East Region
Best Player: Zion Williamson
Williamson is the most dynamic player in the country. His explosiveness has turned long time Duke haters into Duke lovers. He averages 22 points and 9 rebounds on a team with a roster that is an embarrassment of riches. The Blue Devils look ordinary without him. With him there are three teams in the country that can beat them: North Carolina, Virginia, and Gonzaga
Upset: Minnesota over Louisville
Every year the NCAA tries to convince us that storylines have nothing to do with pairings. Yet, here we are. This is the “Pitino Game”. Louisville pushed Rick Pitino out after his role in the shoe company scandal. Firing a coach is one thing. Firing a coach “with cause” is another. That’s what Louisville did. Richard Pitino has a chance to even up the score. Minnesota has been as uneven as they come but they have some good wins over Purdue (twice), Wisconsin, and Iowa.
Sans the win over North Carolina, Louisville has folded in the last five minutes in high pressure situations. They’ll fold here. Look for Minnesota’s, Jordan Murphy to post a double-double and Amir Coffey fill up the score sheet.
Winner: Duke
