The Sweetest Sixteen of them all?

Siena shook the brackets as they overcame Ohio State in

round one and even gave Louisville a run

in round two before losing 79-72.

For the first time in NCAA tournament history, the top three seeds from each region have moved onto the Sweet Sixteen as they gave little room for "Cinderellas" to sneak in. Personally, I've had a very unsatisfactory bracket but have looked beyond that as plenty of drama and excitement has overwhelmed this year's tournament. Eight and Nine seeds battled as they would exchange leads and it just seemed like the game couldn't be decided until the final seconds went off the clock. Twelve seeds played up to expectations once again as three of the four #12 seeds advanced to the round of 32 (Arizona, Wisconsin, Western Kentucky). #11 seeds made some noise as well. West Virginia fell victim to the Dayton Flyers while UCLA and Marquette both had scares when winning by just one point in each respective match-up to VCU and Utah State. #4 seed Wake Forest, once the top ranked team in the entire nation, was the highest seeded team to get knocked off in the opening round as first game jitters struck early and Cleveland State never looked back. #1 seeds, Louisville and Pittsburgh didn't stroll their way into the Sweet Sixteen but had plenty of challenges as the underdogs did all they could to bring down the top powers.

Byron Eaton flies in
for an and-one layup
that pulled the Cowboys
ahead of the Vols in the
final seconds in a first
round showdown.

Cleveland State proves doubters wrong
as they knock off #4 Wake Forest.

Had enough? You can't leave out the last second lay up by freshman Demetri Goodson who came into the tournament averaging just under four points a game. Take him out of the last few seconds of the game and you could probably forget about Gonzaga still playing in this year's dance. How about the bizarre finish in Boise? When Marquette had a final opportunity to win the game when trailing by two with a little over five seconds, the referee called a very accurate inbounds violation that gave the ball back to Missouri as the Tigers survived to move onto the next round. All that and we haven't even begun the Sweet Sixteen...

Freshman guard, Demetri
Goodson, stepped up
during a crucial situation
when he nearly drove
down the length of the floor
to sink a tie breaking layup
with just 0.9 seconds left
on the clock.

Without having shot a single free throw in the
entire game, Kim English calmly stepped
up to the line as he sank both free throws
for an injured J.T. Tiller to put
the Tigers up by two.

As I observed the field of 65 prior to the start of the tournament, I told my peers and myself that there was no way all #1 seeds would proceed to the final four for a second straight season and just the second time in NCAA history. So far, I'm as wrong as wrong could be and the chance of another all #1 seed Final Four is very possible. An all #1 Final Four? How about an all #1 and #2 Elite Eight. Can someone check the records for that? Teams have a few days to rest their bodies and reflect on their performances in the firs two rounds as they prepare for the following round that will being on March 26th and you know coaches are going to be all over game film as they look for all of their opponents' weaknesses and vulnerabilities as well as their own.

The Elite Eight

The Midwest Region

#12 Arizona has a heavy task coming their way as they will take on the top seeded team in the entire tournament while being the only double digit seed remaining in the tournament. So far, the Cats are playing more like a top seed than an underdog. The Cardinals better come prepared. The defending national champion Jayhawks have a regular season non-conference rematch with Tom Izzo's Spartans. In the regular season, the inexperienced Jayhawks fell behind early to Michigan State and didn't seem to find a flow as the score concluded at 75-62. Can Kansas find enough to avenge their regular season loss or will the deep Spartans put on a pounding to remind Kansas to stay away for a while?

Louisville's Terrence Williams has taken his game to
another level here in tournament play
as he is the main reason the top
seed is still in it.

#1 Louisville vs #12 Arizona

Louisville hasn't let their fans down so far but have worried many when they showed that they weren't so invincible. In their first game vs the Play-In game winners, the Cardinals found themselves up by just two at halftime and Rick Pitino quickly shook his players up to remind them that this is a single elimination battle to the top. The game concluded in a 20 point victory and Louisville advanced hoping to find a more complete game against Siena. The Saints didn't approve of Louisville's plans and came in with their own thoughts of the Sweet Sixteen as they led by four with just minutes to play. A huge scare for Louisville nation as they managed to escape the grasps of Siena in the final minute.

Arizona on the other hand have picked up their flow at the right time. Facing a giant in the first round in 7'2" Luke Nevill, Arizona was not fazed as they quickly went to work and took the All-American out of his comfort zone. The Cats had never looked better this season. Now they face the toughest challenge in the entire season and are not looking to back down. The Arizona Big-3 is playing at another level as all three of the leaders are playing above their season averages.

For Louisville, Terrence Williams is turning it up a notch and is looking for Earl Clark to complement him with a breakout performance. Freshman sensation, Samardo Samuels, is more than impressive and hopes to help his team overcome a possible upset as the path to the Elite Eight draws near. In this match-up, both teams show height, athleticism, and speed. Louisville proves to be a little bigger and displays a little more athleticism but Arizona should not be looked easily upon.

Kansas center, Cole
Aldrich, has been arguably
the most improved big
man from last season and
is looking to bring home
a possible second straight
national championship.

#3 Kansas vs #2 Michigan State
The defending national champions in Kansas and the ironically favored squad in Michigan State face off for not the first but second time this season as the two historical teams are in for a legendary match-up. Bill Self vs Tom Izzo, Baby Jay vs Sparty, fans vs fans, and the most important of all; the players. Most looked at the Jayhawks and doubted their abilities as the entire championship starting lineup left for the NBA and left little for Coach Self to work with.

On of the other side, Coach Izzo was full of fresh talent and veteran leadership as he had plans of a national championship. The two faced an epic encounter on January 10th as Michigan State showed that Kansas just wasn't up to their talent level this season. Both won their respective conferences' regular season but found little success in their tournaments as they headed towards the exit doors early.

As March Madness began, players stepped up and things started going Michigan State and Kansas' way. The Jayhawks didn't have too much on their hands as they took down North Dakota State and Dayton both by double digits. The Spartans cruised through the first round but needed all 40 minutes to take down a USC team that was on the rise. Now, the two head into the Sweet Sixteen for a highly anticipated match-up.

Do you think Kansas is thinking about the regular season loss right now? Nope. Maybe Michigan State is using the regular season win to remind themselves that they are better. Not a chance. Both sides know that they have both improved greatly since that early January game and after over two months have passed, they will play each other with two "brand new" squads. Who wants it more? We will just have to find out for ourselves on Friday.

Kansas gave Dayton little opportunity to pull a second
straight upset as the Jayhawks advanced to
possibly get a rematch against the favored
Spartans. Will the defending national
champs' season end here?

The West Region

The #5 Purdue Boiler Makers are surprisingly the lowest seed in this region as the rest of the three spots left in the region are held by the top three seeds. After battling it out in the first to rounds, Purdue finds itself in the Sweet Sixteen. Their next challenge? Jim Calhouns mighty Huskies. In the other match-up, two teams represented by the same animal as their mascot pair up in what could be one of the fastest paced games possible. Memphis comes in with an explosive offense that likes to go up and down the court with little time to waste. Missouri loves to spend plenty of time in ways of forcing their opponents to cough up the ball while using up the entire length of the court with quick guard play. Which feline will come out victorious? The Tiger of course.

It has been a tough journey for the Boilermakers, but
they have found themselves a spot in the
Sweet Sixteen and have even sweeter
plans.

