The Southeastern Conference fared pretty well in the selection of teams for the NCAA tournament this year, as well as the individual seedings. While there were no #1 seeds for SEC teams, the league did garner a total of 7 bids to the Big Dance. Vanderbilt got the automatic bid, by virtue of winning the SEC tournament and landed the #4 seed in the Raleigh Regional.

 

The Commodores will open against Western Carolina University on Saturday evening in Albuquerque, NM. The WCU Catamounts won their conference tournament by employing a bit of coaching trickery made famous by Dean Smith, getting a crucial foul call on an inbounds play. Kellie Harper’s team will need to pull a lot more rabbits out of her hat to come away with a first-round upset of the ‘Dores. A lot of eyes are on Harper, one of many former Lady Vols now in the coaching profession. An upset of Vanderbilt could, literally, be of great value to her. 

Is there such a thing as a “former” Lady Vol? I confess that I think of them something like the Marines–and there IS no such thing as a “former” Marine. But I digress...

 

LSU was also placed in the Raleigh Regional, as the #6 seed. The Tigers will take on 11^th seeded Green Bay on Sunday evening, with the added advantage of hosting the contest in Baton Rouge, LA. Should they win, their most likely foe will be the Louisville Cardinals (I watched Liberty’s tournament championship game and don’t expect much competition from them) and that will result in the lower seed, LSU, hosting the favored Louisville team. It could be an excellent matchup.

 

The Trenton Regional includes 8^th seeded Florida, who will play the Temple Owls, early, on Sunday afternoon. If momentum means anything, this game could be a struggle for both teams. Florida wound up the regular season by losing 5 of their last 6 games; Temple won 6 of their last 7–but the seventh was a the conference championship loss to Charlotte, who stomped them pretty good, 73-50.

 

Andy Landers’ Georgia Bulldogs are also in the Trenton Regional and they will suit up against Arizona State at noon on Saturday. They also have a home-region advantage, playing in Duluth GA. It’s not a home court, but if the place isn’t packed with Georgia fans, it will truly be a shame. The last time I checked out the website for regionals tickets (admittedly, it was shortly before even the conference tournament was held) there were still courtside seats available and at a very reasonable price. (If I’d be willing to pay it, it’s either reasonable or downright cheap.)

 

The Bulldogs have been wildly inconsistent this season. Maybe playing close to home will spur them on in the tournament and inspire them to prove that they do belong there.

The Berkeley Regional includes #5 Tennessee (their lowest seed in their history) and 11^th seed Mississippi State, who could surprise some people. Tennessee will play Ball State in the opening round at Bowling Green. They play the second game of the evening, so starting time will be somewhere around 8:30 pm EDT. The 25-8 Cardinals are long on experience, but the young Lady Vols will likely feel less-than-normal pressure as a #5 seed and opponents would do well not to underestimate them.

 

Sharon Fanning and her Mississippi State University Bulldogs will find the Texas Longhorns waiting for them in Columbus, OH at noon on Saturday. If Texas’ play is as ragged as it was when they bowed out of their conference tournament, MSU could advance to the second round with an early upset win.

The Oklahoma City Regional includes the SEC’s highest seed, the regular season champion Auburn Tigers, who were awarded the #2 seed. The Tigers have a potentially very rocky road between them and the Final Four, with the possibility of having to beat Rutgers (on their home court), North Carolina and Oklahoma (on THEIR home court) in successive games, in order to reach the Final Four. In my opinion, that is the toughest path to follow in the toughest bracket in the tournament.

 

The Tigers begin the journey with a contest against Lehigh of the Patriot League at noon on Saturday, in Piscataway, NJ. A preview of that game will be posted by tomorrow, at the latest.

The NCAA women’s tournament kicks off on Saturday at noon, with universal coverage by ESPN2. Opening day coverage will, no doubt, be annoying as the coverage of games shifts according to the whims of the producers and the perceived interest level in the game.

 

Nevertheless, I will be in front of a TV set (with a cold Diet Dr. Pepper) watching my brackets and waiting for news of the first upset. I suggest that you do the same.