Posts Tagged ‘NCAA Tournament’

The Madness is Back and Who Will Win

Saturday, March 23rd, 2019

Updated: Originally published on March 21, 2019

by Gus Griffin

gus

 

 

 

 

NCAA

I have a lot of different column ideas backed up that I hope you all find interesting and thought provoking. That said, to write about anything other than college basketball this week makes about as much sense as a preacher giving a celibacy sermon in a brothel.

The “Madness” is back. I call it the single greatest sporting event in the world. Even the peripheral college basketball fan completes a bracket. The most OCD and micromanaging supervisors on the job realize the hope of any meaningful work being done this Thursday and Friday is futile.

Colleges that have little to no sports history of note, get on the big stage and unlike college football, actually have a chance to win. In addition, when the “little guy” like the UMBC Retrievers do win, it gives a college the single greatest recruitment tool it could hope to have. Underdogs who win typically experience about a 25% increase in applications the following year.

Magic & Bird - 1979 National Championship Game

Magic & Bird – 1979 National Championship Game

And still, with all the interests and the access to more comprehensive data than ever before, it remains, in my mind, the hardest major sports title to win or pick. I have never picked all four and rarely get more than two. It is difficult for those of us who follow the sport all year long, as I do and have for about 40 years. Speaking of 40 years, this is the anniversary of the Magic Johnson/Michigan State vs. Larry Bird/Indiana State showdown in the 1979 Finals, to which many suggest is the origin of the modern-day tournament popularity.

This year promises to be no different.

There is never a shortage of storylines. This year, for me, the most intriguing story line is the number of teams that have a chance to meet for a fourth time. This has always been rare but even more so now as conferences have grown. This growth made it impossible for all teams to play one another in the traditional home and away format. Then there is the chance of meeting in the conference tournament and then NCAA tourney. The most memorable (and painful, as a diehard

Maryland Terrapin fan) of these for me was 2000-01 between my Maryland Terrapins and the hated Duke Blue Devils. Duke overcame a 10-point deficit with 96 seconds left to beat Maryland in game one. Then won in ACC tourney and overcame a 22-point deficit in the Final Four meeting. Ironically, the only game my Terps won was at Duke. But all four games were absolute wars. Duke would win it all that year. Maryland would win it all the next year.

There are five potential fourth matchups this year and they are as follows: Michigan/Michigan State; Cincinnati/Houston; Seton Hall/Villanova; Tennessee/Kentucky; and of course, by far the most anticipated being Duke/North Carolina.

I am dropping Michigan and Michigan State since Sparty is 3-0 over the Wolverines. You have to win one of the first three to keep me interested (I was hoping San Diego State got in, which would give them a fourth crack at Nevada, whom they beat two of 3).  The remaining four are all 2-1 and none can meet again until the Final Four. That is drama.

With that, here are my Final Four teams:

Out of the South, I am going with the Tennessee Volunteers…in spite of their chronically underachieving coach Rick Barnes.

Out of the West, I pick Buffalo to be this year’s Loyola of Chicago. They are very good and have recent tournament experience.

Out of the Mid-West, the Tar Heels of North Carolina, if for no other reason than it is the one team that has no fear of Duke.

Finally, out of the East, as much as I hate to say it…Duke.

Some argue that Duke is vulnerable because they do not shoot the three well, nor are they very good free throw shooters. For your average talented team, I would agree that both flaws would undermine a team’s title hopes.

This is not just another talented team.

ZWZion Williamson (short of the ridiculously premature LeBron comparisons), is every bit as good and exciting as advertised. Both RJ Barrett and Cam Reddish will also be first round picks in the NBA draft someday. Tre Jones would be the best player on about 95 percent of the other teams in the tournament. They are all, technically speaking, freshman. However, in reality, there are no more freshmen playing this time of year. Having said that, maybe a lack of experience is a more valid concern than 3-point or free throw shooting. If either were such an “Achilles Heel”, they would have never been able to comeback from a 23-point deficit on the road to beat a good Louisville team. Furthermore, Virginia is easily the best defensive team in the country, giving up over 70 only 3 times this year. Two were to Duke and the Blue Devils were the only team to score over 80 on the Cavaliers. Most teams struggled to score 60 on UVA.

