Austin breakdown: Loaded with top teams, talent

Not much room between the top teams in this regional.

It won't be an easy road for Mike Krzyzewski and the Blue Devils in this region. (Getty Images)

Sure, Duke is a No. 1 seed for the ninth time but if Coach K has to get into his bench, it could be an early out. No. 2 Kentucky has no discernible stars but keeps on winning. Can anyone smell a rematch of 1992 in Philadelphia?

Oklahoma was the No. 1 seed in the Big 12 Tournament, but is a No. 3 seed here. No. 4 Syracuse is playing like it did two years ago, and Hakim Warrick is all grown up.

There will be a first-round upset in this region, however. The lower seeds are too good. UTEP, Niagara, Iowa, Vermont and Old Dominion all have a shot.

Three storylines

1. The battle for Kentucky: Those sly devils on the selection committee had to do this on purpose -- Eastern Kentucky vs. Kentucky in the first round. Former Wildcats guard Travis Ford coaching against his old school.

2. Duke-Carolina in the same building in Charlotte: I know they're only eight miles apart but this is ridiculous. Bomb-sniffing dogs might have to be brought in between sessions so these two don't sabotage each other.

3. Scoring power: This region features three of the top six, four of the top 13 and five of the top 15 scorers in the nation. Top three -- Vermont's Taylor Coppenrath, Niagara's Juan Mendez, Duke's J.J. Redick.

Austin picks

Who will win: Syracuse because any time I see veteran Syracuse players and the 2-3 zone, it's hard to pick against the Orange.

Darkhorse pick: Michigan State as a dark, dark horsie to win the region. Plenty of talent but the Spartans have had a hard time playing together. Point guard Chris Hill wasn't on the floor at the end against Iowa in the Big Ten Tournament. Dark pony for the Sweet 16: UTEP.

Most likely upset: Iowa over Cincinnati. The Bearcats barely have a pulse as a No. 7. Iowa isn't great but has the big bodies to push around the Barely Cats.

Best mascot: Stanford's Tree. Just hope Mississippi State's Bulldog doesn't feel nature's call during the teams' first-round game.

Best point guard: Chris Hernandez, Stanford. When leading scorer Dan Grunfeld was lost for the season, Hernandez had to take on an increased role. For the season he is averaging 15 points and four assists.

Best school colors: UTEP's blue and orange. I don't want to wear it, I want to order it with fish. A bold nose with just a hint of Gillispie.

Best coach: I'll take Michigan State's Tom Izzo because the Coach K stuff just becomes white noise after awhile.

Best reputation: It's hard to argue against Duke, Syracuse or Kentucky. They're the gold standard. But for nouveau riche, try Oklahoma. Coach Kelvin Sampson has the Sooners in the dance for the 10th time in 11 years. Three years ago they were in the Final Four.

Five stars

Andrew Bogut, Soph., C, Utah: Every once in a while, the NBA misses out on a 7-footer. This one is ripe for a jump to the NBA, but not before he helps the Utes make a run.

J.J. Redick, Jr., G, Duke: Passion, flair and 23 points per game. When he leaves for the NBA, Redick will automatically go into the pantheon of Duke greats.

Hakim Warrick, Sr., F, Syracuse: Two years ago he blocked Michael Lee's shot from the corner to help the 'Cuse beat Kansas for the national championship. Now he is a well-rounded player with the biggest wingspan in the game.

Juan Mendez, Sr., F, Niagara: The nation's No. 3 scorer averages 23.6 points. Oklahoma has plenty of players that size to throw at him in the first-round game. Doesn't matter, Niagara is still going crazy over the school's first berth in 35 years.

Taylor Coppenrath, Sr., F, Vermont: The country's No. 2 scorer averages 25.3. He and guard T.J. Sorrentine will have to light it up against Syracuse.

Notes

• Kentucky missed out on its 26th SEC Tournament title and sixth in Tubby Smith's eight seasons. This is the school's record 46th appearance in the NCAA Tournament. It is a team devoid of high-profile players. The praise is divided up between junior swingman Kelenna Azubuike, freshman Rajon Rondo and senior Chuck Hayes.

• The best thing about Kentucky descending upon Indianapolis for the first-round games is the presence of Ashley Judd.

• Michigan State lost to Duke and beat Stanford in this bracket.

• Vermont coach Tom Brennan is getting out at the right time. Brennan is retiring after 19 seasons. He is leaving behind a senior-laden team. Former Maryland assistant Mike Lonergan is taking over.

• Duke is going for its eighth consecutive Sweet 16. It should come relatively easily after a first-round bye, er, game against Delaware State. Then it will face either Stanford or Mississippi State.

• We didn't mention Duke's Shelden Williams among the five stars, but he is among the top six nationally in rebounds and blocked shots.

• Eastern Kentucky's Zach Ingles made the game-winning shot in the Ohio Valley Tournament to put his team in the NCAA Tournament. That fulfilled a promise he made to his mother who died in a car accident nine years ago when Ingles was 12.