NCAA Tournament East Region Breakdown And Preview

The NCAA Tournament’s East Region is flush with blue bloods like North Carolina, Kentucky and Indiana. Here’s a breakdown and preview of their path to Houston.

North Carolina earned the top seed in the NCAA Tournament’s East Region, and it will get to stay close to home during the first weekend. The Tar Heels have built momentum and are looking like a championship contender, boasting a record of 10-5 against teams that made the Big Dance.

Roy Williams does a great job of pacing his team to have it playing its best basketball of the season in mid-March, and he has done that masterfully with this year’s team. They don’t have an easy path to get to Houston—they could play the likes of Providence, Indiana, Kentucky, Notre Dame, West Virginia or Xavier to get to the Final Four—but they have been playing top teams all year and have rarely suffered a hiccup.

Toughest first-round call

The matchup between No. 7 Wisconsin and No. 10 Pittsburgh in St. Louis is going to make for must-see TV. Pitt has been up and down all season, and the Panthers don’t really hang their hat on anything. They’re average on both ends of the court, and Wisconsin could use their discipline to force Pitt into mistakes. The Badgers feature experienced players in Nigel Hayes and Bronson Koenig, and Ethan Happ is a load inside. But with Greg Gard instead of Bo Ryan on the sideline, will Wisconsin be the same?

Best possible second-round matchup

Where do we start? North Carolina-Providence would be interesting as can be, and the same goes for a possible Notre Dame-West Virginia matchup. But Indiana taking on Kentucky would be the kind of game that would shut down two states. There is no love lost in this rivalry, and these two teams haven’t figured out a way to play one another for the past couple of years. It’s a matchup everyone wants to see, and it will showcase Indiana’s efficient offense and perimeter shooting with Kentucky’s athleticism and ability to kill teams with quickness.

Favorite

It’s easy to pick the No. 1 seed, but it’s also appropriate here. North Carolina is playing as well as it has all season, and the Tar Heels have the kind of inside-outside game that allows it to adjust to different styles. Brice Johnson is a man inside, and UNC’s depth will wear opponents down.

Sleeper

When Indiana gets hot from the perimeter, they can beat any team in the country. The Hoosiers move the ball well, they rebound with toughness, and they have a senior leader in guard Yogi Ferrell who can take over games on both ends of the court. Indiana’s balance on offense allows them to play any style, and if forward Troy Williams plays under control, the Hoosiers can make a run.

Dark horse

Notre Dame can put points on the board in a hurry, and it has a guard in Demetrius Jackson who is a game changer. Zach Auguste is experienced and plays with a chip on his shoulder, and as the Fighting Irish proved s vs. Duke, North Carolina and Louisville this season, Mike Brey’s team isn’t one to be overlooked.

Disappointment

Xavier has been fighting for respect all season, but it won’t find it at the NCAA Tournament. Both Wisconsin and Pitt have the talent to knock the Musketeers out in the second round, and even if Xavier reaches the Sweet 16, they likely will have a tough time getting past either Notre Dame or West Virginia.

Our pick

West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana and Notre Dame all have a chance to come out of this bracket depending on how the games play out, but North Carolina is the favorite because they are playing with so much confidence and can come at teams from so many different angles.

MORE: Campus Insiders’ 2016 Interactive NCAA Tourmanent Bracket