So, with my bracket officially broken, here's who I am rooting for the rest of the way (these also happen to be my revised Final Four picks, since my bracket is absolute trash). Midwest: You know what sucks? Despite my sworn hatred of Northern Iowa, it's really hard not to like that team. I like the way they play defense, and Ali has been the clutch shooter of the tournament. I'm not a big fan of Tom Izzo, and Tennessee laid a hurting on KU earlier in the season. That leaves me rooting for Ohio State, and well, Gish and Buckeye King like Ohio State. That means I can't. So ... as much as it pains me to say it ... Go Panthers! VO's Pick: Northern Iowa West: While I like both Butler and Xavier as programs, I can't root against Frank Martin and the KSU Wildcats. Martin's story has emerged on a national scale, and I think he deserves consideration as coach of the year. The only flaw for the Wildcats is a lack of a consistent inside scorer, but they're as fiesty as any other team in the country. The Syracuse Orange are a sexy pick, especially with the sick zone d that they play, but I think the injury to Onuaku will hurt them, especially if they square off with the Wildcats in the Elite Eight. VO's Pick: Kansas State East: The East region contains the teams that I really can't decide on. Should I go with the front runners in Kentucky? No, I can't do that because John Calipari is a douche. Maybe I could pull an Andrew Bernard and root for Cornell? I'd like to, but I think that they'll just be happy being the first Ivy League Sweet Sixteen team in over 30 years. That leaves me to choose between West Virginia and Washington. Fun Fact: The infamous Manhattan, KS bar district renamed themselves from "Aggieville" to "Huggieville" in honor of coach Bob Huggins. Huggins then spurned the Wildcats after one year, returning to his alma mater to coach the Mountaineers. Instead I'll take the team with Isaiah Thomas (no not that one) on their team. VO's Pick: Washington South: There's one team I really like in the South region, and that team is the St. Mary's Gaels. I like the team with the 4 Aussies and the strangely named center. I think that they display teamwork that is beyond their years, and present a matchup problem for anyone left in their region. That starts with Baylor, an up-and-down Big 12 team that has some talent, but seems to suffer from mental lapses. Most folks are still picking Duke here, but I just can't do it. My hatred of Duke started way back when I was a young Viking, before ever pillaging my first village, with the Blue Devils disposing of my beloved Jayhawks in the 1986 Final Four. It continued in 1998, and again when they robbed Mark Randall of a title in 1991. So I just can't root for the Devils, sorry Lucky. A dark horse team in this region is Purdue, who just play the classic physical (some would say boring) basketball we've come to expect from the Big 10. However, I still think that the play of Sanham will be enough to carry his teammates to the Final Four. (In fact, it reminds me a lot of a similar performance by a guy named Danny Manning in 1988). VO's Pick: St' Mary's So there you have it. I'm taking a 9, 2, 11, and 10 seed to advance to this year's Final Four. Given the wackiness of the opening rounds (and the manner in which these teams played), I don't think that scenario is anything outside the realm of possibility. I'm not rooting for the higher seeds (except K-State, who is the second highest seed in their bracket) because, with KU gone, I just want the tournament to be absolute chaos. I think that these teams I've picked have been among the most consistent and fun to watch in the opening rounds. Fun Alternate Reality Option: I'd love to see a student vs. teach matchup in the National Championship between Frank Martin and Bob Huggins. However, I just don't think the basketball gods would give us that kind of drama. Crappy Alternate Reality Option: I'm going to be disappointed if the #1 seeds all end up advancing to the Final Four. I don't mind Syracuse, but I can't stand Calipari at Kentucky and my hatred of the Blue Devils is almost as bad as that for North Carolina. I'd like to see this tournament be remembered as the year college basketball was turned on it's head, not just the year that the first round was amazing.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uejv2zz6bU&feature=popt17us00"]YouTube- Hitler finds out KU lost to UNI in the 2010 NCAA tournament[/ame]
The same can be said about you for picking K state over Cuse. Luckily for Syracuse Butler is a smaller team that likes to run and Kris Joseph is probably the best 6th man in the country. So Wes Johnson gets slid over to play the 4 where he seems to play more aggressively anyway and Rick Jackson, who I swear is Charles Oakley's not so little brother regardless of what DNA tests may say, plays his natural 5 spot. Joseph in the meantime becomes a starter at small forward. Also, I guess Cuse is lucky that they have 7 players, when Onauku is healthy who have scored at least 20 points in a game at some time this season. While Orinze is their best inside threat, his loss isnt something that they cant overcome. Ill give K state some credit, I didnt think theyd beat the winner of the BYU/Florida game but if they going to beat Syracuse its going to be from the inside the 3 point line and I dont think they can do that. In syracuse's loses this year the oppositions have shot over 60% from 2 point range while still hovering around the 30% mark from 3. IMO, we are heading straight for a Syracuse/Kentucky finals with only Ohio State, assuming they make the final 4 as I predicted they would, having a chance in hell at knocking out either team. They could match up with syracuse in the final four. I think those three teams are by far the three best in the country and if Im not seeing 2 of those three in the finals Im not even sure it'll be worth watching. Let's Go Orange!!!
Oh they will be prepared. I wouldn't be surprised if they lost to Tennessee. Tennessee beat Kentucky and Kansas. They have the players their just inconsistent. If Ohio St makes it past Tenn I think they beat Syracuse.
I'm not even watchin the rest man. This was too depressing. I guess I want ohio state to win since no one else in my pool even picked them to go to the final four and I told them they were nuts.
I'm a homer, but I don't think it's hyperbole to call KSU vs. Xavier the best game of the tournament. Double OT, huge shots being made on both sides, with the Wildcats finally getting the best of the Bulldogs 101-96. Great games by Jamal Crawford, Denis Clemente, Jacob Pullen, and Curtis Kelly. If you're a college basketball fan, there was absolutely nothing wrong with this game.
Gish ... Buckeye ... come join me and Boik watching this thing unfold with our teams watching it happen. Great game by Tennessee.
