Busted Bracket I'll guarantee you that it will take me 10 minutes longer to write this entry than it did to fill out my bracket. I fill out only one....and that's it. If it sucks...who cares? If I get every pick right....it's just plain lucky....plus, who really cares? So with that said, here are my useless selections of what should be a wild, crazy and unpredictable NCAA Tournament. The top four seeded teams are Louisville, Kansas, Indiana and Gonzaga. People have been screaming about Duke and Miami as top seeds, but at this point you have to play and win regardless of the number beside the name of your team. I didn't have any issues with the Selection Committee and their picks....there was so much mediocrity in college hoops this year that any team that bitches about not getting in the Big Dance needs to keep their mouth shut and get better. I don't want to hear about UVa, Maryland, Tennessee or anybody else that came up short.....here's a suggestion: win more games. Now, let's get on to the picks.... In the Midwest Regional, Louisville is the top seed. All I need to know about the Cards is that their coach, Rick Pitino, loves the way his kids are playing. That's all I need....I'll take the Cardinals to make a return visit to the Final Four. In the process, they will take out Colorado State, St. Louis and Michigan State to make it to Atlanta. Duke is the #2 seed....If the Blue Devils can make shots, they are terrific.....but they are too inconsistent from beyond the arc for my liking. In the West, Gonzaga is the #1 seed. Mark Few is a terrific coach and he has established an incredible program. They used to be known as a Cinderella program...but you can forget about that label with these Bulldogs. I love their front court, but March Madness is all about great guard play....and this is where I think the Zags come up a little short. I think Wisconsin is the team that takes them out of the Big Dance. So does Wisconsin make it to the Final Four? Nope. I see Coach Ryan's methodical style being stopped by Steve Alford and his defensive-minded New Mexico Lobos. The West looks like the weakest regional, and the New Mexico-Wisconsin match-up could set offensive basketball back two decades....but I'm going with the Lobos. In the South, the Big XII Tournament champs, Kansas Jayhawks, are back in familiar territory as the #1 seed. I love Bill Self, and everything that KU hoops represents. I also love that both Kansas and UNC could hook up in Kansas City. I wished they would play every year. I've got Kansas winning out to the Elite 8 by beating Western Kentucky, North Carolina and VCU.....but my pick is Georgetown. I'm not overly confident with the Hoyas selection....especially given their recent NCAA Tourney play. But I like Otto Porter and their defense. So I'm taking the Hoyas over the Jayhawks for a spot in the Final Four. Finally in the East Regional, we have Indiana as the top seed. I love the Hoosiers....they have been involved with the most entertaining games and outcomes in the country. They have flaws just like everybody else...but watching Tom Crean on the sidelines is a trip. The potential match-up with athletic and inconsistent NC State could be a trouble spot....but I don't trust the Pack. There's only one team in the Regional that can give IU headaches...and that is the Miami Hurricanes. The Canes validated their ACC regular season success by winning the conference tourney, too. The "U" has size, experience and a great backcourt combination. I'm buying the Canes....and I think they beat Indiana in a great game. My Final Four is Louisville, New Mexico, Georgetown and Miami. By Friday night, these picks and my bracket will be in shambles. Enjoy the Madness. |
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