2012 NCAA Tournament Bracket Update: Kansas To Play N.C. State In Sweet 16

Kansas made it to the Sweet 16 round by first defeating Detroit Titans, but then when they took on the No. 10 seeded Purdue Boilermakers they had to overcome a double-digit deficit to move on. Kansas takes on No. 11 seeded North Carolina State first upset No. 6 seeded San Diego St. Aztecs and then got past No. 3 seed Georgetown Hoyas.

The other half of the bracket has North Carolina taking on Ohio. North Carolina's path toe the Sweet 16 first started with them defeating Vermont and then Creighton, both games were easy victories for the Tar Heels. Ohio made it this far by upsetting both Michigan and South Florida.

Here is Friday's Sweet 16 schedule for the Midwest Region:

No. 1 North Carolina Tar Heels vs. No. 13 Ohio Bobcats, 7:47 p.m. ET, TBS

No. 2 Kansas Jayhawks vs. No. 11 N.C. State Wolfpack, 10:17 p.m. ET, TBS

For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stay with SB Nation's NCAA Tournament hub for a complete printable NCAA Tournament bracket and tons of analysis on the Sweet 16, and who will make it all the way to New Orleans and the Final Four.

March Madness Bracket 2012 Reactions: Kansas State A Disappointment

As they say, all good things must come to an end, and Kansas State's season came to an end on Saturday as the Wildcats lost to the top-seeded Syracuse Orange, 75-59.

Mike Rutherford over at SB Nation's NCAA Tournament Central posted some of his thoughts about Syracuse's win, lauding the Orange's effort.

Against a bigger and tougher Kansas State team that many folks had pegged to pull the upset, the Fab Melo-less Orange got a sensational effort in the paint from Rakeem Christmas and cruised to a surprisingly easy 75-59 victory.

Rutherford also called Kansas State the second biggest disappointment of the Round of 32 so far.

They had a clear advantage against Syracuse inside, they out-rebounded the Orange by nine, and they lost the game by 16.

It's tough to be disappointed in an eight seed that fails to beat a one seed, but Rutherford is.

For more on the Wildcats, be sure to check out Bring On The Cats. Also be sure to print out a tournament bracket courtesy of SB Nation.

VIDEO: Breakdown Of Kansas State's Loss To Syracuse

Syracuse Vs. Kansas State Final Score: Wildcats Fall 75-59

The Kansas St. Wildcats played top seeded Syracuse even in the first half but watched the Orange pull away in the second half falling 75-59. Syracuse outscored Kansas State 50-35 in the second half to advance to the sweet-sixteen.

Rodney McGruder scored 17 points but was hampered by an ankle injury that he suffered in the first half. Jordan Henriquez worked over Syracuse on the glass finishing with 12 points and 17 rebounds but was just 6-16 from the field. 11 of Henriquez's rebounds were offensive. Angel Rodriguez finished with 12 and Will Spradling added 10 off the bench.

Dion Waiters scored 18 points to lead Syracuse. Scoop Jardine added 16 points and eight assists while James Southerland added 15 off the bench.

Kansas State finished with 22 offensive rebounds and attempted 22 more shots from the field than Syracuse. However, the Wildcats made two less field goals than the Orange who hit 51 percent of its attempts.

For up-to-the-minute scores on all NCAA Tournament games, please check out SI.com's complete scoreboard.

For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stay with SB Nation's Selection Sunday StoryStream, and stick around SB Nation's NCAA Tournament hub for a completeprintable NCAA Tournament bracket and tons of analysis on who was snubbed, who got the best bracket, and who will make it all the way to New Orleans and the Final Four.

2012 NCAA Tournament, Second Round Recap: Missouri Upset, Kansas Advances, Kansas State Plays Saturday

The second full-day of the NCAA Tournament brought a number of surprises as many top teams fell to lower seeds including a pair of 2-seeds. Missouri couldn't avoid the upset bug falling to 15-seeded Norfolk State 86-84. The Tigers weren't alone as Duke became the sixth 2-seed to ever lose in its first game of the tournament falling to Lehigh of the Patriot League.