#1 Connecticut vs #5 Purdue

The Boilermakers journey has been more than impressive but you would have to think that it is going to come to an end here. Connecticut had their fair share of time as the top ranked team in the nation as the Huskies have had a very successful season. In the tournament, the Huskies have played excellent defense and have held their teams to 47 and 66 respectively while averaging 97.5 for themselves. Coach Calhouns team has the largest average margin of victory in the tournament so far and seem almost impossible to slow down.

Purdue has done things a little differently. Winning by an average margin of 3.5 points, The Boilermakers already had to deal with plenty of pressure and crunch time decisions as they pulled through in two tight matches. It is almost guaranteed that this Big 10 team will give the Huskies a far more difficult time than the first two teams did. What could be a crucial factor in this game? UConn hasn't faced any pressure so far and a closer score in this game could cause some confusion for the Huskies. For all I know, this might not even be close. Thabeet and his crew might run off with another large victory but even a little spark or a margin such as ten points can give Purdue a shot.

The Boilermakers come in with a talented line up with Robbie Hummel, E'Twaun Moore, JaJuan Johnson, and Keaton Grant. Matching up against a lineup that contains Hasheem Thabeet, Stanley Robison, Jeff Adrien, Craig Austrie, A.J. Price, and Freshman Kemba Walker things could get really heated and quite interesting. Both have more than enough players that will be able to step up and the coaching will be the x-factor in this one. UConn fans, maybe you shouldn't have complained about the boring blowouts. Some teams' fans only hope and wish for such feats. Keep your television sets on for this one.

#3 Missouri vs #2 Memphis

A sweet match-up as the two Tiger teams come in with a very fast pace. These two teams could possibly have the two fastest game styles in the entire nation this season. Both squads have relied heavily on their guard play and showcase little advantages in their big men. Okay so maybe Memphis holds a slight advantage in size with Robert Dozier and Shawn Taggart but Missouri hasn't let big men slow them down. They're in the Big 12 for crying out loud. On top of the similarities of having the same mascot and game style, the two share a very mutual emotion. Their hate for the Kansas Jayhawks.

Missouri has a traditional hate for Kansas over the past however many years of rivalry but Memphis has a different bitter hate that they developed for the Jayhawks after falling face flat in the championship game in 2008. Even though the chances aren't too high, knowing that the winner of this game could possibly face off with Kansas in the final four will force an extra drive into them as the two Tiger teams head into this Sweet Sixteen match. Seniors Leo Lyons and DeMarre Carroll, two very diverse forwards that can play up to four positions on the court, could possibly be putting on a Missouri uniform for their final time. Tyreke Evans, a freshman for Memphis, could possibly be putting on a Memphis uniform for his last time. Overall, the Tigers of Missouri start three seniors and the Tigers of Memphis start two. This one could get emotional.

Memphis will be led
by another Freshman
for the second straight
season. This time, it's
Tyreke Evans.

Missouri will display
plenty of depth in their
guard play as they
look to take down
the other Tigers.

The East Region

The top four teams have safely arrived to the Sweet Sixteen and all four have bigger plans of making it to the next round. Unfortunately, there are only two spots in the Elite Eight for these four hungry teams. A possible Big East showdown in the Elite Eight is in the works and a previous Sweet Sixteen match-up between Xavier and Duke is possible for a rebirth. These teams all have what it takes to reach the Final Four but have to win two more games before thinking about all that. Each team has already faced a challenge in their journey and are prepared to get another win under their name.

#1 Pittsburgh vs #4 Xavier

The Musketeers had avoided an upset as they overcame and 11 point half time deficit to #12 seed Wisconsin in Sundays game and now find themselves two games away from the final four. The only thing is they must face Pittsburgh now. The Panthers haven't gotten much of a break as #16 East Tennessee State played amazing basketball by hanging with #1 Pittsburgh for almost 40 minutes and #8 Oklahoma State gave them a run for their money as well. It doesn't get any easier as the Panthers face Xavier. The Panthers have truly kept it safe as they focused on not losing rather than trying to blow their opponents out of the water. A smart approach it has been as that mentality will help them try to overcome Xavier.

The Musketeers have yet to accomplish any such goal as the sweet sixteen was something expected from this team and a ticket to the elite eight would be the next step for the Atlantic 10 champs. The Panthers' senior, Sam Young broke loose in round two as he dropped 32 points and 8 rebounds as he made a statement for his team. Overall, Young could be the best player in NCAA this season with athleticism and size along with excellent skill and knowledge on both sides of the ball. If he can continue to perform at the level he did on Sunday, The Panthers could make a convincing run to the championship. But first, they must get past the Musketeers from Xavier, Ohio.

#3 Villanova vs #2 Duke

The Wildcats have stayed focused in the tournament as they have proven to be one of the most impressive teams so far. Led by Dante Cunningham, Villanova has faced little trouble after defeating a feisty American team by double digits and a young but talented UCLA team by 20. With hopes of an Elite Eight bid, the Wildcats now face off the Duke Blue Devils. Duke has struggled in the tournament over the past few seasons but have managed to slip themselves into this year's Sweet Sixteen after pulling away late against a Texas Longhorns team that forgot all about their poor regular season performance and focused on getting as far as they could. Duke hasn't really shown dominance in the season but have shown composure game in and game out. Coach K has kept his team focused on the task ahead as he did not let frustration take over his team at any point.

Villanova is a very quick team that likes to move up and down the floor while Duke is a team that likes to go half court offense and spend as much of the 35 second shot clock as they can while calling out plays. A stat that is probably less than important but nice to know is that Dukes only other Big East for this season was Georgetown as the Blue Devils defeated them by nine. Villanova on the other hand fell to a struggling Hoya team by two in a low scoring bout. So two teams coming in with completely different styles will get 40 minutes to go at each other. Duke wins with defense and ball control but Villanova wins in a high speed game with plenty of baskets being traded. What is really going to happen? It's March Madness, you'll have to see for yourself.

Villanova has had an interesting season and they're pretty good. Actually, they're really good and they're hungry for more.

The Blue Devils are pretty good too and they have different plans
for Villanova as they have hopes of
sending the Wildcats home.

The South Region

Like the East region, all four of the top seeds have done their part in order to play in the Sweet Sixteen. What happens from here? Gonzaga has shown flashes of a Final Four team but haven't show completeness and UNC has displayed why they were the pre season favorites and are a top team in the nation while still being vulnerable at times. Syracuse has quieted many haters as the team has become a crowd favorite as of late, dating back to the Big East tournament when the team dueled it out with UConn in a six-overtime game. Oklahoma has struggled without their leader in Blake Griffin but have been difficult to slow down when his presence is at 100%. Four completely different teams out of four completely different conferences. Let's get it started.

Blake Griffin might not even be the best player
in the region but he sure can do damage.
Would you like to make an
argument for yourself, Blake?

