East region:
First Round
Ohio State over UTSA
George Mason over Villanova
Clemson over West Virginia
Kentucky over Princeton
Xavier over Marquette
Syracuse over Indiana State
Washington over Georgia
UNC over Long Island
Ohio State, UNC, and Syracuse should all have easy victories in the first (NCAA says its second, but that’s dumb) round. UNC may have the toughest game because Long Island is accustomed to winning off of shooting, and if they get hot, then it could get interesting.
Kentucky is too athletic for Princeton, and I don’t fully understand the sentiment that Princeton should upset Kentucky. Yes, they are freshmen but Calipari is too good of a coach (whether you hate him or love him) to not prepare them. I like Washington over Georgia, because Georgia is a good defensive team but not great on offense, while Washington is an offensive juggernaut. Watch for Justin Holiday, he has underachieved all year. I like Clemson over West Virginia, for the fact that they already played a game and I don’t believe that West Virginia is as strong as their five seed shows. I like George Mason over Villanova because Villanova hasn’t been the same in the last month or two, and that’s not a good formula going into the tournament.
The toughest game for me to predict was Xavier against Marquette. I like Xavier due to the fact that they were in the Sweet 16 last year, and Tu Holloway was the Jimmer Fredette of the A-10. However, Marquette has some great guards, and I predict it will be a great game.
Second Round
Ohio State over George Mason
Kentucky over Clemson
Syracuse over Xavier
Washington over UNC
Ohio State has too many weapons for George Mason to handle, especially David Lighty (I swear he has been around forever) and Jared Sullinger. Kentucky is too athletic for Clemson, and Brandon Knight is one of the most underrated players in college basketball.
Syracuse’s zone is going to make it tough for Holloway to drive, and I expect it to fluster Xavier. Also, Syracuse’s zone is tough to learn in only a day of practice, which the NCAA tournament weekend is. Washington and UNC is going to be a high-scoring affair, but it will come down to who can force more turnovers. UNC was down high numbers in the ACC tournament and that scared me. If UNC plays a bad half like they have for the past week, Washington will drive up a huge lead and steal an upset.
Sweet 16
Kentucky over Ohio State
Syracuse over Washington
Kentucky beats Ohio State and this is the moment where everyone remembers everything in March Madness. Kentucky is more athletic than Ohio State, and although they are young, it may be to their advantage to be cocky enough to not back down against Ohio State. Terrance Jones and Brandon Knight are the names to remember.
Syracuse’s zone is tough to crack, and it will pose problems to the high scoring Washington. However, Washington doesn’t play good defense, and its going to come back and hurt them.
Elite 8
Kentucky over Syracuse
This was a tough game to predict, but I think Kentucky’s athleticism and excitement at this point will be too much for Syracuse. The Orangemen are the most underrated team in the Big East, and they will put up a good fight to get to the Final Four, but I think Kentucky has too much firepower to lose.
West region:
First Round
Duke over Hampton
Michigan over Tennessee
Arizona over Memphis
Texas over Oakland
Cincinnati over Missouri
UConn over Bucknell
Temple over Penn State
San Diego State over No. Colorado
Duke and San Diego State should have easy games to get to the next round, but watch Drew Beitzel of Northern Colorado. He is a great scorer, and although his team may not advance, is one of those unknown superstars.
Although UConn won the Big East tournament, and Kemba Walker is the new face of college basketball, Bucknell is going to be a tough game for them. UConn finished 9th in the Big East regular season, and would have been around a 7-seed if they didn’t go crazy in the tournament. I thought about going with the upset, but this is a different Bucknell team than the one that upset Kansas several years ago. Another upset I considered was Oakland against Texas. Oakland knows how to score. They are a great and fun to watch team. However, if Texas plays the defense that made them #1 in the country at one point, they shouldn’t have a big problem against them, however it’s an upset possibility to keep an eye on.
