March Madness 2009 Regional Breakdowns: West Region (Glendale)

(Note 3/16, 1:12 pm: March Madness is here! Each of of these regional primers will be constantly updated with the official brackets and TV schedules, my predictions, ticket resources, game point spreads and odds, plus the results as they pour in over the next two weeks. Just as we did with out conference tournament posts, this series of posts is designed for you to bookmark and come back to anytime you need information on one of the regions in the 2009 NCAA Tournament.)

2009 NCAA Tournament: West Region

Here is the pertinent meta information for the West Region of the 2009 NCAA Tournament:

• Sweet 16 and Elite 8 Location: University of Phoenix Stadium — Glendale, AZ
• Top 4 Seeds: #1 UConn, #2 Memphis, #3 Missouri, #4 Washington

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• Ticket Information for First and Second Round Sites: first round locations are based on pod system. Find the location for each game below, and then follow the links to get ticket information for all first and second round sites in the 2009 NCAA Tournament:
  StubHub: 2009 NCAA Tournament First and Second Tickets
  RazorGator: 2009 NCAA Tournament First and Second Round Tickets

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• Ticket Information for Regional Semifinal and Regional Final Rounds in Glendale:
  StubHub: 2009 West Regional Final and Semifinal Tickets – Glendale
  RazorGator: 2009 West Regional Final and Semifinal Tickets – Glendale

Now, let’s break down the bracket for the West Region of the 2009 NCAA Tournament. First, a few quick notes:

1. This should go without saying, but for any March Madness first-timers: all games are on CBS. You’ll have to check your local listings to find out which games are on in your area. But all games can be viewed live online for free at the following link:
   Watch NCAA Tournament Games Online at March Madness On Demand
2. If you want to view the schedule in actual bracket form, there is a link underneath the table.
3. The table below provides the following details on a game-by-game basis: date, time, location, announcers, and the point spread.
4. I will add/update the information as it becomes available. If any piece of information is missing and you know it, or know where it is, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment. I’ll appreciate it. I promise.
5. All spreads are as of 3/16 and provided by Sportsbook.com via DocSports. Follow the links for the most current spreads. Announcer schedules courtesy of Awful Announcing.

And now, here is the schedule breakdown for the 2009 NCAA Tournament West Region:

West Regional Bracket, TV Schedule, Sites, Announcers

Game	Matchup	Date	Time	Location	Announcers	Spread
	FIRST ROUND
1	#1 UConn def. #16 Chattanooga 103-47	Thu, 3/19	3:00 PM	Philadelphia	Enberg/Blackburn-Bilas	UConn -20.5
2	#9 Texas A&M def. #8 BYU 79-66	Thu, 3/19	12:30 PM	Philadelphia	Enberg/Blackburn-Bilas	BYU -2
3	#4 Washington def. #13 Mississippi St. 71-58	Thu, 3/19	5:00 PM	Portland	Harlan-Bonner	NL
4	#5 Purdue def. #12 Northern Iowa 61-56	Thu, 3/19	2:30 PM	Portland	Harlan-Bonner	PU -8.5
5	#2 Memphis def. #15 Cal St. Northridge 81-70	Thu, 3/19	12:25 PM	Kansas City	Brando-Gminski	MEM -19
6	#10 Maryland def. #7 California 84-71	Thu, 3/19	2:55 PM	Kansas City	Brando-Gminski	CAL -1
7	#3 Missouri def. #14 Cornell 78-59	Fri, 3/20	3:00 PM	Boise	Bolerjack-Wenzel	MIZZOU -13
8	#6 Marquette def. #11 Utah State 58-57	Fri, 3/20	12:30 PM	Boise	Bolerjack-Wenzel	MARQ -4.5
	SECOND ROUND
9	#1 UConn def. #9 Texas A&M 92-66	Sat, 3/21	3:35 PM	Philadelphia	Enberg/Blackburn-Bilas	UConn -10 1/2
10	#5 Purdue def. #4 Washington 76-74	Sat, 3/21	5:40 PM	Portland	Harlan-Bonner	WAS -1 1/2
11	#2 Memphis def. #10 Maryland 89-70	Sat, 3/21	3:20 PM	Kansas City	Brando-Gminski	MEM -9 1/2
12	#3 Missouri def. #6 Marquette 83-79	Sun, 3/22	4:50 PM	Boise	Bolerjack-Wenzel	MIZZOU -3 1/2
	SWEET 16
13	#1 UConn def. #5 Purdue 72-60	March 26	7:07 PM	Glendale	Enberg-Bilas	UConn -6 1/2
14	#3 Missouri def. #2 Memphis 102-91	March 26	9:37 PM	Glendale	Enberg-Bilas	MEM -4 1/2
	ELITE 8 - REGIONAL FINAL
15	#1 UConn def. #3 Missouri 82-75	March 28	4:40 PM	Glendale	Enberg-Bilas	UConn -5

