Your NCAA South Regional Menu

Welcome to the South Regional Cafe. The South loves its food, so browse the menu and see what your tastes may get you in the 2009 NCAA Men's Basketball South Regional bracket.

Grits—If you've ever seen My Cousin Vinny and have never been south of the Mason-Dixon line, I'm sure you, too, have pondered what exactly a grit is. It looks like baby cereal with no taste, which is why true home-grown southerners will cover their grits with butter, cheese, or some other condiment.

But make no mistake—just like defense in basketball—though bland at times, they're essential to any southern meal.

This region has two of the top three defenses in the nation in No. 5 Illinois and No. 14 Stephen F. Austin. Each school is holding opponents under 57 points per game.

The Lumberjacks, champions of the Southland Conference, may need to get down to the nitty-gritty of defensive principles in the first round; they play an explosive No. 3 Syracuse team.

Illinois will be lacking on both ends of the floor as their leader, senior point guard Chester Frazier, will be sidelined with an injury.

Neither grits nor a defensive battle may provide tasty results, but you can't have the whole meal without them.

Hush Puppies—These are a staple to all lunches and dinners across the south. A simple recipe: tiny rolls of fried cornmeal bread. These are enticing and addicting.

Nothing may be as enticing as a mid-major ready to take on the major players. It seems as though Butler is still a gleam in everyone's eye. The No. 9 Bulldogs will face No. 8 LSU first and if they advance, will likely face No. 1 North Carolina.

Butler's best days may be ahead of them, as a majority of the players are freshman and sophomores.

Forward Matt Howard has had a stellar sophomore year, leading the team in scoring and rebounding. Freshman Gordon Hayward and Shelvin Mack will need to grow up fast to get their No. 9 Bulldogs to the Sweet Sixteen.

Western Kentucky may seem enticing. Unfortunately, most of that magic might have left with last year's hero, Courtney Lee.

Spicy Potatoes—The underrated, underappreciated side dish of the South. The potato is cut into quarters swimming in an orange, spicy sauce. It's often passed up by newcomers but appreciated by those who truly know their Southern food. There are some spicy players in this bracket who have been underappreciated this season.

Watch 6'4" senior guard Marcus Thornton of No. 8 LSU. He's quietly averaged 21 points per game this year, eclipsing the 30 point mark on six occasions. He can be an explosive player and may cause havoc for the Ginyard-less No. 1 Tar Heels should his Tigers make it to the second round.

Kevin Thompson of Morgan State is no slouch. This 6'8" 240-pound freshman will have his hands full in the first round as his No. 15 Bears, champions of the MEAC, take on the Griffin brothers of Oklahoma.

Thompson should be up for the challenge, as he went well above his average in the MEAC championship game, scoring 15 points and pulling down 11 boards. If he can get some help from his fellow frontcourt members, the Sooners could have a dog fight on their hands.

Austin Daye of No. 4 Gonzaga is a rising star on NBA prospect lists. This lanky 6'11" forward continues to cause match-up problems and may give other schools fits defensively. He's third on his team in scoring at 13 a game, leads rebounding with nearly seven a game, and just for good measure will throw in two blocks a game.

Daye's Bulldogs will face MAAC champion Akron first. Looking ahead, the Zags may have a potential Sweet 16 match-up with the No. 1 Tar Heels.

Barbeque—Not the sauce. This barbecue is a vinegar mixture with shredded pork. It's an acquired taste; regardless, it's a staple on the Southerner's menu.

Certain players will determine the success of their team. Not always the best player, but rather the glue that holds things together. These players will have to show up big on the menu or no true southerner will consider it a meal...just like their beloved barbeque recipe.

James Harden, 6'5" sophomore guard from Arizona State, opted out of last year's NBA draft and made many college basketball fans happy.

Averaging 21 points per game to go along with nearly six rebounds, four assists, and close to two steals, he is the No. 6 Sun Devils' main course. However, if he doesn't come ready to perform in round one, Arizona State can expect an early exit.

