NCAA tournament East Region: Which teams can challenge Villanova?
FOX Sports analyzes all four brackets of the 2015 NCAA tournament. Here, an in-depth look at the East Region:
NO. 1 VS. THE FIELD: Villanova shouldn't slip up against North Carolina State or LSU, but it will likely face a difficult regional semifinal and final. If the Wildcats can get past Louisville or Northern Iowa in the Sweet 16, a heavyweight fight with Virginia could loom in the Elite Eight.
BEST FIRST-ROUND MATCHUP: North Carolina State (8) vs. LSU (9). In a region that doesn't seem to have many first-round upset possibilities, North Carolina State and LSU provides an interesting matchup. The Wolfpack and Tigers have seven wins combined against RPI top-50 teams and are both capable of knocking off Villanova in the Round of 32. It will be LSU's frontcourt duo of Jordan Mickey and Jarell Martin against North Carolina State's guard tandem of Trevor Lacey and Ralston Turner.
MORE BRACKET ANALYSIS: Midwest | West | South
BRACKET BUSTER: Michigan State (7). The Spartans enter the NCAA tournament fresh off a near upset of No. 1 seed Wisconsin in the Big Ten championship game and playing their best basketball of the season. Michigan State and Virginia would be an entertaining game in the Round of 32, as the Spartans ended the Cavaliers' run in the Sweet 16 last season.
STARTING FIVE (the East's best players): 1. Kris Dunn, PG, Providence (15.8 ppg, 7.6 apg); 2. Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville (15.7 ppg, 9.5 rpg); 3. Buddy Hield, SG, Oklahoma (17.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg); 4. Seth Tuttle, F, Northern Iowa (15.3 ppg, 6.8 rpg); 5. Justin Anderson, SF, Virginia (12.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg). Finally healthy, Dunn put everything together to share Big East player of the year honors with Villanova's Ryan Arcidiacono. Tuttle, who may fly under the radar, is one of 10 semifinalists for the Naismith Award. Either Arcidiacono or teammate Darrun Hilliard easily could have been on the list, but Villanova doesn't rely on a single player to be successful.
MATCHUP WE'D LOVE TO SEE: Villanova vs. Virginia could be one of the NCAA tournament's best games if both teams make it to the Elite Eight. The Wildcats and Cavaliers play stifling defense with great guard play leading efficient offenses. This would be a Final Four-caliber matchup, especially if Anderson – who has battled back from broken finger and an emergency appendectomy -- is healthy for Virginia.
MORE: FULL EAST REGION TV SCHEDULE
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