Bracket busters and Buzzer Beaters: March Madness preview

Russ Smith of Louisville

North Region

Final 4 Pick: LouisvilleThis was the toughest region for me to make a final four pick. In a season, where there are no dominant teams, #1 seed Wichita State and #4 seed Louisville were equally appealing to me. Louisville is peaking at the right time, but how much of it is due to a lack of competition in the American Athletic Conference? Yet you can’t go wrong picking the defending champs and a Rick Pitino team as he always gets his teams playing their best come tournament time with their up-tempo, pressing style. In an era defined by parody and the “one-and-done”, do we dare throw out the possibility of back-to-back national champions?

Speaking of back-to-back, #1 Wichita State will have something to say about that as they look to return to their second consecutive final four and be the first team in over 30 years to have a perfect season. If there was a season to pull it off, this would be it. With no consensus favorite, Wichita’s blend of experience and talent can put a storybook ending on this Cinderella story two years in the making. They’re a #1 seed and undefeated for a reason. They feature two pros in Ron “Gordon Hayward” Baker and Cleanthony Early, along with arguably the most efficient point guard the nation in Fred Van Vleet and an elite defender and athlete in Tekele Cotton, who is smooth as silk. Just sit back and enjoy this dunk.

Upset Watch: 11 Tennessee over 6 UMassThe Vols were on the bubble heading into Selection Sunday, but they are playing their best basketball at the right time. First they have to get by Iowa in the play-in game in Dayton on Wednesday. I think they will and they’ll carry the momentum over to their game against UMass later in the week. Any fatigue they might have from the play-in game will be overcome by adrenaline. UMass is a fun team to watch (especially senior point guard Chaz Williams), but a frustrating team to root for. They have both talent and experience, but after a strong start to the season and quick cameo in the Top 25, they’ve struggled somewhat as of late. This #6 seed finished 6th in their conference. They play hard and get after it on defense, but at times look like an AAU team on offense. UMass needs to be ready for a street brawl against a physical Tennessee team and if the Minutemen don’t bring their “A game” for 40 minutes, their one shining moment will be over in seconds.

Player to Watch: Russ Smith, LouisvilleThe new and improved version of “Russdiculous” returned for his senior season and thank goodness for Louisville fans and basketball fans everywhere that he did. There’s never a dull moment with dynamic guard Russ Smith. You can turn on a game halfway through and you’ll have no idea if he’s 0-11 or 8-11 with his erratic, although much improved shot selection. But, the kid plays hard, and clearly he’s a winner. As he goes Louisville goes. However, that’s not to say that he has to put up big numbers every game like McDermott has to do for Creighton. There’s talent all over the court surrounding Russ. Athletic big man Montrezl Harrell has developed into an absolute beast down low, and Louisville also returns the Most Outstanding Player from the last year’s Final Four in sharp-shooter Luke “They’re Saying Luuuuuuke Not Booooo” Hancock. If Smith can put these players along with the rest of the Louisville team in positions to succeed, then Russdiculous and Louisville are looking at another title run.