2010 NCAA Tournament: Handicapping the Top 16 Seeds and Their Early Round Games

March Madness is one of the greatest sporting events that our nation has the pleasure to watch each and every year. Upsets, buzzer-beaters, and comebacks fill television screens around the country, proving that any team from Lehigh to Kansas can make some noise.

The Top 16 seeds in particular receive great attention from ESPN, sports writers, journalists, and even the viewers themselves. Below I have compiled a list of the top seeds for the tournament, previewed their first round matchup, and gave you an idea of what they should expect from their potential second round opponent.

The NCAA Tournament starts soon. Let the games begin, let the fan bases around the nation get prepared, and let the underdogs and favorites battle it out to see who will cut down the nets in Indianapolis in a matter of two weeks.

16. Vanderbilt Commodores (No. 4 Seed, West Regional)

First Round Opponent: No. 13 Murray State

Potential Second Round Opponent: No. 5 Butler, No. 12 UTEP

The Commodores, coming off a difficult end to the regular season and a loss to Mississippi State in the semifinals of the SEC Tournament, have one of the toughest first round matchups of any team in the tournament against Murray State.

The Racers, who literally raced past every team in the Ohio Valley Conference, are coming off an outstanding regular season in which they won 30 games. Sure, most of those wins weren't against NCAA Tournament competition, but anytime you reach the 30-win mark in a season it's an accomplishment.

Vanderbilt (24-8) is entering the tournament after losing their final regular season game at home to South Carolina and being upended by Mississippi State in the SEC Tournament semifinals.

The Commodores are led by senior guard Jermaine Beal, junior center A.J. Ogilvy, and sophomore guard Jefferey Taylor, all of whom averaged more than 13 points per game on the season.

Murray State (30-4), on the other hand, has six players that averaged just around 10 points per game each.

Ivan Aska (10.6 points), B.J. Jenkins (10.5 points), Danero Thomas (10.4 points), Tony Easley (10.4 points), Isaiah Canaan (10.3 points), and Isacc Miles (9.5 points) display the unselfishness and consistency that most college basketball teams lack.

If the Commodores hope to advance far into the tournament, they must play efficiently on offense, have composure on defense, and be ready to face a Murray State team that can throw five 10-point scorers at you at a time.

It should be a great game to watch, but in the end Vanderbilt should pull this game out. Looking ahead to their potential second round opponents, the Commodores should be rooting for UTEP.

If Vanderbilt can lock down the Miners' Randy Culpepper (18.0 points a game), I like the Commodores chances at advancing to the Sweet Sixteen.

Butler, on the other hand, has two talented guards that could ultimately prove to be the difference if the Bulldogs win their opening game.

Gordon Hayward (15.4 points) and Shelvin Mack (13.9 points) have been great on the perimeter this season. Add Willie Veasley and Matt Howard to the mix down low, and Butler could give Vanderbilt trouble in advancing to the second week.

15. Maryland Terrapins (No. 4 Seed, Midwest Regional)

First Round Opponent: No. 13 Houston

Potential Second Round Opponent: No. 5 Michigan State, No. 12 New Mexico State

If not for a quarterfinal loss to Georgia Tech in the ACC Tournament, everything would be going Maryland's way at this point in the season.

Greivis Vasquez, averaging nearly 20 points per game, won the ACC Player of the Year this past week, Maryland (23-8) beat No. 4 Duke at home on Senior Night, and the Terrapins grabbed a share of the ACC regular season championship with a win at Virginia on March 6.

The Houston Cougars, meanwhile, are just happy to make the tournament.

As the No. 7 seed in the Conference USA Tournament, the Cougars defeated East Carolina, Memphis, and Southern Miss on their way to upsetting UTEP in the final and clinching a spot in the NCAA Tournament despite having a horrible record (19-15).

Houston is led by high-flying Aubrey Coleman, who is averaging nearly 26 points a game on the year. At times, the Cougars offense has looked explosive; however, their defense has looked less-than-stellar and could use some help (giving up 74.8 points per game).   

If the Terrapins play well offensively, then they will have the opportunity to get open lay-ups and looks inside against the offensive-minded Cougars. For Houston, the key is for Coleman to make shots and their defense to step up.

