Those who believe college basketball caters to North Carolina ... have a blast. It would be hard to argue, based on the Syracuse Region.
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| Coach Roy Williams' Heels could waltz through the early stages of the Big Dance. (AP) |
The Tar Heels also drew the most suspect No. 2 seed, Connecticut, which leapfrogged No. 3s Kansas and Arizona, and the shakiest No. 4 seed: Florida. The Gators are hot, having won the SEC Tournament, but they're still the most beatable No. 4 seed.
Plus, North Carolina drew the easiest second-round matchup of any No. 1 seed, with a blowout of Iowa State or Minnesota -- no offense, guys -- waiting in Round 2.
Three storylines
1. Wolfpack's fascinating draw: North Carolina State has a fabulous row to hoe, with a first-round game against state colleague Charlotte and a probable second-round date with UConn -- a rematch of a second-rounder in 2002 won by the Huskies. And imagine a region final of N.C. State vs. UNC.
2. Danny Granger: The 6-foot-8 New Mexico forward is an awesome talent, a sure-thing first-round pick in the 2005 NBA Draft. Villanova doesn't have anyone who can stop him. Then again, can New Mexico stop Villanova's guards?
3. Keith Langford's ankle: Kansas played the Big 12 Tournament without Langford, and not all that successfully, losing in the semifinals to Oklahoma State. Langford's ankle is said to be OK, but his health, and his assimilation, are critical to Kansas' Final Four hopes.
Who will win: Pick against North Carolina if you insist, but don't say you got the idea from here. If the Tar Heels can avoid a repeat of their ACC Tournament malaise, they've got the talent and depth to run roughshod over everyone but Kansas -- and enough talent and depth to merely beat Kansas in the region final.
Syracuse picks
Darkhorse pick: No. 5 Villanova plays with fire with all those 3-pointers, but if the Wildcats are hot, it's the other team that's going to get burned. Ask Kansas, which was 15-0 before getting torched 83-62 at Villanova on Jan. 22.
Most likely upset: The seeds say otherwise, but trust us: When No. 10 North Carolina State beats No. 7 Charlotte, that will be no upset.
Best mascot: New Mexico's, the Lobo, apparently is one of those guys who remade La Bamba.
Best point guard: Thanks. Nice question. Is it Raymond Felton? Marcus Williams? Aaron Miles? The bold print doesn't lie.
Best school colors: Northern Iowa's colors are black-and-white stripes in honor of its athletics director, Rick Hartzell, who doubles as a big-time game official. Right?
Best coach: College basketball has never seen a rags-to-riches building job comparable to what Jim Calhoun did for UConn.
Best reputation: North Carolina or Kansas? You're kidding, right? Either answer will trigger tons of angry e-mails. We're picking Kansas. Wilt Chamberlain played there. So did Dean Smith.
Five stars
Sean May, Jr., C, North Carolina: We could list three other UNC starters plus Marvin Williams as the rest of the region's "five stars."
Danny Granger, Sr., F, New Mexico: Inside-outside scorer could be the country's most underrated player.
Marcus Williams, So., G, UConn: Emerging star is the country's most underrated point guard.
Vincent Grier, Jr., G, Minnesota: The juco transfer is an infinitely more likeable star than the Gophers' last one.
Wayne Simien, Sr., F, Kansas: Eats double-doubles for dinner.
Notes
- This region features four of the most significant health issues of the tournament. There's the intestinal problem of North Carolina's Rashad McCants, the sprained ankle of Kansas' Keith Langford, the thigh infection of UConn's Rashad Anderson and the pulled groin of N.C. State's Tony Bethel. Only McCants and Anderson played in their conference tournaments -- McCants better than Anderson -- but Langford might have played had Kansas reached the Big 12 title game. Bethel? His situation is the iffiest.
- The selection committee came close to another of those infamous "transfer" matchups. North Carolina and Minnesota could meet in the Sweet 16, with the Gophers featuring UNC transfer Adam Boone. Alas, Boone is redshirting this season with an arm injury.
- One of the cooler subplots of the past few weeks has been Northern Iowa athletics director Rick Hartzell's dual role as an official. He refereed several games involving other NCAA bubble teams, including the Conference USA final between Memphis and Louisville. Memphis lost, clearing space for a bubble team, and Northern Iowa appears to be one of the last two teams in the field. But don't blame Hartzell. He's the referee who whistled the foul on Francisco Garcia that sent Darius Washington to the foul line in the final second.
- Sorry, one more juicy Hartzell tidbit. No. 11 Northern Iowa plays No. 6 Wisconsin in the first round, and it was Hartzell's assignment for Wisconsin's last-second win against Indiana on March 1 that drew national interest.
- Last season, Florida drew national derision for folding in the first round against 12th-seeded Manhattan. A loss this time would be an even bigger upset, considering the Gators are a No. 4 and are taking on 13th-seeded Ohio. But a loss is possible. MAC champion Ohio is every bit as hot as the Gators, and while the Bobcats aren't as talented as Florida, neither was Manhattan.
- Wisconsin caught a break in the 2004 NCAA Tournament when it was the No. 6 seed in Milwaukee, much to the chagrin of No. 3 Pittsburgh. The Panthers won anyway, and Wisconsin didn't get a repeat of that break this time. The Badgers again are a No. 6 seed, but if they reach the second round they're likely to face Kansas -- in Oklahoma City. That's a road game.
