NCAA Tournament: Virginia, Tennessee headline South Region primer

Teams to watch in the South Region

Favorite to win: Virginia

The most efficient team in the country, Virginia is the clear-cut favorite to win this region. After falling to a No. 16 seed in the first round a year ago, the Cavaliers will be out for revenge and this could result in the team going all the way to the national championship. Ty Jerome and Kyle Guy are the offensive leaders and cold-blooded shooters in the backcourt while De’Andre Hunter is one of the nation’s most versatile players. Head coach Tony Bennett’s squad is out to cut down the nets in Minnesota and that just might happen.

Sleeper pick: Villanova

Thanks to the presence of two senior leaders in Eric Paschall and Phil Booth, Villanova has what it takes to make yet another deep run. Throughout this season, the Wildcats have gone through multiple stretches where they look like either a darkhorse title contender or a team that might not have even made the NCAA Tournament altogether. So, with the Big Dance now here, which version of the Wildcats will show up? If recent play is any indication, we could be in for watching Jay Wright‘s team make yet another deep run as they are coming off of a Big East Tournament title.

If the slipper fits…UC Irvine

UC Irvine might just be a No. 13 seed but they can be very dangerous due to their superb defensive system. The Anteaters might not rank extremely high in adjusted defensive efficiency due to their poor strength of schedule but their system is ideal for winning basketball games. UC Irvine emphasizes stifling ball movement and 3-point attempts while also protecting the paint as well. They have won 16 consecutive games and have the talent needed to win multiple games. They might not be a Final Four team but don’t sleep on second-weekend potential.