The Denver Post

Virginia dealt a tough road as top team

- By John Marshall

LAS VEGAS» Virginia earned the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, its reward for one of the best seasons in Atlantic Coast Conference history.

The selection committee didn’t do the Cavaliers any favors on their side of the bracket.

The No. 1 seed in the South Regional, Virginia is in a bracket that includes Arizona, Kentucky, Cincinnati and Tennessee. Kentucky and Arizona are both in the top half of the Cavaliers’ draw.

Virginia (31-2) opens against UMBC on Thursday.

“I told our players that everyone can play if they’re in there,” Virginia coach Tony Bennett said. “You just see the teams in your bracket and there’s some really quality teams.”

Virginia set a school record for victories, won the conference tournament for the second time in five seasons and earned its sixth No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

The Cavaliers did it with no surefire NBA lottery picks and a shutdown defense that led the nation with the fewest points allowed per game.

But a gauntlet of quality teams could be waiting for them.

Regional of death? The South is tough, but the Midwest Regional may be tougher.

Topped by No. 1 seed Kansas, the Midwest also includes Duke and Michigan State, which were both ranked in the top four in The Associated Press poll. Oh, and it has Oklahoma freshman guard Trae Young, who has the potential to go on a Steph Currylike NCAA run.

The Jayhawks (27-7) won a record 14th straight Big 12 regularsea­son championsh­ip and backed that up with the conference tournament title.

Duke (26-7) has one of the nation’s most talented rosters, led by senior guard Grayson Allen and dynamic freshman big man Marvin Bagley Jr.

Michigan State (29-4) won the Big Ten regular-season title and has a potent 1-2 punch in sophomore Miles Bridges and freshman Jaren Jackson Jr.

Young became the first player in NCAA history to lead the nation in scoring and assists.

Marshall vs. Marshall. One first-round game that should be fun to watch is Wichita State and coach Gregg Marshall against Marshall.

The Shockers (25-7) have the type of roster that can make another deep March run. Marshall won’t be able to match Marshall’s Shockers in terms of talent, but plays a freewheeln­g style under coach Dan D’Antoni.

’Nova No. 1. Villanova (30-4) is the No. 1 seed in the East Regional, a familiar position for the Wildcats. Villanova was a No. 1 last year and has consistent­ly been a high seed under coach Jay Wright.

Where they have trouble is advancing past the first week.

Villanova lost in the second round to Wisconsin last year and has advanced past the opening weekend just twice in nine years.

The odds. Virginia is the top overall seed, but Villanova is the favorite to win the national title. The Wildcats are 9-2 favorites to win the title, according to VegasInsid­er.com, with Duke right behind at 5-1. Virginia is 6-1, and Michigan State is 8-1.

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