Marcus Denmon scored 20 points for Missouri but the Tigers couldn't overcome a hot shooting Norfolk State club that also beat Missouri up on the boards to the tune of a 35-23 advantage. The Spartans move on to the third round where they will take on Florida on Sunday.

The Kansas Jayhawks were able to avoid the upset bug advancing to the third-round with a 65-50 win over Detroit. Thomas Robinson finished with 16 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Jayhawks who will advance to play Purdue on Sunday.

Kansas State is lone Kansas area representative to play on Saturday and will kick off third-round action against top-seeded Syracuse. The Orange narrowly escaped UNC Asheville in the first round and figure to get a stiff test from the Wildcats frontcourt. Kansas State defeated Southern Miss 70-64 on Thursday.

For up-to-the-minute scores on all NCAA Tournament games, please check out SI.com's complete scoreboard.

For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stay with SB Nation's Selection Sunday StoryStream, and stick around SB Nation's NCAA Tournament hub for a complete printable NCAA Tournament bracket and tons of analysis on who was snubbed, who got the best bracket, and who will make it all the way to New Orleans and the Final Four.

Missouri's Frank Haith Says He 'Hurts For Seniors' After Early NCAA Tournament Exit

The Missouri Tigers were seeded too low. That was the commonly held belief after the 30-win Tigers and Big 12 Conference Tournament champs were placed at a No. 2 seed below the Michigan State Spartans. Expectations were high for Missouri and many had them going to New Orleans to make a Final Four run. Even President Obama predicted the same.

But reality was hard for the Missouri Tigers yesterday as Frank Haith’s magical run came to an abrupt end after the team ran into the No. 15 seeded Norfolk State. With the upset loss, Haith’s team fell out of the team in the first round and must head home with the pain dashed expectations.

“We had higher expectations for ourselves, and there is really nothing to say when you come out and you don’t perform,” said Missouri senior guard Marcus Denmon, who scored 20. the way you perform. We gave up 86 points … You can’t win a game giving up 86 points."

Frank Haith said that he hurts for the seniors who have end their career on this note after such an incredible season.

“I’m very disappointed, as everyone in that locker room was,” Missouri coach Frank Haith said. “I hurt for those seniors because they put so much into this. They had high expectations as we came into this season, but let’s understand one thing – they had a hell of a year.”

For more on the loss to Norfolk State, check out SB Nation’s Missouri blog at Rock M Nation.

ANIMATED: The Aftermath Of Missouri's Loss To Norfolk State

VIDEO: Missouri's Final Play Against Norfolk State

It must be a terrifying thing to have to take the shot to save your team's season. No doubt Missouri never dreamed that it would even in that position when it took the court as the No. 2 seed in the West against No. 15 Norfolk State.

But there the Tigers were, trailing by two with three seconds to go. And it fell to poor Phil Pressey to take what turned out to be the final shot of Missouri's season.

And then came the seconds afterward. All the agonizing, agonizing seconds afterward.

Go check out Rock M Nation for all things Missouri hoops. For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament, stay with SB Nation's NCAA Tournament hub. for a complete printable NCAA Tournament bracket and tons of analysis on who was snubbed, who got the best bracket, and who will make it all the way to New Orleans and the Final Four.

NCAA Tournament 2012: Norfolk State Stuns Missouri, 86-84

Kyle O'Quinn's three-point play with 34.9 seconds to go broke an 81-81 tie and helped No. 15 seed Norfolk State Spartans to a shocking 86-84 win over the No. 2 seed Missouri Tigers in Omaha Friday afternoon. The win ended Missouri's season, and Final Four ambitions, stunningly early. The Tigers finished the year with a record of 30-5.

