NCAA Tournament: South Region Power Rankings

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Mar 12, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Malik Monk (5) gestures to the Arkansas Razorbacks bench after a basket during the SEC Conference Tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Kentucky won 82-65. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /

Teams 1 and 2

NCAA Appearance: 57th (First Since 2016)

Head Coach: John Calipari, 246-52 (Eighth Season)

Top Players: G Malik Monk: 20.4 ppg, 2.4 apg (SEC AP Player of the Year); G De’Aaron Fox: 16.1 ppg, 4.8 apg, 4.1 rpg (SEC tournament MVP); F Edrice “Bam” Adebayo: 13.3 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 1.6 bpg (SEC Second Team).

How they got here: Went 29-5 overall and 16-2 to finish first in the SEC. Beat number three seed Arkansas 82-65 to claim the SEC automatic qualifier.

Best Case Scenario: Kentucky easily beats Northern Kentucky in the opening round and then holds off a revengeful Wichita State team in the second. They then get revenge on UCLA in the Sweet Sixteen.

They meet up against UNC in the Elite Eight in a rematch of one of the best games of the year. Malik Monk sinks the game winning three and the Wildcats go on to beat Oregon in the Final Four. Kentucky falls short of a championship though when Villanova beats them with a Josh Hart layup at the buzzer.

Mar 10, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Isaiah Hicks (4) dunks during the second half against the Duke Blue Devils during the ACC Conference Tournament at Barclays Center. Duke Blue Devils won 93-83. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /

NCAA Appearance: 48th (First Since 2016)

Head Coach: Roy Williams, 392-115 (14th Season)

Top Players: F Justin Jackson: 18.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg (ACC Player of the Year); G Joel Berry II: 14.8 ppg, 3.7 apg, 1.4 spg (ACC Second Team); F Isaiah Hicks: 12.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg (ACC Tournament First Team).

How they got here: Went 27-7 overall and 14-4 to finish first in the ACC. Received and at large bid after losing to number five seed Duke 93-83 in the ACC semifinals.

Best Case Scenario: UNC is on a mission after losing to Duke again in the ACC tournament. Justin Jackson goes for 40 against Texas Southern and 35 against Arkansas. Joel Berry II then hits seven threes as UNC cruises past Butler in the Sweet 16.

In the Elite Eight UNC gets revenge against Kentucky as Theo Pinson shuts down Malik Monk. The Tar Heels then run through Oregon in the Final Four where they meet up with Villanova for a second straight season.

This time around, UNC is ready for the Wildcats. They get the ball down low early and often and Kennedy Meeks and Isaiah Hicks combine for 50 points and 30 rebounds as the Tar Heels get revenge. UNC wins championship number six and Roy gets title number three.

Well, that is how the South shakes out. If these rankings hold, UNC should get revenge on Kentucky and advance to their second straight Final Four. Of course, if the seeds always shook out the way the committee ranked them, there would be no need to play the games.

So sit back and relax and enjoy another amazing tournament. Hopefully this one will end with the last shot going the Tar Heel’s way.

What did you think of these rankings? Let us know in the comments below.

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