Bearcats Blog loves the NCAA tournament. Loves it with a passion. Now that the Cincinnati Bearcats are back in the Big Dance, I love it even more. There will be a straight up Missouri preview going up on Thursday. Today, we start breaking down the 4 brackets. There will be 1 today, 1 tomorrow, and 2 on Wednesday. Then, the Missouri preview on Thursday for the game Thursday night. There will be a full tournament preview and recap of every day, just like there was last year. Let’s get to the business.
1 Duke Blue Devils 30-4, 15-3
How They Got Here: ACC Tournament Champions
Ken Pom: 2
Ken Pom Off: 5
Ken Pom Def: 3
PPP Off: 1.15 (9)
PPP Def: 0.91 (8)
Top 3 Scorers: Nolan Smith 21.3, Kyle Singler 17.1, Seth Curry 9.5
Top 2 Passers: Nolan Smith 5.2, Seth Curry 2
Top 2 Rebounders: Mason Plumlee 8.5, Kyle Singler 6.9
Top Steals: Seth Curry 1.4
Top Blocks: Mason Plumlee 1.6
2 San Diego State Aztecs 32-2, 17-2
How They Got Here: MWC Tournament Champtions
Ken Pom: 6
Ken Pom Off: 24
Ken Pom Def: 4
PPP Off: 1.13 (14)
PPP Def: 0.92 (11)
Top 3 Scorers: Kawhi Leonard 15.4, Malcolm Thomas 11.5, DJ Gay 11.2
Top 2 Passers: DJ Gay 3.2, Kawhi Leonard 2.5
Top 2 Rebounders: Kawhi Leonard 10.7, Malcolm Thomas 8.2
Top Steals: Kawhi Leonard 1.5
Top Blocks: Malcolm Thomas 2.1
3 Connecticut Huskies 26-9, 14-9
How They Got Here: Big East Tournament Champions
Ken Pom: 17
Ken Pom Off: 21
Ken Pom Def: 31
PPP Off: 1.09 (45)
PPP Def: 0.99 (111)
Top 3 Scorers: Kemba Walker 23.5, Jeremy Lamb 10.3, Alex Oriakhi 10
Top 2 Passers: Kemba Walker 4.3, Shabazz Napier 3
Top 2 Rebounders: Alex Oriakhi 8.5, Kemba Walker 5.3
Top Steals: Kemba Walker 1.9
Top Blocks: Alex Oriakhi 1.7
4 Texas Longhorns 27-7, 15-4
How They Got Here: Big XII At Large
Ken Pom: 4
Ken Pom Off: 19
Ken Pom Def: 1
PPP Off: 1.1 (37)
PPP Def: 0.9 (5)
Top 3 Scorers: Jordan Hamilton 18.6, Tristan Thompson 13.3, Gary Johnson 11.5
Top 2 Passers: Cory Joseph 3, Dogus Balbay 2.2
Top 2 Rebounders: Tristan Thompson 7.8, Jordan Hamilton 7.6
Top Steals: Cory Joseph 1.1
Top Blocks: Tristan Thompson 2.2
5 Arizona Wildcats 27-7, 16-5
How They Got Here: Pac 10 At Large
Ken Pom: 25
Ken Pom Off: 14
Ken Pom Def: 67
PPP Off: 1.13 (14)
PPP Def: 0.99 (111)
Top 3 Scorers: Derrick Williams 19.1, Lamont Jones 9.6, Kyle Fogg 8.3
Top 2 Passers: Kyle Fogg 2.6, Lamont Jones 2.4
Top 2 Rebounders: Derrick Williams 8.1, Solomon Hill 4.4
Top Steals: Derrick Williams 0.9
Top Blocks: Derrick Williams 0.7
6 Cincinnati Bearcats 25-8, 12-8
How They Got Here: Big East At Large
Ken Pom: 23
Ken Pom Off: 55
Ken Pom Def: 15
PPP Off: 1.08 (55)
PPP Def: 0.93 (14)
Top 3 Scorers: Yancy Gates 11.8, Dion Dixon 11.6, Sean Kilpatrick 9.9
Top 2 Passers: Cashmere Wright 3.8, Dion Dixon 1.9
Top 2 Rebounders: Yancy Gates 6.8, Ibrahima Thomas 5.3
Top Steals: Cashmere Wright 1.3
Top Blocks: Yancy Gates 1.3
7 Temple Owls 25-7, 15-3
How They Got Here: A-10 At Large
Ken Pom: 38
Ken Pom Off: 53
Ken Pom Def: 36
PPP Off: 1.07 (66)
PPP Def: 0.94 (24)
Top 3 Scorers: Ramone Moore 14.9, Lavoy Allen 11.8, Scootie Randall 11.6
Top 2 Passers: Juan Fernandez 4.1, Ramone Moore 3.2
Top 2 Rebounders: Lavoy Allen 8.4, Michael Eric 5.9
Top Steals: Ramone Moore 1.3
Top Blocks: Lavoy Allen 1.8
8 Michigan Wolverines 20-13, 10-10
How They Got Here: Big 10 At Large
Ken Pom: 40
Ken Pom Off: 45
Ken Pom Def: 47
PPP Off: 1.06 (81)
PPP Def: 1 (136)
Top 3 Scorers: Darius Morris 15.2, Tim Hardaway Jr 13.9, Jordan Morgan 9.2
Top 2 Passers: Darius Morris 6.7, Tim Hardaway Jr 1.6
Top 2 Rebounders: Zack Novak 5.7, Jordan Morgan 5.5