O'Quinn's putback of a missed shot by Chris McEachin made the score 83-81, and he converted the subsequent free throw to make the score 84-81. After a missed three-pointer by Marcus Denmon, O'Quinn made one of two foul shots to make the score 85-81, Spartans. But Phil Pressey buried a long three-pointer with 10 seconds to play to bring Missouri back within one.

After Rodney McCauley made the first foul shot to make the score 86-84, the rebound of the second missed free throw ended in a held ball and Norfolk State possession. However, O'Quinn missed both foul shots to give Missouri one more chance.

O'Quinn finished the game with 26 points for the Spartans, while McEachin and Pendarvis Williams each added 20. Michael Dixon led the Tigers in scoring with 22 points, while Denmon and Pressey each scored 20 points for Missouri.

Go check out Rock M Nation for all things Missouri hoops. For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stay with SB Nation's Selection Sunday StoryStream, and stick around SB Nation's NCAA Tournament hub. For a complete printable NCAA Tournament bracket and tons of analysis on who was snubbed, who got the best bracket, and who will make it all the way to New Orleans and the Final Four.

Missouri Vs. Norfolk State Score: Tigers, Spartans Tied 38-38 At Halftime

Don't sleep on the Norfolk State. The fifteenth-seeded Spartans have given Missouri all that they can handle, as Norfolk State and Missouri are tied at 38-38 at halftime.

Marcus Denmon leads the game in scoring through the first half, shooting 5-of-9 from the field, including 4-of-8 from beyond the arc for 14 first half points.

So far, Mizzou hasn't been able to find an answer for Norfolk State center Kyle O'Quinn, who leads the Spartans with 14 points and leads both teams with six rebounds. Pendarvis Williams is also in double digits for Norfolk State, scoring 11 first half points. Williams is also a perfect three-for-three from behind the arc.

Norfolk State is winning the rebounding battle as well, out-rebounding Missouri by a 19-13 margin through the first half.

Still, there's a full half still left to play. On Thursday, UNC Asheville led Syracuse by four points at the half, but the top-seeded Orange eventually pulled away to advance to the Round of 32. Missouri fans will be hoping for something similar to happen against Norfolk State.

For more on the Missouri Tigers, be sure to check out Rock M Nation.

March Madness 2012, Missouri Vs. Norfolk State: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

The Missouri Tigers should have no issue taking on the No. 15 seeded Norfolk St. Spartans. The line on the game favors Missouri by 22 points, so if Missouri even struggles against Norfolk State it would be a disappointment.

Over at SB Nation's Missouri blog Rock M Nation they provide three keys to this game:

The Whistles. Mizzou should by all means have too much for Norfolk State when all is said and done. However ... if Ricardo Ratliffe has two fouls before the first TV timeout, and Steve Moore picks up a second before the third TV timeout ... and Kim English is forced to body up against Kyle O'Quinn ... ? NSU is going to pound and pound and pound, and if Mizzou's positioning isn't sound, they could find themselves limited by foul trouble. In some ways, NSU is like a mini-Kansas State -- they can throw waves of similarly-talented bodies at you, and they don't mind getting into foul trouble if it means you do too. ("The Whistles" goes for NSU, too, by the way. Against their five best opponents -- Marquette twice, Drexel, Virginia Tech and Illinois State -- O'Quinnn fouled out three times.)

Play Your Game. There is no reason to believe Missouri will tighten up or panic if things stay tight for a while. They haven't made a habit of it this season. But in theory, NSU is big and physical enough to hang around with the Tigers, and the imminent Mizzou run will only come if the Tigers continue to play their game and trust themselves. If NSU goes on a little run and we start to see quick Phil Pressey 3-pointers and out-of-control drives, however, there might be reason to get a little nervous. Run the offense, take good shots, play sound defense, win. While we're at it...

