2014 NCAA Tournament – Play In Game Pick
The Hawkeyes got off to such a strong start they have to be surprised they are even in this position.
The Hawkeyes got off to such a strong start they have to be surprised they are even in this position.
Yesterday I wrote that Mount St. Mary’s was the least deserving team in the tournament but I was probably wrong because that title belongs to Cal Poly. Even in winning the Big West they finished with only a 13-19 record and they were well under .500 in their league.
The Wolfpack got here because they have demonstrated not just an ability to beat good teams, but to do so outside their home arena.
I want to go on record again and say that I think it is shabby that automatic qualifiers have to play in these play in games…its just not fair. That aside the Great Danes are probably happy with their draw of MSMU, a team they beat in 2010 and 2011.
While the Madness technically gets started Tuesday night now with the Opening Round (Play-In) games, the true start of the tournament is Thursday afternoon. The first game everyone will tune in to is Valparaiso and Michigan State in the Midwest Region.
They are not as good as the football team but the basketball Broncos are better than you think. They were a very good 12-2 in the nonconference part of their schedule including an impressive win at Creighton that wasn’t even close.
In the play-in game for the Midwest Region Vermont faces Lamar and the winner will get to play top seed North Carolina in the next Big Dance game.
In a Midwest Region play in game between a couple of teams that were sitting on pins and needles on selection Sunday South Florida faces California.
This year’s NCAA Tournament gets underway on Tuesday night in the West bracket with a interesting matchup between the Iona Gaels, who will be drawing upon what Virginia Commonwealth did last year in the NCAA Tournament after appearing in a First Four game, and the Cougars of BYU who are one of this year’s favorites to reappear in the Sweet 16.