EAST REGIONAL
THURSDAY: (at Pittsburgh) No. 1 Syracuse over No. 16 UNC-Asheville; No. 8 Kansas State over No. 9 Southern Mississippi; No. 7 Gonzaga over No. 10 West Virginia; No. 2 Ohio State over No. 10 Loyola-Maryland; (at Albuquerque) No. 5 Vanderbilt over No. 12 Harvard; No. 4 Wisconsin over No. 13 Montana.
FRIDAY: (at Nashville) No. 6 Cincinnati over No. 11 Texas; No. 3 Florida State over No. 14 St. Bonaventure.
ROUND OF 32: Syracuse over Kansas State; Ohio State over Gonzaga; Vanderbilt over Wisconsin; Florida State over Cincinnati.
SEMIFINALS (at Boston March 22&24): Vanderbilt over Syracuse; Ohio State over Florida State.
NEW ORLEANS-BOUND: Ohio State
WHY? The Buckeyes were my choice to win the national title from mid-summer until a few months ago (uh, guess who my choice is now). After a few wobbly weeks, the Buckeyes are playing very well at both ends of the floor and they are my choice to survive this field. And, yes, I made that prediction before it was announced Tuesday that Syracuse will be without now-ineligible center Fab Mello.
UPSET SPECIAL (by seed): Vanderbilt over Syracuse
DON’T MISS THIS ONE: Ohio State vs. Florida State. The inside strength of Sullinger vs. the length and depth of the Seminoles’ frontcourt should help decide this one.
THE FIVE-BEST PLAYERS: (not necessarily best NBA prospects) Kris Joseph (Syracuse); Sullinger (Ohio State); John Jenkins (Vanderbilt); Andrew Nicholson (St. Bonaventure); Jordan Taylor (Wisconsin).
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