My Picks, don’t like ‘em, FUCK YOU
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 all the way to Indianapolis, where I am planning to be. (Be forewarned, I am the single worst prognosticater in the history of NCAA Tournament Brackets)
ATLANTA
Favorite: Obviously everyone, excpet for Dick Vitale, loves the Duke Blue Devils in this region. However, Mr. Vitale won’t shut up about how overrated they are, what a dumb bald idiot he is. Duke has everything you need except quality depth, which is why Texas is probably picked in as many office pools as Duke. Texas is talented and deep and lead by veterans, they are a co-favorite along with Duke
Sleeper: The Iowa Hawkeyes are flying way below the radar right now. They come off winning the Big 10 Tournament and are the least talked about 3 seed in the history of the tournament. They have beaten everyone there is to beat in the Big 10, they have an experienced team lead by the three superb upperclassman, Adam Haluska, Jeff Horner, and Greg Brunner. This team will make some serious noise before these three weeks are over.
Overrated: Syracuse is poised to fall flat on their face. They had a magical 4 days at Madison Square Garden, but they had to have those magical 4 days because through the course of the regular season they were a mediocre team. They deserve to have the number 5 seed because of there finish but the fact remains they have a terrible froncourt and basically no depth, if the Gerry McNamara show isn’t in town it could be another quick exit for the Orangmen (yeah I know it is Orange, but I hate those fancy PC new nicknames).
My Pick: I am going with the stunner here, Steve Alford is going back to the Final Four, this time as coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes. Like I said earlier, I love everything about this team, they are deep, battle tested and the have a great triplet of upperclassmen who have been making big shots all year. Overrall this region is not very strong and the Hawkeyes could really build up a head of steam with little or no pressure on them.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Favorite: The UConn Huskies are the clear favorite here, but the certainly have a huge mountain to climb. This team has looked vulnerable down the stretch, yet they are the most talented team in the whole show, but when Michigan State is the #6 and Kentucky is the #8 seed you know the bracket is deep. As long as Marcus Williams stays on the floor the Huskies should stamp their ticket for Indy.
Sleeper: The Utah State Aggies earned their way in as an at large team. While many feel it was underserved, Stew Morrill’s group feels that they belong and they have the team to prove it. They are extremely sound defensively and Guard Jaycee Carroll is a good a scoring small guard as there is in the country. With there ability to grind it out and take solid shots on the offensive end they can frustrate impatient teams, and higher seeded teams usually get frustrated when smaller schools hang around in a game, and that is exactly what the Aggies do.
Overrated: The Tennessee Volunteers have already been discussed on this site, by my dislike for Bruce Pearl grows by the hour, so we will talk about it more. How could they possibly be seeded ahead of Florida, the SEC Tournament Champion, or LSU who defeated Tennessee and won the SEC regular season title? They are not deserving of a #2 seed, but unfortunately they may make it to the sweet 16 by way of the easiest draw ever, Bruce Pearl has obviously been providing Craig Littlepage with drugs and whores.
My Pick: I have thought all season that UConn was the best team in the country and I still think that today. They are deep, have championship experience, and a hall of fame coach. Like I have said as long as Marcus Williams stays on the court for 35 minutes a game they have the chance to rampage through this tournament.
OAKLAND
Favorite: This is the most wide open bracket there is, but I think the odds on favorite here is the Gonzaga Bulldogs, mainly because of the mustachioed hero Adam Morrison. He has become Paul Bunyan, and I think most people are skeptical of the #1 and #2 seeds, Memphis & UCLA, and people think this may finally be the year for Gonzaga to break on through to the other side. But as I said this bracket seems to be wide open with no real favorite.
Sleeper: The Marquette Warriors are definitely off people’s charts, but that also could be for a good reason. I think they could be one and done, or make a run toward a Final Four. They have one of the best shooters in the country in Steve Novak and point guard star in the making in Dominic James. Coach Tom Crean has tournament experience and the youth on this team is what can make it special, they simply don’t know any better.
Overrated: I just think the UCLA Bruins are about a year away. I think they are very talented but the Pac 10 was so weak this year. They do play a very hard nosed style of defense but I think their inability to score on the inside consistently could drop them early in the tournament, especially with teams like Alabama, Indiana, and Gonzaga who can all pound the ball inside.
My Pick: The one team I have not talked about in this bracket is the Pittsburgh Panthers. This team is easily the least known entity in the country. I have long thought they were overrated, but the more I watch them the more I realize they just know how to win ball games. Jaime Dixon’s team is so tough defensively and efficient offensively. They have a great deal of depth and mix of veterans, Carl Krauser & Aaron Gray and young talented players like, Sam Young and Levance Fields. Krauser is maybe the best big moment player in the country; he thrives on the pressure moment. He is the ultimate New York City player; he has the whole game, the trash talking, the pushing off and he gets inside the head of his opponents better than anyone.
