Creighton

(1) North Carolina vs. (8) Creighton: Midwest Region

 

Records

After an "opening" day that went mostly according to form, the hope of many is that Friday's slate provides some upsets. And with some of the matchups providing a nice contrast in styles as well as talented players on mid-major squads who may not be household names just yet, there's a good chance that an upset does happen. Here's the schedule for today along with a game from each site that you should keep track of. 

Columbus: (8) Memphis vs. (9) Saint Louis
6:50 PM EST, TBS

(8) Creighton vs. (9) Alabama: Midwest Region

 

Records

While you definitely need guards to win a national title big men are very important in their own right. Whether a team has projected lottery picks or guys who have been solid throughout their careers, a team has to be able to hold their own in the paint. If not a tournament experience that can last two or three weeks gets derailed far sooner. Here are some front courts you'll need to know this week.

South Region

Creighton (8 Seed)

Florida (7 seed)

Memphis (8 seed)

Murray St (6 seed)

VCU (12 seed)

Player of the Year Anthony Davis, only a freshman, highlights CollegeHoops.net's 2012 All-America Team. Davis, the nation's leading shot-blocker, led Kentucky to a 30-1 regular season record. Davis is joined on the First Team by Thomas Robinson of Kansas, Draymond Green of Michigan State, Doug McDermott of Creighton, and Isaiah Canaan of Murray State.

 

Player of the Year Doug McDermott, only a sophomore, highlights CollegeHoops.net's 2012 All High-Major Team. McDermott averaged 23 ppg while shooting over 60% from the floor in leading Creighton to an MVC Tournament title.

 

McDermott is joined on the First Team by fellow sophomores Mike Moser of UNLV and Will Barton of Memphis. Matthew Dellavedova of Saint Mary's and Ramone Moore of Temple round out the squad.

With the NCAA Tournament right around the corner, CHN writer Jon Teitel is catching up with some of the players and coaches you'll need to know before Selection Sunday (if you don't know them by now). First up is Creighton forward Doug McDermott, who led the Bluejays to the Missouri Valley Conference tournament title last weekend. McDermott, who was a First Team All-MVC selection as a freshman, followed that up with MVC Player of the Year honors this season and is one of the toughest matchups in the country.

One of the teams to watch in the upcoming NCAA tournament are the Creighton Bluejays, who on Sunday won the MVC tournament to wrap up an automatic bid. CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with Creighton head coach Greg McDermott, talking with McDermott about his time as a player and a head coach. 

Jon Teitel: As a 6'8" high school player in Iowa you were fourth team all-state and MVP of the 1983 Dr. Pepper All-Star game. How good a player were you back then?