#1 North Carolina vs #4 Gonzaga

Haven't heard of the Zags? You are not a college basketball fan. Coming out of the WCC, not many respect this squad but when you watch them on the hardwood, it is hard not to like them. They have every piece to the puzzle that forms what you may call a championship team in college basketball. Let's start with the floor leader in Jeremy Pargo. A little undersized but has speed, athleticism, leadership. He knows how to control the pace of the game and can take it hard to hoop as well as score from the outside while playing hard nose defense. Austin Daye is a prototype player with a 6'11" body frame while being able to handle the ball and do everything well. He can score, he can defend, he can rebound, and he can slam the ball down your throat if he wants to. Sounds like a good team huh? But I haven't even mentioned their best player. Josh Heytfelt is the big at 6'11" and is a very mobile big man that can tear down the rim with strength while displaying a show with his soft touch. On top of that, you got other scorers and role players in Matt Bouldin, Micah Downs, Steven Gray, and Demetri Goodson. So what better match-up could there be for these guys than the Tarheels?

Roy Williams represents one of the toughest back courts in Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington. Tyler Hansbrough is the best 12 year senior in college basketball history and with all joking aside could possibly be one of the best college players ever. Danny Green can jump out of the building and do almost everything. Add in the size with Deon Thompson, Ed Davis, and Tyler Zeller and you got yourself a heck of a team. This match-up could be a Final Four game and even a championship game. Gonzaga has challenged themselves throughout the season with plenty of tough non conference games and are well prepared to take on the powerhouse Tarheels. This one should be full of tough shots, loose balls, and hard fouls as the winner of this one should more than likely proceed to the Final Four.

If there was a College Gameday for March Madness, even though there are many other great games in this round, Gonzaga vs UNC would be the College Gameday location for the Sweet Sixteen. A must watch game.

Jeremy Pargo
isn't the tallest
player but he has
plenty under his
shoes to make up
for it. See what he
does in an attempt
to break down the
mighty Heels.

#3 Syracuse vs #2 Oklahoma

The biggest question looking at this game; who is going to stop Blake Griffin? The bigs for Syracuse have played at an impressive level but their style just isn't fit to keep up with Mr. Griffin. Syracuse comes into the Sweet Sixteen after knocking off my Final Four sleeper pick from this region, The Arizona State Sun Devils so I'm all the more bitter towards the team that I was cheering on a few nights ago in the six-overtime battle.

With all biased aside, Jonny Flynn, Eric Devendorf, and Paul Harris are very good guards but they just have no chance in guarding Blake Griffin. You wonder why I would even mention them trying to guard Blake Griffin, it's because Onuaku and Jackson can. Their best bet would be Andy Rautins but the Oklahoma big man should have little trouble finding the rim at eye level. Don't count Syracuse out just because I said that though. Coach Boeheim's boys have a heart to win and are driven by their will power and that will keep their chances alive.

Freshman Willie Warren has averaged 16 in the big dance and will need to keep those numbers consisten for his team to get through another round. Tony Crocker hasn't been able to find himself in late March but will need to do more than average 4 points and 3.5 rebounds for his team. Griffin should be the x-factor in this one. Taylor Griffin that is. The only way for Syracuse to find themselves another win for this season is for Jonny Flynn to do is business. All eyes will be on the 6' Sophomore guard. And of course some eyes will be on 6'10" Sophomore Blake Griffin...

The answer to all of Syracuse's problems? Well, let's see
what the little man can do against big boy Blake Griffin.

Anything is possible in March Madness. Of course there will be no George Mason this year (Arizona is a much more prestigious basketball program than George Mason) but plenty of upsets are still left for grabs and watching highlights just doesn't do justice of how great the late March tournament really is. Make sure you tune in for the Sweet Sixteen. Oh yeah... It's sweet.

-Jason C

Only the Strong Survive Round One

The Demon Deacons were the highest seed to
fall in the first round as Dino's boys
fell behind big early in the game
against Cleveland State.

Round one tipped off on Thursday afternoon with a bang as Memphis pulled away late, Virginia Commonwealth fell one basket short of dropping UCLA, and Western Kentucky had the biggest upset of the night as a #12 seed. Day two of round one was full of surprises as six of the lower seeds managed to come away with the victory to advance to the second round. Friday evening was tough on most people's brackets including mine as I went 24/32 in the first round. Not too impressive but at least I got more than the President (19/32).

Midwest Region
This region showcased the most first round upsets as five of the eight games had the lower seed winning. The top three seeds survived to advance to the round of 32 as the #4-#8 seeds all played in their final games of the season after being eliminated.

Round one wasn't as easy as planned for Coach Pitino's
Cardinals but the top team in the tournament
valiantly took it away in the second half.

#1 Louisville vs #9 Siena
The Saints took on Ohio State in a barn burner as they won by two in double-overtime. They now face the top seed in the entire tournament, the Cardinals. While Siena took down their favored opponents, Louisville had a challenge of its own as the Cardinals saw just a two point half-time lead against the #16 seed, Morehead State. The #1 team in the bracket got a wake up call as they managed to pull away late in the opening round but now face a much more talented and underrated Siena squad. It won't be easy for the #9 seed and if the Cardinals can play like the Big-East Champs that they are, this won't take too long. Siena will put up a fight but it will not be enough for their high powered competition. Louisville
#12 Arizona vs #13 Cleveland State
One of these two teams hardly had a shot at winning their first round match-up and the other team wasn't even supposed to make it into the tournament. Cleveland State pulled off the biggest upset of round one as they took down an inexperienced Wake Forest with plenty of raw talent to offer while Arizona quieted the critics by showing that they could compete. The Vikings had a hot start and took advantage of a young higher seeded squad but will now face a more mature team that has nothing to lose. The Wildcats had a terrific performance tonight and will, oddly enough, face a much easier opponent in Cleveland State. The Vikings will give it their all in this match-up, but they just won't get the same hot start that they were able to get against the Demon Deacons and the big three for Arizona will continue on their hot streak from the opening round. Arizona
#11 Dayton vs #3 Kansas
When West Virginia looked like they finally had things going their way, the men from Dayton came in and made a huge statement by taking down the #6 seed. On the other side of this match-up, Kansas avoided a first round scare as North Dakota State hung around for more than the Jayhawks planned. Dayton is a talented squad but on a regular night, West Virginia is a more talented team and Kansas might have gotten a break here in the second round as they have an opportunity of making the sweet sixteen by defeating a much easier opponent than what most Jayhawks had expected. Dayton can easily find Kansas' weak spots and make a second straight upset to advance to the sweet sixteen but the Jayhawks' one-two punch in Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich were terrific earlier today and will play just as well on Sunday. Kansas
#10 USC vs #2 Michigan State
The Trojans didn't find too much trouble in upsetting the Boston College Eagles but will face a much more athletic opponent as they will take on the #2 seed Spartans. USC is on a hot streak and aren't looking to slow down but Izzo's squad is very deep and have all the keys to slow down USC's flow. One factor that may help the Trojans in a possible second straight upset is that Michigan State is a pretty young squad and that could cause problems in a tight match-up. Keep an eye out for an upset in this one but expect the Spartans to find a way to get the victory to advance to the sweet sixteen. Michigan State

For a team that wasn't
supposed to be here, the
Wildcats sure looked like
a top seed in round one.

USC continues their
hot streak as they
found Boston Colleges
vulnerability and
quickly took
advantage.

The Siena Saints needed two overtimes but
eventually found a way to take down
the Ohio State Buckeyes in what
could be a possible Cinderella run.
Oh yeah... They can.

West Region
This region had just two upsets but a few other close games in the first round look to make an impact on the teams in the following round. Now if it's a positive impact or a negative one, that's a different story. Marquette escapes a tight one in the final minutes, Purdue nearly loses its cool to Northern Iowa, and Memphis gets an early wake up call.