MINNEAPOLIS
Favorite: Everyone loves the Wildcats of Villanova, especially if Allen Ray is in the mix this weekend, after suffering that terrible eye injury. The college game is all about guards, and nobody has better guards than Villanova. They can pressure you on defense all over the court and offensively they shoot the 3 as anyone and they penetrate with lethal effectiveness.
Sleeper: Nick Fazekas and the Nevada Wolfpack now have something to prove, being rewarded with a #5 seed and I think they well. Fazekas is a versatile big man who can fill it up and carry his team to big wins as he did in Kansas earlier this year. They also have a young and talented backcourt with sophomores Ramon Sessions and Macelus Kemp. Just look at this teams record and see the road games they won; at Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State, Vermont, UNLV, Kansas, Pacific, Fresno State and Utah State as well as beating Georgia at home and Akron on Bracket Buster weekend. This team will not be intimidated by playing anyone; Mark Fox will have his crew ready to go.
Overrated: I just don’t bye into Ohio State, I am not sure why, but I just don’t like their make up. Something about Thad Matta teams, I have seen them flame out before. Yes they won the Big 10 regular season and they have an impressive superstar in Terrance Dials, but I think they rely on the big 3 a little too much. I have seen it before teams who play a free flowing three point happy go lucky style, they usually don’t defend in transition or the three pointer themselves very well. I think Ohio State can be beat if they miss a few J’s early and their opponents can get out in transition.
My Pick: I have to go with my Florida Gators. Yes I have some what of an affinity for this team because I know their staff very well, but this team is very talented offensively and they have some young guys who just don’t know any better. This bracket is opened up for them and they can be a difficult team to match up with. Up front they have the 4 most talented post players in the country, and nobody outworks Power Forward Joakim Noah. The key to them will be the PG play of Taurean Green, if he stays out of foul trouble this team can be so very dangerous because of their ability to score from anywhere on the court: in transition, from the 3 pt line, and the ability to pound it inside between 3 different players, all can who can score in different ways.
I have Pittsburgh beating Iowa and Connecticut over Florida with Jim Calhoun and the Huskies cutting down the nets in a thrilling victory over Pittsburgh.
ATLANTA
Favorite: Obviously everyone, excpet for Dick Vitale, loves the Duke Blue Devils in this region. However, Mr. Vitale won’t shut up about how overrated they are, what a dumb bald idiot he is. Duke has everything you need except quality depth, which is why Texas is probably picked in as many office pools as Duke. Texas is talented and deep and lead by veterans, they are a co-favorite along with Duke
Sleeper: The Iowa Hawkeyes are flying way below the radar right now. They come off winning the Big 10 Tournament and are the least talked about 3 seed in the history of the tournament. They have beaten everyone there is to beat in the Big 10, they have an experienced team lead by the three superb upperclassman, Adam Haluska, Jeff Horner, and Greg Brunner. This team will make some serious noise before these three weeks are over.
Overrated: Syracuse is poised to fall flat on their face. They had a magical 4 days at Madison Square Garden, but they had to have those magical 4 days because through the course of the regular season they were a mediocre team. They deserve to have the number 5 seed because of there finish but the fact remains they have a terrible froncourt and basically no depth, if the Gerry McNamara show isn’t in town it could be another quick exit for the Orangmen (yeah I know it is Orange, but I hate those fancy PC new nicknames).
My Pick: I am going with the stunner here, Steve Alford is going back to the Final Four, this time as coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes. Like I said earlier, I love everything about this team, they are deep, battle tested and the have a great triplet of upperclassmen who have been making big shots all year. Overrall this region is not very strong and the Hawkeyes could really build up a head of steam with little or no pressure on them.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Favorite: The UConn Huskies are the clear favorite here, but the certainly have a huge mountain to climb. This team has looked vulnerable down the stretch, yet they are the most talented team in the whole show, but when Michigan State is the #6 and Kentucky is the #8 seed you know the bracket is deep. As long as Marcus Williams stays on the floor the Huskies should stamp their ticket for Indy.
Sleeper: The Utah State Aggies earned their way in as an at large team. While many feel it was underserved, Stew Morrill’s group feels that they belong and they have the team to prove it. They are extremely sound defensively and Guard Jaycee Carroll is a good a scoring small guard as there is in the country. With there ability to grind it out and take solid shots on the offensive end they can frustrate impatient teams, and higher seeded teams usually get frustrated when smaller schools hang around in a game, and that is exactly what the Aggies do.
