The NCAA Tournament bracket usually features surprises and snubs that keep stakeholders talking and debating. But this year, the possibility of upsets on the road to the Final Four in Dallas may be the biggest story for the field of 68.
The greatest potential for a takedown is on the Greenville 2 side of the bracket, in No. 6 Michigan vs. No. 11 UNLV. Despite a strong start on the year, the Wolverines have been somewhat streaky, and lost to every ranked conference opponent, as well as Wisconsin. They bowed out in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament.
The Mountain West Conference champion Rebels, on the other hand, are 31-2 and haven’t lost a game since Dec. 18. The Selection Committee might have mixed up the seedings, because UNLV should win this one.
Also in this region, No. 10 Princeton could take care of struggling 7-seed NC State. No. 8 Oklahoma State vs. No. 9 Miami could go either way, and should be a hard-fought game, with the edge going to the Cowgirls, who are riding high on the momentum of the weekend’s Big 12 Tournament. No. 5 Washington State vs. No. 12 FGCU is intriguing, as both teams play physical, fast-paced basketball, and can shoot the three. Whomever wins will have earned every bit of the ice bath they will need afterward.
In the Greenville 1 region,…
