Here are my two regions I wrote up for the brackets: The Midwest and The West!
Midwest Region
#1 Kentucky – The Wildcats are undeniably the most talented team in the country this year, and are the favorites to cut down the nets in Indianapolis. Of course, with John Calipari as the Coach, no white guy is really going to get close to seeing the floor for them. I hate this team and hope they lose.
#16 Hampton – A group of all-black racists who are going to get blown out by Kentucky. Despite not having a single white player on the roster, they suck. I hope they enjoyed the flight.
#8 Cincinnati – There’s three certainties in life: death, taxes, and a Mick Cronin coached team being all-black. The Bearcats are another team that I really despise. I haven’t watched this team much this year nor do I care to.
#9 Purdue – The Boilermakers are back in the Big Dance after a brief hiatus. They have also gotten back somewhat to playing with their white players, as they have two key contributors this year, with one of them starting. That would be 6-4 freshman two guard Dakota Mathias, who assumed starting midway through the year. He is a lot like Josh Gasser in the fact that his contributions will not always show up in the box score; although he can score if he gets to shoot. The 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] guy is somebody whom I think will explode next year, and that is 7-2 freshman center Isaac Haas. He’s still adjusting a bit to the college game, but he’s shown flashes this year of turning into a good player. He started for a few games earlier in the year, in order to motivate their “star†black center, who, when pushed by a white guy, suddenly started playing better. Weird how that works, isn’t it? At any rate, Haas doesn’t see too much time any more, and Mathias sees anywhere from 20-35 minutes in a game as of the Big Ten tournament. Still a much better option than Cincy though.
#5 West Virginia – Once a team that played a ton of talented white players like Joe Alexander or Mike Gansey, Bob Huggins put an end to that fairly quickly after he took over for Jon Beilien. They still manage one white starter, forward Nathan Adrian, who doesn’t play very much and sees the ball even less. The Mountaineers play a very up-tempo style of basketball predicated on forcing turnovers and pushing the pace. However, they also turn the ball over a lot and besides getting steals, their defense isn’t good at all, at 179[SUP]th[/SUP] in the country. If a team controls the tempo and doesn’t turn the ball over, West Virginia is done.
#12 Buffalo – Bobby Hurley has the Bulls dancing for the first time in school history. It looks like he’s inherited a fairly dark roster with only one white guy, reserve forward Will Regan, seeing any time. I haven’t watched them at all this year, but from looking at stats, it doesn’t appear Regan does much of anything, other than spell the actual basketball players, averaging about 6 PPG. It is pretty much a wash between them and West Virginia.
#4 Maryland – The Terps were one of the surprise teams this season, finishing 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] in the Big Ten their first year in the conference. They have one white starter in athletic 6’8 guard/forward Jake Layman. Layman (who is also an NBA prospect) is very fun to watch, and has some excellent athleticism and is a very capable scorer when given the chance, getting his numbers inside or shooting the three. Maryland brings two white players off the bench for significant minutes: Senior forward Evan Smotrycz (who used to play at Michigan) and 7’1 Slovakian center Michel Cekovsky. Smotrycz isn’t the player he was before his knee injury, but he’s still a vital part of the Terps, playing around 20 minutes per game. He’s a good shooter that can hit the three, even though I think he could do a bit more if Maryland let him. Cekovsky (who plays around 5-15 minutes per game) has developed into good defender and rebounder in the paint, but is still a bit raw.
#13 Valparaiso – Bryce Drew has the Crusaders back in the Big Dance. Unfortunately, they only have 2 white players this year that get any time, but one of them is far and away the team’s best player. That would be combo forward Alec Peters, who does everything for the Crusaders. Peters leads the team by far in PPG and 3 point percentage. Peters is also the team’s leading rebounder, with about 7 per game. His black teammates actually pass him the ball as well, making Valpo a potentially fun team to watch. The only other white player to get into the game is freshman Croatian forward David Skara, who gets about 20 minutes off the bench.
