Read 'Em and Weep
Posted March 13, 2011, 9:10 PM ET

Now that ESPN's Joe Lunardi has made Mel Kiper, Jr. actually look insightful, it's time to take a look at the field of 68 for the NCAA Tournament.

Seriously, now that Lunardi missed on predicting all of the top four #1 seeds, not to mention whiffing on the UAB, VCU last four in picks...what exactly does he do, the rest of the year? It was hilarious, to watch ESPN fail to mention his name or whereabouts during the Bracketology Show...to be honest, I don't blame them for ignoring him after the fact.

Nice job, Joe...now go out and make sure Jay Bilas, Digger and Vitale get their wake-up calls, their fresh coffee in the morning and their dry cleaning picked up for the rest of the tourney. Joe...you had Colorado as an 11-seed?

Despite what the talking heads will tell you, it's impossible to pick the seeds and the outcomes of games....all you had to do is remind yourself of the conversations you were having last week after UNC blistered Duke in Chapel Hill....the Heels made Duke look like....well, UAB or VCU.

In a matter of a week, the Hokies of Virginia Tech went from the euphoria of beating Duke and apparently cementing their spot in the Big Dance....to being left out in the cold again. By the way, there are plenty of good seats left in Blacksburg for the upcoming NIT....which should probably be named the Seth Greenberg Invitational.

In one week, Duke went from being embarrassed against UNC to blowing the Heels out of the water for the title in Greensboro. Neither game was close...and if Duke shoots that way from the perimeter, they will be a tough out. If they misfire like they did in Chapel Hill, they will be live bait for a number of teams. It's a good thing Roy cut down the nets in the Smith Center, because Coach K has the hardware in Durham. It needs to be noted that K now has 13 ACC titles (10 in the last 13 years), and that ties him with Dean Smith.

That's pretty impressive company....and Duke fans will also remind you that they've also won 19 ACC titles....two more than you-know-who.

A week ago, the UConn Huskies were limping their way into the post-season, only to win five straight games in as many days in the toughest league on the planet to claim the Big East title. The action in Madison Square Garden was fantastic....one of the best college basketball tourneys that I've ever witnessed.

There are dozens of prime examples....and it's the reason we watch and absorb all the games in March Madness.

I thought the conference tournaments were fantastic.....and it's not because the teams are great, but because the games were so competitive and dramatic. There were buzzer-beaters and miraculous game-winners all over the country.

I was goofing around and figured out that of the 31 conference tournaments that were played in the last two weeks, the top seed in those respective league events won only 8 times. You read that right...and it's your bar bet tip of the week....only 8 of the top seeded teams in the 31 conference tournaments won their league championship.

It is the beauty of college hoops in this day and age.

I love how everybody is screaming about the last four teams that made the Dance, as opposed to Colorado, Virginia Tech, Harvard, BC, St. Mary's, or any other mediocre contender. How many people really believe any 12th seed is going to cause a stir in this tournament? I know we have more mediocrity than ever before.....but really....let's get in the real world.

ESPN's Doug Gottlieb ripped Clemson for getting a bid, since they have "zero" Top 50 wins....and then he proceeded to pick them to make it to the Sweet 16. You gotta love it....even Jay Bilas had to love that flip-flop.

Charles Barkley is still trying to find his notes on the CBS set so he can actually pretend that he knows of a single college player or someone other than Coach K. Greg Anthony, who does follow and know the game, had to be cringing watching Sir Charles grasp for the obvious. At least Kenny Smith has a clue...unless he has to speak highly of Duke.

Jay Bilas is now claiming that Harvard got hosed.....I wonder if that has anything to do with Tommy Amaker coaching the Ivy League runner-up?

I wonder how many Conference USA officials are on the Men's Basketball Committee?

Hubert Davis mentioned that they spend too much time on ESPN talking about the RPI and SOS.....Damn, Hubert, I know you're upset about Duke waxing your Heels, but man, you're out of a gig without Joe Lunardi's ridiculous bracketology and endless hours of rhetoric over such nonsense.

I'm telling you: the next couple of weeks are going to be great.

Let the Madness begin....and I'll give you my meaningless Final Four picks, too.

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Take it for whatever it's worth, it's time to name the four teams making it to Houston.

I tell folks this every year on the blog, radio and TV....I spend no more than 2 minutes filling out my bracket....3 minutes, if there is something noteworthy on the television in the background.....and no, I'm not talking about ESPN. Unfortunately, with my lousy typing skills, it takes me nearly 20 minutes to type this BS.

So, here it goes:

I agree.

I like their chances to continue on as they eventually hook up against Kentucky, and they will take out John Calipari's talented freshmen and move onto the Elite 8.

Mason beats Nova...then loses to Ohio State.
West Virginia beats Clemson....then loses to Kentucky, in a rematch from last year's regional final.
Kentucky beats Princeton....but can't beat Ohio State.

The Tar Heels manhandle Long Island.
The Pac 10 champion Washington Huskies beat Georgia, but they wouldn't in football, and for the folks in Athens, that's what really counts.
UNC and Washington are two of the highest scoring teams in the land....they don't disappoint in this match-up, but UNC wins a thriller.