#1 UConn vs #9 Texas A&M
The Huskies showed that their defense is fierce and their offense is talented as they kept their opponents under 50 and found themselves dropping down three digits. On the other side, Texas A&M dropped all nine of their first field goals to get ahead early against BYU as it was too late for Cougars to catch up with a late run. The Aggies will most likely not get another start like they did in round one and will have plenty of trouble finding the basket as 7'3" Hasheem Thabeet denies all trespassers. A&M is very athletic and will not be afraid to attack the basket, but the Huskies have way too much size and all around talent. This one could be close if A&M can find their range but UConn is just too dynamic and will more than likely win by double digits. UConn

#5 Purdue vs #4 Washington
Both these teams needed a little time before finding their flow but looked really good as they both took care of business in the second half. The Boilermakers just couldn't get Northern Iowa to slow down as the margin of the two scores wasn't very much but Robbie Hummel showed inside dominance and the rest of the lineup stepped up at the right time for Purdue. For the Huskies, Isaiah Thomas showed why he was this year's Pac-1o Freshman of the Year and Brockman proved to be one of the top big men in the nation. Both teams have top go-to guys and top role players but the x-factor will be whoever has the more intense defense and in round one, the Huskies had a young man named Venoy Overton who turned it up a notch and showed terrific one on one defense. This will be huge if the Huskies can bring out the same defense in this match-up and Brockman seems like the favored big man against a smaller Robbie Hummel. Obviously could go either way but this one will be won by heart. Washington

#6 Marquette vs #3 Missouri
The Golden Eagles nearly avoided a stunner by the very under looked Aggies of Utah State but managed to find the win late in the final minute of the game and now look to take on one of the best defenses in the nation. Missouri forces the most turnovers of any team in this nation and are looking to put on the pressure against Marquette in the second round. Marquette is a very quick team and will look to play with Missouri's speed but watch out as that may cause many bad decisions by the Golden Eagles. Mcneal will need to play a much better game for Marquette as he struggled to find the hoop against the Aggies and without Dominic James in the lineup, the Golden Eagles will not be able to win with another poor performance by the guard. The Tigers found themselves in the second half of their first match-up and will play a much more complete game in this one. Missouri

#10 Maryland vs #2 Memphis
The Tigers couldn' get rid of Cal State Northridge until they went on a run late in the second half and will need to play a much better game in order to find a win against the ACC's Maryland Terrapins. Vasquez was more than impressive for the Terps in the opening game and will need to continue to play at that level if Maryland wants to be successful. As for the Tigers, their top scorer in the first game was Sallie who scored 35 points off the bench. With all due respect to the young man, he's just not going to have another one of those games in this tournament and the main guys on this team is going to have to step it up a little to get their team a victory and a spot in the sweet sixteen. Cal State Northridge got the Tigers' attention and they will come out ready to play this time around. Memphis

Vasquez was very
impressive in the opening
round as he put on a
stellar performance
to help Maryland
upset the Golden
Bears of California.

Washington's defense was all over the place
in round one as Mississippi State
struggled to find their pace on the
offensive side of the ball.

East Region
Pittsburgh got a surprise in round one as East Tennessee State looked more like a top seeded squad rather than a #16 seed. As for the rest of the region, other than #12 seeded Wisconsin winning in overtime, the other seven higher seeds advanced to round two.

#1 Pittsburgh vs #8 Oklahoma State
The Cowboys are coming off an exciting win against Tennessee and have plenty of confidence as they saw that Pittsburgh is very beatable. Unfortunately, Pittsburgh is much better than they looked today and will definitely pick up their slack as senior leaders will show why experience is very important. Eaton and Fields will battle it out as two undersized point guards with plenty to offer. If Oklahoma State can find away to force the turnovers, this one could get interesting but if Pittsburgh can manage to take care of the ball, this one shouldn't be too much trouble for the Panthers. Pittsburgh

#12 Wisconsin vs #4 Xavier
The Badgers found away to take down the Seminoles in extra time and Xavier took care of business as Portland State didn't give the Musketeers too many issues. I had the Seminoles over the Musketeers in round two but this match-up displays a completely different game and Xavier should be able to hold on in this one. Xavier

#6 UCLA vs #3 Villanova
Both teams showcase very impressive guard play as well as mobile big man that can get really active. The Wildcats may come in as the higher seed but the Bruins could possibly have the advantage as they come in with three very experienced players in the tournament in Shipp, Aboya, and Collison. The Bruins have been questioned about their young talent but these seniors have picked up for the slack and have helped the younger teammates feed off of them. The team faced plenty of challenges against VCU Thursday night and got a huge wake up call after seeing their season flash before their eyes on the final shot of the game. The Wildcats had their own struggles with a hard nosed American team but avoided the upset as they advanced to play on home turf in Philadelphia. The crowd will be a huge advantage as the noise will get into the heads of the young Bruins but Collison will look to control the tempo as he will no be phased by the loud crowd. When they get their flow going, this Bruins team can become very dangerous and this game should come on Saturday as they look to quiet the crowd in Philadelphia. UCLA

#7 Texas vs #2 Duke
Duke looked impressive in the tournament for the first time in a while and Texas took care of business as Minnesota gave them a good fight. This one could end up as a shoot out as both teams have some of the nation's best shooters. Duke has a much deeper bench and the Longhorns will be in a huge predicament if they find themselves in foul trouble and thats what the aggressive Kyle Singler and Gerald Henderson will look to do. The Blue Devils just have too many weapons going for them. Duke

Wisconsin ended Florida States season
a little earlier than Seminole fans
wanted as the Badgers came
up with the upset in OT.

UCLA needed all 40
minutes as they escaped
a near upset to the
men from Virginia
Commonwealth by
winning 65-64.

South Region
North Carolina embarrassed their helpless opponents as Western Kentucky and Michigan caught their opponents sleeping by pulling off the two upsets in this region. The rest of the region had some of the top possible sleeper teams take care of business to get one game closer to UNC.

#1 UNC vs #8 LSU
No Lawson again? It could be a possibility and this could be a huge opportunity for LSU to pull off a big time upset against the #1 seed Tarheels. Without Lawson, the point guard play takes a huge blow as Frasor just doesn't bring the same talent as #5 does. The Tigers could find themselves beat in every other position but if they can cause havoc in the back court, we might find ourselves an upset alert. In reality, the Tarheels are just too talents and too deep. Tyler Hansbrough will be just too much to handle for the LSU defense. UNC


#12 Western Kentucky vs #4 Gonzaga
The Hilltoppers showed that they can play some basketball as they ended Illinois' season but their next challenge will be against one of the best starting lineups in the entire nation. Gonzaga had a challenge as Akron gave them a good fight, but in the end, the Bulldogs were just too big and too athletic. The explosive point guard in Jeremy Pargo is where it all begins as Austin Daye is a lanky wing that can play multiple positions and do damage in many ways. The big man down low is Josh Heytfelt who has a silky smooth touch and knows his way around the paint on both sides of the ball. Gonzaga is a very good team for a #4 seed and will be smart enough not to give Western Kentucky any chance of a quick start. The Hilltoppers can give the Bulldogs a run for their money but Gonzaga has too much to offer. Gonzaga

