Growing up I used to sit in front of the TV as CBS announced the field of 64. With my pen and pad I would write down all the seeds and match-ups - with nicknames of course. Then I would have the whole family reluctantly fill out brackets. Now I get to get all my friends to reluctantly fill out brackets.
This year, the number one seeds could have been any of 7 teams. Three Big East teams get the nod as number one seeds this year, UCONN, Pitt and Louisville. The fourth number one is filled by UNC. Louisville is a small surprise as a number one, but Rick Pitino will have his squad ready to defend their placement. As always the biggest talk is over who is in and who was left out. The biggest bubble team on the outside looking in is St. Mary's (CA) who had a great season, for the most part without their star Patrick Mills. They were still able to make it to the finals of their conference tournament losing to Gonzaga. Unfortunately, their conference schedule is not the most difficult and the tournament selection committee could not put them into the big dance. The other team that got their bubble burst was the Creighton Blue Jays. The biggest surprise team that actually got into the tourney is Arizona. The Wildcats have been struggling recently and this will usually get a team on the sidelines come March, however the committee took into account the entire Wildcats season and put them in for the 25th year in a row, heck maybe the selection committee just wanted to see the streak continue.
Here is a blimp view of the different regions and who to look out for. My picks will be printed on Thursday morning, no one cares about the play in game.
Midwest Regional
Louisville as a number one seed over Memphis, Oklahoma or Michigan St. is a little surprising even though they did very well in the tough Big East which produced 3 of the #1 teams. The Cardinals won't be tested until they probably meet Wake Forest in the sweet 16. The bottom half of the Midwest is a little trickier. The teams that were placed here all seem to be on a nice run to end the season and have momentum into the tourney, Kansas, Boston College and USC. If USC's freshman DeMar DeRozan and junior Daniel Hackett continue their stellar play, I really like the Trojans in the Midwest.
West Regional
The West bracket is one that could go to form with all the top seeds winning in the first round. UConn has been near the top of the Top 25 all year long and should have a nice run in the tourney. UConn standout Hasheem Thabeet needs to have big games and stay out of foul trouble for the Huskies to succeed. Missouri and Memphis are the two teams to watch out for in the bottom half of the West bracket. According to Bob Knight, Memphis is the most dangerous team in the tournament. Even though they play in the weaker Conference USA, they play great defence and can now shoot free throws. They won't surprise anyone when they start racking up the wins.
East Regional
Led by player of the year candidate DeJuan Blair, the Pitt Panthers will take advantage of their number 1 seed. They have only a few roadblocks on their way to the final four in Detroit. They need to look out for Xavier who have played well recently and could pose a threat. The bottom half of the East Regional won't be a cake walk for number 2 seed Duke, but the "DUKIES" *Kornheiser voice* should have enough in the tank to outlast Villanova and UCLA who are travelling across the country with Texas to play in Boston.
South Regional
Probably the toughest bracket looking at the teams involved. Two of the best players in the country will be involved in Tyler Hansborough from UNC (number 1 seed) and former "Name to Know" Oklahoma's (number 2 seed) Blake Griffin. Also involved in the South Regional will be Syracuse who played an unbelievable Big East tournament, Arizona State (runners up in the Pac-10 tourney), and LSU who feature senior guard Marcus Thornton. This bracket will become a knock down and drag out affair and although some of the best teams may be in the South Regional the best (Oklahoma) might not make it to the final four.
This year, the number one seeds could have been any of 7 teams. Three Big East teams get the nod as number one seeds this year, UCONN, Pitt and Louisville. The fourth number one is filled by UNC. Louisville is a small surprise as a number one, but Rick Pitino will have his squad ready to defend their placement. As always the biggest talk is over who is in and who was left out. The biggest bubble team on the outside looking in is St. Mary's (CA) who had a great season, for the most part without their star Patrick Mills. They were still able to make it to the finals of their conference tournament losing to Gonzaga. Unfortunately, their conference schedule is not the most difficult and the tournament selection committee could not put them into the big dance. The other team that got their bubble burst was the Creighton Blue Jays. The biggest surprise team that actually got into the tourney is Arizona. The Wildcats have been struggling recently and this will usually get a team on the sidelines come March, however the committee took into account the entire Wildcats season and put them in for the 25th year in a row, heck maybe the selection committee just wanted to see the streak continue.
Here is a blimp view of the different regions and who to look out for. My picks will be printed on Thursday morning, no one cares about the play in game.
Midwest Regional
Louisville as a number one seed over Memphis, Oklahoma or Michigan St. is a little surprising even though they did very well in the tough Big East which produced 3 of the #1 teams. The Cardinals won't be tested until they probably meet Wake Forest in the sweet 16. The bottom half of the Midwest is a little trickier. The teams that were placed here all seem to be on a nice run to end the season and have momentum into the tourney, Kansas, Boston College and USC. If USC's freshman DeMar DeRozan and junior Daniel Hackett continue their stellar play, I really like the Trojans in the Midwest.
West Regional
The West bracket is one that could go to form with all the top seeds winning in the first round. UConn has been near the top of the Top 25 all year long and should have a nice run in the tourney. UConn standout Hasheem Thabeet needs to have big games and stay out of foul trouble for the Huskies to succeed. Missouri and Memphis are the two teams to watch out for in the bottom half of the West bracket. According to Bob Knight, Memphis is the most dangerous team in the tournament. Even though they play in the weaker Conference USA, they play great defence and can now shoot free throws. They won't surprise anyone when they start racking up the wins.
East Regional
Led by player of the year candidate DeJuan Blair, the Pitt Panthers will take advantage of their number 1 seed. They have only a few roadblocks on their way to the final four in Detroit. They need to look out for Xavier who have played well recently and could pose a threat. The bottom half of the East Regional won't be a cake walk for number 2 seed Duke, but the "DUKIES" *Kornheiser voice* should have enough in the tank to outlast Villanova and UCLA who are travelling across the country with Texas to play in Boston.
South Regional
Probably the toughest bracket looking at the teams involved. Two of the best players in the country will be involved in Tyler Hansborough from UNC (number 1 seed) and former "Name to Know" Oklahoma's (number 2 seed) Blake Griffin. Also involved in the South Regional will be Syracuse who played an unbelievable Big East tournament, Arizona State (runners up in the Pac-10 tourney), and LSU who feature senior guard Marcus Thornton. This bracket will become a knock down and drag out affair and although some of the best teams may be in the South Regional the best (Oklahoma) might not make it to the final four.
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