Don't be surprised to see one or both of these teams reach the 100-point plateau, but in the end I see Gary Williams club winning decisively.

In the next round, Maryland will most likely face Tom Izzo and the Michigan State Spartans. In what could be a match-up against elite guards (Vasquez and MSU's Kalin Lucas), the game will come down to who plays better on the defensive end.

14. Purdue Boilermakers (No. 4 Seed, South Regional)

First Round Opponent: No. 13 Siena

Possible Second Round Opponent: No. 5 Texas A&M, No. 12 Utah State

With two weeks left in the regular season, all the national attention was on the Purdue Boilermakers. Not because they were a likely No. 1 seed or for their play down the stretch, but because junior Robbie Hummel was injured and out for the remainder of the season.

That's right, in a matter of minutes the Boilermakers went from national championship contenders to national championship pretenders. Don't get me wrong, they are still a good team, but who thinks that Purdue (27-5) can go all the way without Hummel?

Siena (27-6), on the other hand, recently won the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament in overtime against Fairfield to punch their ticket to the big dance. A veteran team, the Saints made the plays down the stretch to pull out a thriller in the final.

Led by seniors Alex Franklin and Edwin Ubiles and juniors Ryan Rossiter and Clarence Jackson, Siena once again will try to win a game in the tournament for the third straight season.

The Saints have faced tournament competition this season (at Temple, at Georgia Tech, at Butler), but they have yet to win against top-level teams. Without Hummel, this would be Siena's best chance to score their first win against a ranked team in Purdue.

The Saints will put up a fight, and they have a great chance to win if either E'Twaun Moore or JaJuan Johnson struggles from the field for the Boilermakers. Looking forward to the next round, Texas A&M could challenge Purdue if they get past the Saints.

Donald Sloan (18.2 points a game) could help the Aggies get past the Boilermakers and through to the Sweet Sixteen with his versatility and speed.

Purdue will have their opportunities, but overall I think they have two difficult games ahead if they want to make it to the second week of the tournament.

13. Wisconsin Badgers (No. 4 Seed, East Regional)

First Round Opponent: No. 13 Wofford

Potential Second Round Opponent: No. 5 Temple, No. 12 Cornell

Bo Ryan has once again developed his team of young players into a group of stars that could potentially take out any top seed at any given point. Trevon Hughes (15.4 points a game) and Jon Leuer (14.8 points a game) have paced the Badgers throughout the year, and have continued to make big shots for Wisconsin (23-8).

Early in the season, the Badgers took out the East Regional No. 1 Duke at home in a game that wasn't as close as the final score indicated. Wisconsin made shots, rebounded effectively, and pressured the Blue Devils on defense.

That total group effort is the type of performance that Bo Ryan will expect out of his team night in and night out during the tournament, and will have his players prepared for any challenge that lies ahead.

Wofford (26-8) defeated Appalachian State in the Southern Conference final to get into the tournament as a No. 13 seed, and will look to build on their 13-game winning streak when they face Wisconsin.

Noah Dahlman (16.8 points a game) is the only player that averages double figures for the Terriers, but that has yet to stop them this season. Jamar Diggs (9.4 points a game) helps to score on the interior, but outside of those two players Wofford struggles to get other players involved.

If the Badgers can shut down either Dahlman or Diggs, then they should breeze into their second round game to face either Temple or Cornell.

Both teams could give the Badgers trouble, as they each consistently knock down outside shots, but in the end Wisconsin should advance to the Sweet Sixteen if they play at the level and the same intensity as they did against Duke early on in the season.

12. Baylor Bears (No. 3 Seed, South Regional)

First Round Opponent: No. 14 Sam Houston State

Potential Second Round Opponent: No. 6 Notre Dame, No. 11 Old Dominion

Baylor (25-7) just recently lost to Kansas State in the Big 12 Tournament, but throughout their 82-75 loss, they showed signs of improving against tougher competition.

Led by LaceDarius Dunn (19.4 points a game) and Tweety Carter (15.7 points a game), the Bears are finally poised to make a deep run in the tournament this year. Ekpe Udoh (13.9 points and 9.8 rebounds) will also need to play well in the paint in order for Baylor to continue on into March.  

