MATCH-UPS
6 USC vs. 11 Kansas St. – March 20, 6:10pm tip-off
Just about everyone knows, by now, about the spectacular freshman match-up that is going to occur in this game between local product O.J. Mayo and the Big-12 Player of the Year Michael Beasley.  The two best freshman in the country get the chance to upstage each other in front of a national audience to try to improve their respective draft statuses for next year (cause let’s face it, these two are hitting the NBA next year).  My eyes will be glued to the TV for this one.

5 Michigan State vs. 12 Temple – March 20, 10:30am tip-off
Lost productivity in the workplace is guaranteed for this battle between the Big Ten’s Spartans and A-10 Champion Temple Owls.  This game should prove interesting as the last time the Owls made the tournament (2001), it was Michigan State who knocked them off in the Elite Eight.  Revenge factor, anyone?  Dionte Christmas (no relation to Lloyd) is one of the A-10’s most exciting players and his flexibility to score in the lane or from outside could give the Spartans fits.  On the other side of the ball, State guard Drew Neitzel is nationally respected for being one of the toughest players in the nation.

TEAMS TO WATCH
2 Texas – South Region
If you watched the Big-12 Tournament championship game, you know of what I speak.  This team is one of the most exciting teams to watch in college basketball.  Their guard play is fantastic with D.J. Augustine running the point, averaging almost 20.0 PPG and A.J. Abrams jacking up three’s like there’s no tomorrow.  Their front court is solid with forward Damion James averaging a double-double and shooting 44.7 percent from downtown.  Forward/center Connor Atchley is contributing over five rebounds per game and shooting 55.3 percent from the field, including 43.7 percent from three-point range.  The Longhorns also managed to snag virtual home games in the regionals (Houston) and if they make the Final Four (San Antonio). Unless a team can play patient, possession basketball against them and limit their scoring opportunities, they are a lock for the Elite Eight.

10 Davidson – Midwest Region
Davidson has a great chance to make a run in this year's tourney and they are the highest seed that could make a good run.  Gonzaga is over-rated and they proved that in their conference tourney.  Georgetown is solid, but they've shown vulnerability over the past couple weeks.  Not only that, but Davidson had UNC and Duke both against the ropes early in the season, losing by 4 and 6, respectively.  Davidson, who owns the nation's longest active winning streak, is a team to be reckoned in this tournament and could end up in the Sweet 16.

NOTES
There’s been a lot of talk the past couple days about the ability of Georgia to beat Xavier in the first round.  That’s just not going to happen.  Yes, the Bulldogs won the SEC tourney, but their road there was a perfect storm (pun intended).  They got a no call against Kentucky, Tennessee and Vandy both got beat before they had to play them, and their entire tournament was practically a home game considering the fans of other teams had trouble getting into the venue.  Xavier is easily one of the best teams in the nation and could be the most balanced.  Xavier will win that game by double-digits.

Also, a lot of people are still trying to ride the Winthrop wave from last year's tournament.  Against teams in the tournament this year, Winthrop went 1-3, beating only Miami, and also losing to Ole Miss, who had its bubble popped yesterday.  They are not as good a team as they were last year.  The same can be said for George Mason.  You should not believe that either of these teams is the second-coming of Gonzaga until they can prove that they can hang with the big boys year after year.  Don’t make the mistake of moving either of these teams past the first round in your brackets.