#6 Arizona State vs #3 Syracuse
Arizona State was my sleeper pick to sneak into the final four and I will stand by that pick. The Sun Devils pulled away from a fire hot Temple team that was lights out from beyond the arc even while James Harden had a less than impressive performance. The young sophomore will lots of talent has yet to unleash the beast within in this tournament and will rise up on Sunday as the Sun Devils will need all they can get from their young superstar in order to beat the Orangemen. Syracuse will need to adjust their offense if they want to keep up with Arizona State's tough defense. The Orangemen were only able to put up 59 against a much less talented defense and will need to do better as Arizona State will look to win by playing tough defense first before anything else. James Harden will cause match-up problems for Syracuse but Jonny Flynn will do just the same for Arizona State. Arizona State

#10 Michigan vs #2 Oklahoma
Blake Griffin just can't seemed to be slowed down. How about the 1-3-1 defense? Oklahoma has yet to take on a team that has offered such an uncommonly used zone but that will be the biggest factor on Saturday's match-up as the athletic Wolverines will try to slow down Blake Griffin and crew with an unfamiliar defense for a Big-12 team. The zone may cause issues but the All-American is just too talented and will eventually find his rhythm. This one should be interesting. Keep a close watch on this one. Oklahoma

The do-it-all forward in Austin Daye will be
the biggest x-factor for Gonzaga as they
look to make a deep tournament run.

Stay tuned to CBS all weekend as March Madness brings you the second round of tournament play as cinderella teams look to continue their journey to the final four and top teams try to avoid disappointment. This year has already had plenty of surprises and it's far from over. Enjoy it.

-Jason C

College's "Prom"

Invitations have been sent out to all the cool kids on the block and everything has been set...

Earl Clark and Terrence Williams have
rallied their team to the top seed in the tourney
as they journey for a National Championship.

Now let's get to the point. The field of 65 has been arranged and while some teams' hopes have been shattered, other teams have found themselves celebrating as their school had been announced on Selection Sunday. All the participants know what their path is going to look like as they look to advance to the final four and then possibly hoist the big trophy in the end. Three of the four #1 seeds are from the Big East as the conference represents seven total teams out of the 65. The #1 overall seed in the tournament belongs to the Big East tournament Champions, Rick Pitino's Cardinals. So get your brackets ready and turn on your television sets because round one is about to get under way

Out West... The Midwest that is.
With surprise teams such as Arizona and USC earning low seedings in this region and young teams like Kansas and Wake Forest holding the higher seeds, this region is just asking for drama. There are endless outcomes in the Midwest and you should expect the unexpected in this portion of the bracket. This is probably the most difficult road to the final four out of the four regions. Filling out this part of the bracket should be very stressful for March Madness fans all across the nation as well as for sports analysts.


#1 Louisville vs Winner of "Play-in game"
Not knowing the outcome is this game would be foolish. I'm pretty sure the players for Louisville could care less about who wins the "play-in game". Whether it's the Hornets of Alabama State or the Morehead State Eagles, whoever ends up taking on the top team in the bracket will be in for some trouble. Louisville will run the opposing team off the floor before half time. The Cardinals are just too athletic. They've got speed, power, and depth. Typical first round #1 v #16 result. Louisville
#8 Ohio State vs #9 Siena
The Buckeyes endured a lot of struggles during the season and in conference play but have pulled themselves together as they picked up the #8 seed in the Midwest. This isn't Siena's first time in the tournament and they have earned some respect from the selection committee as they earned the #9 seed. By just looking at the school names, the majority of people would go with Ohio State in a heart beat but don't count the Saints out just yet. Siena has the ability to score plenty of points in a game and can compete with major conference teams. Just ask Pittsburgh and Kansas. Siena's leading scorers are seniors and juniors as they have plenty of experience and will not have any first game jitters but Ohio State on the other hand is led by underclassmen. Siena will have a huge advantage on that part but the game is in Ohio. Advantage Buckeyes? The home court advantage could be huge as the fan support may help the young Ohio State team drop any nerves early in the game. BUT, I'm going to assume that plenty of Siena fans will show up and the Saints will pick up a "W" in the first round. Siena
#5 Utah vs #12 Arizona
While Arizona has been blessed with a bid into the dance, Utah has worked hard to get the #5 seed in the Midwest but have been punished as they face one of the toughest 12 seed teams ever. Both teams will be playing in unfamiliar territory as the two western schools face off in Miami. Arizona has a trio leader of juniors that have been playing together for three years now and chemistry should be flowing all over the court but unfortunately for them, Utah has a trio of SENIOR leaders that have been playing together for FOUR years. Not only that but the leader of them all is 7'2" all american center Luke Nevill. With the lack of height being a huge issue for the Wildcats even with Jordan Hill, this big man match up could be a huge issue from the start of tip off. Don't expect an upset just because of Arizona's successful basketball history. But then again, the 5/12 match-up is infamous for its upsets. Regardless, Nevill is just too big and his teammates are solid enough to hold their own. Utah
#4 Wake Forest vs #13 Cleveland State
A big time surprise out of the ACC, the young Demon Deacons have been more than succesful as they found ways to win games during the regular season and despite not being able to win the ACC tournament nor the conference's regular season, the team has landed the #4 seed in the Midwest. Cleveland State may be a mid major team but they have hung with some of the best during the regular season as they challenged themselves throughout the non-conference portion of the season with games against Syracuse, Washington, Kansas State, West Virginia, and Butler. They may have lost all five of those games but none of them ended with much of a marginal difference in scores. Wake Forest may have lots of talent but they somehow struggle to find scoring at times. The lack of veteran experience on this lineup causes some questioning as to how far these youngsters can really go in the tournament. Wake Forest may get a slap in the face as Cleveland State hangs with the big boys from the ACC but Jeff Teague and his crew will find a way to overcome this one. At least... Wake Forest
#6 West Virginia vs #11 Dayton
A very peculiar match up as Dayton tries to upset the Mountaineers. West Virginia has been playing their best basketball of the year lately and are well prepared for the tournament as they endured the deepest talent in any conference. Don't count Dayton out of this one. Even though the Flyers might have not played as difficult a schedule, they have one thing that West Virginia doesn't. On top of an upset over Atlantic 10's best team, the Xavier Musketeers, the Flyers have a "W" over the Big East's very own Marquette team. Reminding all you West Virginia fans that your team was unable to defeat Marquette this season. This could be a huge boost of confidence for the Dayton players but West Virginia will not take Dayton lightly and will do all it can to prevent their opponents from advancing to the round of 32. West Virginia
#3 Kansas vs #14 North Dakota State
Kansas fans will tell you all about how they lost in the first round to the Bucknell Bison the last time they were the #3 seed in the tournament. On top of that, Kansas fans can tell you about how they lost as the #4 seed the following year when their team was rebuilding with fresh young players. Coach Self had brought in top recruits Julian Wright, Brandon Rush, and Mario Chalmers but the young trio weren't prepared for the tournament as they fell to the Bradley Braves and were one and done. This year, the Defending National Champions have surprised many with a brand new lineup while their entire starting line up from last year's #1 team went on to the enter the NBA draft. Even though this year's recruiting class wasn't as impressive as the class that came in with the three freshman that lost to Bradley that painful season, Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich have stepped up big as they have led their young teammates to another regular season Big 12 championship and a #3 seed in the tournament. A #3 seed and a young roster? Uh oh... Just a few days ago, Kansas already showed that their youth and lack of experience would interfere with their success in tournament play as they were dropped in the second round of the Big 12 tournament against Baylor after a bye round. Will the outcome be the same for Kansas in the first round of this year's tournament? Bill Self has already been through enough of those and will be well prepared for this match-up as he won't let anything slide. Collins will have to play a good game and the rest of the team complements his performance. The Jayhawks could easily give this one up to the North Dakota State Bison (Bucknell Bison?), but don't count on it. Kansas
#7 Boston College vs #10 USC
While the Eagles have slipped themselves into the tournament after going through a tough ACC schedule, the Trojans have rallied themselves into the tournament by winning the Pac 10 tournament. Early on in the season, USC continuously struggled. Their team lost way too much talent from the previous year (OJ Mayo, Davon Jefferson) and the highly anticipated freshman, Demar Derozan was having trouble finding his game in the collegiate level. All that was forgotten when the Pac 10 tournament came in town. Derozan all of a sudden looked like an all american and everything was going USC's way as players stepped up and played their roles. Boston College will be led by senior guard Tyrese Rice who can catch fire from the field and become unstoppable. This game could obviously go either way but USC's athletic edge will give them an advantage in that category but Boston College has the ability to do damage as they defeated UNC and Duke in the regular season. Derozan needs to continue to play above the rim as he did in the Pac 10 tournament and USC will find themselves in the round of 32. USC
#2 Michigan State vs #15 Robert Morris
This match-up isn't a difficult one as the Spartans just have too much talent over the Colonials. Coach Izzo and crew aren't too happy about not winning the Big 10 tournament and are probably looking to let their anger out in the first round of the tournament. A young roster but a very complete team with plenty of scorers and big men including senior leader, Goran Suton. This one shouldn't take long. Michigan State