Follow the link for a PDF of a printable 2009 NCAA Tournament Bracket, delivered by CollegeHoopsNet.com.

FYI, the in-studio hosts for CBS’ coverage of the 2009 NCAA Tournament this year will be Greg Gumbel, Greg Anthony, and Seth Davis. Here are the 8 announcer pairings for the first and second round games:

• Jim Nantz and Clark Kellogg (will handle Final Four)
• Verne Lundquist and Bill Raftery
• Dick Enberg or Carter Blackburn and Jay Bilas
• GUS JOHNSON!!! and Len Elmore
• Kevin Harlan and Dan Bonner
• Ian Eagle and Jim Spanarkel
• Craig Bolerjack and Bob Wenzel
• Tim Brando and Mike Gminski

If there is anything specific you’d like to know but don’t feel like looking up for yourself, just ask in the comments. We’re all about on-demand information here at MSF.

UPDATE 3/17: It’s time for some predictions.

Earlier today, I posted my official one-and-only NCAA Tournament bracket predictions. I actually devised what I call a subjective-objective metric-based approach to my predictions this year. For a complete explanation of the metrics I used and how the system worked, read the complete Mens Tournament Bracket Prediction post. (FYI: Some of the analysis-based verbiage below may not make complete sense without reading the explanation in the bracket prediction post.)

Here is the section specific to the West region:

West Region Predictions

First Round Picks – West Region

• #1 UConn
• #9 Texas A&M over #8 BYU
• #5 Purdue over #12 Northern Iowa
• #4 Washington over #13 Mississippi State
• #6 Marquette over #11 Utah State
• #3 Missouri over #14 Cornell
• #7 California over #10 Maryland
• #2 Memphis over #15 Cal State Northridge

No real surprises. BYU-Texas A&M was a 3-3 tie based on the metrics, but I chose Texas A&M because they have slightly more experienced guard play and played a slightly tougher schedule. Again, total toss-up, could go either way — but you have to pick one!

Second Round Picks – West Region

• #1 UConn over #9 Texas A&M
• #4 Washington over #5 Purdue
• #6 Marquette over #3 Missouri
• #7 California over #2 Memphis

The top part of the bracket goes according to seed. I actually thought Purdue would go a little farther when I first embarked on this analysis, but Washington just edges them out. The surprises come in the bottom half of the bracket.

Marquette defies seeding to beat Missouri, but I don’t really consider this an upset. Even without Dominic James, Marquette has vast experience in its backcourt, they don’t turn the ball over much, and they make 72% of their free throws.

Memphis losing this early surprised me a little, but I do not think they are nearly as good as they were last year. Cal actually bests Memphis in FT%, SOS, guard experience, and TO/game. I think Memphis’ inexperience and lower level of competition since January hurts them and they make an early exit. I have no qualms going with the stats and picking Cal here. (Side note: Is John Calipari screaming, crying, or yawning in that picture?)

Sweet 16 Picks – West Region

• #1 UConn over #4 Washington
• #6 Marquette over #7 California

UConn is very strong across the board with respect to the stats I chose, and they pretty much dominate Washington. Marquette-Cal is a relatively even matchup, but the experience and slightly better TO/game numbers give Marquette the edge.

Elite 8 Pick – West Region

• #1 UConn over #6 Marquette

An all Big East regional final in the West would be great. The problem for Marquette is that UConn is just a little bit better at a couple more categories. UConn went 10-1 on the road this year and has an all-senior backcourt that includes the great AJ Price (who I have been a big fan of ever since he dismantled Indiana last season). Plus, while this is not really taken into account statistically, having a 7′3 big man down low in Hasheem Thabeet obviously gives UConn a dimension that most teams do not have. I am comfortable sending the Huskies to the Final Four.

Tags: 2009 NCAA Tournament, College Basketball, march madness

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