They begin their quest for a title against Sam Houston State (25-7), who recently defeated Stephen F. Austin in the Southland Conference final to earn a No. 14 seed in the South Regional.

Gilberto Clavell and Corey Allmond, who average 16.9 points and 15.9 points respectively, will have to have big games for the Bearkats if they want to have any chance of pulling off the upset.

Sam Houston State is a talented team overall, but the Baylor Bears should easily win their first round game to set-up a potential second round game against Notre Dame.

The Irish have Luke Harangody back from injury, so it could be an intriguing second round contest if both teams advance.

In that game, I'd have to give the advantage to the Fighting Irish. Their depth, along with Harangody in the interior, should prove to be the difference if the teams meet later on this week.  

11. New Mexico Lobos (No. 3 Seed, East Regional)

First Round Opponent: No. 14 Montana

Potential Second Round Opponent: No. 6 Marquette, No. 11 Washington

Perhaps the most underrated team in the entire tournament at this point, the New Mexico Lobos have made their mark on the entire country. They walked away as the Mountain West Conference Champions, and although they lost to San Diego State in their conference semifinals, they still earned a No. 3 seed.

Darington Hobson (16.2 points a game), Roman Martinez (13.8 points a game), Dairese Gary (12.7 points a game), and Phillip McDonald (10.7 points a game) have carried the Lobos offensively during the year, and will look to continue their strong play during March.

Their opponent, Montana (22-9), upset Weber State in the Big Sky Conference final to earn a chance to go dancing in March. They will look to make the most of their chances, because if the Lobos' guards get hot, the Grizzlies may be in for a long game.

Anthony Johnson (19.7 points a game) is the only player averaging double figures for Montana, and will continue to lead the Grizzlies as they enter their first round matchup with New Mexico.

If New Mexico can contain Johnson on the perimeter, then the Lobos should easily advance to their second round game against either Big East middleweight Marquette or Pac-10 champion Washington.

Either opponent could be tricky, but I believe that the Lobos inexperience in March could lead to their downfall against the Marquette Golden Eagles. They still have a great opportunity to advance deep into the tournament, but their main players must play well.

10. Pittsburgh Panthers (No. 3 Seed, West Regional)

First Round Opponent: No. 14 Oakland

Potential Second Round Opponent: No. 6 Xavier, No. 11 Minnesota

Jamie Dixon did one of the best coaching jobs of his career with this group of Pittsburgh players, a team that wasn't even supposed to contend for the Big East title after losing several key players from a year ago.

Ashton Gibbs (15.8 points a game), Brad Wanamaker (12.1 points a game), Jermaine Dixon (10.7 points a game), and Gilbert Brown (10.3 points a game) have each led the resurgence of a program that many thought would decline. These four players even helped the Panthers become a Top 25 team near the end of the season.

Oakland (26-8) ran through the Summit League Championship, defeating IUPUI in the title game on their way to earning an automatic bid in the tournament. Keith Benson, averaging 17 points and 10.5 rebounds on the year, was a big part of that run and has been a dominant presence in the post.

Benson will need to establish himself early against the Panthers if they expect to pull off the upset. Johnathon Jones, averaging 12.4 points, will also have to play well at the guard position against Wanamaker and Dixon.

Ultimately, Pittsburgh is more talented in the backcourt, and should be able to hold their own against the Golden Grizzlies.

Looking forward, Minnesota has been playing well of late and could match the Panthers in toughness if they both advance. Could be interesting to see if Tubby Smith could pull off the upset and reach the Sweet Sixteen.

9. Georgetown Hoyas (No. 3 Seed, Midwest Regional)

First Round Opponent: No. 14 Ohio

Potential Second Round Opponent: No. 6 Tennessee, No. 11 San Diego State

The Hoyas have shown that they can play against any team in the country, as you can tell by their run to the Big East Championship Game against West Virginia.

They have also shown that they can lose to some of the worst teams on any given night, such as Rutgers.

No doubt, the trio of Austin Freeman (16.7 points a game), Greg Monroe (16.1 points a game), and Chris Wright (14.8 points a game) is one of the best in the country; however, they have also shown their inconsistency at times.

