Transcription
S ALREADY IN FULL SWING. The top seed was upset in 14 of the 31 conference tournaments. We are halfway through the brackets. Many conference champions are still wondering where they will be slotted and who they will play.
Back to the brackets. We are now in the Midwest Region. The Houston Cougars, third overall, number one seed. A number one seed for the third straight season. They took care of all business. They answered every question this year. They are healthy going into the tournament. If they stay healthy, they can win it all.
Adam: Second in scoring defense nationally. Let's say welcome to the tournament, SIUE. The guys from Edwardsville, bypassing the First Four, making their first-ever appearance after winning the Ohio Valley Conference.
In four, the 26th straight year, Gonzaga. Clark: There was talk about Gonzaga probably falling to this line and how dangerous this team can be. They have had nine straight Sweet 16's. They have a championship culture. This is a dangerous, high-octane offense and one of the best point guards in the country with Ryan Nemhard.
Adam: They will face a Georgia team that goes for the first tournament victory since 2002. To Providence on Thursday. Clemson Tigers set a school record with 27 victories. They had a winning ACC rep record for the first time since 1997. They were the only ACC team to beat Duke this year. The 12 seed is McNeese. The four seed is last year's runner-up in the Dance. They will face High Point. They are having a new high point for their program.
Clark: Look at that reaction. Adam: Showing out. Their first tournament appearance. Overcoming a 50-point deficit in the second half of the Big South Championship game. Clark: The Panthers can put it in the basket. Adam: In every way.
We go to the bottom half of the Midwest. Illinois as the six seed, the highest-scoring team in the Big Ten despite injury and illness. They have used seven different starting lineups since January 8. They will be watching the matchup of Texas and Xavier. Xavier was 1-9 in Quad One. How about Texas? Seven Quad One victories, but they were underwater in Quad Two. A double-overtime victory over Texas A&M in the league tournament put them in. We have been saying SEC all year long. The committee agreed.
Adam: The number three seed is Kentucky. That is the knives team we have revealed from the SEC. Without a single player back. They will face Troy, featuring the Sun Belt Player of the Year. Look out. In Lexington, UCLA in their first season of the Big Ten led the conference in scoring defense. Three different coaches, three straight tournament appearances for Utah State. The two seed in Lexington will be Tennessee. The Vols held the number one ranking for five weeks. They will face Wofford. Shout out to the Terriers. They had a dramatic championship victory against Furman. They get back to the tournament for the first time in several years.
Adam: They had some dramatic free throws, shot underhand. Back to the top of the region. What draws your attention? Jay: Gonzaga as an eight seed is a really tough matchup. The second-round game, imagine Houston would get Gonzaga. Clark: Or Georgia. Georgia has been impressive as well. Seth: I have my slingshot out. I'm going to slay Goliath. McNeese moves on. High Point takes down Purdue. They go to the Sweet 16. When you move to the bottom of the bracket, a mild upset, I like Utah State to beat UCLA. I think you will see a lot of SEC with Kentucky and Tennessee. Is that enough for you? Clark: That is a ton. You went real, very much slingshot. Illinois has been a high-octane team. Extremely impressive. Some turbulence because of injuries. Can they get it right and regroup because they