Arizona should destroy Memphis inside with Derrick Williams and Joe Jackson is a great player for Memphis, but they may be able to make a run in next year’s tournament. Michigan relies way too much on the three-ball, but Tennessee has to deal with their coach’s firing rumors (I think he will be fired after the season for lying to Tennessee and NCAA investigators) and it could affect its play. Cincinnati against Missouri is a match of two teams that shouldn’t win a game, but Cincinnati has some athletic players and should be able to get around Missouri’s full-court defense. Temple against Penn State should be interesting, but Temple has to be upset they didn’t get a win in the tournament last year. Penn State’s hopes rely on Tailor Battle, but Temple’s strong defense should be able to contain him.
Second Round
Duke over Michigan
Texas over Arizona
UConn over Cincinnati
San Diego State over Temple
Michigan’s shooting is way too inconsistent to compete against Duke, who is quietly one of the best defensive teams. If Kyrie Irving returns as some reports have said, it should be a cakewalk for Duke, and a good chance for Irving to grab some major minutes. Texas’ Jordan Hamilton against Arizona’s Derrick Williams should be a great matchup, but Arizona doesn’t have many weapons after him as Texas has many behind Hamilton. Texas should be able to blowout the young Wildcats.
UConn is familiar with Cincinnati, and they should be able to get by them without too much of a struggle, but Cincinnati is also familiar with UConn and could provide a big upset. San Diego State has too much firepower for Temple to stop, especially with Kawhi Leonard.
Sweet 16
Duke over Texas
San Diego State over UConn
Duke against Texas should be a great game, but the difference for me is the return of Kyrie Irving. He should uplift Duke, after a week of practice to a level that they haven’t been at in 2011. Jordan Hamilton should be a beast down low, but it will be interesting if the Plumlee brothers can contain him at all.
San Diego State has a great defensive guard in DJ Gay, and he should be able to stop Kemba Walker from dropping 30. San Diego State has played against Jimmer Fredette three times, and they should know how to stop a top guard. Their troubles lie in the post, but UConn isn’t strong enough there to beat them.
Elite 8
Duke over San Diego State
I think it will be a great game, but San Diego State struggles in the post (Brandon Davies’ was the difference in its two losses to BYU), and it will be the same against Ryan Kelly, the Plumlees, and Kyle Singler. Duke returns to the Final Four, poised to repeat as champions.
Southwest region:
First Round
Kansas over Boston U
UNLV over Illinois
Richmond over Vanderbilt
Louisville over Morehead State
Georgetown over VCU
Purdue over St. Peter’s
Texas A&M over Florida State
Notre Dame over Akron
Kansas, Notre Dame, and Purdue should have easy wins and advance to the next round. Louisville should be able to go past Morehead St., but Morehead holds a great post in Kenneth Faried, who is the top rebounder in NCAA history. He should put on a show, but Louisville is too talented to be upset against them. I absolutely hate Georgetown without Chris Wright, but he has been cleared to play and if he is only 75% he should spark the difference against VCU (I had USC beating Georgetown until its loss in the First Four).
Illinois is too inconsistent and I love UNLV’s guards, and I think UNLV will blow Illinois out in this one, as they will be underrated. Richmond is a team that I absolutely love (you will notice this later) and Vanderbilt doesn’t play good enough defense to make up the difference, on its way to another first round exit. Texas A&M is extremely tough defensively and it should be a classic game against Florida State if Chris Singleton returns strong. However, Texas A&M’s guards are slightly better than Florida State’s on its way to the next round.
Second Round
Kansas over UNLV
Richmond over Louisville
Georgetown over Purdue
Notre Dame over Texas A&M
Kansas and the Morris twins are going to be too much for UNLV’s guards and should advance pretty easily. Notre Dame is too strong offensively and balanced as a team to be shut down in this matchup.
Richmond provides an upset surprise to the Sweet 16. Richmond has some great guards that can matchup against Louisville, and they can handle the pressure of Louisville’s defense with strong ball handling. Georgetown upsets Purdue, with its great defense, and the return of Chris Wright. Austin Freeman should be able to score on Purdue, but this pick also comes down to the fact that I’m not a big fan of Purdue this season, and I find Georgetown better defensively.
