NCAA Bracket 2014: Complete Guide to South Region
The 2014 NCAA tournament is officially upon us, and what a doozy of a South Region we have.
From well-established thoroughbreds like Florida to unheralded dark horses such as Stephen F. Austin and Tulsa, this group of 16 squads is poised to put the "Madness" in March Madness.
We've got everything you need to know about this portion of the bracket, including the must-see games, the top storylines and the key players to watch.
Which team is a potential Cinderella? Which will advance to the regional final in Memphis? Which major program is most susceptible to falling?
Find out all that and more as we provide the complete guide to the South Region.
Round of 64 Schedule and TV Info
1 of 10
Thursday, March 20
(Games in Buffalo, N.Y.)
No. 3 Syracuse (27-5) vs. No. 14 Western Michigan (23-9): 2:30 p.m. ET on CBS
No. 6 Ohio State (25-9) vs. No. 11 Dayton (23-10): 12 p.m. ET on CBS
(Games in Orlando, Fla.)
No. 1 Florida (32-2) vs. No. 16 Mount St. Mary's/Albany: 4 p.m. ET on TBS
No. 8 Colorado (23-11) vs. No. 9 Pittsburgh (25-9): 1:30 p.m. ET on TBS
Friday, March 21
(Games in St. Louis, Mo.)
No. 7 New Mexico (27-6) vs. No. 10 Stanford (21-12): 1:30 p.m. ET on TBS
No. 2 Kansas (24-9) vs. No. 15 Eastern Kentucky (24-9): 4 p.m. ET on TBS
(Games in San Diego, Calif.)
No. 4 UCLA (26-8) vs. No. 13 Tulsa (21-12): 9:55 p.m. ET on Tru Tv
No. 5 VCU (26-8) vs. No. 12 Stephen F. Austin (31-2): 7:15 p.m. ET on Tru TV
Must-See Games in Round of 64
2 of 10
(5) VCU Rams vs. (12) Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks
The No. 5 vs. No. 12 matchups have produced some classics in the past, and this one should be no different. It pits Shaka Smart's well-established VCU Rams against arguably the hottest team in the country in the Southland champion Stephen F. Austin squad.
The Lumberjacks move the ball extremely well; just ask any of the opponents they've upended on their 28-game winning streak. Brad Underwood has his boys sharing the rock, drilling timely triples and clamping down defensively.
VCU should not take its double-digit seed opponent lightly but rather do all the things that carried it to the A-10 championship game. Treveon Graham and Juvonte Reddic will try to overwhelm SFA by controlling the paint and staying aggressive.
(7) New Mexico Lobos vs. (10) Stanford Cardinal
This showdown pits a Pac-12 semifinalist against the winners of the Mountain West tournament. Can the experienced Lobos ride Cameron Bairstow and Kendall Williams past Stanford's triangle offense and efficient shooting?
The Cardinal have had a roller-coaster season, but they've shown the ability to be competitive in high-scoring shootouts as well as low-scoring, grind-it-out affairs. New Mexico will give them all they can handle, as the MWC champs can spread the wealth and pound the glass.
Don't be surprised if this game is played in the mid-to-high 70s and keeps you on edge for all 40 minutes.
Top Storylines to Follow
3 of 10
Can Anyone Take Down Florida?
As the No. 1 overall seed and clear-cut favorite to emerge from the South Region, Billy Donovan's Gators will have a bullseye on their backs for the entire tournament.
Scottie Wilbekin is one of the headiest floor generals in the country, and he and Casey Prather are surrounded by all the weapons anyone could want. Can an underdog like Pittsburgh give them trouble early, and can Syracuse or Kansas knock them off late?
Will Conference Tourney Results Carry Over?
Teams like UCLA, Florida and Stephen F. Austin are hot off conference tournament victories, and they are looking to translate that into cutting down the nets in Arlington. Meanwhile, squads such as Syracuse are reeling and are looking to turn conference disappointment into national fuel.
The Need For Embiid
Kansas may be able to survive for a round or two without 7'0" freshman phenom Joel Embiid, but in order to truly make some noise and reach the third weekend, the Jayhawks need him.
Will his back heal in time to return and make an impact for his club? And if he's ruled out longer than expected, can Kansas survive the Sweet 16?
Stars to Watch
4 of 10
Casey Prather, Florida: The Gators' inside-out forward can do it all for Donovan, whether it's forcing turnovers, finishing strong at the rim or setting up his teammates.
Tyler Ennis, Syracuse: As poised a freshman as you'll see in the country, the 'Cuse will go as far as Tyler Ennis leads them. He's a pass-first playmaker who also has the ability to score in crunch time off drives or long balls.
Andrew Wiggins, Kansas: If for some reason you haven't seen Andrew Wiggins play yet, tune into the Jayhawks games to see one of the most electrifying young forwards in the tournament. Whether he's rocking the rim or splashing from deep, he can light up the scoreboard in a hurry.
