First Round Breakdown - South

Heyyy everybody, Ding here with my picks for the first round in the South Regional. S. Paul is still buried in his Bracket-Computer, so his picks in the Midwest will be up soon.

Memphis (1) vs. UT-Arlington (16)
BREAKDOWN: Memphis enters this tournament with the most wins in the country (33) and fewest losses (1), but has played down to the level of its opponents in Conference USA, looking downright lazy at times. UT-Arlington does hold opponents to just 39.7 percent shooting, but don’t expect its defense to rattle Memphis, which is led by sharpshooter Chris Douglas-Roberts (17.2 ppg).
PERSON TO WATCH: Memphis F/C Joey Dorsey. He must be a presence inside for Memphis throughout the tournament. The 6-9 senior forward averages solid numbers — 6.9 points per game and 9.6 rebounds per game. But when Dorsey plays well, the Tigers can beat anyone in the land (11 points, 13 rebounds in win over Georgetown), and when he plays poorly, they struggle (one point, six rebounds in 28 minutes in a loss to Tennessee). 
DING'S MAGIC 8-BALL SAYS: Does Little Rock have beaches? Even if it doesn’t, Memphis will have a day at the beach against UT-Arlington.

Texas (2) vs. Austin Peay (15):
BREAKDOWN: What a difference a year made for Texas guard D.J. Augustin. Entering last year’s NCAA Tournament, his decision-making ability was questionable at best, and his scoring ability was erratic as Kevin Durant’s sidekick. Now a sophomore, Augustin, perhaps the top point guard in the nation, makes this team a legitimate Final Four contender. Austin Peay has nobody quick enough to stay with Augustin, who will score 20 and hand out eight assists as Texas rolls.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Texas F Damion James. Aside from Augustin, look for James to make an impact. The sophomore is averaging 12.9 points per game and 10.7 rebounds, and is relentless inside. He’ll be a difference maker for Texas later on in the tournament.
DING'S MAGIC 8-BALL SAYS: Texas

Stanford (3) vs. Cornell (14):
BREAKDOWN: Like Pac-10 rival UCLA, Stanford will get to stay relatively close to home in Anaheim for the first and second rounds. I included second round there because Stanford should role, if only because of its size. Not only does the Cardinal feature the Lopez twins on the block, but it has three other players averaging at least four rebounds. Make no mistake about the way Stanford finished the season, it is a tough defensive and rebounding team, and that always equals success in this tournament. Cornell is a great shooting team, but it will be bullied by Stanford tomorrow.
PERSON TO WATCH: Cornell F Ryan Wittman. We know what Stanford’s Brook Lopez can do, so let’s give the Big Red some love before they leave. The sophomore Wittman is shooting 46.6 percent from 3-point range, making him one of the best long-range shooters in the country. The son of NBA coach Randy Wittman leads Cornell, which is the fifth-best shooting team in Division 1 (49.2 percent).
DING'S MAGIC 8-BALL SAYS: Stanford

Pittsburgh (4) vs. Oral Roberts (13)
BREAKDOWN: It’s hard not to love Pittsburgh’s good karma right now. In fact, I’m feeling it in Bracket Boy’s lab right now. Pittsburgh has won seven of its last eight games, including a four-day run on its way to the Big East Tournament title, and it’s making its seventh straight NCAA Tournament appearance. More than anything, this team is resilient, man. It was one of the top ten teams in the country after beating Duke on December 20, but injuries depleted the team and the bad times soon followed. Now, Pittsburgh is healthy again, as the results have indicated, although its performance in the Garden last week shouldn’t be overblown. Pittsburgh always plays well in New York City because so many of its players are from the area. The Rocky Mountains are a different story.
PERSON TO WATCH: Pitt G Ronald Ramon. He will have to be in double figures in this one. He comes in averaging 7.3 points per game, but since Oral Roberts has the size to matchup with Pittsburgh’s leading scorer Sam Young, someone else has to step up.
DING'S MAGIC 8-BALL SAYS: Pittsburgh

Michigan State (5) vs. Temple (12)
BREAKDOWN: Michigan State has struggled away from home, going just 7-7, and this is one of those precarious No. 5 vs. No. 12 games that is conducive to upsets. But the Spartans will ride leadership of senior guard Drew Neitzel against Temple in a high scoring game. Michigan State was second in the Big Ten scoring 71.3 points per game, while Temple’s Dionte Christmas (20.2 ppg) and Mark Tyndale (15.9 ppg) were the first duo in Atlantic 10 history to finish atop the conference’s scoring leaders.
PERSON TO WATCH: Michigan State C Goran Suton. Neitzel is the veteran leader with Final Four experience in 2005 for Michigan State, but Suton will be the man against Temple. He’s averaging 8.7 points per game and 8.2 rebounds per game, and should be able to dominate Temple center Sergio Olmos.?
DING'S MAGIC 8-BALL SAYS: Michigan State

Marquette (6) vs. Kentucky (11)
BREAKDOWN: I’m not sure what you all have heard, but here in the lab, there’s been a lot of talk filtering in that Kentucky will pull the upset here. No chance. Kentucky did a great job getting in the tournament but it doesn’t have the firepower to stay with Marquette, especially since freshman forward Patrick Patterson went down with a season-ending left ankle injury in February. Marquette’s triple-guard attack will wear down Kentucky, and give coach Tom Crean his first NCAA Tournament win since 2003. Three good guards beat two any day.
PERSON TO WATCH: Marquette F Lazar Hayward is the Golden Eagles' force inside and he should be able to get anything he wants against a depleted and, honestly, unskilled Kentucky frontline.
DING'S MAGIC 8-BALL SAYS: Marquette

Miami (7) vs. St. Mary’s (10)
BREAKDOWN: I have to give the selection committee credit on this one. Believe or not, but Miami vs. St. Mary’s will be one of the best games of the first round. These teams are very evenly matched with frontcourt players who can score and rebound, and in St. Mary’s case block shots. And, both teams have perimeter players who can make 3-pointers and score in bunches, but have little tournament experience. You can take your pick in this game, and with Texas looming, an incorrect guess won’t hurt too badly.
PERSON TO WATCH: Miami G Jack McClinton. Scoring is what he does best. The Miami guard leads the team in scoring (17.4 ppg), and has but up some big numbers against tournament teams: 29 points at Mississippi State; 30 against Winthrop; 22 against Duke. He also shoots 43 percent from 3-point range.
DING'S MAGIC 8-BALL SAYS: St. Mary’s

Mississippi State (8) vs. Oregon (9)
BREAKDOWN: By the time you’re done picking this game, you won’t have much of your eraser left. Just ask Bracket Boy. These teams are commensurate — four players averaging in double figures, weak benches — and also completely different: Mississippi State is the second best defensive team in the field based on field goal percentage (36.9), and Oregon is the fifth best 3-point shooting team (40.1 percent). Also, Oregon is led by four starters from last year’s Elite Eight team, whereas Mississippi State has just one senior, All-SEC center Charles Rhodes. Oregon will have a tough task playing the SEC West champs deep in SEC territory. 
PERSON TO WATCH: Oregon G Maarty Leunen. The key dude in this game will be Oregon’s Leunen, who shoots just over 50 percent from 3-point range. If Leunen is hot in this game it will be a great equalizer for the Ducks.
DING'S MAGIC 8-BALL SAYS: Mississippi State