks with huge non-conference wins and then did some damage in the rough and tumble Big Ten Conference. IU runs the ball great but at inopportune moments. They can get hot and cold from the three and are starting to use super freshman center, Cody Zeller more in the blocks. IU did lose Senior guard, Verdell Jones in the Big Ten tourney to a toen ACL. We’ll see how IU can adapt.
WEST REGION
#1 MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS
Two words: Coach Izzo! Last year Michigan State had a talented but messy locker room off the court. They were also quite injured. This year MSU has played a murderer’s row schedule with a healthy line-up and players that like each other. Sr. F Draymond Green leads a smart Spartans team that play to their strengths and hide their weaknesses better than any team in the country
#2 MISSOURI TIGERS
They live and die by the jump shot but execute their offense fantastically to get these shots in rhythm as opposed to just jacking shots like a Florida Gators squad. They pose a risky match-up with their 4 guard starting line-up. They have great pressure D and if their jumpers are falling then there are few teams that can keep up with Mizzou. Can they stay hot for 4-6 straight games to go deep in the Madness? Mizzou has been prone to be a tale of two halves team as well with a cold 1st half followed by a hot 2nd half or vice versa. They did pull out a full 40 minute performance in the Big 12 final…we shall see. It’ll be dependent on the match-ups
#3 MARQUETTE GOLDEN EAGLES
They have Michigan State size (undersized) without the Michigan State talent. They are prone to stretches of “flatness” during games. To be honest, I gotta look into Marquette more, but the Insanity Staff agrees that Marquette poses some threat, but are not coming into the Madness with guns a-blazing
#4 LOUISVILLE CARDINALS
Flat out a bang up coaching performance by Head Coach Rick Pitino with Louisville winning the Big East Tourney despite a huge rash of injuries to key players all season. Jr. PG Peyton Siva is over-achieving right now. How long will it last? Louisville have no huge guard or forward threats but just find ways to win.
EAST REGION
#1 SYRACUSE ORANGEMEN
The top team coming into the Madness despite their early exit in the Big East Tourney. They are led by a trio of veteran players in PG Scoop Jardine, Wingman Brandon Triche and Small Forward Kris Joseph. All 3 have Madness experience with Sophomore huge bigman, Fab Melo being a game changing defensive presence in the post. The ‘Cuse have the wingspan in the frontcourt to make Coach Boeheim’s 2-3 zone tough to score against.
#2 OHIO STATE BUCKEYES
This team can do damage with their starting lineup, but their main players in Soph. Center, Jared Sullinger, Soph. PG Aaron Craft and Sr. SG William Buford have under performed compared to last season. As talented and experienced as they are, they seem to be the most talented darkhorse team in recent memory.
#3 FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES
Let’s see….an FSU team that has beaten both UNC and Duke twice each this year. They have commanding size and guards that can shoot the lights outta the gym. And their defense? In my opinion, regardless of defensive stats, the Seminoles have the best defense in the nation. They had their coming out party with their ACC Tourney win today. Will they continue their winning ways in the Madness or wither away from the hype? They have the ingredients to go deeeeeeep into tourney. Watch out for the ‘Noles
#4 WISCONSIN BADGERS
Another team under performing compared to last years performance. They have a tall line-up of forwards that like to shoot the trey. But they don’t shoot as well from the three point line as good as last year. The Badgers are prone to long stretches of scoring droughts and offer little scoring threats in the paint. Sr. PG Jordan Taylor peaked last year, as this year he his is “good” at a lot of things but not “great” in certain aspects as was previewed in the pre-season.
MIDWEST REGION
#1 NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS
In my opinion, the Heels were the favorite to win the whole damn thing this year…….until Forward, John Henson’s wrist injury in the ACC Semi-Final. Henson is one of the three defensive game changers in blocks with Kentucky’s Anthony Davis and Syracuse’s Fab Melo. The front court of UNC can be unstoppable from both sides of the court led by Sr. Forward, Tyler Zeller who is so consistent on O & D. UNC’s weak defense continues to improve and their freshmen are showing quality minutes due to Henson’s injury and a drastic need for a three point shooter. Stay tuned for more smack on the Heels! Very compelling.
#2 KANSAS JAYHAWKS
A team led by on of the best forwards in the nation, Jr. Thomas Robinson. KU has many other good role players with Sr. Connor Teahan as a three point shooter and Jr. wingman, Elijah Johnson as a great spark. Look for high flyer transfer Kevin Young to have some highlight dunks followed by little to offer on defense. KU has to play a full 40 minutes with their drop in talent after Robinson. If any coach can develop such a game plan, it’s KU Head Coach, Bill Self.
#3 GEORGETOWN HOYAS
Officially the darkhorse of the tourney. They have 2 solid guards and Sr. Center, Henry Sims who leads the team in freaking assists! Sims will be either on the blocks, short corner or high post, and the ball will go though him on EVERY possession with either look to the hoop by him or a great pass to on of the two guards or solid 4 freshmen crop of players coming off the bench. Look for Fr. Forward Otto Porter to have a huge coming out tourney.
#4 MICHIGAN WOLVERINES
Early in the new year, Michigan was in G-Town territory as a huge darkhorse to go deep, but they have fizzled off a bit. Regardless, they have a great freshman PG in Trey Burke, and Soph. SG Tim Hardaway Jr. is a consistent scorer. They have two veteran guards with solid leadership in Seniors, Zach Novak and Stu Douglass. Michigan has solid defense which is a staple of a John Beilien coached team.
That’s it for now. Hopefully it’s not too long, but just enough to get a taste on the newly released brackets!!!!
Sign up for the March Madness Insanity Pool! This year is primed for some great upsets but some tough possible match-ups later in the Madness if the top seeds make it through.
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