The Expert Picks

Finally, the time is here. All the pundits have weighed in with their opinions on who is going to the Final Four, and now is the time that The Expert gives his opinion. We will go region by region identifying the favorite, the sleeper, the overrated team and who will make it out of that region and into the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis (by the way, who the heck is Edward Jones? He has a whole Dome named after him, he must be rich).

CHICAGO
Favorite: The Fighting Illini of Illinois are the favorite by most to come out of this region. Oklahoma State has had another good year, but the experts like the guard play of Illinois and they should make their way to St. Louis.

Sleeper: The LSU Tigers. Yeah they are not a fancy pick or even a mid-major sleeper, but this team can play. They lack the overall depth to go all the way, but nobody in the country has a tandem in the paint like Brandon Bass (SEC Player & Scholar Athlete of the Year) and Glen “Big Baby” Davis (SEC Freshman of the Year). Their guards can fly up and down the court and their shooter Antonio Hudson plays well in Domes (just ask anyone who has played against him in the Georgia Dome during SEC Tournament play).

Overrated: UW-Milwaukee, huh Kris they are rated high? No, but they are a favorite sleeper pick for everyone. However, I just see no way that they get past their first round game against Alabama.

My Pick: I am going to go with Illinois. I know some people are sleeping on them as of late, but guard play wins in the Tournament. I relate this team to Arizona’s championship team of a few years ago, when they had a superb three guard tandem and just enough inside presence to win the big games.

ALBUQUERQUE

Favorite: Wake Forest. The Deamon Deacons have been a favorite pick all year. Led by All-American guard & All-American Scrotum puncher Chris Paul they have been looking toward this moment all year long. They stumbled a little late in the season, but everyone expects to see them in St. Louis.

Sleeper: The Pittsburgh Panthers are a very good team. They had some trouble in the Big East later in the season, but they also have excellent guard play. The inside/outside tandem of Carl Krauser and Chevon Troutman always play well in big games.

Overrated: Yes I am going to say the Washington Huskies. I know it is now vogue for everyone to point out how good they are and how everyone, like me, is downplaying them, but honestly they are an okay team. The won the Pac-10 conference which I believe is as weak as it’s ever been (East Coast Bias, another buzz word/phrase that I despise, I can’t help it that the West Coast sucks). I also see no big time interior players for them to rely on, although Nate Robinson is an outstanding guard.

My Pick: I have wrestled with this all week. I feel the Louisville Cardinals are being short changed; they have a superstar player and even superstarer coach. But I have finally joined the Gonzaga train. I watched this team play this year and they are as good as anyone in the country. I think this is the year for them. They have all the ingredients; they are no longer the vogue pick, they have terrific guard play with Derek Ravio, and a go to super star in Adam Morrison.

SYRACUSE:

Favorite: Everyone loves Roy Williams and the UNC Tar Heels. They are talented, deep, well coached and have a plethora of go to players. They are primed and ready to add another championship to the legacy of North Carolina basketball. and I believe they can.

Sleeper: The Florida Gators are playing as well as anyone in the tournament. They have great guards with Anthony Roberson & Matt Walsh and a tenacious post player in David Lee. Also, I like the Charlotte 49ers, they are very underrated, Bobby Lutz is one of the true coaching gems in the country.

Overrated: The Kansas Jayhawks may struggle this year. Everyone likes the fact that they have senior leadership. But all too often this year I have seen some of those seniors (Aaron Miles & Keith Langford) disappear down the stretch. To me they are a very trendy pick to exit the tournament early; I am looking at their pending second round game with Wisconsin.

My Pick: I have gone back and forth with this bracket as well. I have thought the Tar Heels have been the team all year long. However, every time I watch the UConn Huskies I am more and more impressed. Marcus Williams, the Point Guard, has finally come around and in the paint they have no rival in the country. I think they will prove too much inside for everyone and will get to the Final Four.

AUSTIN

Favorite: The Syracuse Orange are the pick on everyone’s minds and in everyone’s brackets. They are lead but a great trio of great players; the steady Gerry McNamara, the All-American Hakim Warrick and the underrated & very effective Josh Pace. This is a team with championship experience and a Hall of Fame coach.

Sleeper: UTEP. The Miners are a very talented and deep team and have a great deal of experience. Their top 8 players are juniors and seniors and they are lead by a great scorer in Small Forward Omar Thomas (20 ppg). Their first round match up with Utah should be a great game.

Overrated: The Duke Blue Devils. This team is not very deep and I just don’t think they have the make up to go all the way. Yes JJ Redick and Shelden Williams are great, but I worry about the Lee Melchioni, David McClure and Sean Dockery’s of the world. I just think they can be beaten, but never count Coach K and his Blue Devils out.

My Pick: No surprise here, I am going with Jim Boheim and the Big Orange. I love Hakim Warrick and McNamara and to me this team is developing a swagger. I think their intangible players like Craig Forth, Louie McCrosky and Josh Pace all know their roles and execute them perfectly.

I will take Illinois over Gonzaga and UConn over Syracuse. And in the upset, I have Jim Calhoun and the Huskies cutting the nets down once again. Again, I watch way to much basketball to actually be an expert on the subject, so I am sure to be wrong.