March Madness is finally upon us, and we here at RTC are here to make everything a little bit easier for you. From the First Four until One Shining Moment, we’ll be dropping daily tidbits of knowledge regarding the teams in each region.
South Region
- Florida has made three straight Elite Eights, but that’s not going to cut it this year. The Gators are taking an “all or nothing” approach to the NCAA Tournament.
- Coming into its first round game, Colorado is focused on breaking down Pittsburgh’s post defense and double-teams.
- Talib Zanna, Pittsburgh’s much improved senior big man, and his leadership will be “vital” to his team’s postseason success.
- On Selection Sunday, the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks gathered at Fuzzy’s Taco Shop. On Friday, they will begin their quest to go from Fuzzy’s to Cinderella against a similar VCU team.
- VCU’s Melvin Johnson is looking doubtful for Friday’s first round match-up against Stephen F. Austin. Johnson is averaging 10.6 points per game and shoots 39 percent from three-point range.
- Nicknamed “Slo-Mo,” 6’9” UCLA point guard Kyle Anderson is a “nightmare” match-up for opposing guards.
- Dayton head coach Archie Miller and Ohio State coach Thad Matta go way back, and even after asking Matta for desperate advice earlier this season, Miller finds his team going up against his “mentor’s” on Thursday.
- Syracuse fans may be tempted to predict a deep NCAA Tournament run, but advanced metrics only give the Orange “between a 1 and 2 percent chance” of going the distance.
- Stanford must stop New Mexico’s offensive firepower if it is going to have a chance on Friday.
- Joel Embiid won’t be suiting up for at least the first weekend, but Kansas’ small lineup could present other problems for opponents.
West Region
- Losing Brandon Ashley was tough, but Arizona has moved past his injury and looks poised to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.
- Gonzaga may be the #8 seed, but seemingly no one is giving the Bulldogs a chance against Oklahoma State. Star Canadian guard Kevin Pangos is embracing the Zags’ “underdog status.”
- The Sooners began the season somewhat up and down, but it was a come-from-behind victory against rival Oklahoma State that sparked Oklahoma’s run to a #5 seed.
- North Dakota State’s senior leader Taylor Braun was rejected by Pac-12 schools, but he has since used it motivation to lead the Bison into the NCAA Tournament. Braun has the last laugh, as he will fulfill his dream of competing in the NCAAs while “Oregon State is sitting home.”
- Nebraska is returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1998, but the Cornhuskers hope to remove their label as one of the two Power Six Conference schools without an NCAA Tournament victory.
- Creighton’s Canadian guard Jaheens Manigat is living his dream of playing for the Bluejays with a potential NBA star.
- The BYU Cougars look to “reinvent themselves” as second-leading scorer Kyle Collinsworth is injured. However, behind their leader Tyler Haws, it may not be as difficult as some think.
- Oregon is certainly looking forward to the NCAA Tournament, but its players have just as tough of a task looming ahead of them. Time to hit the books, it’s finals week in Eugene!
- Wisconsin has a lot of productive guys, but freshman Nigel Hayes is looking to give the Badgers a spark off the bench.
East Region
- Cavaliers’ great Wally Walker endorsed Tony Bennett before he was hired at Virginia, and Walker is happy to see that Bennett has proved him right.
- Memphis made yet another NCAA Tournament, but the Tigers are also getting it done off the court, checking in second among Tournament teams in Academic Performance Rating.
- George Washington isn’t the premier program in its city or conference, but the Colonials are using the Big Dance as a quest for respect.
- On a campus where academia reigns supreme, Harvard’s recent success on the hardwood is starting to make an impact among the student body.
- Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, known for his postseason prowess and fiery passion on the sidelines, let ESPN’s Sports Science take a look at his heart rate during a game this season.
- After getting beat up inside by Pittsburgh in the ACC Tournament, North Carolina is looking to clean up the boards heading into the Big Dance.
- Providence is making its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 10 years, but could the Friars make a sustained run?
- A trendy pick to make the Elite Eight or the Final Four, Iowa State is looking to do some serious damage.
- After academic sanctions kept the Huskies home during the past two Marches, UConn is thrilled to be back where it belongs.
Midwest Region
- Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall has won at each of his stops, but he finds his current team to be “just his type.”
- Kentucky is a popular upset candidate, but the Wildcats must first weather “The Region of Doom.”
- Though the Cardinals are usually the talk of St. Louis, college basketball will “rule” the city for the coming weeks.
- North Carolina State, behind TJ Warren’s 25 points, blasted Xavier in the First Four last night and comes into its second round game against Saint Louis looking dangerous.
- To AAC champ Louisville, the bizarre #4 seed is disrespect.
- UMass tailed off a bit as the season wore on, but could its secret to success lie in November’s Charleston Classic?
- Even with the First Four on deck tonight, Iowa coach Fran McCaffery has something more important on his mind: his son’s health. McCaffery will be in attendance for son Patrick’s surgery.
- As Duke learned in 2010, sometimes an easy path can help you out.
- Texas has been known to disappoint in the NCAA Tournament, but this year the Longhorns look to come in with a “blank slate.”
- Though they’re overwhelming favorites, Michigan coach John Beilein isn’t going to let his team overlook Wofford. Beilein had especially high praise for the Terriers’ offense. “Watching their offense is a thing of beauty,” Beilein said. “I’m telling you, they cut with such precision.”