Flipadelphia. We never necessarily know which Mizzou guard is going to catch fire, but one usually does, be it Marcus Denmon, Mike Dixon or Kim English. What makes Mizzou untouchable at times is when somebody is on fire and Phil Pressey is in complete and total control. As I said multiple times, despite Kim English averaging 23 points per game in the Big 12 Tournament, I'd have thought long and hard about giving Pressey the tournament's Most Outstanding Player award. Quite simply, when he is great, Mizzou is great. So, uh, be great, Flip.

Game date/time: Friday, March 16, 3:40 p.m. CT

Location: CenturyLink Center, Omaha, Neb.

TV: TNT

Radio: Tigers Radio Network

Streaming: NCAA March Madness Live

Line: Missouri (-22)

Go check out Rock M Nation for all things Missouri hoops. For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stay with SB Nation's Selection Sunday StoryStream, and stick around SB Nation's NCAA Tournament hub. For a complete printable NCAA Tournament bracket and tons of analysis on who was snubbed, who got the best bracket, and who will make it all the way to New Orleans and the Final Four.

March Madness 2012: Phil Pressey Key To Tournament Success For Missouri

The Missouri Tigers need a big tournament from Phil Pressey if they want to win the West region and head to New Orleans for the pinnacle of March Madness: The Final Four.

March Madness 2012: Missouri Ready To Make History In NCAA Tournament

Missouri has never made a Final Four. Could 2012 be the end of a 73-year wait for Tiger fans? This team has the tools to be that special team.

NCAA Tournament Predictions: Barack Obama Predicts Missouri, Kentucky Among Final Four Teams

President Barack Obama has filed his official 2012 NCAA Tournament Bracket and he's picked the Missouri Tigers to make it all the way to the Final Four in New Orleans, showing that most believe the Tigers should have won the No. 1 seed over the Michigan State Spartans. The other choices for the President include Kentucky, Ohio State and North Carolina.

The Missouri Tigers won 30 games in a power conference, so it's clear that they can play with anyone. They split the season series with Kansas and demolished the Baylor Bears in the Big 12 conference final. For those who knock them for a poor non-conference schedule, the team has done everything it can do with what it has been given. And it's clear that Missouri can score on anyone at will.

Obama has a bracket challenge available for those interested in matching wits with the leader of the free world.

For more on this matchup and the impending March Madness season, check out SB Nation's college hoops news hub. Stay tuned to Bring on the Cats and SB Nation Kansas City for more Kansas State Wildcats recaps, previews and news updates.

Brackets on the brain? Us too! Play Yahoo! Tourney Pick’em and be a part of the craziest month of college basketball. It is fun, easy, and free.

NCAA Basketball Tournament 2012 Predictions: Dick Vitale Has Missouri In Final Four

There is perhaps no other figure and voice more prominent and recognizable in the college basketball world than Dick Vitale. He's been a staple for decades now within the college game, so of course we're interested to know who Vitale has winning the whole thing and what he thinks of local favorites. While he has Anthony Davis and Kentucky winning the whole thing, the good news is that he also has the Missouri Tigers beating the Michigan State Spartans and making it to the Final Four in New Orleans.

His short summary reads "Frank Haith's magical year continues all the way to New Orleans." That's a great summation of a season that no one saw coming, and Missouri fans have to love the promise of going to New Orleans in Haith's first season. This will definitely be a fantastic post-season in for college basketball fans.

For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stay with SB Nation’s Selection Sunday StoryStream, and stick around SB Nation’s NCAA Tournament hub for a complete printable NCAA Tournament bracket and tons of analysis on who was snubbed, who got the best bracket, and who will make it all the way to New Orleans and the Final Four.

Brackets on the brain? Us too! Play Yahoo! Tourney Pick’em and be a part of the craziest month of college basketball. It is fun, easy, and free.

