Maneater Bracketology: South regional breakdown
Here's your South Region breakdown:
Best team: No. 2 Villanova. When at their best, Nova is a Final Four team (this is largely the same squad that made it to Detroit last year). Scottie Reynolds is a leader and a Player of the Year candidate. A late-season swoon has people down on the Wildcats, but they could get it together and make a run.
Contenders: Obviously, No. 1 Duke is a favorite for the Final Four in this weak region. But don't sleep on No. 3 Baylor, led by point guard Tweety Carter.
Best matchup: No. 6 Notre Dame vs. No. 11 Old Dominion. The Colonials are a great team and relatively under-seeded, whereas the Irish went from bubble team to No. 6 seed in a week? This has upset written all over it. But if the Irish can bottle up their intensity of their win streak to make the tournament, watch out.
Game we want to see: No. 1 Duke vs. No. 2 Villanova, Elite 8. These are the two best teams in the South region, and this would be a rematch of a great Sweet 16 game from last season.
Cinderella: No. 13 Siena. The Saints made the Sweet 16 last year, so why not again? A friendly matchup against Purdue, which is hobbled without Hummel, should get them to at least the second round.
So, who wins?: No. 1 Duke. The Blue Devils haven't made a Final Four since 2004, but a weak region could spell a return. Then? A blowout loss to either West Virginia or Kentucky.