For all of the above noted, I pick Duke to beat UNC once more in an epic Final. Take a prop that it will go to overtime.

Do not get annoyed if I gave you a sheet with three different Final Four teams. I told you this stuff is hard and anyone with a lick of sense will hedge. LOL. Let the “MADNESS” begin.

 

Gus Griffin, for War Room Sports

Do Not Let the Madness March Over HBCU Basketball

Thursday, March 15th, 2018

by Gus Griffin

gus

 

 

 

 

Brackets

 

March Madness is here and we college basketball fans are excited.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) annual ritual is the single most entertaining sports event in the world for me.

It is also a cash cow. The NCAA will get $857 million from Turner this year. Within a few years, it will be generating over $1 Billion in TV revenue alone.

I am also a proud Historically Black College and University (HBCU) graduate of Howard University!

As March Madness grows to include more teams, it is crucial that we fight against efforts that would exclude HBCU’s. The most specific threat against HBCU’s is the call to eliminate the automatic bid system.

The current system allows any Division 1 team that wins its conference championship to secure an automatic bid to the tournament.

This is how you sometimes end up with teams with say a 15-15 record in the tournament. ESPN commentator Jay Bilas, whose opinion I generally respect, would do away with this. His contention is that the best 68 teams should be selected via record, who you played, and where you played them, as well as the infamous “eye test”. In a vacuum, it is a compelling case. Who among us that are sports fans don’t want the best teams in the playoffs?

The problem is that nothing in this world is ever in a vacuum. There is both a historical and current day context for all understanding and college basketball is no different.

The history is that up until 1957, HBCU’s were not permitted to participate at all due to the Jim Crow laws of that day. The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) was actually the first to admit such schools. The NCAA was forced to admit schools in order to compete.  There was a time when only conference champions made the tournament. This is why arguably the greatest team in the history of Maryland basketball did not get to play in the tournament. The 1973-74 team that featured John Lucas, Tom McMillan, and Len Elmore finished 23-5. All of their losses were to North Carolina, 8-time defending champion UCLA, and eventual national champion North Carolina State, that beat Maryland in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament. Some say that game was the greatest college basketball game ever played.  There were calls to eliminate the automatic bid at that time but the alternative of awarding at-large bids won out and was implemented in 1980. This was a boon for the power conference schools, while keeping the automatic bid process.

The tournament has expanded over the years largely due to its incredible popularity. However, with every expansion comes the call to eliminate the automatic bid process.

Doing so would be a deathblow for HBCU basketball.

Contrary to what the current Secretary of Education thinks, HBCU’s were not born out of choice but out of a necessary response to racism. That same factor has always undermined these institutions’ financial struggles. Participation in this tournament not only gives them a rightful cut of the eventual $1 billion TV pie, but also helps with recruitment of both athletes and non-student athletes.

You may think if they want to participate, they should have to earn it like every other school. How did that work out for Central Florida in college football? They went undefeated, concluding by whipping Auburn from the mighty SEC, which beat both title game finalists. Yet they were systemically locked out of any chance to win the college football title. There was nothing that they could do differently because the power schools do not have to play them. The same would and already does happen to HBCU’s. The best they get is a “pay to play” trip across the country to play larger programs for a check. Only in the tournament do they get to compete in a neutral site.

It is not as if HBCU’s have no history of success.  Of the eight number 15 seeds to win a game, three were from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC, the home of my Howard University).

We are talking about a basketball legacy that has produced Willis Reed, Earl Monroe, and Sam Jones. Such talent now rarely considers HBCU’s in basketball, which is a byproduct of the raid that integration brought about. Simply put, the struggles of HBCU basketball are not from bad coaching or management, but they are a direct result of the expansion of opportunities for the players. The automatic bid process is the only safeguard that keeps HBCU’s at the table. The system is rigged to favor the power schools and without the automatic bid, HBCU’s will be shut out.

