East Region at a glance

My pick to win it:

Kentucky. The top-seeded Wildcats have four future NBA first-round picks - as well as the best inside-outside tandem in freshmen John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins. As long as UK can shoot with some consistency (34.9 three-point fg pct), the 'Cats will get back into the Final Four for the first time since 1998.

Dark horse: Although everyone would like to think Temple, we will say Marquette. The Golden Eagles come into the Big Dance having won 11 of their last 14 last games, all in the Big East.

Obvious rout: Once it works out the early jitters, Kentucky is going to lay a massive whooping on East Tennessee State.

Upset special:: Clemson coach Oliver Purnell has never won a game in the NCAA Tournament (0-5). Make it six in a row after the seventh-seeded Tigers get bounced by 10th-seeded Missouri.

Looking forward to: No. 5 Temple vs. No. 12 Cornell. Student vs. Teacher. Big Red coach Steve Donahue was an assistant for 10 years at Penn under Owls coach Fran Dunphy.

Questionable seeding: Enough with the Duke bias, especially from you, ESPN. West Virginia deserved the Blue Devils' easier draw. The Mountaineers had plenty of significant wins: Texas A&M, Ohio State, Villanova, Pitt and Georgetown (twice).

Players you'll love to watch: Wall, a virtual lock to be the top pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, is the fastest end-to-end player in the country. Cousins is a beast down low. West Virginia senior forward DeSean Butler will make a name for himself. And don't forget about Temple's sophomore guard Juan Fernandez.

- Mike Mazzeo