This article is part of our NCAA Tournament Preview series.
East Region
West Region
Midwest Region
South Region
The South region is all about defense. The top three seeds in this region boast some of the best defensive stats in the country. As a result, a cursory glance feels as though this region sets up nicely for the top overall seed, the Virginia Cavaliers. The region arguably boasts the worst No. 2 and No. 3 seeds in the bracket in the form of Cincinnati and Tennessee, respectively. The Bearcats are a poor man's version of the Hoos; a defensive-minded squad with average offensive performance. The Vols are also defensively-inclined. No. 5 seed Kentucky is surging and defends the three-point line extremely well, but has been inconsistent overall this season on offense, particularly in terms of shooting. And the No. 6 seed Miami Hurricanes have struggled to score the ball in the half court all season long. Even this region's Cinderella, No. 11 seed Loyola-Chicago, is fifth in the nation in points allowed per game, though the Ramblers also are near the top of the country in field goal percentage.
The wildcards in this region will be a few superb offensive units. Davidson is in the tourney for the first time since Stephen Curry took the nation by storm, and the Wildcats are not shy about launching from long distance. Meanwhile, No.7 seed Nevada can shoot the lights out; the Wolfpack average over 83 points per game. Then there is Arizona; the Wildcats have one of the top interior players in
East Region
West Region
Midwest Region
South Region
The South region is all about defense. The top three seeds in this region boast some of the best defensive stats in the country. As a result, a cursory glance feels as though this region sets up nicely for the top overall seed, the Virginia Cavaliers. The region arguably boasts the worst No. 2 and No. 3 seeds in the bracket in the form of Cincinnati and Tennessee, respectively. The Bearcats are a poor man's version of the Hoos; a defensive-minded squad with average offensive performance. The Vols are also defensively-inclined. No. 5 seed Kentucky is surging and defends the three-point line extremely well, but has been inconsistent overall this season on offense, particularly in terms of shooting. And the No. 6 seed Miami Hurricanes have struggled to score the ball in the half court all season long. Even this region's Cinderella, No. 11 seed Loyola-Chicago, is fifth in the nation in points allowed per game, though the Ramblers also are near the top of the country in field goal percentage.
The wildcards in this region will be a few superb offensive units. Davidson is in the tourney for the first time since Stephen Curry took the nation by storm, and the Wildcats are not shy about launching from long distance. Meanwhile, No.7 seed Nevada can shoot the lights out; the Wolfpack average over 83 points per game. Then there is Arizona; the Wildcats have one of the top interior players in the land in the form of freshman Deandre Ayton, as well as an exceptional scorer in Allonzo Trier. The Wildcats are suspect on defense, to say the least, but superior offensive performances could mask their deficiencies.
Let's take a more in-depth look at the players, coaches and matchups that could impact the outcome of the South region..
THE FAVORITES
No. 1 Virginia Cavaliers
Virginia has always been stellar on the defensive end under coach Tony Bennett, but this year's squad is on a different planet. The vaunted "Pack-Line" defense is boosted by athletic, long bodies the likes of Isaiah Wilkins, Ty Jerome and Devon Hall. The Virginia defense is performing at historic levels; they held 12 teams under 50 points this season. Sharpshooter Kyle Guy is the offensive leader for the Hoos, heaving more than six three-pointers per game. If Virginia cans a few threes and can maintain efficiency on the offensive end, it may be an easy road to the Final Four. The Hoos have lost just twice this season.
No. 2 Cincinnati Bearcats
The Bearcats are among the more underappreciated teams in this year's field. Built in the same mold as Virginia, Cincinnati is second in the country in points allowed per game, trailing only the aforementioned Cavaliers. The Bearcats boast a stellar 30-4 record, though did not have a standout non-conference win to hang their collective hats on. Four of the five leading scorers for Cincinnati are upperclassmen.
No. 3 Tennessee Volunteers
The Vols shared the SEC regular season crown with Auburn, but fell to Kentucky in a hard-fought battle in the SEC Championship contest. Admiral Schofield and Grant Williams are one of the more underrated tandems in the nation. The duo is 1-2 on the Vols in both scoring and rebounding. The Vols are also strong on the defensive end of the floor, though did allow UK to shoot 50 percent from the floor in the above-referenced loss. The SEC sent a record eight squads to the tourney this season, with the Vols securing the highest seed of the group.
No. 4 Arizona Wildcats
The Wildcats have had a tumultuous season, to put it mildly. An FBI investigation and drug suspension off the hardwood marred what was otherwise yet another successful season on the court, as the Wildcats won yet another Pac-12 Championship. Big man Deandre Ayton may be the No. 1 pick in this June's NBA draft, and he is paired with athletic swingman Allonzo Trier, who led the conference in scoring. The Wildcats are less than stellar on the defensive end, but they can score with anybody.
