Initial predictions and hopes for the NCAA tournament
The teams are selected. The brackets are set. I'm excited. Here are my initial thoughts on the NCAA tournament, and my uninformed and unrealistic predictions. I'll post my full bracket sometime later this week.
Midwest:
No. 1 Florida (29-5) vs. No. 16 Jackson State (21-13)
No. 8 Arizona (20-10) vs. No. 9 Purdue (21-11)
No. 5 Butler (27-6) vs. No. 12 Old Dominion (24-8)
No. 4 Maryland (24-8) vs. No. 13 Davidson (29-4)
No. 6 Notre Dame (24-7) vs. No. 11 Winthrop (28-4)
No. 3 Oregon (26-7) vs. No. 14 Miami (Ohio) (18-14)
No. 2 Wisconsin (29-5) vs. No. 15. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (26-6)
This is the region I'm the most interested in, for obvious reasons. I have a couple different ideas about how this should play out. Ideally, I'd love to see University of Oregon stay hot after their Pac-10 tournament win. They get a satisfying win against Notre Dame, and play out of their minds to beat favored Wisconsin and make it to the elite eight. They play well against Florida, and even though they lose, they win the respect of the nation and cast off their reputation for choking.
Homer pick aside, I'd also like to see Winthrop and Maryland make a splash. Maryland upsets Florida (who seem to have the potential to collapse). Winthrop pulls off a first round and then beats an overconfident Oregon team. I also wouldn't mind seeing Wisconsin come into the tournament with renewed investment after the loss to Ohio State today.
West Region:
No. 1 Kansas (30-4) vs. No. 16 Florida A&M-Niagara winner
No. 8 Kentucky (21-11) vs. No. 9 Villanova (22-10)
No. 5 Virginia Tech (21-11) vs. No. 12 Illinois (23-11)
No. 4 Southern Illinois (27-6) vs. No. 13 Holy Cross (25-8)
No. 6 Duke (22-10) vs. No. 11 Virginia Commonwealth (27-6)
No. 3 Pittsburgh (27-7) vs. No. 14 Wright State (23-9)
No. 2 UCLA (26-5) vs. No. 15. Weber State (20-11)
My main preferences for this region: Duke goes out in the first round, and Gonzaga beats UCLA. Pac-10 loyalties aside, I'm not a fan of UCLA. The only way they'll get my support is if they play Duke in the third round.
East Region:
No. 1 North Carolina (28-6) vs. No. 16 Eastern Kentucky (21-11)
No. 8 Marquette (24-9) vs. No. 9 Michigan State (22-11)
No. 5 USC (23-11) vs. No. 12 Arkansas (21-13)
No. 4 Texas (24-9) vs. No. 13 New Mexico State (25-8)
No. 6 Vanderbilt (20-11) vs. No. 11 George Washington (23-8)
No. 3 Washington State (25-7) vs. No. 14 Oral Roberts (23-10)
No. 2 Georgetown (26-6) vs. No. 15 Belmont (23-9)
What I want: for someone, anyone to beat North Carolina. Washington State and USC make statements, one or both make it to the sweet sixteen. At the very least, Georgetown beats UNC.
South Region:
No. 1 Ohio State (30-3) vs. No. 16 Central Connecticut State (22-11)
No. 8 BYU (25-8) vs. No. 9 Xavier (24-8)
No. 5 Tennessee (22-10) vs. No. 12 Long Beach State (24-7)
No. 4 Virginia (20-10) vs. No. 13 Albany (23-9)
No. 6 Louisville (23-9) vs. No. 11 Stanford (18-12)
No. 3 Texas A&M (25-6) vs. No. 14 Penn (22-8)
No. 7 Nevada (28-4) vs. No. 10 Creighton (22-10)
No. 2 Memphis (30-3) vs. No. 15. North Texas (23-10)
Oh heck, what do I want to happen here. Well, I want Stanford to win a few and get some cred for the Pac-10. Beyond that: go low seeds! Assert yourselves! Gain my interest!
Tory, My friend from Syracuse is all torn up because of their snub, but in her anger dissed the Pac-10. And I can't allow that. I've watched the Pac-10 (and other west coast conferences) get consistently screwed by the NCAA. It's about time they give us a little respect.I think the Pac-10 has a good chance to rack up more wins that the Big East this year. I certainly hope they take that opportunity so I can give Tory a little hell.
2 comments:
According to my previous criteria, Midwest is a real dilema:
Texas A&M - Corpus Christi meets both my Cheer For criteria (hyphenated state school), and Root Against qualifications (Texas).
Miami (Ohio) is an honorary Hyphenate, playing short, chokers from home. I'm so conflicted.
West Region, I'll go with your picks - Duke out in the first round - gotta love a Commonwealth school, but I've got UCLA swooning to Weber State.
East - Anyone but Oral Roberts, even NC. They don't have a prayer.
South - so many to like: Xaviar, Long Beach State, Albany, Central Connecticut State.
b. o. d.
I like Albany in the west, just because seemed super excited during the selection show.
I'll take an UCLA loss any day, no matter the opponent.
Dude, I didn't realize the exact nature of the Oral Roberts school. I'm rooting for a Cougar win, and then an army of male cheerleaders from Washington St. to take the floor for a dance off.
Cheer for the Ducks, in any case. This is their last chance for some of these seniors to prove that they can do something other than fail! You can cheer, 'come on little guys!' and really mean it!
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