NCAA Tournament preview: EAST Regional (Newark)

EAST Regional (Newark)

1-seed Ohio State (32-2) will obviously beat up on the First Four 16-seed Texas-San Antonio/Alabama State winner
My pick: Ohio State.

8-George Mason (26-6) vs. 9-Villanova (21-11). This could be quite the match-up really. George Mason is 16-1 in its last 17 games. Villanova fell to South Florida in the 1st round of the Big East Tournament. Jay Wright's Wildcats are 4-7 in their last 11 games and continue to slide.
My pick: George Mason.

5-seed West Virginia (20-11) will face the 12-seed UAB/Clemson winner. The Mountaineers are 6-5 since February, not what Coach Bob Huggins had in mind leading into the NCAA Tournament that took them to last year's Final Four in Indianapolis.                   
My pick: West Virginia.

4-seeded Kentucky (25-8) meets 13-Princeton (25-6) in what could be a first-round upset for the Princeton Tigers. Princeton is fresh off beating rival Harvard in a playoff for the Ivy League title. Kentucky beat Florida on Sunday for the SEC Tourney title and has won eight of their past nine.
My pick: Kentucky.

6-Xavier (24-7) vs. 11-Marquette (20-14). This will be a game of who can be the streakier team. It'll be a run-and-gun affair and it's gonna be interesting which of these two comes out on top.
My pick: Xavier.

3-Syracuse (26-7) plays 14-Indiana State (20-13) in an intriguing game that could either cause problems or be an easy first round game for the Orange. As much as we'd like to see the Sycamores pull off the upset, I just don't see it happening.
My pick: Syracuse.

7-Washington (23-10) vs. 10-Georgia (21-11). The Washington Huskies were originally projected to be in the NCAA field, but surprised a lot of folks by winning the Pac 10 tournament on Saturday. Georgia, on the other hand, was projected as a "bubble" team and wound up being a 10-seed, meaning that they were a lock in the NCAA Committee's eyes.
My pick: Washington

2-North Carolina (26-7) vs. 15-Long Island (27-5). North Carolina has had such a great season and grown up quite a bit. I just hope getting a 2-seed doesn't go to their head at all. The Tar Heels should win this game, but it won't be easy by any means. 
My pick: North Carolina.

2nd Round
1-Ohio State over 8- George Mason
5-West Virginia over 4-Kentucky
3-Syracuse over 6-Xavier
2-North Carolina over 7-Washington 

Sweet 16
1-Ohio State over 5-West Virginia
2-North Carolina over 3-Syracuse

Elite 8 (Regional Championship)
1-Ohio State over 2-North Carolina

The West Regional will be predicted on Tuesday. Come back Tuesday for a look at the West and who'll come out of that bracket.