How's Your Bracket?
Posted March 19, 2006, 8:01 PM ET

We're down to the Sweet 16; so, how does your bracket look?

Have you already thrown it in the garbage? With all the mid-majors causing havoc, there is no doubt that the secretary leads your office pool.

Well, this is the time when the Cinderella wanna-bes exit stage left. I love the games coming up on Thursday and Friday, and there is a chance for history in the making.

Never before have all four #1-seeds made it to the Final Four, and now that we've cut the Tourney down to the Sweet 16, all four #1's are alive and well....but for how long?

Despite all the hoopla from the Missouri Valley Conference and the Patriots from George Mason, there are still some big boys waiting to take center stage of the 2006 NCAA Tournament.

As much as people are talking about the mid-majors and their success so far, let's talk about an equally interesting topic...the complete meltdown of the always overrated Big Ten.

It doesn't matter if it is football or basketball...the Big Ten always plays small. This year the computer ratings declared that the Big Ten was the best league in hoops. Forget about a "down" ACC pounding them earlier this season in the "Challenge"; the Big Ten placed 6 teams in the Big Dance...and right now every team is at home on the couch watching the festivities.

The Big Ten sucks.

Now, let's get back to the Sweet 16...How does your bracket look as we approach the critical second week of March Madness?

I still have all of my Final Four picks alive in the proceedings: Duke, UCLA, UConn and BC.

My Washington D.C. bracket took a beating with all the unlikely surprises. I only have UConn left in the region...and I really appreciate the Tar Heels letting me down with their weak effort against George Mason from the mighty Colonial Athletic Association....the Heels blew a 16-2 start and freshman sensation Tyler Hansbrough never attempted a free throw as the Heels collapsed in the second half. For the record, UNC only attempted four free throws the entire game...when is the last time that ever happened in an ACC game?

In the Minneapolis regional, I'm a perfect 4-for-4...Villanova, BC, Florida and Georgetown survived, and I'm sitting pretty...but then again, I've got BC emerging from the group.

In the Oakland Regional, I'm 3-for-4...In my bracket I had Memphis, Gonzaga and UCLA still playing. Bradley wasn't on my radar or my sheet. The Bruins-Zags showdown should be terrific.

In Atlanta, I'm looking pretty good with another 3-for-4 effort with Duke, LSU and Texas...but, I didn't select West By-God-Virginia, which made it back to the Sweet 16 for the second straight year.

So, like the rest of America, I will sit back and watch the Madness continue later this week...and I have a funny feeling that my NCAA Tourney sheet will find its rightful resting place by the weekend....the trash can.