Keeping It Heel
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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 /
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Mar 4, 2017; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons forward John Collins (20) dribbles towards the basket while being defended by Virginia Tech Hokies forward Zach LeDay (32) in the second half at Cassell Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Michael Shroyer-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2017; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons forward John Collins (20) dribbles towards the basket while being defended by Virginia Tech Hokies forward Zach LeDay (32) in the second half at Cassell Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Michael Shroyer-USA TODAY Sports /

Teams 5 and 6

NCAA Appearance: 23rd (First Since 2010)

Head Coach: Danny Manning, 43-51 (Third Season)

Top Players: F John Collins: 18.9 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 1.6 bpg (ACC Most Improved Player); G Bryant Crawford: 16.1 ppg, 5.4 apg, 1.4 spg; G Keyshawn Woods: 12.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.5 apg.

How they got here: Went 19-13 overall and 9-9 to finish tenth in the ACC. Received and at large bid after losing to number seven seed Virginia Tech 99-90 in the ACC second round.

Best Case Scenario: John Collins channels his inner Tim Duncan and the Deacons cruise by Kansas State in the play in Game and Cincinnati in the first round. Brandon Childress turns into his dad Randolph and Wake Forest upsets UCLA on their way to the Sweet Sixteen.

Playing in their first Sweet Sixteen since 2004, Wake Forest comes back to earth. They get a reality check in the form of Malik Monk and Kentucky and get beat soundly in Memphis.

Mar 12, 2017; Hartford, CT, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats guard Jarron Cumberland (34) drives the ball against Southern Methodist Mustangs guard Shake Milton (1) in the second half of the championship game during the AAC Conference Tournament at XL Center. SMU defeated Cincinnati 71-56. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2017; Hartford, CT, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats guard Jarron Cumberland (34) drives the ball against Southern Methodist Mustangs guard Shake Milton (1) in the second half of the championship game during the AAC Conference Tournament at XL Center. SMU defeated Cincinnati 71-56. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /

NCAA Appearance: 31st (First Since 2016)

Head Coach: Mick Cronin, 234-133 (11th Season)

Top Players: F Gary Clark: 10.7 ppg, 7.9 rpg; G Troy Caupain: 10.1 ppg, 4.6 apg, 4.5 rpg (AAC Sportsman of the Year); G Jarron Cumberland: 8.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg (AAC co-sixth man of the Year).

How they got here: Went 29-4 overall and 16-2 to finish second in the American. Received and at large bid after losing to number one seed SMU 71-56 in the AAC Finals.

Best Case Scenario: Cincinnati, having felt disrespected all season, takes it out on the South. First they crush John Collins and Wake Forest  and then upset UCLA in the second round.

They go on to show Kentucky that Bearcats are better than Wildcats winning a close one in the Sweet Sixteen. Cincinnati’s run ends there though as the Bearcats can’t handle UNC on the boards and lose in the Elite Eight.

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