#6 Butler – The Bulldogs have been a HUGE surprise this season in college basketball. Picked to finish 7[SUP]th[/SUP] in the Big East, Butler tied for second and made its way back into the NCAA Tournament, and they’ve done it with 3 white starters. Leading the Bulldogs is one of my favorite players, 5’11 senior point guard Alex Barlow. Barlow, a former walk-on, is the team’s leader. He can lock down an opponent with his tenacious defense (he’s in the Top 15 in the country in steals), and he always guards the other team’s best guard. Two-guard Kellen Dunham is the Bulldog’s best scoring threat at nearly 17 PPG. He can simply take over a game with his shooting, and he knocks down some clutch shots. Forward Andrew Chrabascz is the team’s best offensive post threat who’s third on the team at over 11 PPG. He’s a below the rim player, but is often quicker than the guys who guard him, and can take them off the dribble as well as hit from 3. Energy player (and former Hoosier) Austin Etherington comes off the bench for the Bulldogs. This team has played great at times this year, and will need everybody in the starting 5 to step up in the Tournament, as beyond them, they don’t have much of a bench.
#11 Texas – The Longhorns are nearly all-black as usual, with the exception of 6’9 junior forward Conner Lammert. I honestly don’t know too much about his game, but he only plays about 20 minutes, and is tied for third on the team in rebounds. Other than Lammert, the only other white players for the Longhorns are glued to the end of the bench. Go Butler. I hope they knock this racist team out Thursday.
#3 Notre Dame – Another huge surprise this season, the Fighting Irish are coming into the Big Dance as ACC Champions, and they are doing with white players a key part of their rotation. They start two key white guards in the bouncy Pat Connaughton (at 6’5 he plays the four for the Irish) and Steve Vasturia. Connaughton is a tremendous athlete who turned down a baseball contract for a year to come back and play with the Irish. He has some hops, and also has a great shot. As a good three point shooter (nearly 44%), he creates mismatches for opposing teams who have to bring out their more traditional four to guard him at the three point line, freeing up room in the paint and also allowing the athletic Connaughton to drive to the paint. Steve Vasturia plays a traditional guard role for Notre Dame as more of a “glue guy†but still averages 10 PPG. Vasturia can also get to the rim and he’s a decent three point shooter to boot. Unfortunately, since the Irish tightened their rotation to 7 guys, Vasturia and Connaughton are the only white players who have contributed as of late (but both are on the floor virtually the entire game). Still, I’d love to see them win a championship.
#14 Northeastern – The Huskies are dancing for the first time since 1991, and I would’ve liked to see them get matched up against somebody else, as they start three white players, and will often have four on the court at a time. They are led by redshirt senior forward Scott Eatherton. Eatherton averages a team-leading 15 PPG and is an absolute beast inside for the Huskies. It turns out that he can play defense as well, leading the team with 43 blocks, and he’s also their leading rebounder at over 6 per game!! He’s truly a do it all player for Northeastern. Junior David Walker starts at a guard spot and is 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] on the team in scoring at over 13 PPG. Zach Stahl is intriguing; he starts at guard, but hasn’t taken one three this year; he likes to do his work inside the arc. He is the teams 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] leading rebounder at 6 per game. Off the bench, is guard Caleb Donnelly, who is hitting an absurd 55% of his threes!! All in all, they are definitely a good team to cheer for; too bad they are playing Notre Dame.
#7 Wichita State – The Shockers have been a perennial mid-major power the last few years and are mainstays in the tournament. Leading the way for this year’s version is junior guard Ron Baker. Baker (who’s lived up to the hype as a preseason All-American in some circles) is simply amazing to watch. He’s got a smooth shot and is able to create for himself. Baker averages a team high 15 PPG for the Shockers. Joining him is 6’4 forward Evan Wessel, who got himself a starting spot by playing stifling defense. Wessel has found his shooting touch as the year has gone on, and now will actually get a few looks from the floor on offense. Off the bench, the Shockers may use 6’10 Estonian center Rauno Nurger off the bench, but he’s still pretty raw.
