NCAA Tournament 2013 Bracket Breakdown: South
The Top seed is Flawed: Kansas really is a two man show – Ben McLemore, a star, and Jeff Withey, a shot-blocking force. Other than that, the Jayhawks have a bunch of hit-and-miss role players. Elijah Johnson, their streaky point guard, will be the key to a Final Four run. KU is the lowest-ranked #1 seed according to Ken Pom (8th, behind Pittsburgh, which is an 8th seed), and remember, KU lost to lowly TCU and was blown out by Baylor at the end of the regular season.
Random Stat: Florida is 0-6 in games decided by single digits this season.
Future NBA Players: Ben McLemore (Kansas) could be the No. 1 pick in the June draft. Otto Porter (Georgetown) could be the No. 1 pick in the draft. Trey Burke (Michigan) could win the National POY award. Shabazz Muhammad of UCLA was considered a Top 3 pick in the 2013 draft, but then he stepped on the court and now he’s considered more of a late-lottery pick.
All-important Ken Pom defensive efficiency team to watch: The stats say Florida is a monster. Current Ken Pom rankings: overall (1), offensive efficiency (5), defensive efficiency (2). But the Gators have lost four of nine to close the season and if you care about “ranked teams,” Florida’s last win over a ranked team was Feb. 12 against Kentucky. That was the Nerlens Noel game. The Wildcats didn’t make the field.
Best Leaper in the Region: Rodney Williams, Minnesota.
Double-digit Darkhorse: South Dakota State (13). The Jackrabbits have one of the best guards you probably don’t know much about (Nate Wolters), and Michigan can be shaky defensively (58th, according to Ken Pom) and lost in the first round last year to Ohio.
Obligatory GIF that Represents the Region: Ben McLemore can Kansas dance. Here’s the entire team jumping in. And here’s Bill Self doing what appears to be an electric slide.
Upset special: Give me North Carolina – which I’ve been down on all year – over Kansas in the second round. The Tar Heels have been hot from deep lately, especially PJ Hairston, Reggie Bullock and Marcus Paige. I’ll look forward to the McAdoo-Withey showdown inside.
If you like Dunks: Jamaal Franklin of San Diego St had one of the best dunks of the regular season.
Matchups I can’t wait to see: Burke vs. VCU’s press in the second round; UNC vs. Kansas (Roy Williams vs. his old school; also a rematch from the 2012 Elite 8); Georgetown vs. Kansas (for Porter vs. McLemore).
Regular season result you may or may not care about: Florida Gulf Coast beat Miami very early in the season (Durand Scott didn’t play for the Hurricanes). That result, plus Georgetown struggling in the tourney in its last four dances (2-4, two first round losses) means keep an eye on an upset.
Celebration GIF you might enjoy: The Oklahoma bench playing the air guitar.
Underdog, but only in seeding: Minnesota (11) vs. UCLA (6). The Gophers are 3-point favorites.
Nate Silver likes …: Florida.


- A.P. on Jalen Rose Leaving Numbers Never Lie, Jemele Hill in as New Co-Host
- The Wayne Fontes Safari on Jalen Rose Leaving Numbers Never Lie, Jemele Hill in as New Co-Host
- VladimirCrouton on Jalen Rose Leaving Numbers Never Lie, Jemele Hill in as New Co-Host
- beardown on Jalen Rose Leaving Numbers Never Lie, Jemele Hill in as New Co-Host
- Flaccid Indigestion on Jalen Rose Leaving Numbers Never Lie, Jemele Hill in as New Co-Host
39 Responses to “NCAA Tournament 2013 Bracket Breakdown: South”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.






March 18th, 2013 at 11:42 AM
UCLA moneyline is the easiest bet in this region
March 18th, 2013 at 11:44 AM
I literally fill out my bracket in about 45 seconds, then after reading this I’m second guessing every decision. Although my heart (UNC fan) says upset over Kansas, my gut says Nova beats them. Going chalk in this region with Kansas beating G-town to reach Atlanta
March 18th, 2013 at 11:46 AM
Underdog, but only in seeding: Minnesota (11) vs. UCLA (6). The Gophers are 3-point favorites.
Gophers will not. I repeat. Will Not beat UCLA.
March 18th, 2013 at 11:48 AM
I heard one coach say that Michigan has a good draw because South Dakota State doesn’t play great defense and is not a physical team. I then heard a radio guy say that Michigan has a bad draw because SDS shoots great, especially from 3 point and UM doesn’t defend the 3 point line well.
March 18th, 2013 at 11:50 AM
Doesn’t TBL have the Golden Gophers easily advancing to the Sweet 16?
March 18th, 2013 at 11:51 AM
Cant wait for the Jack Rabbits to knock Michigan out.
March 18th, 2013 at 11:52 AM
Doesn’t TBL have the Golden Gophers easily advancing to the Sweet 16?
Did they fire Tubby? If not, this won’t happen.
