Steve's Bracket

So it’s Tuesday and that means I’ve had almost 48 hours to digest the brackets and determine who’s going to win. As of right now, before filling in a single line, I have decided my National champion and half my final four. That does mean however that I am still undecided about the other half. I have been dwelling on this and thinking it over for the past couple hours and am still undecided. I am leaning one way right now but as I fill it out, we will see what emerges.

My biggest dilemma going into this bracket is how to handle Kansas. For those of you who know me, I have put Kansas in my Final Four every year since the Paul Pierce era. At first it was not intentional and just kept happening. After the Kansas’ 2003 title run I made a conscious effort to keep Kansas going to the Final Four, unless it didn’t make sense. Well, last year they finally won it, so the question is, do I keep the streak alive or do I let it end with the title. After roughly a year of thought into this (ok maybe a couple of min) I decided to end the Kansas streak with their title season.

This is a summary of my thoughts while picking my bracket. (I actually pick round by round compared to region by region, but for easier reading I am writing it that way)

A couple of things I am looking at while picking my bracket. Besides Kansas, come tournament time I have always had a sweet spot for Syracuse and I do not why. It has burned me (see 2005) more then it has helped me (see 2003). I am also going to try to ignore my pre-season Final Four predictions to prevent them from having influence on me while making this bracket. Lastly, I am going to follow my rules while picking this bracket.



East

1st Round

Pittsburgh vs ETSU: Pitt

Ok State vs Tenn: OK State is another team I always pick better then they should (my champion two years in a row). The team is not as strong as past teams and I don’t think they can handle Tenn’s up and down tempo. Tenn

Florida State vs Wisconsin: FSU is finally starting to play better, I have thought they could do this well for a couple of years now. But I can’t get that Northwestern game out of my mind. Wisconsin

Xavier vs Portland State: I have heard good things about Portland St. I really like Xavier though. Xavier


UCLA vs VCU: This game frustrates me (there is one more too). When the brackets came out, I was like, oh yeah VCU is going to win. They got Maynor and still can’t forget that Duke game from a few years ago. UCLA has had an up and down year, just really hasn’t played well, so clearly VCU should win. Well, now it seems like everybody is picking VCU as their upset special. I do not like going with the trend on upsets. But on this one, I think I will. VCU

(If you couldn’t tell I’m trying to get good youtube clips for every team that I have losing. I went with that UCLA clip because it’s a really cool and rarely seen view. It really captures the fan reaction. I am sure most of you expected this Gus Johnson classic)

Villanova vs American: Home game for ‘Nova. Not even Close. ‘Nova

Texas vs Minnesota: Tubby is a good tournament coach. I think he can turn around his teams recent slide. Minnesota

Duke vs Binghamton: Duke

2nd Round

Pitt vs Tenn Tenn: Pitt will try to plan grind it out, while Tenn will try to run them off the floor. Pitt will make Tenn play their style and win. Pitt

Xavier vs Wisconsin: Xavier is a better team then Wisconsin. Xavier

VCU vs Villanova: VCU will try it’s best but won’t be able to overcome Villanova and their crowd. ‘Nova

Minnesota vs Duke. Here is a battle to two fantastic coaches who each have national title under their belts. We all know Duke’s Achilles’ heal is if their shots aren’t falling. Minnesota could make it difficult for them. I think Duke gets it done in a close one. Duke

Sweet 16

Pittsburgh vs Xavier: I do not think Xavier will be able to grind it out with Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh

Villanova vs Duke: I think this will be a fast past very entertaining game. I feel this game could go either way depending on if Duke’s shots are falling. I think Duke will do just enough to win. Duke

Elite 8

Pittsburgh vs Duke: Duke’s lack of size will really hurt them this game. Duke won’t be able to stop Pittsburgh from scoring, and will have trouble in their half court offense. I’ve said it every time with Duke, if their shots are falling they can win, but I don’t see them getting enough easy buckets.

