Hoops and Horses: March Madness Brackets, Part II

For college hoopsters and horse fanatics alike, it’s March Madness!
The key players have been established and the competition will be fierce.
Who will be left standing when the dust settles?
Will it be a favorite, a mid-priced player or a bomb of a longshot?
Only time will tell, but the matchups sure are fun to watch!
Using their résumé, talent and their unique qualities, Triple Crown guru Joe Kristufek and college hoops whiz Derek Cooley match horse and hoop contenders!
Click here to view Part I, which featured the Midwest and West Regions.
EAST REGION
#1 Villanova (DC’s overall #6)
El Kabeir
Has the record to match the seeding, but they haven’t proven their merit against tough competition ... yet.
#16 Lafayette (DC’s overall #63)
Hero Ten All
Just happy to be a part of the picture.
EL KABEIR AND VILLANOVA STILL HAVE SOMETHING TO PROVE

Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
#8 NC State (DC’s overall #31)
Another Lemon Drop
Has run in some tough luck; might have much more to prove than past performances.
#9 LSU (DC’s overall #36)
Danzig Moon
Long and athletic team that will stretch you out on offense but might be short-handed heading into the weekend.
DANZIG MOON AND LSU ARE ATHLETIC BUT COULD COME UP SHORT

Photo by Coglianese Photo
#5 Northern Iowa (DC’s overall #16)
Maftool
Mysterious to most, but well-rounded and extremely consistent. Will make you work for everything and will out-work you while doing it. 
#12 Wyoming (DC’s overall #46)
Toasting Master
Has a great floor leader and lots of fans but needs to do more.
NORTHERN IOWA AND MAFTOOL (below left) CAN OUTWORK THE OPPOSITION 

Photo by Dubai Racing Club
#4 Louisville (DC’s overall #17)
Materiality
Great pedigree with old-school leadership. Has the pure talent, but can that translate to real success?
#13 UC Irvine (DC’s overall #50)
Bubba Roan
Maiden stakes voyage in March. Playing catch-up and tough to gauge.
MATERIALITY HAS TALENT AND PEDIGREE 

Photo by Kenny Martin/Gulfstream Park
#6 Providence (DC’s overall #24)
Ocho Ocho Ocho
Owns a solid overall résumé, but recent form is a big question.
#11 Dayton (DC’s overall #41)
March
Needs to change to momentum in the play-in game, but might be a hunch play moving forward ... 
MARCH IS A TOUGH TIME TO REVERSE FORM FOR TOURNAMENT TEAMS AND OCHO OCHO OCHO

Coady Photography
#3 Oklahoma (DC’s overall #12)
War Story
Might seem to be a little over-seeded, but has quietly racked up great wins. Strong schedule with strong leaders that can really finish. A sleeper that no one sees as a sleeper.
#14 Albany (DC’s overall #55)
The Gomper
Tough individual that lacks the speed to stay with this type of competition.
WAR STORY: A TRUE SLEEPER

Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
#7 Michigan State (DC’s overall #23)
Blofeld
Well-coached and a storied history. Dangerous if mistakes are limited, but just now getting started. Tab for later.
#10 Georgia (DC’s overall #44)
Cross the Line
Has shown spurts of talent, but isn’t quite good enough.
TIME FOR CROSS THE LINE TO STEP UP HIS GAME

#2 Virginia (DC’s overall #5)
American Pharoah
A true throwback that will slow your pace down to match their style of play. A team that can force you into submission and will not make mistakes while doing so.
#15 Belmont (DC’s overall #59)
Lucky Player
Some would rather be lucky than good, and that’s the story here. Can the luck continue?
AMERICAN PHAROAH DICTATES HIS OWN PACE

Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
COOLEY REGION RATING - EAST

#2 Virginia (DC’s overall #5)
#1 Villanova (DC’s overall #6)
#3 Oklahoma (DC’s overall #12)
#5 Northern Iowa (DC’s overall #16)
#4 Louisville (DC’s overall #17)
#7 Michigan State (DC’s overall #23)
#6 Providence (DC’s overall #24)
#8 NC State (DC’s overall #31)
#9 LSU (DC’s overall #36)
#11 Dayton (DC’s overall #41)
#10 Georgia (DC’s overall #44)
#12 Wyoming (DC’s overall #46)
#13 UC Irvine (DC’s overall #50)
#14 Albany (DC’s overall #55)
#15 Belmont (DC’s overall #59)
#16 Lafayette (DC’s overall #63)