Syracuse and their 2-3 zone are too much for Indiana State.
Xavier and Marquette play in one of the many intriguing 6-11match-ups. I think it's a great game...close, but Xavier survives.

The Musketeers continue their Big East bashing by upsetting Syracuse and move to the Sweet 16 to play the Heels.

UNC beats Xavier and meets Ohio State in the Elite 8.......the Buckeyes' balance is the difference against North Carolina.

Ohio State goes to Houston.

Southwest

Kansas is the #1 seed.

I agree.

The Jayhawks have no trouble with Boston, and they advance to face an underrated UNLV team that is fresh off of knocking out the Illini.

Vanderbilt beats the A-10 champs, Richmond....and Louisville knocks out Morehead State and rebounding machine Kenneth Faried.

I'm going chalk....as in "rock, chalk, Jayhawk". Kansas beats UNLV and Louisville to reach the Elite 8.

The Irish are the #2 seed, and they blew their chance of being a one-seed by losing in OT at MSG. But ND has no issue with Akron, and they will meet Florida State who surprises Texas A&M....I'm counting on the return of Chris Singleton....otherwise, we all know Leonard Hamilton can't out-coach a paper bag.

Notre Dame will have their hands full with the athletic Seminoles, but Mike Brey's guys are experienced and tough and they make it to the Sweet 16 to face......Purdue.

The Boilers stunk it up down the stretch, but I like them to bounce back against St. Peter's in the opener and then they beat an injury-riddled Georgetown team to reach the Sweet 16.

So it's a #1 vs. #2 seed, Kansas and Notre Dame.....great match-up, but Bill Self's team is a joy to watch, when they share the ball. I like both of these teams this year, but I'll go with Kansas.

Jayhawks join Ohio State in Houston.....

Southeast

The #1 seed is Pitt.

I agree.

I love this Pitt team, and I am rooting for Jamie Dixon to make it to Houston. Great young coach, and I like the mental toughness of his teams.

Pitt beats whatever team shows up between UNC-Asheville and Arkansas-Little Rock....I'm pulling for UNC-A due to logistics, and I love the North Carolina mountains....plus, my sister and her family live there. That should be reason enough for Pitt to beat them by 25 points.

Butler-Old Dominion is a great 8/9 match-up....let's go with the magic of Coach Stevens for one more game as they knock off their CAA foe, but they don't beat Pitt.

Pitt makes it to the Sweet 16.

Kansas State is a dangerous team, and they rip Utah State.
Wisconsin embarrassed the Big Ten with their 33-point effort in the Big Ten tourney....they will continue that trend, by being upset by Belmont.
K-State beats Belmont and faces Pitt in the Sweet 16.

Danger game for the Panthers, but they narrowly knock off Kansas State to reach the Elite 8.

Florida is the #2 seed in the region and they open up by dismantling UCSB and the Jim Rome clones.
UCLA and Michigan State is a fun opener, too....both teams can really disappoint at times.....I like both coaches, but Izzo finds a way to win one in this challenging year. Unfortunately, the Spartans will lose to Florida in the next round.....like in football, the Big Ten can't hold the SEC's jock.

BYU will get past pesky Wofford, but it will feel like an upset all game long.
St. John's will beat the Zags....and eventually will eliminate Jimmer's friends in the next round, too.

Pitt and St. John's in the Elite 8.....it's Jamie Dixon's time.....Pitt makes it 3 #1 seeds making it to Houston.

West

Duke is the #1 seed.

The Blue Devil team that played in Greensboro is a #1 seed....but will that team show up every night? We're due for a totally upside down regional....and here it is.

Duke will beat Hampton.

Michigan and Tennessee play in the 8/9 match-up....somebody tell me which UT comes to play? The one that can't beat College of Charleston at home....or the one that beats Pitt on the road? The Wolverines have been more consistent, but Bruce Pearl tells a better story....especially when it's with NCAA investigators....I'll go with Tennessee.

Duke and the Vols are up next....UT's athleticism can cause problems.....but Duke finds a way to move on. Plus, I can't trust the Vols.

Arizona plays Memphis. I love Derrick Williams.....I'm going with the Wildcats.
Texas and Oakland have "upset special" written all over it. I think Rick Barnes is good for at least one win....I'm picking the Horns, but it's going to be close.

Arizona and Texas....the 4-5 match-up is outstanding. I've liked Texas defensively all year, and the Longhorns are due for another good streak.....I'm picking Texas.

Texas and Duke in the Sweet 16. Rick Barnes hates Duke....or is it North Carolina? Upset special, the Longhorns knock out the defending champs.

San Diego State is the 2-seed....anybody sold on the Aztecs? I think they're pretty good.

They beat Northern Colorado and they are better than Temple which beats Penn State in their opening game.

UConn is the 3-seed and they handle Bucknell.

Missouri upsets Cincy and goes on to play another Big East team in UConn.....that's when it comes to an end for Mike Anderson, as he fends off Arkansas coaching rumors.

UConn upsets San Diego State and the Kemba Walker Show goes on for another rematch with Texas.....Don't mess with Texas....Rick Barnes takes his Longhorns to Houston.

So, there you have it....my Final Four in Houston:

Ohio State, Kansas, Pitt and Texas.

If these picks suck...remember: I didn't bother you as often as Joe Lunardi did, this hoops season.