Going up against Ohio (21-14), who upset top-seeded Kent State, Miami (OH), and Akron in the Mid-American Conference Tournament to make the field of 65, Georgetown should watch out for Bobcats' guard Armon Bassett, averaging nearly 17 points a game on the year.

Bassett was the key to Ohio's conference tournament win, and he will be a crucial piece to the puzzle if the Bobcats have any chance of knocking off the Hoyas in the first round.

Although Bassett may be poised to score in bunches and make the game interesting early, the size, length, talent, depth, and speed of the Hoyas should be too tough for the Bobcats to overcome.

In the second round, the Hoyas will more than likely face the Tennessee Volunteers in one of the most highly anticipated games slated for the early rounds. The Volunteers have been giant killers all year (upsetting Kansas and Kentucky when each was ranked No.1), but I believe the Hoyas will prevail and try to make a run for a Final Four berth.

8. Villanova Wildcats (No. 2 Seed, South Regional)

First Round Opponent: No. 15 Robert Morris

Potential Second Round Opponent: No. 7 Richmond, No. 10 St. Mary's

Scottie Reynolds (18.5 points a game) has made a name for himself in college basketball during his career as the Villanova Wildcats point guard. Now, as a senior, Reynolds will look to go out with a bang in the final NCAA Tournament of his career.

Corey Fisher (13.7 points a game) and Antonio Pena (10.9 points and 7.4 rebounds a game) help to carry the offensive load for Villanova, who at one point in the year were the No. 1 team in the stacked Big East Conference and were in discussion for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.

The Wildcats first test in the tournament will be against Robert Morris (23-11), who upset No. 1 seed Quinnipiac by two points in the Northeast Conference Championship game, earning the Colonials a spot in March Madness.

Robert Morris has seven players that average 6.5 points a game on the year, and are led by Karon Abraham (13.4 points a game). The Colonials have great depth and generally have up to eight players who see minutes each and every game.

Although Robert Morris may be more balanced than Villanova in terms of points averaged by their rotation, the Wildcats are huge favorites in their South Regional first round contest. Led by Reynolds, Fisher and Pena, Villanova should breeze to a win.

Richmond and St. Mary's are both teams that Villanova could face in the second round, but I see neither of these teams as major threats to upset the Wildcats.

The Gaels of St. Mary's recently destroyed Gonzaga in the WAC Final, so I'd give them the slight edge against Richmond in their tournament opener.  

7. Kansas State Wildcats (No. 2 Seed, West Regional)

First Round Opponent: No. 15 North Texas

Potential Second Round Opponent: No. 7 BYU, No. 10 Florida

Kansas State's resurgence as a national championship contender was surprising to most people in the country, but to the Wildcat faithful who always knew they had something special, it was no surprise.

Led by the strong backcourt play of Jacob Pullen and Denis Clemente, who average 18.9 and 16.2 points respectively, Kansas State (26-7) finished second in the Big 12 Conference, with three of their losses coming against the top-seeded Kansas Jayhawks.

North Texas (24-8) prevailed in the Sun Belt Conference Championship after finishing in a three-way tie for first during the regular season. Led by Josh White (14.9 points a game) and Tristan Thompson (14.1 points a game), the Mean Green overcame Troy in the conference final, winning 66-63.

Kansas State should have little trouble dismantling North Texas, but the Mean Green will have a chance to stick around with the Wildcats for awhile if White and Thompson play up to their potential. Still, Kansas State should move on and face either BYU or Florida in the second round.

BYU is one of the best teams at home, but on neutral courts and on the road, the Cougars have struggled at times. If the Gators find a way to defeat BYU, then they will no doubt give everything they've got against the Wildcats in the second round.

I still like Kansas State's side of the draw, though, and have them reaching the Elite Eight or further.

6. Ohio State Buckeyes (No. 2 Seed, Midwest Regional)

First Round Opponent: No. 15 UC Santa Barbara

Potential Second Round Opponent: No. 7 Oklahoma State, No. 10 Georgia Tech

Ohio State is on a seven-game winning streak, Evan Turner is looking more and more like the National Player of the Year each time he takes the court, and the Buckeyes recently destroyed Minnesota to win the Big Ten Conference Tournament.

