South Regional
South regional: Road could get rough for 1-loss Memphis
By: By John Mullin | Tribune reporter | ChicagoTribune.com
Memphis enters the NCAA tournament with the fewest losses of any team in the postseason. But in perhaps the most loaded of the four regions, the Tigers' chances of emerging are problematic.
Several highly seeded teams are coming in with suspect momentum, but No. 2 seed Texas went 5-3 against ranked teams and was 12-2 down the stretch. The Longhorns fell in the Big 12 tournament final to powerhouse Kansas, whom they beat by three at home in the regular season.
A problem for any eventual winner is that the regional is replete with physical teams like No. 4 Pittsburgh, which usually exact a bruising toll even if they lose. Memphis has 10 players averaging nearly 10 minutes per game or more, depth that can be a factor against Texas or Pitt.
Not since Kentucky in 1998 has a team come out of the South regional to win the national championship. And the Wildcats are lurking with the 11th seed in this draw.
Who's hot: Pittsburgh. The Panthers recovered from a three-game stumble a month ago to win seven of their final eight, including four wins in four days to take the Big East tournament title. The last three of those were over ranked teams and may have taken a toll, but an emotional team now has a little time to rest and recharge.
Who's not: Marquette, Michigan State and Stanford. None of the three survived its conference tournament, and each was 3-3 over its final six games. None of them comes into the tournament with a true head of steam.
Cinderella fellas: Marquette. A lackluster stretch run may get the Golden Eagles a tiny bit overlooked, and they are sitting in the half of the draw away from Memphis. Tom Crean is a proven big-game coach who can get a good team up for Kentucky and, presumably, Stanford before an expected look at Texas. Marquette has played ranked teams particularly close and has a balanced scoring foursome that is difficult to shut down completely.
Projected regional champion: Memphis. As tough as the bracket is, only Tennessee was good enough to upend the Tigers, and only a handful of teams all season managed to lose by less than double figures. Its Conference USA schedule was not the toughest, but Memphis was 8-1 against tournament qualifiers.
Regionals: Friday and Sunday, March 28 and 30, 2008
South Regional
Reliant Stadium
Houston, Texas
Host: University of Houston and Rice University
Ticket Info: $156
Phone: 832/667-1514
Web site: reliantpark.com
Official Packages: www.ncaa.com/regionals
Final Four: April 5 and 7, 2008
Alamodome
San Antonio, Texas
Host: University of Texas-San Antonio
Ticket Price: $220/$190/$170/$140
Final Four Tickets Info: SOLD OUT
Official Packages: www.ncaa.com/hospitality
NCAA Tournament Updates:
East Regional
West Regional
Midwest Regional
South Regional
Final Four
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