Bracket Thoughts: West Region

POTENTIAL CINDERELLA: (13) Murray State. This is one instance where the committee seeded a mid-major correctly. Murray State won 30 games this year. I don't care who you're playing; if you can win 30 games, you deserve to get a bone thrown your way. These guys certainly got one, too, as they face Vanderbilt (more on them in a minute). This is a very winnable matchup in an otherwise chalk-filled bracket.

MOST OVERSEEDED TEAM: (4) Vanderbilt. These guys beat Tennessee twice, which is fine and good. Beyond that, their "quality wins" against tournament teams are over Florida and Missouri, two of the last teams into the Big Dance. That's not the resume of a 4-seed, and I think they're extremely vulnerable against a hungry Murray State bunch.

POTENTIAL GAME TO WATCH: (1) Syracuse vs. (5) Butler, Sweet 16. I was drinking the Butler Kool-Aid Sunday, and actually thought they could sneak onto the 2-line. They're a well-rounded group who went 28-4 this year, and they could end up facing the 12 and 13-seeds in the first two rounds, which is as easy a road to the Sweet 16 as you'll find. Meanwhile, Syracuse is on pins and needles awaiting more word about center Arinze Onuaku's quad injury. As good as Kris Joseph is, he is not a natural power forward, and Butler could look to exploit that if AO isn't A-OK.

WHO WINS THE REGIONAL: Syracuse. Simply put, on pure talent alone, they're one of the best teams in the nation. Right now, it looks like Onuaku's quad will at least be ready for SOME action in the round of 16, and that should be enough to propel the Orange past Kansas State and all other challengers.

HOW IT HAPPENS:

(1) Syracuse over (16) Vermont
(8) Gonzaga over (9) Florida State
(5) Butler over (12) UTEP
(13) Murray State over (4) Vanderbilt
(6) Xavier over (11) Minnesota
(3) Pitt over (14) Oakland
(7) BYU over (10) Florida
(2) Kansas State over (15) North Texas

(1) Syracuse over (8) Gonzaga
(5) Butler over (13) Murray State
(3) Pitt over (6) Xavier
(2) Kansas State over (7) BYU

(1) Syracuse over (5) Butler
(2) Kansas State over (3) Pitt

(1) Syracuse over (2) Kansas State