Bracket Help: East Region; Part I

Bo Ryan and Wisconsin just want to take it nice and slow....

We're going to break the NCAA Tournament Region by Region.  We're going to break it into small, digestible pieces for y'all too.  Ain't I nice????  We're going to go to the East side and help YOU pick by providing you with insight reminding you that you will lose to some girl who picked by color and mascot!!!!

(1) Syracuse Orange (31-2, 17-1 Big East)

vs. (16) UNC-Asheville Bulldogs (24-9, 16-2 Big South)

Robby:  Syracuse runs a 2-3 zone exclusively.  The best way to defeat that is by hitting your perimeter shots.  You must live and die by the three.  Ironically for the Orange, that's how you can stop them.  They don't shoot very well, and Cincinnati showed the flaws in the armor for 'Cuse.  UNC-Asheville is a high scoring team that shoots at a very high percentage.  This will be an interesting match up to watch, mostly to see if Syracuse will be susceptible to this attack all tournament.

PICK:  (1) Syracuse

(8) Kansas State Wildcats (21-10, 10-8 Big XII)

vs. (9) Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles (25-8, 11-5 Conference USA)

Robby:  Southern Miss and K-State are both bipolar.  You never know what team you're going to get.  They've both overachieved at times, such as KSU sweeping Missouri and Southern Miss defeating five tournament teams; and also underachieved at times, such as KSU being swept by Oklahoma or Southern Miss losing to UAB, Houston, and UTEP.  Kansas State likes to get physical and disrupt opponents' offense, and this can back fire.  I like Southern Miss, just because I have no idea which Kansas State team will show up.

PICK:  (9) Southern Misssissippi

(5) Vanderbilt Commodores (24-10, 10-6 SEC)

vs. (12) Harvard Crimson (26-4, 12-2 Ivy)

Robby:  Here's another game that could easily be an upset special.  Harvard has had plenty of time off to rest up.  Vanderbilt is on an emotional high after taking out #1 Kentucky in the SEC Final.  That game was Sunday.  They are much less rested and are primed for an emotional let down after such a big win.  Harvard may almost be the favorite to win by some of the expert's opinions.

PICK:  (12) Harvard

(4) Wisconsin Badgers (24-9, 12-6 Big Ten)

vs. (13) Montana Grizzlies (25-6, 15-1 Big Sky)

Robby:  This game is probably going to be the most boring game of the ENTIRE tournament.  Wisconsin slows the game to a grinding halt and beats you that way.  It's annoying to watch.  Montana is a second half team, and could just get too far down early to come back.  That might not be by a lot of points either.  This game will be lucky to break 90 points combined.

PICK:  (4) Wisconsin

WHAT!?  Bo just wants to take it slow, until you submit to his wishes, baby.