Overrated: The Tennessee Volunteers have already been discussed on this site, by my dislike for Bruce Pearl grows by the hour, so we will talk about it more. How could they possibly be seeded ahead of Florida, the SEC Tournament Champion, or LSU who defeated Tennessee and won the SEC regular season title? They are not deserving of a #2 seed, but unfortunately they may make it to the sweet 16 by way of the easiest draw ever, Bruce Pearl has obviously been providing Craig Littlepage with drugs and whores.
My Pick: I have thought all season that UConn was the best team in the country and I still think that today. They are deep, have championship experience, and a hall of fame coach. Like I have said as long as Marcus Williams stays on the court for 35 minutes a game they have the chance to rampage through this tournament.
OAKLAND
Favorite: This is the most wide open bracket there is, but I think the odds on favorite here is the Gonzaga Bulldogs, mainly because of the mustachioed hero Adam Morrison. He has become Paul Bunyan, and I think most people are skeptical of the #1 and #2 seeds, Memphis & UCLA, and people think this may finally be the year for Gonzaga to break on through to the other side. But as I said this bracket seems to be wide open with no real favorite.
Sleeper: The Marquette Warriors are definitely off people’s charts, but that also could be for a good reason. I think they could be one and done, or make a run toward a Final Four. They have one of the best shooters in the country in Steve Novak and point guard star in the making in Dominic James. Coach Tom Crean has tournament experience and the youth on this team is what can make it special, they simply don’t know any better.
Overrated: I just think the UCLA Bruins are about a year away. I think they are very talented but the Pac 10 was so weak this year. They do play a very hard nosed style of defense but I think their inability to score on the inside consistently could drop them early in the tournament, especially with teams like Alabama, Indiana, and Gonzaga who can all pound the ball inside.
My Pick: The one team I have not talked about in this bracket is the Pittsburgh Panthers. This team is easily the least known entity in the country. I have long thought they were overrated, but the more I watch them the more I realize they just know how to win ball games. Jaime Dixon’s team is so tough defensively and efficient offensively. They have a great deal of depth and mix of veterans, Carl Krauser & Aaron Gray and young talented players like, Sam Young and Levance Fields. Krauser is maybe the best big moment player in the country; he thrives on the pressure moment. He is the ultimate New York City player; he has the whole game, the trash talking, the pushing off and he gets inside the head of his opponents better than anyone.
MINNEAPOLIS
Favorite: Everyone loves the Wildcats of Villanova, especially if Allen Ray is in the mix this weekend, after suffering that terrible eye injury. The college game is all about guards, and nobody has better guards than Villanova. They can pressure you on defense all over the court and offensively they shoot the 3 as anyone and they penetrate with lethal effectiveness.
Sleeper: Nick Fazekas and the Nevada Wolfpack now have something to prove, being rewarded with a #5 seed and I think they well. Fazekas is a versatile big man who can fill it up and carry his team to big wins as he did in Kansas earlier this year. They also have a young and talented backcourt with sophomores Ramon Sessions and Macelus Kemp. Just look at this teams record and see the road games they won; at Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State, Vermont, UNLV, Kansas, Pacific, Fresno State and Utah State as well as beating Georgia at home and Akron on Bracket Buster weekend. This team will not be intimidated by playing anyone; Mark Fox will have his crew ready to go.
Overrated: I just don’t bye into Ohio State, I am not sure why, but I just don’t like their make up. Something about Thad Matta teams, I have seen them flame out before. Yes they won the Big 10 regular season and they have an impressive superstar in Terrance Dials, but I think they rely on the big 3 a little too much. I have seen it before teams who play a free flowing three point happy go lucky style, they usually don’t defend in transition or the three pointer themselves very well. I think Ohio State can be beat if they miss a few J’s early and their opponents can get out in transition.
My Pick: I have to go with my Florida Gators. Yes I have some what of an affinity for this team because I know their staff very well, but this team is very talented offensively and they have some young guys who just don’t know any better. This bracket is opened up for them and they can be a difficult team to match up with. Up front they have the 4 most talented post players in the country, and nobody outworks Power Forward Joakim Noah. The key to them will be the PG play of Taurean Green, if he stays out of foul trouble this team can be so very dangerous because of their ability to score from anywhere on the court: in transition, from the 3 pt line, and the ability to pound it inside between 3 different players, all can who can score in different ways.
I have Pittsburgh beating Iowa and Connecticut over Florida with Jim Calhoun and the Huskies cutting down the nets in a thrilling victory over Pittsburgh.
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