#10 Indiana – Many feel that Indiana undeservedly got into the Big Dance, as they seemed to be unraveling late in the year. The Hoosiers will probably start no white players, but due to the health issues of Hanner Mosquera-Perrea, that may allow sophomore Collin Hartman to start at a forward spot. Hartman has played very well when I’ve watched him, especially when his minutes have increased. He usually does more of the dirty work for Indiana, but he will occasionally score some points. Off the bench is guard Nick Zeisloft, one of the team’s best three point snipers. He shoots bout 45% from three. The only other white player who may get time for Indiana is forward Max Hoetzel, who is mainly in the game to shoot 3 pointers.
#2 Kansas – Kansas always used to start a white player or two, but lately, that hasn’t been the case. More than likely, you’ll see one white Jayhawk off the bench, former Razorback F/C Hunter Mickelson, only playing because one of Kansas’s prized recruits got in trouble with the NCAA. Mickelson can be a decent player when given the chance, something he doesn’t really get with Kansas. The other player that you may see is talented Ukrainian prodigy Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk. He will be a player one day for Kansas, but not this year, as he’s still just 18 years old. Kansas has been very inconsistent this year, so an early round exit is not outside of the realm of possibility.
#15 New Mexico State – Since the Aggies and Coach Marvin Menzies only recruit and play black players, shouldn’t they be higher than a 15 seed? Nothing to see here; they’ll be headed home anyway after their game against the Jayhawks.
West Region
#1 Wisconsin – My pick to cut the nets down in Indianapolis, and the team that I feel has the best chance to upset Kentucky, Wisconsin has nearly everybody back from its Final Four team a year ago. The Badgers start 4 white athletes and bring two off the bench. The star of the team is 7 foot center and Player of the Year candidate Frank Kaminsky. Kaminksy is the best player in the country, and he can do nearly everything. Averaging a team high 18 PPG and a team high 8 rebounds per game, Kaminsky owns the paint, but he also gets and can handle the ball on the three point line, where he’s nearly a 40% shooter as well! Did I mention he leads the team in blocked shots by a wide margin? Kaminsky is a heck of an athlete and is truly one of the best; he is a must watch. Joining him is bouncy junior Sam Dekker. The 6’7 forward may be the team’s best athlete, and has expanded his offensive game, driving the lane and operating in the paint more rather than staying outside. Dekker also plays tough defense, and is a difficult matchup for any team. Senior guard Josh Gasser, also known as “Captain America†does the dirty work for the Badgers. He doesn’t score much, only averaging 7 PPG, but he plays suffocating defense, usually drawing the toughest assignment. Gasser makes the plays that win basketball games, and also runs the point at times. The last white starter is freshman point guard Bronson Koenig, who instantly sparked the Badgers after he was inserted into the starting lineup due to injury. Wisconsin has been playing their best basketball with Koenig running the show. He’s got a 2.9 assist to TO ratio, and despite what the media says, Koenig can indeed create his own shot, knocking down several huge ones for Wisconsin this season. Off the bench for Wisconsin comes senior forward Duje Dukan, who’s been instant offense in the Big Ten tournament, and guard Zak Showalter, who I think will replace Gasser next year. With the Final Four experience under their belts this year, Wisconsin has what it takes to win in Indy. Go Badgers!!
#16 Coastal Carolina – There’s absolutely nothing to see from this all black first round blow out waiting to happen.
#8 Oregon – Only one white player gets to see time off the bench for the all black Ducks, and that’s freshman point guard Casey Benson. He’s been averaging around 20 minutes lately, but of course, his “teammates†rarely let him actually shoot the ball when he’s on the floor.
#9 Oklahoma State – The Cowboys have been collapsing late in the year, losing six out of their last seven. Oklahoma State has one white starter in exciting combo guard Phil Forte, who has the ability to absolutely light up opposing defenses. He averages about 15 PPG for the Cowboys. The only other white player who sees much time for Oklahoma State is 6’9 freshman big man Mitch Solomon. He has some potential, but is usually ignored on offense, and for the most part, is only in the game to set screens and rebound.
#5 Arkansas – The Razorbacks play a very up tempo, chaotic style of basketball, similar to Nolan Richardson’s “40 Minutes of Hell.†Coincidently, Razorbacks coach Mike Anderson was a Richardson assistant. Not so coincidently, he recruits like Nolan too, with the Razorbacks having exactly 0 white players who are eligible to play. They’ve played well this year, so they’ll be tough to beat, but nevertheless, I hope they lose in the first round.
