Will NCAA bracket play out true to form?

Even if you don't care about college basketball and don't know who any of these guys are, you are now fully engaged. The lure of completing your tournament bracket is too great to ignore. We know this: Kentucky is the best team in the country, and Kansas will disappoint us again. Here is an NCAA Tournament primer:

Who can beat Kentucky?

Kentucky: Vanderbilt, which beat UK in the SEC title game Sunday, does not count. Kentucky is still the best team in the country by a wide margin. But it is a young team, and young teams can go brain-dead and beat themselves when playing in a tight game against teams that have been around.

North Carolina: The Tar Heels have pro players, but their pace plays directly into Kentucky's hands. They would have to play a near perfect game, but could do it.

Syracuse: The Orange's zone is just enough of an irritant that Kentucky freshman center Anthony Davis could be harassed into an average game.

Kansas: Forward Thomas Robinson is going to get his 18 and 12; the question is whether guard Tyshawn Taylor can play smart. If he does, Kansas has a shot.

Playing the Butler

Wichita State: The best team from arguably the best mid-major conference.

Murray State: It's unfair to call the Racers a sleeper because they are 30-1. This is a veteran team that does not beat itself, and Isaiah Canaan shoots nearly 50 percent from 3-point range.

Creighton: Another Missouri Valley team. Point guard Antoine Young is going to embarrass a big name soon.

Long Beach State: Coach Dan Monson was a regular at this when he was the head coach at Gonzaga. Lots of seniors.

South

The NCAA set up a region final "rematch" of the 1992 Christian Laettner game against Kentucky. Kentucky has a hard road before it would meet Duke in the region final, but the team that should scare the Wildcats is No. 5 Wichita State.

The class: Kentucky. Not even close.

Worst draw: No. 9 UConn. The defending national champions have to get by a very tough Iowa State team and then would have to play Kentucky.

Best draw: You have to ask? Duke.

Top NBA player: F Anthony Davis, Kentucky. The likely No. 1 overall pick in the June draft.

Top player you don't know: G Tu Holloway, Xavier. You should know him, but the Musketeers' brawl against Cincinnati a few months ago changed everything.

What are you doing here? Colorado. The Buffaloes are 23-11, but won the Pac-12 tournament title against an average field. The Buffs can beat No. 6 UNLV in the first round.

First-round upset: No. 10 Xavier over No. 7 Notre Dame

Region champion: Kentucky

West

The last time Michigan State won the Big Ten tournament title, it won the national championship in 2000. The Spartans are not a lock to reach the Final Four, but an Elite Eight appearance feels very good.

The class: No. 2 Missouri. The Tigers are a four-guard team, but provided center/forward Ricardo Ratliffe stays out of foul trouble, they can win this region and make their first Final Four appearance.

Worst draw: No. 6 Murray State. The Racers deserved much better than a six seed and a potential second-round game against Marquette.

Best draw: No. 4 Louisville. The Cardinals are not that good, but they can win a Sweet 16 game against Michigan State.

What are you doing here? Iona. It's a shock to see two schools out of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference make it.

Top NBA player: F Drew Gordon, New Mexico. The most difficult matchup in the Mountain West Conference this season.

Top player you don't know: G Casper Ware, Long Beach State. He's only 5-11, but is such a good penetrator and ballhandler that NBA teams are looking at him for the draft.

First-round upset: No. 12 Long Beach State over No. 5 New Mexico

Region champion: Missouri

Midwest

Keeping in the spirit of storylines, the NCAA put No. 1 North Carolina in the same bracket as No. 2 Kansas. The region final is in St. Louis, so if these traditional powers make it through, expect a very pro-KU crowd.

The class: North Carolina. With Harrison Barnes, this is a pro team that could beat Kentucky.

Worst draw: No. 8 Creighton. The Bluejays are good, but a potential game against North Carolina is a bad, bad draw.

Best draw: North Carolina. It should be a prohibitive favorite through the region final.

What are you doing here? No. 15 Detroit. The Horizon League has produced the national runner-up in each of the past two seasons: Butler. That's a high standard to hit.

Top NBA player: F Harrison Barnes, North Carolina. He surprised everyone by electing to remain in college for his sophomore season. He's a top-three pick.

Top player you don't know: F Doug McDermott, Creighton. He averages 23 points and eight rebounds a game. He could really make a name for himself against Carolina.

First-round upset: No. 11 N.C. State over No. 6 San Diego State

Region champion: North Carolina

East

Of the four brackets, this one has the look that could hold closest to form. Aside from an early-round upset from Harvard, the East has the look of a region that will feature No. 1 vs. No. 2 at the end.

The class: Syracuse. Despite some very serious off-the-court drama, the Orange lost two games all season.

Worst draw: No. 5 Vanderbilt. Winning the SEC tournament title did the Commodores no favors. An opening game against Harvard is not an easy win.

Best draw: No. 3 Florida State. The Seminoles are good and should outmuscle every opponent until Ohio State.

What are you doing here? No. 11 Texas. The Longhorns barely made it in, but actually have a winnable opener against Cincinnati.

Top NBA player: G Dion Waiters, Syracuse. Another quick guard that coach Jim Boeheim has unearthed, he should be a first-round pick.

Top player you don't know: F Andrew Nicholson, Saint Bonaventure. The Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, who is from Canada, actually has drawn some comparisons to Tim Duncan.

First-round upset: No. 12 Harvard over No. 5 Vanderbilt

Region champion: Florida State

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