Selection Sunday 2014: Full Bracket, TV Schedule and Tournament Predictions
Get your brackets ready because the 2014 NCAA tournament is now set. You now only have a few days left to make all the predictions that will win you your pool.
There were a few surprises on Selection Sunday regarding the last few at-large bids as well as the seeding. However, the best teams will find a way to advance no matter whom they play.
While there is certain to be plenty of craziness in this year's March Madness, the top teams have proven themselves time and again this season and will continue to play well in the postseason. This will create a few obvious teams likely to go deep in the Big Dance.
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Here is a full look at the bracket with some predictions for the next few weeks.
Tournament Info
| First Four (Game 1) | 6:30 p.m. | TruTV |
| First Four (Game 2) | 9 p.m. | TruTV |
| First Four (Game 3) | 6:30 p.m. | TruTV |
| First Four (Game 4) | 9 p.m. | TruTV |
| Second Round | 12 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 7 p.m., 9:30 p.m. | CBS |
| Second Round | 12:30 p.m., 3 p.m., 7:15 p.m., 9:55 p.m. | TruTV |
| Second Round | 1:30 p.m., 4 p.m., 6:45 p.m., 9:15 p.m. | TBS |
| Second Round | 2 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 7:15 p.m., 9:45 p.m. | TNT |
| Second Round | 12 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 7 p.m., 9:30 p.m. | CBS |
| Second Round | 12:30 p.m., 3 p.m., 7:15 p.m., 9:55 p.m. | TruTV |
| Second Round | 1:30 p.m., 4 p.m., 6:45 p.m., 9:15 p.m. | TBS |
| Second Round | 2 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 7:15 p.m., 9:45 p.m. | TNT |
| Third Round | 12 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 5 p.m., 7:30 p.m. | CBS |
| Third Round | 6 p.m., 8:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Third Round | 7 p.m., 9:30 p.m. | TBS |
| Third Round | 12 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. | CBS |
| Third Round | 6 p.m., 8:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Third Round | 7 p.m., 9:30 p.m. | TBS |
| Third Round | 7:30 p.m. | TruTV |
| Sweet Sixteen | 7 p.m., 9:30 p.m. | CBS |
| Sweet Sixteen | 7:15 p.m., 9:55 p.m. | TBS |
| Sweet Sixteen | 7 p.m., 9:30 p.m. | CBS |
| Sweet Sixteen | 7:15 p.m., 9:55 p.m. | TBS |
| Elite Eight | 6 p.m., 8:30 p.m. | TBS |
| Elite Eight | 6 p.m., 8:30 p.m. | TBS |
| Final Four (Game 1), Final Four Game 2 | 6 p.m., 8:30 p.m. | TBS, TNT, TruTV |
| National Championship Game | 9 p.m. | CBS |
Predictions
Locks for a Deep Run
Many times when picking a bracket, people like to get cute by predicting massive upsets. This year could be a big mistake because there are some teams that are just not losing early.
Florida might end up being the toughest team to beat with a complete roster full of a number of elite players who can contribute on both ends of the court. Scottie Wilbekin is the engine the helps the Gators run and makes everyone around him better, as noted by Dana O'Neil of ESPN:
His skill and experience along with fellow seniors Casey Prather, Patric Young and Will Yeguete will be able to get the squad over the top after three years in a row of losses in the Elite Eight.
Another team that should be able to make a deep run is Arizona, which has the No. 1 defense in the country according to KenPom.com.
T.J. McConnell and Nick Johnson put tons of pressure on opposing guards while the interior defense makes it almost impossible to score against. It will take a lot of effort for any teams to top 60 points against the Wildcats.
Louisville also will be extremely difficult to beat thanks to a great full-court pressure that is just as good as last year. Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports had a colorful look at the defensive ability:
This strong play plus the clutch ability of Russ Smith should get Louisville to at least the Elite Eight.
Sleepers Who Will Exceed Seed
Part of the beauty of March Madness is the ability for middling teams to make a run into the Sweet 16 or further.
One team to watch out for is Oklahoma State after a strong end to the season. The Cowboys appeared to be heading out of the NCAA tournament after seven straight losses during the middle of the year. However, Marcus Smart came on strong over the past month with wins over Kansas and Kansas State.
Despite an overtime loss to the Jayhawks in the Big 12 tournament, Oklahoma State still has enough talent between Smart, Markel Brown and Le'Bryan Nash to beat anyone in the path.
Oregon is another dangerous team thanks to eight wins in the past nine games. Head coach Dana Altman recently discussed the squad's ability to come back from a poor stretch, via Nicole Auerbach of USA Today:
"I was never really upset or displeased with the guys because it wasn't like they weren't competing. We just weren't getting the plays made that we needed to make. It was frustrating for them. It was frustrating for all of us. To their credit, they were resilient, kept playing and bounced back.
"
If Joseph Young and the rest of the players hit their shots from the outside, the Ducks can get to the Sweet 16 for the second year in a row.
Connecticut is another squad who can make a deep run in this tournament thanks to the individual play of Shabazz Napier. The senior guard leads the team in points, rebounds, assists and steals and can make some big shots when his team needs it.
Any of these teams could make a run to the Elite Eight or farther if things go right.
Top Seeds Who Will Lose Early
Villanova quietly had one of the best regular seasons in the country, posting a 28-3 record including an impressive win over Kansas. However, that victory was the only one against an RPI Top 25 team. The squad also struggled in a loss to Seton Hall in the first game of the Big East tournament.
The Wildcats have one of the best scoring trios in college basketball with James Bell, Darrun Hilliard and JayVaughn Pinkston, but a poor game by one of the three is enough to cause problems. Against some tough competition in the NCAA tournament, an early loss seems likely.
Another top team to be cautious about selecting to make a deep run is Cincinnati. On the plus side, the Bearcats play great, physical defense and have one of the toughest guards in the country in Sean Kilpatrick. Unfortunately, he does not always get much help, as noted by Mark Ennis of ESPN 680:
If the rest of the squad does not pick up some of the slack, the Bearcats could end up suffering a similar fate to Georgetown last season. The fact that Cincinnati keeps almost every game close in another recipe for disaster.
Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for the latest breaking news and analysis.
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