NCAA Bracket 2012: Missouri Tigers Picked To Win West Region By Sporting News

The Michigan State Spartans are the No. 1 seed. The Missouri Tigers might be becoming the favorite. As predictions continue to roll in, the Tigers find themselves featured more and more among the favorites to make it to New Orleans for the 2012 Final Four in this year's NCAA Tournament. Mike DeCourcy is the latest and the Sporting News columnist says he favors Mizzou over the Spartans.

He writes, "Mizzou has appeared in more NCAA Tournaments without reaching the Final Four than any school, save for BYU. So it seems safe to say the Tigers are the best program never to make it. There haven’t been a lot of times when they were supposed to make it—this is the third time as a No. 2, and only in 1994 were they a No. 1—but this is an exciting, hungry team that is difficult to defend and hungry to excel. History will be made"

Frank Haith would certainly win every coach of the year award if the Tigers were to win it all and would prove the naysayers wrong, of which there were many at his hiring, myself included. Either way, Mizzou has enjoyed an incredible season and they deserve any accolades that come their way.

2012 NCAA Tournament Schedule: Missouri Opens Play Friday

The Missouri Tigers (30-4, 14-4 Big 12) will take their Big 12 Tournament title to Omaha, Nebraska, for their first round match-up against Norfolk State, winners of the MEAC Tournament in a 2/15 game in the West region Friday afternoon. Missouri claimed its fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament bid with the Big 12 Tournament title game win over Baylor. The Tigers' 30 wins sets an all-time school record, and their Big 12 Tournament win was their second in four years.

Date / Time: Friday, March 16, 3:40 p.m. CT

TV: TNT

Steaming: CBS Sports

Bracket: Click here for SB Nation's printable NCAA Tournament bracket

Brackets on the brain? Us too! Play Yahoo! Tourney Pick'em and be a part of the craziest month of college basketball. It is fun, easy, and free.

For more on the Missouri Tigers, be sure to check out Rock M Nation. For all your March Madness news and info, head on over to SB Nation's college basketball news hub.

NCAA Tournament Predictions: Missouri Chosen To Make Final Four By SB Nation

Bill Connelly of SB Nation has his predictions out for the 2012 NCAA Tournament and the Missouri Tigers are quicky becoming the pick du jour of several sportswriters to come out of the West region. While Michigan State is the No. 1 seed, Connelly says he has to go with his gut on this, even though the move could “backfire.”

Connelly writes, “We are disrespecting the hell out of Tom Izzo and Michigan State at this point — virtually everybody is picking the Tigers, it seems — and that will almost certainly backfire, especially with the potential for Missouri to slip up against Florida/Virginia or Marquette. But I go with the smoking hot team regardless, even though it makes me nauseous to pick my alma mater to go that far.”

The Tigers won 30 games in the Big 12 and smoked the Baylor Bears in the conference title game, so it's not a stretch to see them emerging from the field. They score at will, are very efficient and are red hot at the right time.

For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stay with SB Nation’s Selection Sunday StoryStream, and stick around SB Nation’s NCAA Tournament hub for a complete printable NCAA Tournament bracket and tons of analysis on who was snubbed, who got the best bracket, and who will make it all the way to New Orleans and the Final Four.

Brackets on the brain? Us too! Play Yahoo! Tourney Pick’em and be a part of the craziest month of college basketball. It is fun, easy, and free.

NCAA Bracket 2012: Missouri's Seeding Called Into Question

The Missouri Tigers were among the teams fighting for a No. 1 seed down the stretch. Even without a strong non-conference schedule, the team finished with 30 wins, split their Border War series with Kansas and demolished the Baylor Bears for the Big 12 tournament title. Yet the team was called the last of the No. 2 seeds -- a No. 8 ranking overall. That much is ridiculous at this point and many are calling the selection committee into question.

ESPN's Jason King writes, "I’ve got to think that a more than a handful of people choked on their cheese puffs when committee chair Jeff Hathaway said during a live interview that Missouri was the fourth No. 2 seed behind Kansas, Duke and Ohio State. Seriously, at what point does the "eyeball factor" come into play?