It should remain and we should fight any argument otherwise.

 

Gus Griffin, for War Room Sports

3 all-time greats go down on the same day!

Tuesday, March 21st, 2017

 

by Gus Griffin

gus

 

 

 

 

PKI

March Madness trivia question:

 

Have 3 coaches with more combined wins ever all lose on the same day in the NCAA tournament?

 

Mike Krzyzewski – 1071, Rick Pitino – 770, and Tom Izzo – 544,  for a total of 2385.

 

Throw in 8 national titles as well.

 

Gus Griffin, for War Room Sports

The Villanova Wildcats are National Champions!!!

Tuesday, April 5th, 2016

VW

The Villanova Wildcats have captured their first college basketball National Championship in 31 years, in one of the greatest Final games in NCAA Tournament history!  Show your ‘Nova pride and party like it’s 1985 in OFFICIAL championship gear, by clicking the link below:

 
Villanova Wildcats 2016 National Championship Gear

After Further Review (#483)

Monday, March 31st, 2014

by Christopher Dinkins

Christopher Dinkins Blog

 

 

 

 

After Further Review

 

AFTER FURTHER REVIEW #483 SHOUTOUT to you ANDRE REED…..((NCAAHOOPERY)) THE FINAL FOUR is set ..CONNECTICUT….FLORIDA….KENTUCKY….WISCONSIN….great games yesterday CONNECTICUT 64 (NAPIER 25) MICHIGAN STATE 54 (HARRIS 22)…..KENTUCKY 75 (RANDLE 16/11) MICHIGAN 72 (STAUSKAS 24)…..that’s why you STAY !!!!!…..you cannot get that kind of ELECTRIC atmosphere and dramatics in the NBA…..PERIOD !!!!……ladies side….SWEET 16—(*LOUISVILLE REGION…MARYLAND 73 (THOMAS 33/13) TENNESSEE 62 (SIMMONS 31)….upset !!!!….LOUISVILLE 73 (SCHIMMEL 19) LSU 47 (BALLARD 24)….NOT an upset…..*STANFORD REGION…NORTH CAROLINA 65 (DE SHIELDS 19) SOUTH CAROLINA 58 (COATES 22/11)….upset !!!!……STANFORD 82 (OGWUMIKE 29/15) PENN STATE 57 (EDWARDS 22)….NOT an upset……WOMENS NIT—SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 76 (WAYTASHEK 20) INDIANA 64 (GASSION 22)….SOUTH FLORIDA 60 (STRINGFIELD 20) MISSISSIPPI STATE 58 (GRANT 22)….we gotchoo covered at AFTER FURTHER REVIEW !!!!….((NHL)) BRUINS 4 FLYERS 3(SO)….SENATORS 6 FLAMES 3….RED WINGS 3 LIGHTNING 2….PENGUINS 4 BLACKHAWKS 1….PREDATORS 4 CAPITALS 3(SO)….RANGERS 5 OILERS 0….LONG STREAK (KINGS 6)….WRONG STREAK (MAPLE LEAFS 8 )……((NBA)) winners include THUNDER…CAVALIERS…NETS…RAPTORS…BULLS…KNICKS…BLAZERS…LAKERS…playoff races ((EAST….1.pacers 2.heat 3.raptors 4.bulls 5.nets 6.wizards 7.bobcats/hornets 8.hawks……KNICKS 1 game behind ATL for eighth spot…can it be done ???…will it be done ???…..what will happen if it does get done ????….what will happen if it doesn’t ????….stay tuned !!!!..****ANDREW WIGGINS TO ENTER NBA DRAFT****..((MLB)) PADRES 3 DODGERS 1…..and we are off and ready for BASEBALL SEASON…..it sets off TODAY ((finally !!!))….full slate of games …gave you the STARTERS yesterday on AFR !!!!!…..looking forward to choppin it up wit the homie SATCHEL PAGE on THE BIGGER SHOW……we gonna talk BASEBALL yall !!!!!…..((TENNIS)) SONY OPEN—-NOVAK “NO JOKE” DJOKOVIC over RAFAEL NADAL (6-3.6-3) to win MENS TITLE…((GOLF)) STEVEN BOWDICH wins TEXAS OPEN with a 4-over 76 to win by one stroke…..he finished at 8-under 280…..ELDRICK/TIGER still iffy about THE MASTERS….((SOCCER)) anybody know who is gonna be on U.S. roster for WORLD CUP’14 ?????…..seems they don’t know eitha …..NBA GAME of the day SPURS (57-16) v PACERS (52-22)….NHL GAME of the day WILD (38-26-11) v KINGS (44-25-6)…….MLB GAME of the day ROYALS (shields) v TIGERS (verlander)….TRUE SCHOOL JAM of the day “YO..BUM RUSH THE SHOW”–PUBLIC ENEMY……enjoy OPENING DAY 2014…..and put some sunshine on ya face…….the BALLISTICS have been kicked !!!!!!……AFR.

