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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 10, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Bryce Alford (20) dribbles during a Pac-12 Conference Tournament game against the Arizona Wildcats at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 10, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Bryce Alford (20) dribbles during a Pac-12 Conference Tournament game against the Arizona Wildcats at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /

Teams 3 and 4

NCAA Appearance: 48th (First Since 2015)

Head Coach: Steve Alford, 94-44 (Fourth Season)

Top Players: G Lonzo Ball: 14.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 7.7 apg (Pac 12 Freshmen of the Year); F TJ Leaf: 16.2 ppg, 8.3 rpg (Pac 12 First team); G Bryce Alford: 15.8 ppg, 2.6 apg (Pac 12 First Team).

How they got here: Went 29-4 overall and 15-3 to finish third in the Pac 12. Received and at large bid after losing to number two seed Arizona 86-75 in the Pac 12 Semifinals.

Best Case Scenario: Lonzo Ball listens to his dad and becomes Steph Curry. The Bruins cruise through the first weekend beating Kent State and Cincinnati easily.

In the Sweet Sixteen, the Bruins show that beating Kentucky at Rupp wasn’t a fluke by doing it again in Memphis. However, just like Steph Curry, Ball’s team can’t get past the Elite Eight falling just short to UNC.

Mar 9, 2017; New York, NY, USA; Butler Bulldogs guard Tyler Lewis (1) lands on cheerleaders after making a layup against the Xavier Musketeers during the second half of the Big East Conference Tournament Quarterfinals at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 9, 2017; New York, NY, USA; Butler Bulldogs guard Tyler Lewis (1) lands on cheerleaders after making a layup against the Xavier Musketeers during the second half of the Big East Conference Tournament Quarterfinals at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports /

NCAA Appearance: 15th (First Since 2016)

Head Coach: Chris Holtmann, 68-30 (Third Season)

Top Players: F Andrew Chrabascz: 11 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.2 apg (First Team Big East); F Kelan Martin: 16.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg (Second Team Big East); G Kamar Baldwin: 10 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.8 spg (Big East Freshmen Team).

How they got here: Went 23-7 overall and 12-6 to finish second in the Big East. Received and at large bid after losing to number seven seed Xavier 62-57 in the Big East quarterfinals.

Best Case Scenario: Butler does Butler things and easily beats Winthrop. They then handle Minnesota in the next round before squeaking by UNC in the Sweet 16.

The Bulldogs continue their reign over the Wildcats, this time the Kentucky version, and make it to the Final Four for the first time since 2011. However their luck runs out there as they are beaten by Oregon in the Final Four.

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