2024 NCAA Tournament: South Region Round of 64

Dude…

We have your CBB Bracket 2 ready for your reading enjoyment! The South Region is headlines by the #1 seed in the Houston Cougars. The Cougars won the regular season in the Big 12 and made it to the championship in the Big 12 tournament. They have some tough competition in this region in the Marquette Golden Eagles, Kentucky Wildcats, and the Duke Blue Devils. Here are The Dudes predictions for the South Region.

#1 Houston vs. #16 Longwood- Another 1 seed is setting up to make a deep run. Will magic happen with the 16 seed beating the 1 seed? I don’t think so. Kelvin Sampson and the Cougars got RAILROADED by Iowa State in the Big 12 Championship last weekend. I don’t think this team will let it happen again. Jamal Shead is an All American and I believe he will establish himself as a true college juggernaut. Shead does an awesome job on both ends of the floor and Houston’s defense will be a problem for everyone. Including the 16 seeds. It’s always awesome to see a new face in the tournament, but Houston should win without a fight.

#8 Nebraska vs. #9 Texas A&M- Nebraska is looking for their first tournament win. EVER. If that isn’t motivating enough, I don’t know what could be. Nebraska has Keisei Tominaga who has been dominating the Big 10 this year. The copycat Curry has his team in the field, but had a slip up against Wisconsin in the Big 10 tournament. Now, they face a Texas A&M team. The Aggies were my pre-season team to win the SEC. Wade Taylor IV is looking to make a run against a talented Cornhuskers team. I believe this game will go back and forth, but with Nebraska edging out Texas A&M almost seems like a prophecy. I am taking the Cornhuskers in a tight and exciting game.

#5 Wisconsin vs. #12 James Madison- What a first round matchup!!! The Wisconsin Badgers are hot and ready to take the tournament head on. After coming up short in the Big 10 title game, AJ Storr and company are looking to make a deep run. However, they drew a 30-3 James Madison team. This team has a win over Michigan State and has been a high level performer all season. JMU has a high paced offense that can keep up with Wisconsin’s. I believe Wisconsin’s ups and downs this season will come back to bite them in the first round. The first upset is coming from the 12 seed JMU squad. Look for them to even have a chance to make it to the Sweet Sixteen.

#4 Duke vs. #13 Vermont- Duke is finally back in contention to win a National Championship. Ok, that may be a stretch, but Kyle Filipowski is going to try to will his team to a deep run as well. Jeremy Roach and Jared McCain need to step up for the Blue Devils to have some success in the tournament. They drew Vermont who won the American East Conference. TJ Long will have a lot on his plate to try and upset a blue blood program. I don’t think Vermont has enough to take down this Blue Devils team as Duke cruises to the second round.

#6 Texas Tech vs. #11 NC State- Texas Tech has made it back to the tournament for the first time since Chris Beard took them to the final. Pop Isaacs is balling out and moved this dreadful Texas Tech team to a 4 seed in the Big 12 Tournament. After getting dismantled by Houston in the Big 12 Semis, the Red Raiders are looking to be a dark horse in the South Region. They will be taking on the ACC Champion NC State Wolfpack. DJ Squared in DJ Horne and the big fella DJ Burns Jr. should give the Red Raiders all they want. The Wolfpack beat Duke, Virginia, and North Carolina to punch their ticket to the big dance. This team is hot and exciting to watch. I feel like the magic was run out in the ACC Tournament and the Red Raiders defense will be too much for NC State. Grant McCasland should have his first tournament victory as they move onto the round of 32.

#3 Kentucky vs #14 Oakland- The Kentucky Wildcats are one of if not the best offense in the nation. Antonio Reeves leads the starters in scoring and Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham are two elite freshmen coming off the bench  for Caliapari’s team. The Wildcats have firepower all over. They get to welcome the Oakland Golden Grizzlies who won the Horizon league to receive a bid to the big dance. Greg Kampe has been the head coach for nearly 40 years. He has finally made it to the big dance and his offense can run and gun as much as anyones. Trey Townsend has been balling for Kampe and they don’t want the year to end from this blue blood program. I think this matchup will be a lot closer than most people think. Oakland can really score the basketball, and Kentucky can do the same. I believe it’s close up till about 6 mins left, when Reed Sheppard takes over and helps the Wildcats advance.

#7 Florida vs. #10 Boise State- First thing before I get to my pick. The Mountain West got HOSED. Boise State and Colorado State being in the first four is mind boggling. Utah State being an 8 after winning the conference, is bonkers. New Mexico has to win to make it in, which is MINDBLOWING. However, I believe Boise State will beat Colorado in Dayton to set up the matchup against Florida. Florida has one of the best back courts in the country with Walter Clayton Jr and Zyon Pullin. These two elite guards helped Florida get to the SEC Final. Now, they look to face a Boise State team who was severely disrespected by the committee. I always feel like there is one First Four team that makes a run and I believe it’s this Boise State team's time to make a run. Tyson Degenhart is a player to watch this tournament and will help the Broncos advance past the Gators in a nail biting thriller.

#2 Marquette vs. #15 Western Kentucky- Marquette has been beat up over the past few weeks, but hopefully they come back to full strength come Friday. If Tyler Kolek can be the Big East Player of the Year the Golden Eagles want from him. If he doesn’t the Golden Eagles are still a legit threat. Kam Jones has taken that HIM spot from Kolek while he has been injured and he’s proven he can handle the role. Oso Ighodaro is a massive threat inside and has been a dominant big man all year. They face the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers who were victorious in the C-USA Tournament. Don McHenry is going to try to help the Hilltoppers top Maquette. I don’t think they have enough to do this as Marquette runs Western Kentucky off the floor and advances to the next round.