EAST REGIONAL CHAMPION: PITTSBURGH

South

1st Round

North Carolina vs Radford: North Carolina

LSU vs Butler: I really like this LSU team. I was actually thinking of picking them to do really well, but maybe not with this seed. LSU

Illinois vs Western Kentucky (see 1:20 mark): Come on, who doesn’t love this guy? This is the other game that frustrates me. I was like, Frasier out, and Illinois goes cold to easily they will lose to WKU. But that’s what everybody thinks. So I actually have changed my mind, and am picking the Fighting Illini. Illinois

Gonzaga vs Akron: I really don’t like Gonzaga this year, but they are better then Akron. Gonzaga

Arizona St. vs Temple: ASU was one of my teams I had high expectations earlier in the season. They have defiantly fallen back to earth. I think they barely get by Temple. ASU

Syracuse vs S.F. Austin: Syracuse had that good run in the Big East tournament. I think they carry that momentum in to the tournament. Syracuse

Clemson vs Michigan: This is the first round game I want to watch. Besides my personal fondness for each team for different reasons, I think it will be a great contest with contrasting style. I think Michigan’s 1-3-1 creates too many problems for Clemson (similar to what they did to Duke). Michigan

Oklahoma vs Morgan State : Oklahoma

2nd Round

North Carolina vs LSU: I do really like LSU, but they UNC will be too much for them with or without Lawson playing well. North Carolina

Illinois vs Gonzaga: I do not like this Gonzaga team, but they have played fantastic defense this year, and Illinois can go anemic on offense. Gonzaga

Arizona State vs Syracuse: Two teams going in different directions. Syracuse

Michigan vs Oklahoma: Oklahoma hasn’t seen anything like Michigan all year, and I don’t know how they will react, I think Michigan can contain Griffith and pull of the upset. Michigan
Sweet 16

North Carolina vs Gonzaga: I’ve said it all along, I really don’t like this Gonzaga team. I think Lawson will be all the way back at this point and UNC roles. North Carolina

Syracuse vs Michigan: A good game, and I still think Michigan’s defense will give Syracuse headaches, but I think Syracuse will be able to figure it out and pull off the W. Syracuse

Elite 8

North Carolina vs Syracuse: A great match-up between two traditionally dominant team. Syracuse playing well but I do not think they have anyone that can match or slow down Psycho T.

SOUTH REGIONAL CHAMPION: North Carolina

Midwest


1st Round

Louisville vs Morehead State: Louisville easily

Ohio St vs Siena: This game is supposed to be a good match up. I think either could win, but Thad Matta’s got his kids playing well lately. I don’t think either of these teams will beat Louisville so this game doesn’t matter that much. Ohio St.

Utah vs Arizona: ‘Zona has not had a good season, they lose there coach amoung other problems. I don’t think they should be in the tourney. Utah

Cleveland vs Wake Forest: I have heard nothing but great things about Cleveland St. They have a very senior team and good guard play which is key for the tournament. Wake was a #1 seed earlier in the year when they started off the season with double digit wins before they finally lost. I really really want to take Cleveland St, but. Wake Forest

West Virginia vs Dayton: Huggins and Ebanks roll. West Virginia

Kansas vs North Dakota St: NDSU is a great story making it to the big dance in their first year eligible, but Kansas is too much for them. Kansas

Boston College vs USC: It’s the Celtics vs Lakers on ABC NEXT! I don’t like USC, but I don’t trust BC. USC

Michigan St vs Robert Morris: MSU

2nd Round

Louisville vs Ohio State: Ohio St has been playing better, but Louisville is too good. ‘Ville

Utah vs Wake Forest Wake Forest: I actually like Utah in this game. Wake started off great, but not the best as of late: Utah

West Virginia vs Kansas: I think if this game happens it will be a fantastic game going back and forth. Huggins has not done the best in the tournament, and Self is finally over that hill. Kansas


USC vs Michigan St: I don’t like USC, don’t think they are that good this year even though they won the Pac-10 Tournament. I think this is the end of their run. MSU

Sweet 16

Louisville vs Utah: Utah will have made a nice run, but Rick will have the Cards playing well and cruise to an easy victory. ‘Ville

Kansas vs Michigan St: Self used to coach Illinois so he does know how to play against Izzo. Kansas is too young of a team to compete against the more experience Michigan State. MSU is also a lot deeper then Kansas. MSU

Elite 8

Louisville vs Michigan State: This is one game I have gone back and forth on all day. I don’t quite trust Louisville but I also don’t quite trust Michigan St. I was then looking at my south bracket, and I don’t trust any team from the South to make the Championship game either, so looking at the big picture of these two teams and those two teams, I had to decided who I liked the best to make the Championship game. With that in mind.