Do the Defending National
Champions have a shot in
the world of making a repeat
performance after losing the
entire starting line-up that took
them all the way?

Goran Suton and Raymar Morgan
have other plans as the #2 seed as
they look to reach the Final Four
in the familiar territory of Detroit.

The West Side
Connecticut has yet again earned a #1 seed. This bracket consists of many teams under the radar and teams that weren't expected to do what they did. The #2 seed in this bracket is last year's runner up, the Memphis Tigers, who currently have the longest active streak in the nation with 25 straight wins. The last time they lost was in mid December. It's almost like having two #1 seeds in one region...

Thabeet is a force in the middle
as UConn looks to make a familiar
appearance in the Final Four.

#1 UConn vs #16 Chattanooga
Other than the fact that Chattanooga is the #16 seed, the real issue for the underdog team is, "how the heck are they going to stop the 7'3" Thabeet?" The Mocs had barely won over .500 games and are looking at a near impossible match-up. UConn
#8 BYU vs #9 Texas A&M
This match-up consists of two teams that have completely different styles. Styles may not be the same but the amount of talent on both sides is about even and the teams will spend most of the first half trying to establish their game flow while figuring out the opponent's weakness and tendencies. Expect BYU to show more composure as they pull off the win in a hard fought game. BYU
#5 Purdue vs #12 Northern Iowa
Does anyone want to give me a scouting report on Northern Iowa? The Big 10 tournament champions are in for a trap game as they face a low status team that played a very weak schedule. The Boilermakers have shown that they can be very inconsistent at times while Northern Iowa hasn't really shown what they are capable and could surprise the favored team. Surprisingly enough, the Panthers have some players that really know how to get points on the board but the talent that the Boilermakers bring is going to be too much. Northern Iowa might bring mismatch issues as they try to start off strong by attacking with 7'1" center Jordan Eglseder, but height isn't always going to get you the win. Purdue
#4 Washington vs #13 Mississippi State
The #1 seed team in the Pac-10 tournament failed to bring home the trophy while Mississippi State made a name for themselves by winning the SEC tournament. The SEC may have had one of its most disappointing seasons as only three teams were selected to the tournament and the highest seeding is LSU's eight seed. As the Bulldogs try to represent the SEC on a brighter note by continuing their current six game winning streak, The Huskies are angry and want to forget about the Pac-10 tournament as quickly as possible. The best way to do that? Winning of course. Being led by Freshman guard sensation Isaiah Thomas (No relation to Detroit's Isaiah Thomas) and Senior guard Justin Dentmon, Washington will come out with a speed game. Mississippi State might not last too long in this one but expect the Bulldogs to at least give a worthy fight for a little while. Washington
#6 Marquette vs #11 Utah State
Marquette comes into this one with plenty of preparation after dealing with the entire Big East while Utah State has one of the most impressive regular season records with 30 wins. The Golden Eagles are 1-5 in their last six games as they have had to deal with the absence of Senior guard Dominic James who suffered an injury late in the regular season. Marquette has shown that they can perform without the leader at guard but have yet to show that they can play a complete game without him. Marquette was probably planning on using the early portion of the tournament to get their chemistry going but this part of the tournament may be the only part they will be seeing. Utah State may come from a much weaker conference but the Aggies have a solid starting lineup that can inflict some major damage. Playing Marquette will probably be their biggest challenge yet but if Utah State can manage to keep Marquette from catching any runs, this one could get very interesting. Utah State
#3 Missouri vs #14 Cornell
A fairy tale it has been for the Tigers as they took advantage of the Big 12's "rebuilding" year and stole the Big 12 tournament Championship as the top 2 seeds both fell in the second round. Before the season began, not much was expected from the men of Mizzou but they made plenty of noise as they tallied a total of 28 wins before being selected into the tournament. The challengers, the Big Red of Cornell. The Ivy League champions are given little respect by the rest of the nation but they look to make a statement by sneaking up on a team with little experience in the tournament. Surprisingly, Cornell stands a chance in this game but the speed that the Tigers bring to the floor will overwhelm the Big Red as they may suffer from plenty of turnovers. It may go either way but the Tigers are likely to move on to round two. Missouri
#7 California vs #10 Maryland
A very tough call in this one as the two teams come in with some very impressive wins yet both have struggled to find consistent success. California suffered ten losses in the season but found random counts of success as they defeated Utah, Arizona State, and Washington twice (The Pac-10 regular season champions). Maryland held their own as they took down UNC and Wake Forest but struggled to find themselves in conference play as they went under .500 in the win column. Cal will have the upperhand in this match up as they have a far more solid starting lineup. Coach Gary Williams just doesn't seem to have the magical recruiting touch as he used to but depth will be a factor in this one as Marylands squad distributes the ball around more efficiently as they get more guys involved in scoring. In the end, the Golden Bears will have just too much to offer for the Terps lineup to handle. California
#2 Memphis vs #15 Cal State Northridge
Without Derrick Rose, Chris Douglas Roberts, and Joey Dorsey the Tigers just aren't capable of competing with the best of rest in this years pool of competition. Think again. With freshman McDonald's All-American Tyreke Evans adding plenty of explosive offense, the Tigers currently have the longest active win streak of 25 wins and don't have any intentions of slowing down. I can assure you that they haven't forgotten about last year's collapse in the championship game and have plenty of anger to let loose as Memphis will get win number 26 to start off this year's tournament. Memphis

Last year's Freshman phenom Derrick Rose may have moved on to bigger and better things but Tyreke Evans has brought new life into Memphis as they look to avenge last year's Final Four loss.