What could possibly go wrong?

How about getting placed in the toughest region (Midwest Regional) with the top-seed (Kansas) and the trickiest opponents out there (Georgia Tech, Georgetown, Maryland, Michigan State, etc).

One thing that is certain is that UC Santa Barbara did not want to face a high seed, or even a top player at all. Well, looks like they may have a very difficult time digesting their side of the draw.

The Gauchos (20-9) recently won the Big West Tournament and earned a place in the NCAA Tournament. Led by Orlando Johnson, who averages nearly 18 points a game, UC Santa Barbara will look to challenge the Buckeyes for some time, but ultimately know that their backs are against the wall.

Evan Turner should be too much for the Gauchos to handle, and the Buckeyes will advance to face a very difficult second round opponent in either Georgia Tech or Oklahoma State. Both teams have players that can light it up on any given night, and both teams are capable of knocking off a top seed.

Ohio State, however, should get through their difficult part of the Midwest Region in hopes of an Elite Eight matchup with the top-seeded and 2008 national champion Kansas Jayhawks.

5. West Virginia Mountaineers (No. 2 Seed, East Regional)

First Round Opponent: No. 15 Morgan State

Potential Second Round Opponent: No. 7 Clemson, No. 10 Missouri

No one in the country has been playing any better than Bob Huggins' Mountaineers of West Virginia.

Coming off of a win in the Big East Tournament championship game against Georgetown, the Mountaineers are poised to make a deep run in the tournament as a No. 2 seed in the East.

The only team that I see stopping West Virginia in their portion of the draw is the East's No. 1 seed, the Kentucky Wildcats. Led by Freshmen John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins, the "Men in Blue" will be tough to knock off if the two teams meet in the Elite Eight.

The Mountaineers must first get past their early opponents, such as Morgan State (27-9) in the opening round, if they hope to have any chance of advancing through the bracket.

The Bears of Morgan State are led by high-flying guard Reggie Holmes, who is averaging just under 22 points a game on the year. If Morgan State wants to have any hopes of an upset, Holmes must play effectively on offense and hold it down on defense.

I don't even see this game being close at all, with West Virginia winning easily to set up a possible second round matchup with the Clemson Tigers.

Oliver Purnell will have his guys ready, but in the end I see West Virginia marching to the Elite Eight in a very anticipated game versus Kentucky.

4. Syracuse Orange (No. 1 Seed, West Regional)

First Round Opponent: No. 16 Vermont

Potential Second Round Opponent: No. 8 Gonzaga, No. 9 Florida State

Syracuse (28-4) ran through the Big East Conference regular season, but were upset in their first game of the Big East Tournament by the Georgetown Hoyas. Although they lost, they still earned a No. 1 seed in the tournament after a very strong regular season. 

Wes Johnson (16 points, 8.4 rebounds a game), Andy Rautins (11.7 points a game), Kris Joseph (11.3 points a game), and Arinze Onuaku (10.5 points a game) have paced the Orange through the season, and will look to continue their dynamic play in March.

In their first round matchup, they face a Vermont (25-9) team that won the American East Conference Championship against Boston University to claim a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

Led by Marqus Blakely, who is averaging 17.4 points and 9.4 rebounds a game on the year, the Catamounts will look to penetrate the Syracuse zone defense and continue their strong play near the end of the season.

Although Vermont has the size and speed to challenge Syracuse, Jim Boeheim will have his team prepared to go out swinging in the opening rounds. Look for the Orange to run away from Vermont, and beyond.

Their next opponent will be challenging (either a talented and underrated Gonzaga quad or the tall and versatile Florida State Seminoles) but overall Syracuse should make their way to the Elite Eight or farther.

3. Duke Blue Devils (No. 1 Seed, South Regional)

First Round Opponent: No. 16 Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Potential Second Round Opponent: No. 8 California, No. 9 Louisville

Duke (29-5) has returned to the top line in the NCAA Tournament after two consecutive years as a No. 2 seed. The last few March Madnesses have been easy for coach Mike Krzyzewski and his staff to forget after failing to get past the Sweet Sixteen the last couple of seasons.