"The Tigers are 30-4 and completely dominated a strong Baylor team in the championship game of the Big 12 tournament Saturday. Sure, Missouri’s non-conference strength of schedule was poor. But to imply Frank Haith’s squad would’ve been a No. 3 seed had it lost on Saturday is concerning."

The Tigers are being picked by many as a Final Four selection and it will be interesting to see the reasoning of others if the Tigers do well. Then again, a short run by Frank Haith's team would only validate the raised eyebrows of the ones calling these shots.

Brackets on the brain? Us too! Play Yahoo! Tourney Pick’em and be a part of the craziest month of college basketball. It is fun, easy, and free.

NCAA Tournament 2012: Missouri Placed Among Top Transition Teams In College Basketball

The West region is going to be an interesting one if only for its ability to play transition basketball. As ESPN Stats and Info notes, the Missouri Tigers are among the top seeds in the West but they're also playing with some fast company -- teams that are able to run the floor well and score before you know it.

They write, "Six of the top 12 teams in tempo (possessions per game) in the NCAA tournament are in the West Region. Brigham Young and Iona play in the first round. Seven teams that led their conference in transition points per game are in that region (Michigan State, Missouri, Marquette, Murray State, Memphis, and Iona)."

That should make for some very exciting games, specifically as those teams begin to play one another in later rounds. An early Marquette and Missouri match-up could be quite entertaining and certainly a Michigan State vs. Missouri game would as well -- although that could be said for any No. 1 vs. No. 2 seed.

The Missouri Tigers have certainly had a great season under Frank Haith in his first year and 30 wins for any power conference team coming into the tourney is a testament to their scoring ability. This is going to be a fun tournament to watch.

Brackets on the brain? Us too! Play Yahoo! Tourney Pick’em and be a part of the craziest month of college basketball. It is fun, easy, and free.

NCAA Bracket 2012: Missouri Predicted By 7.7 Percent Of Entrants To Win Title By ESPN

In ESPN's Tournament Challenge, the stats are rolling in and the University of Kentucky is the heavy favorite for all entrants into their prediction contest for the 2012 NCAA Tournament. Yet after the big three seeds, the Missouri Tigers come in fourth and the Kansas Jayhawks come in sixth, giving the Big 12 two of the biggest favorites in the country.

Interestingly enough, Baylor even comes in 10th, which means the Big 12 has three of the top ten teams as predicted by entrants and yet none of them are a top seed in the tournament, The final No. 1 seed went to Michigan State as the Big Ten winner, although that was the most questionable among the top tier seeds overall. Here's ESPN's complete list of the top ten:

Kentucky: 32.1 percent
North Carolina: 15 percent
Syracuse: 11.2 percent
Missouri: 7.7 percent
Michigan State: 6.7 percent
Kansas: 5.8 percent
Ohio State: 4.1 percent
Duke: 3.9 percent
Florida State: 2.8 percent
Baylor: 1.5 percent

NCAA Tournament 2012: Missouri And Kansas Predicted To Make Final Four

As predictions begin to roll in about the 2012 NCAA Tournament, it's interesting to note just how highly many think of the Big 12 teams in the contest, and yet they didn't earn a No. 1 seed. Myron Medcalf of ESPN is the latest to make some bold predictions and says that two Big 12 teams will occupy half of the Final Four in New Orleans when all is said and done.

Medcalf writes, "Among the 2-seeds, Missouri has the easiest path to New Orleans. The Tigers’ speed and perimeter versatility will pose matchup problems for every team in the West Region, including No. 1 seed Michigan State. Kansas losing in the first round to Detroit? Nah. The Jayhawks will beat every team in the Midwest, including the Tar Heels if they face them in the Elite Eight."

If the teams could end up facing each other for another Border War showdown, it would be an incredible game to watch considering how great the first two were this season. What a way for a rivalry so storied to end on the biggest stage possible. The way the two teams have played all season, this scenario is not as far-fetched as some might believe.

