2015 NCAA Tournament: Bracket Busters in the East Region

After the 2015 NCAA Tournament Bracket was released, the East Region appeared to be the most up for grabs, showing a potential for many upsets.

“Wide open” is rarely a term used to describe an NCAA Tournament region. Each region will usually have their two or so dominant teams that experts will identify as the clear favorites to come away with a regional title. In the East Region of the 2015 NCAA Tournament, the favorite is…well, let me get back to you about that.

No. 8 – North Carolina State Wolfpack

The Wolfpack may have only had 10 wins during conference play and finished sixth in the ACC, but they are a big time team. Oxymoronic statement? It would seem so, but bare with me.

They did not start their conference schedule well, but they finished it by winning five of their last six games and finished the regular season with wins against Duke, North Carolina, and Louisville (all highly seeded tournament teams). They have proven that they can compete with the best. All NC State has to do is win against the best consistently.

The Wolfpack’s guards have the potential to collectively take over games. For the season, Anthony Barber, Trevor Lacey, and Ralston Turner scoring 58.3 percent of the teams. If those guards take their games to another level, they can roll through Villanova and challenge Louisville, who they beat already, and make it to the Elite Eight.

No. 9 – Louisiana State Tigers

I will cheat a little here and increase my chances of a lower seed advancing far in the tournament by picking the aforementioned NC State’s bracket matchup. Not that it’s unwarranted; LSU is still a good basketball team.

Unlike the Wolfpack, who are guard-dependent, the Tigers lean on the brilliant play of their forwards to guide them to wins. Jarell Martin leads the charge, averaging 16.9 points and 9.2 rebounds for the year. Behind him, Jordan Mickey averages 15.5 points and 9.8 rebounds. However, those aren’t the only weapons they have.

Live Feed

Cincinnati Basketball: Bearcats announce upcoming matchups against ACC foe Georgia Tech /

Cincy on the Prowl

College Basketball: Ranking the Nine "Blue Blood" programsGo Joe Bruin

Miami basketball win rankings over the last 2 seasonsCanes Warning

UCLA Basketball: Best wins of the Mick Cronin EraGo Joe Bruin

Miami Basketball big opportunity at Kentucky in ACC/SEC ChallengeCanes Warning

South Carolina Baseball: Florida silences Gamecocks' bats to end USC's season in super regionalGarnet and Cocky

They also have support from the perimeter in Keith Hornsby and Tim Quarterman, who are averaging a combined 24.9 points per game. That kind of talent should have won them more games, but their execution has eluded them at times.

However, if they can figure out how to play with one another and harness that talent level, they can give Villanova and Louisville trouble.

No. 12 – Wyoming Cowboys

Our second Mountain West team on our Bracket Buster Watch and they’re going to do it in the same fashion. The Cowboys hang their hats on their defense and they can bring it on that end of the court.

Wyoming is only giving up 56 points per game for the season, which ranks 8^th in the nation. They rode that defense to a Mountain West Tournament Championship, where they held San Diego State to 43 points.

On offense, Larry Nance, Jr. has carried the Cowboys with 16.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. We have seen single players carry teams in the tournament before past the first round, but Wyoming has the defense to support him and advance even further.

Next: Three Bracket Busters in the South Region

More from Busting Brackets

Home/LSU Tigers