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NCAA Tournament 2017: Predicting the First Round upsets

By Charlie Maikis

BALTIMORE, MD - MARCH 07: Head coach Kevin Keatts of the North Carolina-Wilmington Seahawks reacts to a call during the Colonial Athletic Conference Championship college basketball game against the Hofstra Pride at Royal Farms Arena on March 7, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Seahawks won 80-73. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - MARCH 07: Head coach Kevin Keatts of the North Carolina-Wilmington Seahawks reacts to a call during the Colonial Athletic Conference Championship college basketball game against the Hofstra Pride at Royal Farms Arena on March 7, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Seahawks won 80-73. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 10: Trevon Bluiett #5 of the Xavier Musketeers defends against Marcus Foster #0 of the Creighton Bluejays during the Big East Basketball Tournament – Semifinals at Madison Square Garden on March 10, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 10: Trevon Bluiett #5 of the Xavier Musketeers defends against Marcus Foster #0 of the Creighton Bluejays during the Big East Basketball Tournament – Semifinals at Madison Square Garden on March 10, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

West Region

Upset 1: #11 Xavier over #6 Maryland

Both of these teams started out the season incredibly well but have since faltered. Xavier suffered a six-game losing streak during February while Maryland has lost six of its last ten entering the tournament. Xavier is definitely at a disadvantage after losing guard Edmund Sumner for the year. Maryland is led by a veteran guard who has a penchant for making big shots. But despite losing Sumner, their best guard, the Musketeers might have the guard most prone to win a game single-handedly in this game.

Maryland’s Melo Trimble can certainly shine, but the Terps’ team-oriented style of play can often limit his impact. It’s tough to see them changing that for their biggest game of the season. Trevon Bluiett, on the other hand, has free reign to go off. He has played great since Sumner’s injury, but his best game came with Sumner still healthy. Back in January against Cincinnati, Bluiett shot 9-11 from 3 and scored 40 points. If he gets even close to that hot again, Xavier will win. Even if he doesn’t, they will ride him and an otherwise efficient offense to a victory over an underwhelming Maryland squad. I don’t want Trimble’s great junior season to end like this, but it seems likely to happen.

Related: Updated 2017 NCAA Tournament Bracket

Upset 2: #14 Florida Gulf Coast over #3 Florida State

Dunk City! Who can forget when they took the nation by storm, dunking all over two-seed Georgetown for the upset a few years ago and going to the Sweet Sixteen? I certainly can’t. Dunk City will live on in history books regardless of what they do this year. That said, why not pick them to do it again? Don’t get me wrong, Florida State is a fantastic team. They had a stretch this season of six straight games against ranked teams and finished that 5-1. They are absolutely a legit team.

One thing FGCU does well for a mid-major is having good athleticism. But Florida State is one of the longest, biggest, most athletic teams in the country. Florida State should by no means lose this game. They have proven themselves to be great and overmatch the Eagles in just about every category. However. This. Is. Dunk City. (I know that last video is a few minutes long so you may have skipped it, but I promise you will enjoy it. What they did was incredible. Watch the video.) Jonathan Isaac is going to be a lottery pick, but not before he finds himself embarrassed at the hands of FGCU. Dwayne Bacon has been incredible this year, yet he too will be poster material. Pick Florida Gulf Coast. You won’t regret it.

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