The East
Pittsburgh stands at the top of this region and looks to coast to the final four as most of this region shows little consistency and composure while the other top seeds haven't shown any signs of much dominance. Then again, I guess I could go ahead and say the same for Pittsburgh...

Sam Young and Levance Fields take one last
shot at the Final Four as they aren't going
to let anyone get in their way.

#1 Pittsburgh vs #16 East Tennessee State
As East Tennessee State had a less than impressive performace in the Atlantic Sun, they crawled their way into the tournament as a hopeless sixteen seed. Once the tip-off begins, the Buccaneers 40 minute clock will begin as their season will end when it hits 0:00. Pittsburgh
#8 Oklahoma State vs #9 Tennessee
The Volunteers entered this year's campaign with high expectations as they were ranked 13th in the preseason. With plenty returning players and newly recruited freshmen, Coach Pearl's boys were looking to make a run. That plan didn't last too long as the Vols hit a few obstacles throughout the season and found themselves battling and just barely making it into the tournament. The tough challenges for Tennessee doesn't end here. Round one features a controversial match-up as the Vols are scheduled to play an Oklahoma State team that has found a groove late in the season. Led by James Anderson and Byron Eaton, the Cowboys are going to play hard nose basketball as they look to force a lot into the paint. A more athletic Tennessee team will create match-up problems for the Cowboys but Eaton has the most experience out of both teams and that will be huge. This game can easily go either way and should be fun to watch. Tennesse has shown way too much inconsistency and the Cowboys have shown plenty of composure during crunch time. Oklahoma State
#5 Florida State vs #12 Wisconsin
Wisconsin came into the season as a team that typically plays well year after year but this season wasn't up to par as the Badgers entered the tournament as a bubble team. Being a number twelve seed, Wisconsin looks to be a part of the many 5/12 upsets as they go up against a Florida State squad that has only one player that averages double digit scoring. So the key to winning this game for the Badgers would be to just stop the scoring power, Toney Douglas. Not as easy as it seems. Seeing that the Senior guard had scored 27 and 28 on Duke in two of three meetings, 27 and 32 on UNC in their two meetings, 23 twice on Clemson, and 22 on Wake Forest, Douglas has the ability to do damage regardless of who is guarding him. Wisconsin has shown consistent defense throughout the season but when a guy comes out of the ACC averaging over 20 points a game, he's not going to be easy to stop. On the other hand, if Wisconsin can find a way to slow him down, they can almost be assured of a win but I don't see it happening. Florida State
#4 Xavier vs #13 Portland State
A pretty easy game to call in most opinions, but think again! The Vikings of Portland State have a little something under their sleeve for the doubters. Xavier was one of the hotter teams in the early portion of the season but as of late, the Musketeers have been causing their coaching staff some stress as they have lost five of their last ten games in the weak Atlanta-10 Conference. Portland State has quietly hung around while winning a huge statement game against Gonzaga and keeping things close against the rest of the nation except for a 13 point loss to a good Baylor team and a 14 point loss to the only team that had a better record in their conference, Weber State. It would be preposterous to count this team out when they proved they could hang with the big boys after handing the Zags one of only five losses. Portland State is going to have to play a great game to end the Musketeers' season and it's not impossible but it's not going to be easy. The leaders of Xavier will get a reality check and gather themselves before the start of this one. Xavier
#6 UCLA vs #11 Virginia Commonwealth
Virginia Commonwealth finds themselves in the tournament once again but are in a bit of a sticky situation as they unluckily were dealt a UCLA team that has struggled but is very dangerous. Eric Maynor is a fantastic player for the Rams but even a 30 point game won't get them a victory in this one. The Bruins are way too deep as they have about nine players that get decent playing time. The experience from previous tournaments with Collison, Shipp, and Aboya will be too much for Eric Maynor and his crew. UCLA fans, you have nothing to worry about. The team has forgotten all about the regular season and are ready to move on through this tournament. This one will have a huge differential in the two point totals. Sorry Rams fans. UCLA
#3 Villanova vs #14 American
Villanova enters the tournament as a #3 seed after falling one game short from winning the Big East tournament. The Wildcats never give partial effort and come out ready to play every night and it will be no different in this match-up. American has had a terrific season but it's going to have to end here. This just isn't the team that they want to be paired up with early in the tournament. Villanova
#7 Texas vs #10 Minnesota
Texas has underperformed after being ranked eighth in the preseason. They finished sixth in a weak Big 12 conference and have just struggled to find themselves. On the opposite side, The Gophers have surprised many and are a young team on the rise. Not much scoring is done by this team but is it needed for these defensive monsters? Coach Tubby Smith's young squad will be very antsy to get on that court but Texas will show much more maturity as leaders AJ Abrams and Damion James have been through it before. The Gophers only won half of their conference games but had a very impressive win against the mighty Louisville Cardinals and if they can manage to come in with confidence, knowing that they are capable of beating anyone, a "W" in this one is very possible. If Texas can find a way to intimidate and frustrate the less experienced team from the get go, Coach Smith will be in for a long night. Seems like that's the likely outcome. (Sorry Ralph and X) Texas
#2 Duke vs #15 Binghamton
Duke has once again earned a #2 seed and I'm sure Coach K has had some flash backs from last years turn of events. A first round scare from Belmont after winning on a final shot 71-70 and eventually losing to #7 seed West Virginia in the second round by six. This year, Duke comes in with the same questionable issues as they had last year. The biggest problem with Duke in the past few seasons has been consistency and this season hasn't been an exception as the Blue Devils have shown greatness as they were once the top team in the rankings yet on some nights the squad couldn't even find a basket. Don't get me wrong, the Devils have a great record of 28-6 and had won the ACC tournament but it seems that you will never know when the group of outstanding shooters decides to randomly turn it all off. As for now, the Devils are high up in the sky with plenty of the confidence as they are the ACC champs and will cruise through this round. Duke for now...

Coach K's Devils haven't been
to the Final Four in a while. It's
about time they make a return.

Is the young talent
for UCLA just too young?

Darren Collison could have easily chosen
to leave for the NBA along side Russell Westbrook and
others but has returned for his Senior season in
order to pursue the National Championship
that he has been so close to multiple times.

The Dirty South

The preseason favorites, The North Carolina Tarheels, have earned themselves a #1 seed after finishing with a convincing 28-4 record. A very young but talented Oklahoma enters as the #2 seed and are sure to give the Heels a run for their money. That's if the two were even to mee in the elite eight. What am I implying? That this region is strong? Not really... This region showcases a ton of vulnerable teams but you will definitely find yourselves some sleepers in this group of 16.