Sweet 16
Richmond over Kansas
Notre Dame over Georgetown
I told you I loved Richmond. Kansas’ one weakness is its guard play. Richmond has one of the strongest guard combos in the country. Richmond employs a variety of defenses, and can keep this game competitive. I’m predicting the upset to shock the tournament.
Notre Dame has played Georgetown already this year, and should know what to expect from them. However, the Fighting Irish’s firepower is too much and Georgetown’s defense won’t be able to contain them.
Elite 8
Notre Dame over Richmond
Richmond has great guard play, but Notre Dame knows how to score better than anyone in the country and they will prove it tonight. This will be the point of Ben Hansbrough going on the cover of every magazine for his great play through this point of the tournament.
Southeast region:
First Round
Pittsburgh over UNC-Ashville
Old Dominion over Butler
Kansas St. over Utah State
Belmont over Wisconsin
Gonzaga over St. John’s
BYU over Wofford
Michigan State over UCLA
Florida over UCSB
Pittsburgh and Florida should be able to roll easily in its matchups. Wofford scared the heck out of Wisconsin last year, but Wisconsin wasn’t the high-scoring team that BYU is, especially with Jimmer Fredette. Kansas States’ Jacob Pullen is going to be the difference against Utah State, although Utah is going to provide a great matchup defensively. However, the fact that Kansas State is use to Texas, I think goes to its adavantage.
Old Dominion and Butler are the same type of team, but Frank Hassell should be the difference for Old Dominion. He is a star, and Old Dominion knows how to pound the boards to get this win. They were my favorite upset pick before the tournament field was announced. Belmont is going to shock the Badgers with its powerful offense, and its not too shabby defense. Belmont knows how to force turnovers, and it will come down to the play of Jordan Taylor. I think he will finally falter.
St. John’s loss of DJ Kennedy is going to be tough for them inside the post, and Gonzaga definitely has the size to exploit that for the upset. Michigan State has Tom Izzo who is a genius coach in March, and they should be able to beat the reeling UCLA Bruins.
Second Round
Pittsburgh over Old Dominion
Belmont over Kansas State
Gonzaga over BYU
Florida over Michigan State
Pittsburgh is being predicted to lose to Old Dominion by a lot of experts. However, I think they forgot that Pittsburgh has some great guards, and the power inside to take away Old Dominion’s strengths. I see a gritty win for Pitt. Kansas State is too loose of a team with the ball to help themselves against Belmont. Belmont will force a lot of turnovers and fluster Kansas State to the Sweet 16.
Gonzaga has too much size, and BYU has been horrible against size after the dismissal of Brandon Davies. Jimmer is great, but BYU hasn’t been the same since Davies left. Florida’s Chandler Parsons is a great player, and he will overpower Michigan State’s lack of a post presence.
Sweet 16
Pittsburgh over Belmont
Florida over Gonzaga
Pittsburgh is much better with the ball than Kansas State and its power in the post will be way too much for Belmont to take advantage. Also, Belmont plays like Louisville, who Pittsburgh has experience against.
Florida can match the size of Gonzaga and has more star power than them to advance to the Elite 8. Watch Florida’s Kenny Boynton make a name for himself in this one.
Elite 8
Florida over Pittsburgh
Everyone has doubted Florida’s 2-seed, and they will remember it. Florida can match Pittsburgh’s size advantage in the post, and it will come down to who wants it more. Coach Billy Donovan knows how to win, and after seeing Kentucky play well, Florida wants revenge, they advance.
FINAL FOUR
Duke over Kentucky
Notre Dame over Florida
Nolan Smith should be able to match Brandon Knight, and Kyle Singler can put a strangle hold on Terrance Jones. I will take the rest of the Duke roster over Kentucky on its way to another championship game.
Notre Dame is too strong offensively for Florida to match, and Florida doesn’t play the strongest defense to take them out of its game.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Notre Dame over Duke
It’s going to be a high-scoring affair, but I’m predicting the ‘upset’. Notre Dame has the best offense in the country, and strong guard play. The Big East was significantly better than the ACC, and it will show in Notre Dame’s experience in this one. The Fighting Irish take the title in 2011.
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