 

Christopher “The Mayor” Dinkins of GeeQue Palace Sports, for War Room Sports

After Further Review (#478)

Wednesday, March 26th, 2014

by Christopher Dinkins

Christopher Dinkins Blog

 

 

 

 

After Further Review

 

AFTER FURTHER REVIEW #478 SHOUTOUT to you ANTHONY MUNOZ…..((NBA)) CAVALIERS 102 (WAITERS 24) RAPTORS 100 (LOWRY 22/10A)….MAGIC 95 (HARRIS 25/11) BLAZERS 85 (LOPEZ 20/13)….MAVERICKS 128 (NOWITZKI 32/10) THUNDER 119 (DURANT 43)….LAKERS 127 (HENRY 22) KNICKS 96 (ANTHONY 29)…..any further questions KNICKS “die hards”…your reality is nowhere NEAR the truth…and its easier to deal with when you looking at it REALISTICALLY….get the point now ?????…..((NCAAHOOPERY)) NIT QUARTERFINALS—-CLEMSON 73 (MCDANIELS 16) BELMONT 68 (BRADSHAW 21)….MINNESOTA 81 (HOLLINS 32) SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI 73 (WATSON 16)……ladies side NCAA TOURNEY—-LINCOLN REGION– CONNECTICUT 91 (STEWART 21/11) ST JOSEPHS 52 (SHIELDS 12)….TEXAS A&M 85 (WILLIAMS 23) JAMES MADISON 69 (BURKHOLDER 20/10)….LOUISVILLE REGION– LOUISIANA STATE 76 (BALLARD 22/15) WEST VIRGINIA 67 (BUSSIE 21)….LOUISVILLE 83 (SCHIMMEL 26) IOWA 53 (DISTERHOFT 15)….MARYLAND 69 (THOMAS 16/11) TEXAS 64 (HENDERSON 14)…..STANFORD REGION– NORTH CAROLINA 62 (DESHIELDS 24/12) MICHIGAN STATE 53 (HINES 16)….PENN STATE 83 (TAYLOR 22) FLORIDA 61 (LEWIS 20)…..SOUTH CAROLINA 78 (WELCH 21/11) OREGON STATE 69 (WEISNER 21)…..couple of upsets over there too !!!!!…..((NHL)) BLUES 5 MAPLE LEAFS 3….COYOTES 3 PENGUINS 2….KINGS 5 CAPITALS 4(SO)…..ISLANDERS 5 HURRICANES 4….CANADIENS 2 SABRES 0….PANTHERS 3 SENATORS 2(SO)….BLUE JACKETS 4 RED WINGS 2….BLACK HAWKS 4 STARS 2…..AVALANCHE 5 PREDATORS 4(SO)….SHARKS 5 OILERS 2…..in the EAST its a four team (COLUMBUS..DETROIT..WASHINGTON..TORONTO) scramble for last TWO spots….in the WEST two teams (DALLAS..VANVOUVER) hanging on for dear life….YOU missed a great show last night AFTER FURTHER REVIEW on GEEQUE PALACE RADIO….we talked about all important issues in SPORTS ….SHOUT to CALLERS ((KIA…MR HOLLYWOOD) and a SHOUT to LISTENERS we see you too !!!!….and I meant every word I said about some “sports heads” being VERY VERY VERY limited…….im glad im not YOU !!!!……((NFL)) JARED ALLEN to BEARS 4YR/$32M……basically replaces JULIUS PEPPERS who went to PACKERS…..no dunking football over goal posts…..ummm okay…..so now can NFL deal with concussion issue and do something about taking care of veteran players….sheeeeeesh !!!!!!……((NCAAFOOTBALL)) RIP to WILL MCKAMEY (NAVY) he passed away after collapsing on field at practice….he was 19 years old….NLRB is about to rule on NORTHWESTERN players and their attempt to form a union….this will be a very interesting decision…..are you paying attention “sportsheads” ????……((MLB)) its almost here OPENING DAY 2014 (stateside that is)…who are your picks…???….AFTER FURTHER REVIEW did ours already….or are you really interested in baseball ((LOLski))…it is a sport yanno !!!!!!……sunday night DODGERS v PADRES…..and monday is OPENING DAY !!!!!!……((NASCAR)) RIP to LYNDA PETTY (RICHARD’S wife) she passed away from cancer at 72…..RESPECT. (TENNIS)) SONY OPEN—ANDY MURRAY over JO-WILFRIED TSONGA (6-4.6-1)……NOVAK “NO JOKE” DJOKOVIC over TOMMY ROBREDO (6-3.7-5)…ladies side MARIA SHARAPOVA over PETRA KVITOVA (7-5.6-1)…..SERENA WILLIAMS over ANGELIQUE KERBER (6-2.6-2)……you already know whats going down next !!!!!……NBA GAME of the day HEAT (48-21) v PACERS (51-20)……NHL GAME of the day FLYERS (38-26-7) v RANGERS (40-29-4)……TRUE SCHOOL JAM of the day “SHE BLINDED ME WITH SCIENCE” -THOMAS DOLBY……its hump day…snow is on the ground….so what !!!!…make it happen for yourself !!!!…the BALLISTICS have been kicked !!!!!……AFR.