The born-warrior has one last shot at taking his team
to the top and will not settle for less

#1 North Carolina vs #16 Radford
Looks like Hansbrough and his team is in the same situation that they were in last season at the start of the tournament. A comfortable top seed and a pretty reasonable road to the final four. Teams are usually told not to look ahead to future games but this one seems safe enough. Go ahead and enjoy the LSU/Butler match-up gentlemen. Mr. 17 time All-American will take care of this one. By himself... Heels blast the Highlanders in round one. North Carolina
#8 Louisiana State vs #9 Butler
Just another normal 8/9 game where either team has a very good chance of winning. Both teams fell short in their conferences tournaments but have the regular season title as they come in ready to make up for their respective losses to Mississippi State and Cleveland State. If your school was on the bubble and didn't make it to the tournament, you can blame these guys for taking up two of those bubble spots by letting MSU and CSU slip into the tournament. AJ Graves is no longer with Butler and they were still able to put up an impressive record but the lack of experience in this lineup will cause plenty of issues in tournament play. LSU comes in as the top seed representative for the SEC in what may be one of the most disappointing seasons for the conference. Fortunately for LSU fans, the Tigers have two talented athletes in Marcus Thornton and Tasmin Mitchell who are both NBA prospects for the near future. This will probably the final season for the two of them as Thornton is a senior and Mitchell is a junior. Don't be shocked to see this team make one final run. At the same time, Butler still holds a possibility of coming out with the win but all eyes are on the Tigers. Louisiana State
#5 Illinois vs #12 Western Kentucky
Well well well, the Hilltoppers are the #12 seed again and are interested in stunning another #5 seed. The Illini are in for some trouble as they are one of the most vulnerable teams to possibly get upset in the opening round of the big dance. Illinois is known for their low scoring games but they will have to find a way to put up some higher numbers in this one as Western Kentucky comes in as a quick offensive team. This one is a coin toss and I got tails for Western Kentucky. Tails it is. Just kidding, but with all seriousness, this one should be fun. Watch for something peculiar to happen in this one. Just saying. Western Kentucky
#4 Gonzaga vs #13 Akron
The Bulldogs finished the season by winning 18 of their last 19 games and had an outstanding record of 26-5. All that and they got a #4 seed? Hmm, maybe it's the sorry conferences they're in. Regardless, the Zags stacked their non conference schedule with plenty of good teams and are well prepared for this time of the year. Akron won't have a chance as Seniors Josh Heytvelt and Jeremy Pargo cruise into the second round. Watch out for the Zags to make a deep tournament run. Gonzaga
#6 Arizona State vs #11 Temple
Led by Sophomore super guard James Harden, the Sun Devils have played beyond expectations. The task ahead of getting to the final four will not be easy for Arizona State but the first test against Temple shouldn't be too difficult. Or maybe it'll be far more challenging than it seems. Temple comes into the game after winning the Atlantic 10 tournament and have a solid track record in non conference play after beating Tennessee and Penn State. The bigger picture in reality is that Arizona State is a much better squad. The Owls have shown that they can compete with even the best as the only lost to Clemson by 4 and to kansas by 12. The x factor of this game surprisingly enough will be Ty Abbott as the Sun Devils are 11-1 when the sophomore scores double digits. Of course, the main keys for Arizona State to not blow one early in the tournament is for James Harden and Jeff Pendergraph to play at their level but two can't do it alone. As Temple does all they can to stop these two dominant scorers, the role players will have to step up and Ty Abbott may be just that for Arizona State. Temple gives a fight but this ones pretty easy to call. Arizona State
#3 Syracuse vs #14 Stephen F. Austin
Not just a few days ago, Syracuse had about 5,000 more fans across the nation join the team bus when the Orange took down powerhouse UConn in the Big East tournament in what was the most historic game in conference history as it took six overtimes to decide the victor. Jonny Flynn, the explosive Sophomore guard has stepped up big time for a team that has a total of five players averaging double digits. The Orange have shown that they can play for hours and hours without cramping and showing fatigue. Now that they are well rested, expect them to be a step or two ahead of most of the tournament pool. The Lumberjacks won't last a half with these guys and it will be very tough for the underdogs to put up a challenge. Syracuse
#7 Clemson vs #10 Michigan
Oh the Tigers... Such an impressive start at 18-0 but the conference play has really slowed them down and weakeed their confidence as they finished 5-8 for the rest of the season. Being undefeated in nonconference play in this season, could Clemson be slowed down by Michigan? Well let's give the Wolverines a fair shot at this. Michigan took on a very challenging non conference schedule as they took on UCLA, Maryland, and Duke twice. Michigan has already played the ACC three times this season and is 1-2 and the lack of size could be a huge reason why they will struggle in this fourth ACC match-up. Luckily for them, Clemson is one of the more undersized teams in the ACC and that makes the match-up just that much more interesting. You could say that these two have similar styles and the winner will be decided upon whoever finds their flow first. I think Clemson wants to keep their non-conference record clean. Clemson
#Oklahoma vs #15 Morgan State
Why Morgan State shouldn't win this game: Oklahoma is the #2 seed and Morgan State is the #15 seed. But, that hasn't stopped #15 seeds before.
Why Morgan State doesn't have a shot at this game: The presence of a 100% Blake Griffin. The bears have no answer for this basketball monster. Forget about it, bracket busters. Oklahoma

Could the Zags possibly take down the
big bad bullies of the tournament
and reach the Final Four?

James Harden's recent
heroics gives him a strong
argument for Player of
the Year and he doesn't plan
on stopping there as he
attempts to lead his team
to a fairy tale ending.

Can Blake Griffin continue
his dominance in a final push
to take his team to Detroit?

Could Syracuse continue to rely on the
shoulders of Jonny Flynn and make a
run to the Final Four?

That's all for the first round so if you have plans of winning your local or online bracket, follow these picks above... Just kidding, pick with your heart. These are just one person's analysis and bracketology is all fun and games as upsets shock the nation and last second baskets will break hearts. This tournament is going to full of surprises so don't stress out and enjoy filling out your brackets and let the madness begin.


Now here's how things are going to work on this site. I've got my first round selections right up there but guaranteed I will not get all 32 correct. I will post up my second round predictions when the first round is over for all 16 matchups but of course, that will not be the same as the complete bracket I fill out before the first round even begins. So here are my complete selections for the entire tournament. Since my first round is already up there, I will begin from the round of 32.

Round of 32
#1 Louisville vs #9 Siena
#5 Utah vs #4 Wake Forest
#6 West Virginia vs #3 Kansas
#10 USC vs #2 Michigan State

#1 Connecticut vs #8 BYU
#5 Purdue vs #4 Washington
#11 Utah State vs #3 Missouri
#7 California vs #2 Memphis

#1 Pittsburgh vs #8 Oklahoma State
#5 Florida State vs #4 Xavier
#6 UCLA vs #3 Villanova
#7 Texas vs #2 Duke

#1 UNC vs #8 LSU
#12 Western Kentucky vs #4 Gonzaga
#6 Arizona State vs #3 Syracuse
#7 Clemson vs #2 Oklahoma

Sweet Sixteen
#1 Louisville vs #5 Utah
#3 Kansas vs #2 Michigan State

#1 Connecticut vs #4 Washington
#11 Utah State vs #2 Memphis

#1 Pittsburgh vs #5 Florida State
#6 UCLA vs #2 Duke

#1 UNC vs #4 Gonzaga
#6 Arizona State vs #2 Oklahoma

Elite Eight
#1 Louisville vs #2 Michigan State
#1 Connecticut vs #2 Memphis
#1 Pittsburgh vs #6 UCLA
#4 Gonzaga vs #6 Arizona State

Final Four
#2 Michigan State vs #2 Memphis
#1 Pittsburgh vs #6 Arizona State

Finals
#2 Michigan State vs #1 Pittsburgh

Could Pittsburgh's experienced line up take
them all the way this year?

I wouldn't be surprised if I got more than half my sweet sixteen, elite eight, or final four wrong but that's what the big dance is all about. Everyone has a chance!

-Jason C