Top Steals: Darius Morris/Tim Hardaway Jr 1
Top Blocks: Jordan Morgan 0.5
9 Tennessee Volunteers 19-14, 9-9
How They Got Here: SEC At Large
Ken Pom: 55
Ken Pom Off: 73
Ken Pom Def: 50
PPP Off: 1.04 (121)
PPP Def: 0.99 (111)
Top 3 Scorers: Scotty Hopson 17.4, Tobias Harris 15.2, Cameron Tatum 8.9
Top 2 Passers: Melvin Goins 2.8, Cameron Tatum/Trae Golden 2.2
Top 2 Rebounders: Brian Williams 7.7, Tobias Harris 7.3
Top Steals: Melvin Goins 1.8
Top Blocks: John Fields 1.2
10 Penn State Nittany Lions 19-14, 12-9
How They Got Here: Big 10 At Large
Ken Pom: 39
Ken Pom Off: 34
Ken Pom Def: 58
PPP Off: 1.05 (104)
PPP Def: 1.04 (243)
Top 3 Scorers: Talor Battle 20.1, Jeff Brooks 13.3, David Jackson 9.8
Top 2 Passers: Tim Frazier 5, Talor Battle 2.9
Top 2 Rebounders: Jeff Brooks 6.5, Andrew Jones 5.5
Top Steals: Tim Frazier 1
Top Blocks: Jeff Brooks 1.4
11 Missouri Tigers 23-10, 9-9
How They Got Here: Big XII At Large
Ken Pom: 34
Ken Pom Off: 28
Ken Pom Def: 53
PPP Off: 1.11 (28)
PPP Def: 0.97 (67)
Top 3 Scorers: Marcus Denmon 17.1, Laurence Bowers 11.6, Ricardo Ratliffe 10.5
Top 2 Passers: Flip Pressey 3.9, Michael Dixon 3.6
Top 2 Rebounders: Laurence Bowers 6.1, Ricardo Ratliffe 6.1
Top Steals: Flip Pressey 1.9
Top Blocks: Laurence Bowers 1.9
12 Memphis Tigers 25-9, 13-6
How They Got Here: Conference USA Tournament Champions
Ken Pom: 85
Ken Pom Off: 134
Ken Pom Def: 60
PPP Off: 1.03 (145)
PPP Def: 0.97 (67)
Top 3 Scorers: Will Barton 12.3, Joe Jackson 9.9, Tarik Black 9.2
Top 2 Passers: Chris Crawford 3.3, Joe Jackson 3.1
Top 2 Rebounders: Tarik Black 5.2, Will Barton 5
Top Steals: Chris Crawford/Will Barton 1.5
Top Blocks: Tarik Black 1.6
13 Oakland Grizzlies 25-9, 20-1
How They Got Here: Summit League Tournament Champions
Ken Pom: 69
Ken Pom Off: 13
Ken Pom Def: 200
PPP Off: 1.18 (3)
PPP Def: 1.05 (266)
Top 3 Scorers: Keith Benson 18, Reggie Hamilton 17.4, Will Hudson 12.5
Top 2 Passers: Reggie Hamilton 5.4, Larry Wright 3
Top 2 Rebounders: Keith Benson 10.1, Will Hudson 7.1
Top Steals: Reggie Hamilton 1.3
Top Blocks: Keith Benson 3.6
14 Bucknell Bisons 25-8, 16-1
How They Got Here: Patriot League Tournament Champions
Ken Pom: 90
Ken Pom Off: 136
Ken Pom Def: 64
PPP Off: 1.07 (66)
PPP Def: 0.96 (52)
Top 3 Scorers: Mike Muscala 14.9, Bryson Johnson 11.7, GW Boon 8.8
Top 2 Passers: Darryl Shazier 5.6, Bryan Cohen 2.5
Top 2 Rebounders: Mike Muscala 7.4, Joe Willman 4.7
Top Steals: Darryl Shazier 1.4
Top Blocks: Mike Muscala 2
15 Nothern Colorado Bears 21-10, 15-3
How They Got Here: Big Sky Tournament Champions
Ken Pom: 122
Ken Pom Off: 113
Ken Pom Def: 139
PPP Off: 1.08 (55)
PPP Def: 0.98 (89)
Top 3 Scorers: Devon Beitzel 21.4, Neal Kingman 10.6, Chris Kaba 9.5
Top 2 Passers: Elliot Lloyd 3.3, Devon Beitzel 1.8
Top 2 Rebounders: Taylor Montgomery 5.7, Mike Proctor 5.6
Top Steals: Devon Beitzel 1.5
Top Blocks: Chris Kaba 0.6
16 Hampton Pirates 24-8, 11-5
How They Got Here: MEAC Tournament Champions
Ken Pom: 211
Ken Pom Off: 291
Ken Pom Def: 94
PPP Off: 0.98 (249)
PPP Def: 0.91 (8)
Top 3 Scorers: Darrion Pellum 17.7, Kwame Morgan II 16.5, Charles Funches 10.7
Top 2 Passers: Brandon Tunnell 4.4, Darrion Pellum 2
Top 2 Rebounders: Charles Funches 7.8, Danny Agbelese 6.1
Top Steals: Darrion Pellum 1.7
Top Blocks: Danny Agbelese 3.2
There you have it, the West region. Things tip off at 2:10 eastern on Thursday, as Temple and Penn State do battle. Full list of game times and announcers here. Enjoy the games everyone.
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