March Madness 2019 Bracket: South Region Team-by-Team Guide

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A dominant No. 1 seed Virginia team primed for a Final Four run. That was true last year, too, but then the unthinkable happened: a first-round loss to No. 16 seed UMBC. It's Gardner-Webb trying to make back-to-back miracles at the Cavaliers' expense.

But, all in all, Virginia has a favorable draw. No. 2 seed Tennessee, No. 3 Purdue and No. 4 Kansas State aren't anyone's idea of world-beaters. Then there's No. 6 seed Villanova, the defending national champs with a ton of tournament pedigree.

1. VirginiaRecord: 29-3Nickname: CavaliersConference: ACC (at-large)Player to Watch: De'Andre Hunter (15.1 PPG, 5.0 RPG)

16. Gardner-WebbRecord: 23-11 Nickname: BulldogsConference: Big SouthPlayer to Watch: DJ Laster (13.7 PPG, 5.5 RPG)

8. Ole MissRecord: 20-12Nickname: RebelsConference: SEC (at-large)Player to Watch: Breein Tyree (18.2 PPG)

9. OklahomaRecord: 19-13Nickname: SoonersConference: Big 12 (at-large)Player to Watch: Christian James (14.4 PPG, 6.3 RPG)

5. WisconsinRecord: 23-10Nickname: BadgersConference: Big Ten (at-large)Player to Watch: Ethan Happ (17.5 PPG, 10.1 RPG)

12. OregonRecord: 23-12Nickname: DucksConference: Pac-12Player to Watch: Payton Pritchard (12.7 PPG, 4.5 APG)

4. Kansas StateRecord: 25-8Nickname: WildcatsConference: Big 12 (at-large)Player to Watch: Barry Brown Jr. (14.9 PPG)

13. UC IrvineRecord: 30-5Nickname: AnteatersConference: Big WestPlayer to Watch: Max Hazzard (12.5 PPG)

6. VillanovaRecord: 25-9Nickname: WildcatsConference: Big EastPlayer to Watch: Phil Booth (18.6 PPG, 3.8 APG)

11. Saint Mary'sRecord: 22-11Nickname: GaelsConference: West CoastPlayer to Watch: Jordan Ford (21.3 PPG, 42.3% 3-PT)

3. PurdueRecord: 23-9Nickname: BoilermakersConference: Big Ten (at-large)Player to Watch: Carsen Edwards (23.0 PPG)

14. Old DominionRecord: 26-8Nickname: MonarchsConference: Conference USAPlayer to Watch: B.J. Stith (16.9 PPG, 7.4 RPG)

7. CincinnatiRecord: 28-6Nickname: BearcatsConference: American (at-large)Player to Watch: Jarron Cumberland (18.8 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 3.6 APG)

10. IowaRecord: 22-11Nickname: HawkeyesConference: Big Ten (at-large)Player to Watch: Tyler Cook (14.9 PPG, 7.9 RPG)

2. TennesseeRecord: 29-5Nickname: VolunteersConference: SEC Player to Watch: Grant Williams (19.5 PPG, 7.6 RPG) 

15. ColgateRecord: 24-10Nickname: RaidersConference: PatriotPlayer to Watch: Rapolas Ivanauskas (16.4 PPG, 7.9 RPG)