East Region preview: Finding a favorite? Good luck ()

The Dagger previews the East Region of the 2012 NCAA tournament. Read our previews of the South, Midwest and West. Three who can carry their teams: * Jared Sullinger, F, Ohio State * John Jenkins, G, Vanderbilt * Kevin Jones, F, West Virginia Most intriguing opening round matchup: No. 5 Vanderbilt vs. No. 12 Harvard This could be an intense meeting between two schools known better for their academic achievements than those of the athletic variety. Vanderbilt is riding high after coming from behind late to topple No. 1 Kentucky in the SEC title game, while Harvard hasnt been in the tournament since 1946 — otherwise known as a year after World War II ended. But theres so much to watch here, as you get a heavyweight battle in the paint between Harvards Keith Wright and Vandys Festus Ezeli and a potentially epic firefight between Commodore gunner John Jenkins and the Crimsons wealth of outside shooters. This game could go in any of about five different directions, and thats the great thing about it. Best potential round of 32 game: No. 1 Syracuse vs. No. 8 Kansas State Syracuse struggled twice this season against Cincinnati, including a lopsided loss in Fridays Big East tournament semifinals. Cincy is farther down in the East bracket, but Kansas State could see Syracuse on Saturday, and that could pose the first major threat to the Oranges Final Four hopes. Why? The Bearcats and Wildcats are very similar in several ways, and if K-States shooters get hot — which they do quite a bit — they could puncture holes in that Syracuse zone from the 3-point arc all day. Theyre tough on defense and have big men who are hard to handle on both ends of the floor. It might not turn into a pretty sight if these two meet, but it adds some intrigue in that Syracuse could turn into the first No. 1 seed to go down.

Source: http://www.nascarracinglive.com/nascar/east-region-preview-finding-a-favorite-good-luck.html

Georges Grignard Bobby Grim Romain Grosjean Olivier Grouillard