March 18th, 2013 at 11:53 AM
There’s a certain freedom to filling out a bracket and knowing nothing about the teams. I went B10 heavy (insert Trey joke here) with 4 teams in the Elite 8. I have Indiana beating Duke for the title.
March 18th, 2013 at 11:53 AM
Didn’t UCLA lose their best player to injury in the past week? Seems like Minnesota is a good upset pick here.
March 18th, 2013 at 11:57 AM
Gophers are poorly coached, so they play to the level of their competition. If “UCLA has no chance because they lost their best player” gets a ton of play this week, you can bet on the Gophers no-showing.
March 18th, 2013 at 11:58 AM
Could you guys throw up a link to the bracket on these?
March 18th, 2013 at 12:00 PM
Upset special: Give me North Carolina – which I’ve been down on all year – over Kansas in the second round.
Goodness. I would love to play UNC. Easy win. Roy pisses his pants anytime the name KU comes up, much less has to play them. And the game is in KU’s back yard where they are 6-0 this season. Gimme UNC all day.
March 18th, 2013 at 12:02 PM
Celebration GIF you might enjoy: The Oklahoma bench playing the air guitar.
Ah, yes. The kid with the flannel shirt that is not at all flannel.
March 18th, 2013 at 12:02 PM
I’d have to double check, but Villanova is something like 2-53 this year when they aren’t playing at home. I wouldn’t be too concerned.
March 18th, 2013 at 12:07 PM
Gimme Kansas moneyline all day.
March 18th, 2013 at 12:08 PM
Re: the Pittsburgh tazing video, the lame-duck mayor has now come out calling for him to be fired. Awesome.
March 18th, 2013 at 12:08 PM
you mention wolters and don’t link to your two posts?
new day rising
/husker du’d
March 18th, 2013 at 12:11 PM
Still not sure if Michigan’s losing their first game or going to be playing for a Final Four spot. I really don’t see anything in between happening.
March 18th, 2013 at 12:12 PM
This should really be a slideshow.
March 18th, 2013 at 12:13 PM
GAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
http://www.kshb.com/dpp/news/local_news/KCFD-Man-falls-into-shredder-loses-2-limbs
This should really be a slideshow.
Don’t give him any ideas.
March 18th, 2013 at 12:17 PM
KU might be able to take it to another level if Perry Ellis has finally figured stuff out. He’s 23-30 FG in his last 4 games and could be that important reliable third scorer KU has needed all year.
March 18th, 2013 at 12:19 PM
not contributing to a sports blog anymore but i’ll still have my family do a bracket. four kids, each get a region. wife does the final four and ncg picks
hilarity ensues
March 18th, 2013 at 12:20 PM
Speaking of awesome tournaments with “madness,” how about the WBC this year?
March 18th, 2013 at 12:23 PM
I really want to click on this but more of me doesn’t want to click on this.
March 18th, 2013 at 12:23 PM
football fans, a nice feature on matt bowen, who is a favorite of fans who like the nuts and bolts of the game
trying to do a story on him and he sent me the link to see if there’s anything i’d want to do differently
March 18th, 2013 at 12:25 PM
And what was the matter with that Bob Knight interview that was linked last night?
I watched it and couldn’t figure out what the problem was.
March 18th, 2013 at 12:25 PM
UNC has a similar record against tournament teams.
March 18th, 2013 at 12:25 PM
Angel Pagan just. wins. baseball games.
March 18th, 2013 at 12:27 PM
Based on the lack of coverage here and everywhere else, I hadn’t put much stock in the event, but after watching a few games, the atmosphere and competition have been stellar.
March 18th, 2013 at 12:27 PM
I really want to click on this but more of me doesn’t want to click on this.
reading about it is easy. seeing it happen i would not click on
March 18th, 2013 at 12:31 PM
March 18th, 2013 at 12:35 PM
Me and a buddy are doing the Women’s bracket this year, loser has to attend a WNBA game alone. Since I assume there are no upsets between the top 4, round 1 should decide my fate.
March 18th, 2013 at 12:37 PM
Based on the lack of coverage here and everywhere else, I hadn’t put much stock in the event, but after watching a few games, the atmosphere and competition have been stellar.
the intensity and culture of baseball in Latin America is very cool. went to a mexican League game in Oaxaca in 2000 and there were cheerleaders
March 18th, 2013 at 12:37 PM
Nobody likes a kicker.
March 18th, 2013 at 12:37 PM
I love it when ESPN talking heads predict a 10 over a 7 as their “Upset Special.”
March 18th, 2013 at 12:37 PM
Ow
March 18th, 2013 at 12:45 PM
i feel like i could do that mclemore dance
March 18th, 2013 at 12:53 PM
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A man lost both legs Monday morning when he apparently fell into a tire shredder as he was cleaning it at a tire shop in Kansas City, authorities said.
The place was called New Tire City.
March 18th, 2013 at 1:16 PM
Don’t you mean, “loser has to buy a ticket and pretend to have gone to a WNBA game”