 

Christopher “The Mayor” Dinkins of GeeQue Palace Sports, for War Room Sports

After Further Review (#476)

Monday, March 24th, 2014

by Christopher Dinkins

Christopher Dinkins Blog

 

 

 

 

After Further Review

 

AFTER FURTHER REVIEW #476 SHOUTOUT to you PK SUBBAN…..((NBA))winners include RAPTORS…SUNS…NUGGETS…KINGS…NETS(OT)…CAVALIERS…LAKERS….long streak (SPURS 13) wrong streak (SIXERS 24)….****AFTER FURTHER REVIEW NBA TOP 10 RANKINGS 1.SPURS* (53-16) 2.THUNDER (51-18) 3.ROCKETS (47-22) 4.CLIPPERS (49-21) 5.NETS (37-31) 6.PACERS* (51-19) 7.HEAT* (47-21) 8.BULLS (39-31) 9.RAPTORS (39-30) 10.BLAZERS (45-25)****…..((NCAATOURNAMENT)) SWEET 16 is here !!! SOUTH REGION: (1-FLORIDA v 4-UCLA/10-STANFORD v 11-DAYTON) EAST REGION: (1-VIRGINIA v 4-MICHIGAN STATE/3-IOWA STATE v 7-CONNECTICUT) WEST REGION: (1-ARIZONA v 4-SAN DIEGO STATE/2-WISCONSIN v 6-BAYLOR) MIDWEST REGION: (4-LOUISVILLE v 8-KENTUCKY/2-MICHIGAN v 11-TENNESSEE)….ladies side LINCOLN REGION (1-UCONN v 9-STJOSEPHS…4-NEBRASKA v 12-BYU…3-TEXAS AM v 11-JAMES MADISON…2-DUKE v 7-DEPAUL)….STANFORD REGION (1-SOUTH CAROLINA v 9-OREGON STATE…4-NORTH CAROLINA v 5-MICHIGAN STATE…3-PENN STATE v 11-FLORIDA…2-STANFORD v 10-FLORIDA STATE)….NOTRE DAME REGION (1-NOTRE DAME v 9-ARIZONA STATE…4-PURDUE v 5-OKLAHOMA STATE…3-KENTUCKY v 6-SYRACUSE…2-BAYLOR v 7-CALIFORNIA)….LOUISVILLE REGION (1-TENNESSEE v 8 -STJOHNS…4-MARYLAND v 5-TEXAS…3-LOUISVILLE v 6-IOWA…2-WEST VIRGINIA v 7-LOUISIANA STATE)…..who ya got to win the thing ????..CHAMPIONSHIP is APRIL 8 in NASHVILLE TN…….((NHL)) winners include ISLANDERS…BLUES…DEVILS…PREDATORS…WILD(OT)…CANUCKS…DUCKS….****AFTER FURTHER REVIEW NHL TOP 10 RANKINGS 1.x-BRUINS (103pts) 2.x-BLUES (103pts) 3.SHARKS (100pts) 4.DUCKS (99pts) 5.PENGUINS (97pts) 6.BLACKHAWKS (97pts) 7.AVALANCHE (94pts) 8.KINGS (86pts) 9.LIGHTNING (86pts) 10.CANADIENS (85pts)****….