NCAA Bracket 2011 Predictions: 8 Double-Digit Seeds with a Chance
Before we get to some double-digit seeds that have a chance to do some damage in the upcoming NCAA tournament, it's important to establish one other thing:
This is March Madness.
Everyone has a chance. Although a No. 16 seed has never beaten a No. 1 seed, some teams have come close before. On any given night a team can get hot, ride the momentum and score a huge upset. Anybody can be beat, which is what makes March Madness so unique and so great.
That being said, though, most of the double-digit seeds this year don't have a very good chance of scoring an upset. Still, they have a chance nonetheless.
However, let's look at some teams that have a very good chance to do some damage as double-digit seeds. The following is a list of teams to keep in mind as you continue to fill our your brackets, hoping and praying that this will be your year.
Morehead State (No. 13 Seed)
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The Eagles can't afford to get themselves involved in an up-tempo, high-scoring game because they simply don't have the shooters or the offensive firepower to prevail in that type of game.
However, should the Eagles get their opponents to play their style of basketball, they will be very dangerous.
The Eagles are one of the better defensive teams in the tournament, only allowing 61.7 points per game. They smother their opponents, allowing them to shoot just 42 percent from the field.
Led by Kenneth Faried, the nation's leading rebounder, Morehead St. is able to control the glass even though they lack a ton of height up front. Although they don't shoot well from downtown, they are a very efficient team. Demonte Harper is a very underrated guard who can create his own shot and score off the dribble.
If the Eagles can slow the game down against Louisville, they will have a very good shot at pulling off the upset.
Penn State (No. 10 Seed)
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As we have seen in years past, any team with dominant guard play has a chance to go a long way in the tournament.
The Nittany Lions have one in Talor Battle, who averages 20.1 points per game and over three three-pointers made per game.
The Nittany Lions play Temple, which is a very good team but is also dealing with a number of injuries. If the Owls can't find an answer for Battle, then Penn St. will likely advance to play San Diego St.
Utah State (No. 12 Seed)
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The Aggies are a veteran group with a ton of experience and some very good players.
While they do lack athleticism, they make up for it by being a very fundamentally sound team. They run a lot of sets and are constantly in motion, which enables them to get a good amount of open looks.
They almost always win the rebounding battle and can also hold their own from beyond-the-arc. Led by premier post player Tai Wesley, the Aggies rarely beat themselves.
Their opponent, the Kansas State Wildcats, are almost the opposite. They have a ton of athletes and a star player in Jacob Pullen, but they don't do many of the little things well. That lack of attention to detail usually costs the Wildcats.
Since the Southeast region is probably the weakest region, this part of the bracket has the potential to blow up. A possible second-round matchup with fellow double-digit seed Belmont would produce a double-digit seed in the Sweet 16.
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Marquette (No. 11 Seed)
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The Golden Eagles can't be too happy to face Tu Holloway and the Xavier Musketeers in Cleveland, but nonetheless, they will have a chance due to the fact that they can shoot the ball and never stop playing hard.
Led by Jimmy Butler and Darius Johnson-Odom—who both average 16 points per game—Marquette can really stretch the floor. As a team, they shoot 47 percent from the floor including 36 percent from downtown.
They are a bit thin up front and will have trouble dealing with Xavier center Kenny Frease, who at 7'0" possesses a big body as well as some touch around the rim.
It would be foolish to count the Golden Eagles out, though.
Oakland (No. 13 Seed)
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The Golden Grizzlies are becoming a trendy upset pick, and rightfully so.
Not only do they have a future pro in Keith Benson, they also have very good guard play. Reggie Hamilton is second on the team in scoring at 17.4 points per game and is a serious threat from downtown.
Oakland loves to get out and run and push the tempo, and can put up a ton of points on anybody. As a team they are averaging 85 points per game.
They have a tough draw with Texas, because the Longhorns are much better than their No. 4 seed leads on. They excel at closing out on shooters and have the pieces to shut down a team's guard play.
Tristan Thompson against Keith Benson should be a real fun battle to watch. If the Grizzlies could somehow get past Texas, then they would have a much easier time with either Memphis or Arizona, allowing them a good chance to advance to the Sweet 16.
Gonzaga (No. 11 Seed)
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While this Zags teams isn't one of Mark Few's best, they are still more than capable.
This is more about the matchups, though.
First they get to play St. Johns, who will be playing without D.J. Kennedy—their best defensive player and rebounder.
Should they advance, they would likely meet a BYU team that has looked somewhat lost without Brandon Davies. Davies was the Cougar's best interior player. Without him, they are a different team.
Robert Sacre, Steven Gray and the rest of the Zags will look to take advantage of these matchups, as well as a relatively weak Southeast region.
Belmont (No. 13 Seed)
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Belmont plays a different style of basketball than almost any other team in the tournament.
They have an 11-man rotation, routinely subbing whenever they get the chance. They play all-out defensively, so this rotation ensures they will always have fresh legs on the floor.
They also are one of the best shooting teams in the country. They are second in three-pointers made per game and shoot over 38 percent from beyond-the-arc. Pretty much every member of their rotation is a threat from long range.
They are a very good defensive team, although they are somewhat small up front. They try to speed their opponents up, so Wisconsin must avoid falling into that trap. The Badgers haven't had much success in recent years in the tournament and might be in for another early exit.
Belmont has a very good chance to make it to the Sweet 16 and beyond.
Michigan State (No. 10 Seed)
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Go ahead. Sleep on Tom Izzo. I dare you.
Even though they have had a disappointing season, the Spartans will always be a threat in March due to their Hall of Fame coach. Izzo is 35-11 all-time in the NCAA tournament and routinely brings teams with little expectations to the Sweet 16 and beyond.
This version of the Spartans is not without talent. Kalin Lucas, averaging 17 points on the season, has really found his groove. Durrell Summers and Draymond Green have both been inconsistent, but are capable of stepping up and helping Lucas carry the load.
The Southeast region is filled with teams with major question marks.
The only sure thing is Tom Izzo. Don't doubt him.
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