As brackets were printed last night and office pools begin to collect money after the selection show, we were doing the same. I was filling out my bracket which proved to be without a doubt the hardest to predict that I can remember. There are no dominant teams, no clear number ones, no sure things, no locks and plenty of teams that could see their way to the elite eight or lose in the first round. Now that is a challenge. After a few hours of changing my mind, and deliberating then taking the night to sleep on it, I have finally settled on my final four picks. The bad thing? I'm not confident in any of them and the tourney in general seems like a crap shoot. Oh well here we go.
MIDWEST: Duke
This hurts my heart to say, but when Duke is healthy they are probably the best team in the nation, and the best team in the country. With the combination of post play from Mason Plumlee and a whole gang of outside shooters, most notably Seth Curry, they can hit you from all angles and when they fire on all cylinders I don't see anyone in this region who can take them out. Louisville cant match up with Duke on the outside and has no one who can check pooptooth himself, Ryan Kelly, on the wing. If Louisville even makes it that far they will run into a very bad match up for them in the Dukies and the Blue Devils could cruise into Atlanta.
WEST: New Mexico
This is by far the toughest region to predict of all four, and might be the craziest region I can remember in terms of not having any dominant team and alot of teams that we don't know how they will play once they show up. Gonzaga is as weak a number one I can remember and the fact that they stole a 1 seed from Duke or Miami is a travesty by the committee. Part of me wouldn't be surprised at all if Southern took out the Zags in the first round. The 2 seed Ohio State is equally as non-intimidating and if they get past Notre Dame, they will get their heads kicked in by New Mexico. The Lobos play a suffocating style of defense and can keep up with any team in the open court and could run Gonzaga off the court, but the Zags wont get that far. New Mexico takes this region and seals a ticket to Atlanta, but your guess as to who they beat to get there is as good as mine.
SOUTH: Michigan
If you have watched the NCAA tournament the past years, you know better than to trust Kansas when they are given a one seed. I'm not falling for that. The Jayhawks are a little small and can be sloppy at times, not to mention Jeff Withey can be eaten alive by a team like Michigan with crazy athleticism. The biggest wild card in this region is Minnesota. They play a UCLA team in the first round who seem disinterested and ready for the year to be done. If Trevor Mbakwe plays like he can he cant be stopped in the paint. Ask Cody Zeller. I could see Minnesota going to the elite eight or losing to the Bruins in the first round. They are an enigma. Ultimately Michigan's athleticism, dynamic guard play, and ability to score with anyone will take out the sloppy Jayhawks and whoever makes it to the elite eight to match up with them.
EAST: Miami
This region is the one that I feel most confident in this year, but that isn't saying alot. With Indiana as the one seed, this is another region without a dominant team or clear favorite. Indiana has been inconsistent all year and Cody Zeller has prove to be as overrated a player as we have seen in the last five years. He has a knack for getting demolished by true talented big men on the post. A match up against Anthony Bennett if UNLV plays Indiana makes me fear to Zeller's health. Bennett might crush him with his bare hands. Miami was robbed of a number one seed that was given to Gonzaga and along with Duke is the most dynamic team in the tourney with the best point guard in the country, Shane Larkin. They can play half court or run on the fast break with ease. If they stay focused, it wont matter who opposes them they cruise to a final four bid without a doubt. They are the true number one seed in the East region.
CHAMPION: Miami
In Atlanta I have the Blue Devils facing a familiar foe in Miami for the championship. If that happens it will be the best possible game we can ask for as fans for a championship game. Two great teams that match up well and can score in bunches. It will be a slug fest without a doubt and in th end Shane Larkin will be the difference for Miami. I have Miami knocking off the Dukies for the title in the Peach State which would be a fitting ending to the craziest and most unpredictable season of college basketball that I have ever seen.
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