NCAA Basketball Scores 2012: Early Winners in for Rude Awakening

The first step in making a run in the NCAA tournament is winning your opening game.

But while some teams are poised for a deep run in March Madness, others haven't shown enough to be seriously considered as contenders.

Here's a look at early winners in the NCAA tournament who I see flopping in the Round of 32.

Murray State (No. 6 Seed, West Region)

It's not that I didn't like the way Murray State played against Colorado State. I mean, the Racers beat the Rams by 17 points.

What I am concerned with, though, is their Round of 32 opponent, Louisville.

I had high-powered Davidson shocking Louisville in the Round of 64, but Louisville clearly came into the tournament ready to do some damage. The Cardinals locked down on defense and looked better on offense. All the concerns about Davidson's offense potentially stealing one from the Cardinals vanished when Rick Pitino's squad showed the defensive intensity needed in the NCAA tournament.

The Racers aren't going to know what hit them.

Vermont (No. 16 Seed, Midwest Region)

In all likelihood, Vermont should have lost to Lamar in the opening round.

But, to give the Catamounts credit, they took advantage of sloppy play and poor shooting by Lamar and came away with the victory.

Vermont does have the ability to shoot the long ball, but the Catamounts have had far too many instances during the season in which they've gone on severe offensive droughts. They face No. 1 North Carolina in the Round of 64 and it could get ugly.

Western Kentucky (No. 16 Seed, South Region)

Western Kentucky and Mississippi Valley State played a close, nail-biting game in the opening round, but that's not to say they played particularly well.

Western Kentucky came away with the victory, but that had more to do with Mississippi Valley State's putridity on the boards than anything. The Hilltoppers committed 27 turnovers in their win, and shot 30 percent from the floor.

That's not going to get it done against the likes of Kentucky in the Round of 64.

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