Keeping It Heel
Fansided

NCAA Tournament: South Region Power Rankings

By Brandon Griffin

Dec 3, 2016; Lexington, KY, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball (2) dribbles the ball against Kentucky Wildcats guard De'Aaron Fox (0) at Rupp Arena. UCLA defeated Kentucky 97-92. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2016; Lexington, KY, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball (2) dribbles the ball against Kentucky Wildcats guard De'Aaron Fox (0) at Rupp Arena. UCLA defeated Kentucky 97-92. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 9
Next
Feb 4, 2017; Dayton, OH, USA; Dayton Flyers guard Scoochie Smith (11) looks to pass the ball against the Duquesne Dukes in the second half at the University of Dayton Arena. The Flyers won 90-53. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 4, 2017; Dayton, OH, USA; Dayton Flyers guard Scoochie Smith (11) looks to pass the ball against the Duquesne Dukes in the second half at the University of Dayton Arena. The Flyers won 90-53. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

Teams 11 and 12

NCAA Appearance: 18th (First Since 2016)

Head Coach: Archie Miller, 140-62 (Sixth Season)

Top Players: G Scoochie Smith: 13.5 ppg, 4.5 apg (A10 First Team); G Charles Cooke: 16.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg (A10 All Defensive Team); G Kyle Davis: 8.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg (A10 sixth man of the Year).

How they got here: Went 24-7 overall and 15-3 to finish first in the Atlantic 10. Received and at large bid after losing to number nine seed Davidson 73-67 in the A10 quarterfinals.

Best Case Scenario: The Flyers come out flying and Wichita State is shocked. They then stun the Wildcats as Charles Cooke holds Malik Monk in check. The Flyers reach the Sweet 16 where their wings burn up in the sun of Lonzo Ball and the Bruins.

Archie Miller turns down the Illinois job and stays in Dayton on a new six-year contract.

Mar 5, 2017; St. Louis, MO, USA; Wichita State Shockers guard Landry Shamet (11) celebrates with guard C.J. Keyser (3) after defeating the Illinois State Redbirds during the Championship game of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at Scottrade Center. Wichita State won 71-51. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 5, 2017; St. Louis, MO, USA; Wichita State Shockers guard Landry Shamet (11) celebrates with guard C.J. Keyser (3) after defeating the Illinois State Redbirds during the Championship game of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at Scottrade Center. Wichita State won 71-51. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

NCAA Appearance: 14th (First Since 2016)

Head Coach: Gregg Marshall, 260-89 (10th Season)

Top Players: G Landry Shamet: 11.1 ppg, 3.3 apg (MVC Freshmen of the year); F Markis McDuffie: 11.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.2 spg (MVC First Team); G Conner Frankamp: 9.2 ppg, 2.7 apg (MVC Tournament MVP).

How they got here: Went 30-4 overall and 17-1 to finish tied for first in the Missouri Valley Conference. Beat number one seed Illinois State 71-51 to claim the MVC automatic qualifier.

Best Case Scenario: The Shockers come out shooting and put away Dayton early. With revenge on their mind for the 2014 season, Wichita State comes out blazing against Kentucky sending the Wildcats home in the round of 32 a second-straight season, leading to Fire Cal signs in Lexington.

They follow that up as Landry Shamet out-plays fellow freshman Lonzo Ball and the bandwagon is back on for the Shockers. Feeling confident they come out against UNC flat in the Elite Eight and lose by ten to the Tar Heels.

Home/UNC Basketball