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Virginia Commonwealth upset Duke in 2007 and is could wreak havoc on brackets again this season, NBCSports.com contributor Ken Davis writes.

East
No. 8 Oklahoma State: Coach Travis Ford has done a tremendous job with the Cowboys. If OSU gets past No. 9 Tennessee, the Cowboys might become a fan favorite because of the exciting style they play. Ford uses a four-guard lineup, and the Cowboys can really shoot. They shot 39.2 percent from 3-point range and made 9.5 per game. They Cowboys aren’t big, but they battle. Multi-talented point guard Byron Eaton simply doesn’t get the attention he deserves.

No. 11 Virginia Commonwealth: For everyone who misses Davidson’s Stephen Curry, latch on to VCU star Eric Maynor. He’s a senior and the guy who makes VCU tick. The Rams are back in the tournament and will be a popular choice to do some damage based on their 2007 first-round upset of Duke. Anthony Grant, the former Florida assistant, is one of the bright, young stars in coaching. Schools such as Georgia, Arizona and Virginia should be watching his performance. This time UCLA could be the first-round victim.

South
No. 10 Michigan: Fans in Ann Arbor have been waiting since 1998 to enjoy an NCAA appearance. Coach John Beilein has this squad ahead of schedule. No one expected Michigan to win 20 games, including victories over Duke, Illinois and UCLA. Clemson finished the season in disappointing fashion and must prepare for Michigan’s zone defenses and perimeter attack. If the Wolverines move on to the second round, their lack of size would be a problem against Blake Griffin and Oklahoma.

No. 12 Western Kentucky: The Hilltoppers made it to the regional semifinal round last year before losing to UCLA. Ken McDonald, a disciple of Rick Barnes, returned to coach Western Kentucky and made instant headlines with victories over Louisville and Georgia. A.J. Slaughter is the new star for the Hilltoppers, averaging 15.8 points. Lack of depth could be a problem, but Illinois will have its hands full in the first round.

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