CINDERELLA WATCH
No. 11 Loyola-Chicago Ramblers
Conference affiliation aside, the Ramblers are in the top 30 in several offensive and defensive statistics in the entire country. Riding a 10-game winning streak heading into the tourney, the Ramblers are an exceptionally efficient, versatile offensive squad. They have five players averaging double figures in points, and are third in the entire country in team field goal percentage, hitting an impressive 50.7 percent as a unit
No. 12 Davidson Wildcats
Perhaps not unsurprisingly, Davidson, the dreaded No. 12 seed and alma mater of shooting sensation Stephen Curry, shoots the three-ball with reckless abandon. En route to stealing the A-10's automatic berth, the Wildcats hit a staggering 16 treys in their semifinal win over St. Bonaventure. Davidson may not have secured an at-large berth, though the Wildcats now enter the big dance among the hottest teams in the country.
BIGGEST BUST
No. 5 Kentucky
The Wildcats have caught fire in past years and made deep runs into the Big Dance, and this year's squad could be coming together at exactly the right time. Despite not winning the SEC regular season crown, Kentucky sliced its way through the conference tournament to earn the tourney title. Not surprisingly, the Wildcats are an uber-athletic bunch, but will need more consistency from their outside shooters. The bracket does not set up kindly for them, though; they'd have to get through Arizona and Virginia just to make it to the Elite 8. Add in a first-round matchup in the dreaded 12-5 trap game with equally hot Davidson, and things may set up better for an early exit for the Wildcats than anything else. As an amusing aside, the Wildcats (Kentucky) play the Wildcats (Davidson) in the first round, and then could square off with the Wildcats (Arizona) in the second round. Don't tell me the committee doesn't have a sense of humor.
FIRST-ROUND UPSET
No. 11 Loyola Chicago over No. 6 Miami – I'm usually all-in on the 12-5 trap game, and while this year's Davidson-Kentucky matchup is enticing, the cardiac 'Canes will have their hands full with Loyola-Chicago. Miami may get leader Bruce Brown back from a wrist injury, but it remains to be seen what kind of game shape he will be in, and Miami has been lackluster on the offensive end this year. The Canes have also been involved in a bevy of close games this season, playing with fire on a plethora of occasions. Lonnie Walker IV is a surefire lottery pick based on athleticism alone, but he does not take over as much as he should in crucial situations for Miami. The Ramblers are polished, experienced and efficient; Miami has more talent on paper, but as a unit, the Ramblers may just have the edge.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Deandre Ayton, F, Arizona – The most talented player in the region resides on the No. 4 Wildcats. Likely one of the top picks in this June's NBA Draft, Ayton is a beast on the interior, averaging a double-double and generally wreaking havoc on the offensive end. He managed 20.3 points and 11.5 rebounds per game. Ayton flexed his muscle in the Pac-12 tourney, posting back-to-back 32-point efforts to lead the Wildcats to the title. He shot an absurd 75 percent from the floor over that span. Only Duke's Marvin Bagley might be able to limit Ayton's effectiveness.
SWEET 16 PICKS
No. 1 Virginia Calvaliers
A No. 16 seed has never beaten a No. 1 seed, and that certainly is not expected to happen against a gritty top overall seed. A possible second-round matchup with either Creighton (lost four of last six games this season) or a banged-up Kansas State squad won't be a cakewalk, but the Hoos should handle their business and grind out the victory.
No. 4 Arizona Wildcats
The possible Wildcat-on-Wildcat matchup between Arizona and Kentucky in the second round is extremely appetizing. That would be the best game in this region in the first two rounds. Arizona was penalized for winning a poor Pac-12 Conference. However, DeAndre Ayton and Allonzo Trier are playing at extremely high levels. Coach John Calipari has Kentucky clicking at the right time, but the inside-outside combination of Ayton and Trier will be too much for UK to handle.
No. 11 Loyola-Chicago Ramblers
Despite residing in the Missouri Valley Conference, the Ramblers are a more complete squad than both Miami and Tennessee, their two likely opponents on their way to the Sweet 16. The Ramblers have not been in the NCAA Tournament in 33 years, but this squad is special. They are deep, well-rounded and versatile. The Ramblers have as good of a shot as any double-digit seed in the tourney to advance to the Sweet 16.
No. 2 Cincinnati
The second round clash with either Nevada or Texas will be highly interesting. If Nevada gets off to a hot start, Cincinnati could have a difficult time scoring enough points to come back. Meanwhile, if Texas advances, a healthy Mohamed Bamba could pose a matchup nightmare for the smallish Bearcats. Still, Cincy has gutted out a lot of tough wins this season; their journey likely continues into the Sweet 16 based on sheer will.
FINAL FOUR PICK
No. 1 Virginia Cavaliers
The Cavaliers have been the most consistent team all season, and the ACC Champs possess arguably the most ferocious defense in the history of college basketball. The Sweet 16 matchup with either Arizona or Kentucky may be Virginia's most difficult test in the region. If the Hoos can slip by either version of the Wildcats, they should cruise into the Final Four. Offense gets the fame, but defense wins the game. In this region, Virginia is clearly the cream of the crop.