This year's Blue Devils, however, are prepared to succeed in March once again. Led by the dynamic trio of Jon Scheyer (18.9 points a game), Kyle Singler (17.6 points a game), and Nolan Smith (17.3 points a game), Duke will look to return to the Final Four for the first time since 2004.

Their first round opponent played last night, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, and prevailed against a Winthrop squad that struggled to hit shots throughout their play-in loss. The Golden Lions (18-15) lost the first 11 games of their schedule before finishing the season winning 12 of 13 to secure a spot in the big dance.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff has played NCAA Tournament teams at the beginning of the year (Georgia Tech, Missouri, Kansas State, UTEP, and Oklahoma State), but have yet to be tested since entering conference play.

Duke hasn't gone on a deep run in March for several years, but after being placed as the No. 1 seed in the South Regional, they should be in great position to advance to the Elite Eight.

Louisville could be a tough test in the second round if they defeat the Pac-10 Champions California, but ultimately the Blue Devils should overcome Rick Pitino and the Cardinals and advance into the second week of the tournament for the second consecutive season.

2. Kentucky Wildcats (No. 1 Seed, East Regional)

First Round Opponent: No. 16 East Tennessee State

Potential Second Round Opponent: No. 8 Texas, No. 9 Wake Forest

Kentucky (32-2) enters the 2010 NCAA Tournament as one of the two favorites along with top-seed Kansas. John Calipari has done an outstanding job coaching his young and inexperienced team, and they have played up to their potential throughout the season, losing just twice.

Led by the leading candidate for National Freshman of the Year John Wall, who is averaging 16.9 points and 6.4 assists a game on the year, and DeMarcus Cousins, averaging 15.3 points and 10.1 rebounds a game, have the Wildcats rolling on all cylinders heading into their opening round contest against East Tennessee State.

The Buccaneers (20-14) are the winners from the Atlantic Sun Conference and defeated Mercer in the finals to get their crack at bringing down the high-flying Wildcats in the first round.

Tommy Hubbard, averaging 14.1 points and 8.3 rebounds on the year, will try to help East Tennessee State pull off a major upset, as a No. 16 seed has never taken out a top seed in the tournament's history.

This game looks more like a blow-out than a slug-fest, as the Wildcats should trample the Buccaneers early and advance to a very anticipated second round matchup with Texas or Wake Forest.

Both the Longhorns and the Demon Deacons have had their ups and downs on the year, but each team has struggled to close out the season and should be prepared for a long night against Kentucky. I like the Wildcats chances in the early goings, and realistically see them cutting down the nets in Indianapolis if they play well.

1. Kansas Jayhawks (No. 1 Seed, Midwest Regional)

First Round Opponent: No. 16 Lehigh

Potential Second Round Opponents: No. 8 UNLV, No. 9 Northern Iowa

2008 national champion Kansas (32-2) is once again the heavy favorite to win the NCAA Tournament after starting and finishing the season as the No. 1 team in the country.

Led by Sherron Collins (15.6 points and 4.4 assists a game), Cole Aldrich (11.2 points and 9.9 rebounds a game), Xavier Henry (13.6 points a game), and Marcus Morris (12.3 points a game), the Jayhawks will look to continue their dominance under coach Bill Self by winning the national title for the second time in three years.

Lehigh (22-10) is the lucky team that was selected to face Kansas in their opening round game. Led by C.J. McCollum, who averages nearly 19 points a game on the season, the Mountain Hawks will look to compete with the Jayhawks for a bit, but ultimately realize that taking them down will be too tough to accomplish.

Lehigh finished atop the Patriot League in the regular season, and finished the season by taking home their conference's championship against Lafayette. The Mountain Hawks have had a decent year, winning 22 games, but have really struggled to win on the road (7-8).

Kansas should have no trouble defeating Lehigh in the first round, setting the Jayhawks up for a second round contest with either UNLV or Northern Iowa.

Neither of these teams will give Kansas any trouble, and the Jayhawks should make their way deep into the tournament if their stars come to play night in and night out.