MIDWEST REGIONAL CHAMPION: Louisville

WEST

1st round

UConn vs Chattanooga: UConn

BYU vs Texas A&M: BYU hasn’t won a tournament game in like 10 years, well add another one to that: Texas A&M

Purdue vs Northern Iowa: Can I really do it, pick all 7 Big Ten teams winning the first round? Well, Purdue is finally playing well. Purdue

Washington vs Mississippi State: Washington won the Pac-10 regular season title, not the tourney title. Miss St needed to win the SEC tournament just to make it. SEC is not that strong this year. Washington

Marquette vs Utah State: Utah St is surprisingly good and experienced. Dominic James being hurt is bad for Marquette. Utah St.

Missouri vs Cornell: I love, love picking Ivy League school, but IU Beat Cornell this year. Mizzou

California vs Maryland: Don’t really have much thoughts on either team. Neither can beat Memphis. California

Memphis vs CS NorthRidge : Memphis

2nd Round

UConn vs Texas A&M: UConn should win this game pretty easily: UConn


Purdue vs Washington: Purdue plays good defense and with Hummel scoring I think they can and will beat Washington. Purdue

Utah State vs Missouri: I do think Utah St will play Missouri tough for most the game. Missouri is deeper team and I think their 40 minutes of hell will tier out Utah St and allow them to pull away in the end. Missouri

Memphis vs California: Memphis should roll this game. Memphis

Sweet 16

UConn vs Purdue: If Dyson would be playing for Connecticut I would say they win this one no problem. But without Dyson I don’t think UConn’s guard play can keep up with Purdue’s guards. I think Thabeet will play well, but I think Purdue will win the game.

Missouri vs Memphis: If this game happens I think this will be the game of the Sweet 16. I know Memphis shoots better free throws and plays better defense, but I don’t think they are as good as last years team and I think this will be the end of the road for them. Missouri

Elite 8

Purdue vs Missouri: Another potentially exciting match up. Big Ten tournament champion vs Big XII tournament champion. As stated earlier I don’t like either of these team could make it to the title game. If Purdue can slow down Missouri and have time to set up their defense I think they can could beat them. I do not think they will be able to do that.

WEST REGIONAL CHAMPION: MISSOURI

Final Four

Pittsburgh vs North Carolina: Both teams have good guard play as well as solid inside presence. I think Pittsburgh big men will slow down Pysco T and for the second straight year UNC will bow out a game short of the national title game. Pittsburgh

Louisville vs Missouri: Well I’ve kind of given away what I think here. I do not think Missouri is national title game material. I really don’t trust Louisville either, but I like them better then anyone else from their side of the bracket. Louisville

National Title Game

Pittsburgh vs Louisville: A Big East showdown for the title game. These two have had some good games earlier this year. I think Pittsburgh is the better team though. (Found this link funny and appropriate for this spot. Even if I don’t find it true)

NATIONAL CHAMPION: PITTSBURGH


So there it is, then winning bracket. I will scan a copy in and post it tomorrow or Thursday so you can see history happening.




Quick analysis of my own bracket.

What I like:

Big Ten Teams. I think the Big Ten will have a good tournament, but I don’t think they have that top tier team to make it to the Final Four

Trends. I got two teams in from the Big East, Louisville and Pittsburgh, and a return team, North Carolina

What I don’t like:

I don’t like that I have three #1 seeds in the Final Four. I know that they are the elite teams, but I still thin there is more parody in the college hoops.

I do not like that I have two teams from the one conference in the championship game. I understand the Big East was phenomenal this year, but I do not like that.


So tell me what you think. Do you like Pitt as the champions? What picks do I have totally wrong? Leave comments below