((MLB)) LOS ANGELES DODGERS are in first place in NL WEST in case you haven’t noticed…BASEBALL SEASON has already started……OPENING SERIES in AUSTRALIA ((DODGERS 3 D’BACKS 1….DODGERS 7 D’BACKS 5))……I know its confusing right……but the season has already set off….((NFL)) BUCS trade JEREMY ZUTTAH to RAVENS…MICHAEL VICK signs with JETS…..FREDDY FRED is pleased …I think….keep an eye on BLAKE BORTLES (CENTRAL FLORIDA) he may be one of first if not THE first QB taken in draft……((TENNIS)) SONY OPEN—ANDY MURRAY over FELICIANO LOPEZ (6-4.6-1)….ROGER FEDERER over THIEMO DE BAKKER (6-3.6-3)…..ladies side VENUS WILLIAMS over CASEY DELLACQUA (6-4.5-7.6-4)….LI NA over MADISON KEYS (7-6(3).6-3)…..((NASCAR)) KYLE BUSCH wins AUTO CLUB 400….he is still 28 points behind CARL EDWARDS for SPRINT CUP lead……((GOLF)) MATT EVERY wins at BAY HILL….is ELDRICK/TIGER healthy ???….will he be ready for MASTERS (APRIL 10-13) ?????……NBA GAME of the day BLAZERS (45-25) v HEAT (47-21)….NHL GAME of the day KINGS (40-25-6) v FLYERS (38-25-7)…..TRUE SCHOOL JAM of the day “POP LIFE” – PRINCE and the REVOLUTION……its MONDAY….and it aint goin nowhere…..the BALLISTICS have been kicked !!!!!……AFR.

 

Christopher “The Mayor” Dinkins of GeeQue Palace Sports, for War Room Sports

2012 NCAA Tournament Preview and Predictions

Wednesday, March 14th, 2012

By Brandon Pemberton

The NCAA Tournament Bracket has been set and now it’s time for me to go through each region and pick who I believe will make it to the Final Four this year in New Orleans.  Be sure to listen to Sports Trap Radio every Saturday on ueradiolive.com from 10am-2pm, hosted by Chris Marshall (@215_sports_guy) and myself weekly.

Also join Sports Trap Radio’s first annual Bracket Challenge via Espn.com.  Join Sports Trap Radio’s 1st Annual NCAA Basketball Tournament Challenge!!!!!! http://t.co/2ZYrsvfE.  The Winner will receive a $50 Visa Gift Card!!!