Brackets on the brain? Us too! Play Yahoo! Tourney Pick’em and be a part of the craziest month of college basketball. It is fun, easy, and free.

NCAA Tournament 2012: Betting Odds Place Kansas, Missouri At 12-1 To Win National Title

The 2012 NCAA Tournament field been set and it didn't take long for the official betting odds to come out for the 68 teams vying for the men's college basketball national championship. The Kentucky Wildcats are the favored team as the SEC winners and the No. 1 overall seed at 7-2. Led by Anthony Davis, it's going to be hard for anyone to take them out. As for local teams, the Missouri Tigers and Kansas Jayhawks are tied for fifth overall at 12-1 odds. In between are North Carolina, Michigan State and Ohio State. Surprisingly, Syracuse is at 12-1 as well despite being a top seed.

Opening Odds for NCAA Tournament's top teams:
Kentucky 7-2
North Carolina 9-1
Michigan St. 10-1
Ohio St. 10-1
Kansas 12-1
Missouri 12-1
Syracuse 12-1
Duke 25-1
Louisville 30-1
Baylor 35-1
Marquette 35-1
Florida St. 40-1
Vanderbilt 40-1
Wichita St. 45-1
New Mexico 50-1
Wisconsin 50-1
Georgetown 55-1
Memphis 65-1
Cincinnati 75-1
Kansas St 75-1
Indiana 80-1
UNLV 80-1

Brackets on the brain? Us too! Play Yahoo! Tourney Pick’em and be a part of the craziest month of college basketball. It is fun, easy, and free.

NCAA Bracket 2012: Missouri Tigers Face Norfolk State In First Round

The Missouri Tigers have enjoyed a magical 2011-12 basketball season that no one saw coming in Frank Haith's first year. Now the build-up of the regular season comes to its fruition as the Tigers hope to prove to everyone just how good they really are with a deep post-season run. They'll begin by facing the OPPONENT in the first round of the 2012 NCAA Tournament and with shooters like Marcus Denmon, Kim English and Michael Dixon, Jr., they should move on rather easily.

The Norfolk State recently won the MEAC championship in Atlanta and it's been a banner year for Norfolk State athletics. Matt Michalec writes, "The men’s basketball team also helped the Norfolk State athletics program pull off a rare double win in football and basketball. This marks just the sixth time in MEAC history that the same school has won both the MEAC football (including ties) and men’s basketball tournament titles in the same year, and first time since Hampton University did it in 2005-06."

For more on the 2012 NCAA men's basketball tournament, check out the SB Nation storystream here. Brackets on the brain? Us too! Play Yahoo! Tourney Pick’em and be a part of the craziest month of college basketball. It is fun, easy, and free.

March Madness Bracket 2012: How Missouri Got There

Missouri fought through a ton of adversity to finish the regular season 30-4. The Tigers will be looking to transfer their unprecedented success into the program's first Final Four appearance.

2012 NCAA Bracket: Missouri And Michigan State Land In West

After a successful regular season, the Missouri Tigers have landed the No. 2 seed in the West region for this year's NCAA Tournament, as the selection committee announced on Sunday. The Tigers received an automatic bid after winning the 2012 Big 12 Tournament.

The West region should pose numerous challenges for a talented Missouri team. In the first round of the tournament, the Tigers will be facing 15-seeded Norfolk State with the winner moving on to face No. 7 seeded Florida Gators against No. 10 Virginia in the second round.

The top seed is No. 1 Michigan State, the team that likely kept Missouri from taking the top spot, so it will be interesting to chart both teams as they head toward the Final Four. Other top teams in the region include Marquette and Louisville.

For more on this matchup and the impending March Madness season, check out SB Nation's college hoops news hub. Stay tuned to SB Nation Kansas City for more Tigers recaps, previews and news updates.