 
SOUTH REGION
#1 Duke (DC’s overall #2)
Upstart
Some ups and downs during a strong schedule, but if they put it all together, it might be tough for anyone to beat them.
#16 North Florida (DC’s overall #61)
Jess’s Dream
Their campus is gorgeous, but it was over before it ever got started.
IMMENSE TALENT FOR BOTH DUKE AND UPSTART

Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
#8 San Diego State (DC’s overall #37)
Tiz Shea D
A stayer that wants to slow things down and make things difficult. Offense needs to improve to compete. 
#9 St. John’s (DC’s overall #39)
St. Joe Bay
Talented and athletic but struggling physically and record-wise entering the most important competition of the year.
ST. JOE BAY HAS SHOWN TALENT, BUT HE NEEDS TO TAKE A BIG STEP FORWARD

Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
#5 Utah (DC’s overall #18)
Keen Ice
The arrow is pointing up. Will surprise some with an ability to bang down low.
#12 Stephen F. Austin (DC’s overall #42)
Wisecracker
This squad is in style right now, especially coming off of past performances. Will the level of competition played this year catch up to the hype?
KEEN ICE IS HEADED THE RIGHT WAY, COULD BE THE WISE-GUY PLAY

Photo by Edlipse Sportswire
#4 Georgetown (DC’s overall #20)
Frosted
Team has been in big dances before, but more known for recent failures than successes. Can they return to form?
#13 Eastern Washington (DC’s overall #49)
Yiannis
Connections have proven themselves before. “The Little Guy” can shock again if the conditions are right.
IS FROSTED A CONTENDER OR A PRETENDER? 

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
#6 SMU (DC’s overall #22)
Condo Commando
Dangerous and on the upswing; exciting to watch.
#11 UCLA (DC’s overall #45)
Bluegrass Singer
Good backcourt can play fast, but too thin upfront to stay with the bigger contenders. Runs out of gas.
LIKE SMU, CONDO COMMANDO IS ON THE RISE 

Photo by Joe Labozzetta/NYRA
#3 Iowa State (DC’s overall #9)
Far From Over
Extremely powerful on offense, will stalk their prey and rally with quickness and efficiency.
#14 UAB (DC’s overall #54)
Why Two
Peaking right now, but unproven and the lack of good competition will show.
LOOKING FOR A DERBY CLOSER? FAR FROM OVER IS POWERFUL AND EFFICIENT

Photo by Joe Labozzetta/NYRA
#7 Iowa (DC’s overall #32)
Divining Rod
Experienced, yes, but unproven on this stage. Needs to be firing on all cylinders to have a chance. 
#10 Davidson (DC’s overall #28)
Ready for Rye
When running smoothly, this offense is like an artfully crafted engine but lacks the physical toughness to really go far.
LIKE IOWA, DIVINING ROD NEEDS TO BE ON HIS GAME TO FACTOR ON THE DERBY TRAIL

Photo by SV Photography
#2 Gonzaga (DC’s overall #7)
Far Right
A mainstay and as game as the day is long. Great perimeter play with efficiency all around will power them throughout the competition.
#15 North Dakota State (DC’s overall #60)
Stanford
Has some catching up to do, but the connections will be looking to strike it rich again. 
FAR RIGHT HAS BEEN CONISITENT AND GAME

Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
COOLEY REGION RATING - SOUTH

#1 Duke (DC’s overall #2)
#2 Gonzaga (DC’s overall #7)
#3 Iowa State (DC’s overall #9)
#5 Utah (DC’s overall #18)
#4 Georgetown (DC’s overall #20)
#6 SMU (DC’s overall #22)
#10 Davidson (DC’s overall #28)
#7 Iowa (DC’s overall #32)
#8 San Diego State (DC’s overall #37)
#9 St. John’s (DC’s overall #39)
#12 Stephen F. Austin (DC’s overall #42)
#11 UCLA (DC’s overall #45)
#13 Eastern Washington (DC’s overall #49)
#14 UAB (DC’s overall #54)
#15 North Dakota State (DC’s overall #60)
#16 North Florida (DC’s overall #61)