Kentucky's Anthony Davis

South Region

Top 4 Seeds: 1. Kentucky  2. Duke  3. Baylor  4. Indiana

Preview and Prediction: This region is a very tough draw in my opinion.  Kentucky was obviously the #1 overall seed in the tournament and picked by the committee after having a great regular season beforing losing to Vanderbilt in the SEC championship.  Vandy exposed some of the weaknesses of the young but talented Kentucky team: Point Guard play and shooting.  The Commodores were able to slow down Kentucky by playing a great 2-3 zone, with man principles, which forced the Wildcats to take contested shots from the perimeter and cut down drives to the basket.

Duke is the two seed, but they are only real good when making three-point shots.  Their lack of a true point guard and inability to defend on the perimeter will be the reason why they only make it to the Sweet 16 if they can make it past 10 seed Xavier. 

Baylor is my sleeper team of this region.  They kind of fell off of the map after bad losses to Kansas and Mizzou during conference play.  They have as much talent and athletic ability as any team in the country.  When Perry Jones III comes to play, no one in the country can check this kid. 

I like the young talent on Indiana’s team.  Tom Crean has done a great job recruiting since taking over there.  Cody Zeller is talented but young.  If he comes back for another year, I see a deep tourney run for them.  Don’t sleep on the veteran #5 seed Wichita St either.  They shoot the ball well and have size in the paint. 

Upset predictions for this region: 11 Colorado over 6 UNLV and 10 Xavier over 7 Notre Dame

Regional Semis: 1 Kentucky over 5 Wichita St, 3 Baylor over 2 Duke

Regional Final: 3 Baylor over 1 Kentucky

Marquette's Jae Crowder

West Region

Top 4 Seeds: 1. Michigan St  2. Missouri  3. Marquette  4. Louisville

Preview and Predictions: Michigan St. is the one seed in the West Region after finishing the season 27-7 and winning the Big 10 conference tournament.  Their conference was arguably one of the top 2 in the country and the Spartans, led by Senior forward Draymond Green were damn good all season long.  A great defensive and rebounding team like most Tom Izzo coached teams, they still do have problems scoring points for stretches during games.  One bad shooting game could have them exiting this tourney early.

Mizzou is a guard-driven team, which fits well during this time of the year.  Pressey, Denmon, and English are all good shooters, with Pressey getting into the lane and dishing to his teammates for open looks.  Forward Ricardo Ratliffe is an undersized 4-man, who shot 69% from the field, mostly off of dunks, layups, and putbacks.  They could run into trouble against a bigger team who pounds the ball inside and doesn’t let the Tigers dictate the tempo of the game.

Marquette has been one of my favorite teams to watch all season.  I love Buzz Williams’ coaching ability and the way he motivates his players.  Led by seniors Darius Odom-Johnson (18.5 ppg, 45% FG, 40% 3pt) and Jae Crowder ( 17.4 ppg and 8.1 rpg), the Golden Eagles are a tough, hard nosed group of players.  I see them getting hot and making a deep run this year.

4 seed Louisville is solid.  I’m not that impressed by them, but my sleeper team for this bracket is the 8 seed Memphis.  This is a young, but talented group of players led by Will Barton, who at 6’6′ 175lbs manages to grab eight boards a game, while shooting 51% from the field, playing the wing.  If this teams gets hot, it can do some major damage.

Upset Predictions for this region: 12 Long Beach St. over 5 New Mexico, 11 Colorado St. over 6 Murray St, and 10 Virginia over 7 Florida

Regional Semis: 8 Memphis over 4 Louisville, 3 Marquette over 2 Mizzou

Regional Finals: 3 Marquette over 8 Memphis

Ohio State's Jared Sullinger

East Region

Top 4 Seeds: 1. Syracuse  2. Ohio St.  3. Florida St.  4. Wisconsin

Preview and Predictions: The face of this region changed when it was reported Tuesday that Syracuse Center and Big East Defensive Player of the Year Fab Melo was ineligible to play in the 2012 NCAA Tournament.  Yes the Orange are loaded.  They still have 10 other guys who can play, but Melo was what made their 2-3 zone work.  The style of play for this team will clearly change and I can see them playing a more fast paced game with Melo out of the lineup.  Dion Waiters went from off of NBA scouts’ radars to a possible late lottery/mid 1st round pick with the season he has had.  He needs a big tourney if the Cuse’ are going to win it all.

