My NCAA Tournament Predictions

I thought about writing another post ripping Billy Packer a new one, but I decided it wasn't worth it. Not now anyway. I've filled out two brackets, one where I use my heart, and the other that I will now put on the record.

I'll only "explain myself" when I pick an upset, until we get to the Elite 8.

1st Round
SOUTH (fuck this Atlanta shit)

12 Texas A&M over 5 Syracuse - Syracuse had a great run in the Big East tournament, but Jim Boeheim is brutally honest and he seems unsure about his club. Surely they are overrated, but will it go to their head? I believe it will enough for a solid A&M team to win.

13 Iona over 4 LSU - LSU has lost to its share of smaller schools this season. Iona's tempo is such that when they're on, they can beat a team like LSU.

WEST

9 Bucknell over 8 Arkansas - Bucknell is not afraid of big conference schools Arkansas probably should be scared of the next potential Gonzagaesk team.

EAST

11 George Mason over 6 Michigan State - Michigan State has the potential to get hot and Davis' size worries me. Skinn's suspension doesn't however, because of the Patriots' balanced attack. Mason has a great offense and it will be a test for the Spartans to stop it.

MIDWEST

11 UW-Milwaukee over 6 Oklahoma - Milwaukee has been here before and so has its players. A mid-major beating a team from a power conference? Well, I guess anything is possible.

2nd Round
SOUTH

8 George Washington over 1 Duke - I like a hungry GW team, who has a big man to match Williams in Pops Mensah Bonsu. Duke's freshman point guard and weak bench concerns me. Coach K begging the media that his team is mentally and physically rested isn't helping their cause.

6 West Virginia over 3 Iowa - Iowa, the Big 10 champs, can get hot. But we've seen Gansy and Pittsnoggle do it before in the NCAA tournament. It's time for them to do it one more time.

WEST


5 Pittsburgh over 4 Kansas - Kansas has a very young team. Pittsburgh's tough Big East schedule should help. Carl Krauser's 27 year college career give him the experience that Pitt needs to get by this one.

6 Indiana over 3 Gonzaga - I like Gonzaga's team this season. They have their go-to-guy, and parts to surround him. They've beaten very good teams already. But Indiana is losing their coach, Mike Davis. Davis hasn’t set any records for wins during his time in Indiana, but he has given the school class. He's made a national final once before. His kids will play inspired ball for their fallen leader, led by Killingsworth.

EAST

11 George Mason over 3 North Carolina - Everyone is in love with UNC. Roy Williams has done a great coaching job. But they return one player who scored in last year's final game. They lost their top seven scorers from last year. They replaced them with serviceable players, but if they believe the hype, George Mason will win the game. They are too talented to overlook, and size wouldn't be an issue here.

MIDWEST

7 Georgetown over 2 Ohio State - Good coach's on both sides. But the Hoyas disciplined attack coupled with their athleticism, will be too much to handle.

11 UW-Milwaukee over 3 Florida - Florida seems to be overrated every year since Michigan State beat them for the title. This year is no exception. This is a team that can beat very good teams and lose to not so good teams. Milwaukee is somewhere in between, but good enough. Plus Joah beat Noah every time. I think I read that in the bible somewhere.

Sweet 16
EAST

GW over Texas A &M
Texas over West Virginia

WEST

6 Indiana over 2 UCLA - This is a tough one because of UCLA's talent and coach. We got back to the Mike David factor, but also, UCLA's main scorers are young. That may hurt.
Memphis over Pittsburgh

EAST

UCONN over Illinois
Tennessee over George Mason

MIDWEST

Villanova over Boston College
Georgetown over UW- Milwaukee

Elite 8
SOUTH
Texas over GW - Texas just has too much talent and drive. GW's bid to stick it in the face of the committee for their bad seed stops here.

WEST
Memphis over Indiana - Memphis is more talented than the doubters believe. Plus, it's hard to root against Darius Washington Jr., unless you're rooting for Indiana.

EAST
UCONN over Tennessee - Again, going with talent. UCONN has the experienced coach and balanced attack to win over the Vols.

MIDWEST
Villanova over Georgetown - Foye, Ray (will be fine by then obviously), Nardi, and Lowry are just too talented for a really good Georgetown team. The Wildcats have the toughness to get to the Final Four.

Final Four
Texas over Memphis - It's time for Texas' Gibson and Tucker to take that next step. Aldridge, down low, isn't a bad player either.

Villanova over UCONN - I watched the last game they played. Nova won. It should be a good game, but it's size versus quickness and I got to pick quickness.

Finals
Villanova over Texas - Whose guards will play better? That's the important question. Villanova's tough schedule will prepare them for this game. The adversary three years ago won't hurt either. But in the end Lowry will be the hero or Foye (I'm not on trial here!), but Villanova will win 67-61. Mark it down. Oh, I guess I just did.