The road to the Regional will be tough, even in the first round game with the Atlantic 10 champion Temple Owls. Syracuse and Oklahoma will probably be waiting in the wings should Harden strap the Sun Devils to his back.

Tyler Hansbrough has become Carolina basketball, but no true UNC fan will tell you that Ty Lawson isn't the most important player on this Tar Heel squad. The big questions seems to be when he will play

Roy Williams says it is possible he sits out the first round game against No. 16 Radford. He makes the Carolina engine run, but if his injury slows him down, this bracket is loaded with guards ready to challenge.

Jonny Flynn continues to put his name out there with the best point guards in the country. What better stage to improve one's NBA stock? He may have a lot to prove, as does his school.

Syracuse has been disappointing in the Tournament since their championship in 2003, even having to settle for the NIT two years in a row. Orange fans are ready for a return to greatness, and Flynn has the ticket.

The No. 11 Temple Owls will bring their own NBA-esque guard with them. Sharpshooting 6'6" guard Dionte Christmas has to be salivating. A first round game against Herb Sendek's match-up 3-2 zone and a potential second round game against Jim Boeheim's 2-3 zone may have the Owls thinking Sweet 16.

If Christmas gets a hot hand, it could spell trouble for these zone defenses.

No doubt Blake Griffin is it when it comes to the No. 2 Sooners. Although, we were able to see what his teammates could do when he suffered a concussion and sat out a few games. Those games revealed the athleticism and gutsy play of freshman Willie Warren.

The freshman guard scored 27 and 23 in Griffin's absence, well above his 14 PPG average.

Not to be forgotten is Blake's older brother, Taylor Griffin. He averages close to 10 points and six rebounds. Most importantly, however, is his interior passing ability. Both Griffins are not afraid to move the ball to an open perimeter player or each other to get a better look.

Fried Chicken—Delicious no matter where you go. Sure, everyone will have their preferences and claim one recipe is better than another, but in the end, they're all the same. It's not always the recipe, but how well it's prepared.

Interesting defensive styles will take the court in the Southern Region. Some like to boast about the prowess of their school's specific scheme; nonetheless, it's all about how it's executed and in fried chicken's case, how it's prepared.

The traditional 2-3 zone could cause trouble if the Syracuse Orange get Temple in the second round. More than likely, though, they'll face Oklahoma in a Sweet 16 match-up. The Griffin brothers may be passing circles around Arinze Onuaku in the middle of that zone.

Oliver Purnell will bring his No. 7 Clemson squad to face John Beilein's No. 10 Michigan. Both these teams have their signature defense.

Purnell will stick to his full-court pressure. It's done wonders against some teams, holding Duke to under 50 points earlier this year. Then again, in other games, it has been their demise, as teams' press breakers seemed to bust the odd front pressure time and time again.

Beilein will put his tall and long 1-3-1 zone up against the Tigers of the ACC. This seems to be a pretty effective strategy when it works; a balanced zone that allows quick close outs on the arc.

Terrence Oglesby has become better at attacking with the dribble. He is still as formidable an outside threat as last year, so if the Wolverines fail to identify him at all times, it could be lights out early for Big Blue.

Pig Roast—There is nothing like a huge grill with a pig split open inside it, slowly cooked throughout the day. Most common in the summertime, this delicacy of the Dixie means something special is going on. Grab a plate, get in line, and enjoy the succulent, savory pulled pork.

Let's be honest: as much as everyone loves upsets and Cinderellas, the South Region comes down to No. 1 and No. 2.

Who doesn't want to see Oklahoma versus North Carolina? Former player of the year versus current player of the year. Warren vs. Lawson. The seasoned coach in Roy Williams and the new kid on the block in Jeff Capel.

Anything else would just be, well, fried chicken. Enjoy your meal, and don't forget the tip!