I love the competition in this region.  Ohio St. is very good this year, obviously led by Jared Sullinger, William Buford, and Aaron Craft.  They have one of the nation’s best defenses as well.  Head Coach Thad Matta has been getting the bench more experience since the season wound down and they will see more time than you expect. 

FSU won the ACC championship, beating Duke and UNC in consecutive days.  Leonard Hamilton has a team full of athletes with good size and length, to go along with shooters as well.  Hamilton’s calling card as a coach has always been defense and they are lethal defensively.  They have momentum and are set to make a deep run this year.

Wisconsin was given a 4 seed.  I think it was kind of high for them and was a gift for playing in a tough Big Ten conference.  The 5 seed Vanderbilt won the SEC and has a veteran team who is battle tested.  They can really shoot it, they defend well, and take care of the ball.  They have three guys who will play NBA ball in John Jenkins, Jeff Taylor, and Festus Ezeli…and in the tournament, talent shines.

Upset Predictions for this Region: 11 Texas over 6 Cincinnati and 10 West Virginia over 7 Gonzaga 

Regional Semis: 5 Vanderbilt over 1 Syracuse and 3 Florida St over 2 Ohio St.

Regional Final: 3 Florida St over 2 Ohio St.

UNC's Harrison Barnes

Midwest Region

Top 4 Seeds: 1. UNC  2. Kansas  3. Georgetown  4. Michigan

Preview and Prediction: UNC is the one seed and clearly the cream of the crop of this bracket.  Forward John Henson sat out the ACC Championship game with an injured wrist and they ended up losing the game.  Henson is a game-changer defensively, with his ability to defend in the paint and on the perimeter.  But they still have Barnes, Zeller, and Marshall, and that’s more than enough for them to win it all. 

Kansas surprised me with the season they had after losing the Morris twins and Josh Selby from last year’s team.  The development of Player of the Year candidate Thomas Robinson, along with point guard Tyshawn Taylor has been epic.  They have led this team to a 27-6 record and Bill Self has done the best coaching job of his career.  He is my favorite for coach of the year.

Georgetown had a stellar season, finishing 23-8 and having one of the nation’s top defenses as far as field goal percentage and points per game.  They often go through stretches without being able to get points themselves and that could possibly be a problem.  Jason Clark and Hollis Thompson are who they rely on scoring-wise from the perimeter, while senior Henry Sims mans the mid-post and paint.

Michigan is the 4 seed, and can be deadly if they are making three-point shots.  Freshman Trey Burke brought a different look to the Wolverines with his ability to get in the lane and create for others and himself.  Tim Hardaway Jr. didn’t shoot as well during his sophomore season, but he has the capability to carry a team if he gets hot.

My Sleeper team is N.C. State.  They have gotten better as the season went on in the ACC and could really surprise teams in this bracket.  Sophomore C.J. Leslie has the ability to be a force defensively with his shot blocking and in transition finishing at the rim.  Mark Gottfried has really done a nice job in his first season as the Wolfpack coach.

Upset Prediction for this Region: 9 Alabama over 8 Creighton, 12 Cal or South Florida over 5 Temple, 11 N.C. State over 6 San Diego St. , and 14 Belmont over 3 Georgetown

Regional Semis: 1 UNC over 4 Michigan and 2 Kansas over 11 N.C. State

Regional Final: 1 UNC over 2 Kansas

Final Four: 1 UNC (Midwest) over 3 FSU (East) and 3 Baylor (South) over 3 Marquette (West)

National Championship: 1 UNC over 3 Baylor

Brandon Pemberton of Brandon On Sports & Sports Trap Radio, for War Room Sports