#12 Wofford – In a huge contrast of styles, the Terriers are one of the last teams in Division One when it comes to tempo, being among the slowest teams in the country. They have one white starter in sophomore combo guard Eric Garcia. Off the bench is one of Wofford’s better interior players in CJ Neumann. Other than these two, no white players see the floor for them. I haven’t seen Wofford play for more than a couple of minutes this season, so I can’t comment too much.
#4 North Carolina – Regarding UNC, I think I’ll just copy and paste Jimmy’s write-up on the Tar Heels from last tournament, as nothing’s changed. “the Tar babies are very aptly named. Oh, how head coach Roy Williams has fallen since his days of Kansas and Tyler Hansbrough! The only White athlete who occasionally sees the floor is power forward Jackson Simmons, and that only happens when the magical negroes on the roster get in foul trouble.â€
#13 Harvard – It took some work, but Coach Tommy Amaker has managed to turn Harvard into an all-black squad, with only 3 point sniper Corbin Miller and forward Jonah Travis seeing time off the bench for the “Crimsonâ€. Could both of these teams lose?
#6 Xavier – The Musketeers have played fairly well as the season progressed, reaching the Big East finals before getting blown out by Villanova. They have one white starter, center Matt Stainbrook. Stainbrook is way more agile and athletic then given credit for, and he can score; he’s had a few HUGE games this year, including a 26 point 9 rebound game against Creighton. Stainbrook dominates the paint for Xavier, but outside of him, the team is nearly all black. Off the bench, sharpshooter JP Macura comes into the game, but for some reason, he barely gets any playing time, even when he’s hitting his shots. 6’9 freshman Sean O’Mara also comes in to spell Stainbrook every other game or so.
#11 Ole Miss – I hate this team. That is all.
#3 Baylor – This team has so much of that magical athleticism, I’m surprised they’ve lost games this year. If you listened to the media slobber over Baylor’s “electric athleticism†you’d think they’d beat most NBA teams, or at least win the National Championship every year. Scott Drew has yet another all black team full of supermen. The only time whites get on the court for Baylor are the managers bringing out the chairs for timeouts.
#14 Georgia State – The Panthers one-up Baylor by “allowing†forward TJ Shipes to come off the bench for his 15-20 minutes of rebounding and screening for the team’s real players. Moving on…
#7 VCU – I was thinking about just using my own post from last year, but there are some changes: They still play an up tempo pressing, trapping, (their “Havoc†defense) and running game. If an all-white team tried to play a “Havoc†style, they’d probably all be fouled out within the first half. Their best player is out injured this year instead of their 6[SUP]th[/SUP] man, and no white walk-on this year. So, an all-black team…
#10 Ohio State – vs. another all-black team. Ohio State does have a great player in D’Angelo Russell playing for them though. This portion of the bracket doesn't seem to be a good spot for white athletes.
#2 Arizona – The Wildcats closed out the Pac-12 tournament in style by absolutely demolishing Oregon in the Final. With the loss to Wisconsin in last year’s Elite Eight still hovering over them, the Wildcats look to get another shot at the Badgers this year. Arizona starts two white players again this year. Point guard TJ McConnell (who some think should’ve won Pac-12 PoTY) is the engine that makes the Wildcats go. McConnell does absolutely everything for Arizona. In my opinion one of the best point guards in the country, Arizona needs McConnell on the floor at all times. McConnell rarely hurts his team, as he has an incredible 3.25 A/TO ratio!! If he needs to, McConnell can score points for the Wildcats; he’s come up clutch many times this year. He also leads the Wildcats in steals. Starting at center is 7’0 junior center Kaleb Tarczewski. Tarczewski is an incredible athlete who can put up some nice numbers, but may often be overshadowed by Arizona’s other forwards. Sharpshooting guard Elliott Pitts and 7 foot freshman Dusan Ristic come off the bench for the Wildcats, usually playing 5-15 minutes per game. Go Wildcats!!
#15 Texas Southern – These guys should be good whipping boys for Arizona to warm up with in the First Round. Nothing to see in terms of white athletes.
