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Home » Who will be the NCAA tournament bracket busters this year? After
examining the 2006 NCAA Tournament field, I have found my most likely
candidates. Usually, it is a safe bet that a 12 seed will upset a 5, but in this
year’s tournament field the more likely upset pick seems to be a 13 over a 4.
The only 12 that has a chance to knock off a 5 is Texas A&M because of
Syracuse’s lack of depth and reliance on Gerry McNamara to do everything. If he
has an off game the Orange could go down, but I think they’ll ride their Big
East Conference Tournament high out of the first round. Staying in the Atlantic,
13 seed Iona is a likely candidate to knock LSU out of the tournament. Iona is
comfortable on the road, largely because they are an experienced team returning
4 starters, and their 15-3 road mark this season proves it. A win for Iona would
prove on the grand stage that smaller conference schools are catching up to the
Majors, which seems to be more and more apparent each season. It would also
prove that the SEC was the weakest Major conference in the country this season.
If Iona gets past LSU, they’ll have a great chance to make the Sweet 16 with a
win over Syracuse.
Another 13 seed that has enjoyed some tournament success the last couple
years is the University of the Pacific. Coach Bob Thomason’s squad will be up
against one of the hottest teams in the country in Boston College, but I don’t
expect them to go away easy. This could be the biggest first round shocker as
Pacific has been great away from Stockton, posting a 12-4 record, and they are
coming in to their first round matchup winners of 12 of their last 13. This may
not be the highest percentage play as Boston College is a Final Four-caliber
team. But Pacific’s bigs have the ability to step away from the basket and will
pose matchup problems for the Eagles. The Tigers could be a huge bracket buster
in 2006 as some have the Eagles coming out of the Minneapolis region.
Last year’s story was the 7 seed West Virginia Mountaineers making it to the
Elite 8 before falling to Louisville, and it may very well be again this season.
Although they aren’t the Cinderella team they were last year, they did slide to
a 6 seed due to some late conference losses after starting Big East play red
hot. Pittsnoggle’s ability to play both outside and inside with his 6’11’’ frame
is one of the toughest matchups for any team in the tournament. Gansey can do it
all and proved that he rises to the occasion in big games in last year’s
tournament run. Iowa is a solid team that West Virginia will have to deal with
in the second round, but Iowa’s 7-foot Big 10 Defensive player of the year, Erik
Hansen, won’t be able to defend Pittsnoggle 20 feet from the basket. The
Hawkeyes may have to guard him with Greg Brunner who will be giving up 4 inches.
Because of matchup problems, the Hawkeyes may be forced to play zone, which
could welcome an onslaught of 3 pointers from the Mountaineers, which is what
they do best. Texas will be West Virginia’s likely third round opponent if they
make it past Iowa. They are big, talented, and athletic, but susceptible. They
were blown out by Oklahoma State, lost to 12 seed Texas A&M, and Kansas beat
them by double figures in the Big 12 Conference Tournament Championship game.
Duke will likely be West Virginia’s Elite 8 matchup if the Mountaineers can make
it back there again this season. As the season has unfolded both of these teams
have looked more and more human. It could be costly for the Blue Devils to have
to play 2 freshman a lot of minutes. Point guard Greg Paulus will have the wait
of the world on his shoulders trying to manage the top seed Blue Devils as just
a freshman. I like West Virginia’s chances against both of these teams because
of their experience in the NCAA tournament last season and their preparation
from playing in the nation’s Elite basketball conference this year.
Be sure to take possible NCAA
tournament bracket busters into consideration when filling out your 2006
Tournament bracket.
Other articles about the NCAA Tournament:
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