Kyle Anderson, UCLA: One of the most unique players in the region is 6'9" point guard Kyle Anderson. That's right, this rebounding force is also a polished passer who can make his fellow Bruins look good.
Favorite Most Likely to Fall Early
5 of 10
Out of all the top seeds in the South Region, the one most susceptible to an early round departure is the No. 3 seed Syracuse Orange.
Even if they get past Western Michigan in round of 64, Jim Boeheim's boys may have a difficult time escaping the first weekend.
In the round of 32, the 'Cuse will face either Ohio State or Dayton. In the case of Ohio State, it should be a knock-down, drag-out fight against Aaron Craft and the Buckeyes. Thad Matta took down Boeheim in the Elite Eight in 2012, and he'll try to knock him off earlier in 2014.
If the Orange face Dayton, they cannot rest easy. The Flyers took down some respectable major-conference foes this season, and they're just the kind of balanced group that could outshoot Syracuse en route to an upset.
Cinderella Story Waiting to Happen
6 of 10
The South's biggest potential Cinderella story has got to be Underwood's Lumberjacks.
Stephen F. Austin dominated its Southland competition all season, but it hasn't faced many nationally known opponents. Major-conference fans and major-conference coaches don't exactly know what to expect from this streaking 12 seed.
Desmond Haymon and Jacob Parker may lead the club in scoring, but it's truly a group effort for them to rack up 76-plus points and 16-plus assists per night. They move well without the ball, trust Underwood's system and are not afraid to take big shots from long range.
Their Texas-sized confidence doesn't care who's up next on the docket. They certainly have a chance to turn a few (million) heads and advance to the second weekend of the tourney.
Who Will Make the Sweet 16?
7 of 10
Here are our South Region picks to reach the Sweet 16:
(1) Florida Gators: This one is our biggest lock, as Donovan's boys have been playing at a high level since December. It's a squad that knows its identity and won't get tripped up by the likes of Mount St. Mary's or Pittsburgh.
(12) Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks: I know you think I'm crazy, but both VCU and UCLA are vulnerable, and Underwood's boys are ready to win more than small-town games.
(3) Syracuse Orange: We highlighted them as the favorite most likely to fall early, but they'll escape this fate by a hair. The 2-3 zone defense will hold its foes just enough to secure victory.
(2) Kansas Jayhawks: Bill Self's unit may be without Joel Embiid, but there's someone other than Wiggins who can help fill the void. His name is Perry Ellis, and he's one of the most polished, versatile forwards in any region.
The Elite 8 Matchup Will Be…
8 of 10
Who will emerge from the Sweet 16 and advance to the South Regional Final?
(1) Florida Gators: Stepen F. Austin's ride has to end somewhere, and the Gators will certainly put the brakes on the Lumberjacks' Cinderella story. Donovan's seniors have reached three straight Elite Eights, and in a couple of weeks, they'll make it four.
The Gators will face the...
(3) Syracuse Orange: There's something about Boeheim's zone the last few years that makes it a beast in March. No matter what team they're playing, it forces them to alter their playing style and work extremely hard offensively. The Orange will win a low-scoring affair vs. Kansas and wind up in their third straight Elite Eight.
Your South Region Final 4 Team Is…
9 of 10
...the Florida Gators.
The 2014 NCAA tournament will undoubtedly have its fair share of upsets and surprises, but when the stakes are highest, Donovan's crew will emerge.
This group is so experienced and ready for this moment, but they won't glide into Arlington based simply on past accomplishments. They've become a special unit in 2013-14, weathering tough nonconference opponents and two months' worth of SEC battles.
Expect Wilbekin to set the table against every adversary, including the Orange in the regional final. Meanwhile, Michael Frazier will stretch the zone, and Patric Young will pound the 'Cuse bigs on the interior.
Prediction for Florida Gators in the Final 4
10 of 10
In the Final Four, the Florida Gators will likely face the red-hot Michigan State Spartans, and that should be a barnburner, to say the least.
Michigan State had a crazy season filled with injuries and a slew of Big Ten brawls. They're finally peaking at the right time and are fresh off downing a couple of NCAA two seeds in Wisconsin and Michigan.
Sorry to everyone in Gainesville, but the party ends in the national semifinal against Izzo's Spartans.
Florida will play a solid game, as they always do, but the firepower of Gary Harris and Adreian Payne, along with a robust supporting cast, will be just enough to outdo Wilbekin, Prather and Young.
Final Score: Michigan State 69, Florida 65. Spartans eliminate the last remaining South Region representative and advance to the national title game.
.jpg?w=480 "Saints Bills Football")
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=600 "Ranking Every Team's Farm System 📊")
.jpg?w=600 "Mendoza Graduates From Cal 👏")