hoopedia.com John Calipari and Memphis Tigers look to get back to NCAA Final.

Memphis
I, for one, feel Memphis should've been a 1 seed and especially over U-Conn. The Tigers have plenty of tourney experience, play great defense and can score in bunches.

The committee got the seeding in this bracket mostly right.

(13) Mississippi State
I understand the Bulldogs needed to win the SEC tourney to get into the Big Dance, but still all things considering, they deserved better than a 13, especially over a Northern Iowa. Mississippi State is one of the hottest teams in the nation, I wouldn't want to face them.

CM DeMarre Carroll hopes to lead his Missouri Tigers as the darkhorse in the West region.

(3) Missouri
I know a 3 seed doesn't really fall into the category of "darkhorse", but I think a lot of people are sleeping on the Tigers. Missouri was 8-4 against tournament teams, the four losses coming against top 5 seeds or better.

(10) Maryland over (7) California
It's one of the best first day match-ups, but both teams have been going in different directions in recent weeks. While their records over the last 6 games won't indicate it (MD: 3-3, Cal: 2-4), look closer. The Terps lost to Duke twice in very close games and Wake Forest once by two, while Cal lost to Oregon State by 11 and got blown out by Arizona State. California plays man-to-man defense, something Greivis Vasquez and Maryland like to exploit.

(13) Mississippi State over (4) Washington
Can't take anything away from the Huskies season, but Jarvis Varnado will send them home earlier. The Bulldogs are one of the feel good storylines of the tourney and have reeled off six straight wins. They are playing with confidence and with Varnado and Barry Stewart leading the way, this upset wouldn't shock me.

(12) Northern Iowa over (5) Purdue
Yeah, yeah ... the 12 vs. 5 game, I'm all for that and I'm a believer in it happening. But look in another region for that trend to continue. Purdue is way too hot and honestly could present problems for U-Conn in the Sweet 16.

(7) California vs. (10) Maryland
Or you could re-name this game Jerome Randle vs. Greivis Vasquez, the two guards for Cal and Maryland, respectively. Neither team relies on a post game, it's a lot of guard-orientated play, which should make for a very close match-up.

(3) Missouri vs. (6) Marquette
Game of numbers: 2 is today's topic. Two teams with two-headed tandems facing in the second round. Leo Lyons and DeMarre Carroll of Mizzou vs. Jerel McNeal and Wesley Matthews of Marquette, would be a great match-up.

(8) BYU vs. (9) Texas A&M
Re-match of last year's first round game, BYU is looking for revenge after a 67-62 loss at the hands of the Aggies.

(1) U-Conn vs. (3) Missouri
It wouldn't surprise me if both U-Conn and Memphis don't make it to the Elite 8, but to play it safe, I see Missouri getting past Memphis in the Sweet 16 and U-Conn ekeing out a win against Purdue.