OK so we’ve seen Danny’s picks and of course hate them. I know I am posting these late so I am just going to write what I thought when I made the picks as I’ve had my bracket filled out since Monday. So here we go:
Midwest:
Kansas
Michigan St
Georgetown
Ohio State
I like mostly favorites to make it through here. I am on record last Jan. saying Kansas will win it all this year, so I won’t waver there. They have it all. OSU I am not as bullish on considering they have no depth and played a lot last weekend but I think they still get to the round of 16. Michigan State is a team I HATE, but I am forced to pick them here pretty much cause of their coach. I believe tournament coaching is a skill that Izzo has mastered. Georgetown can play with anyone when they are on, and when we last saw them they were on, so they get the nod.
West
Gonzaga
Butler
Pitt
BYU
This is the side of the bracket that gets a little silly for me. If the Zags can get by FSU, I think they give SYracuse fits cause of their shooters and word is Onuaku isn’t going to play this weekend. Butler I just think is a good, tough team that will make it past the first couple games. BYU has one of the best scorers in the tournament in Fridette so I think they knock off Florida and K State. Then we have Pitt, and, well, I admit to being a little biased. But the fact remains they are the only team in the tournament that has beaten 3 top 5 teams so they are certainly capable of making a run. I am very afraid of a 2nd round game with Xavier but I think they get through.
EAST
Kentucky
Temple
New Mexico
West Virginia
Kentucky is too talented not to make it here, although a 2nd round game vs Texas could be tricky. Temple could easily lose in round 1 to Cornell, but I think they win a couple games. New Mexico I am picking sight unseen cause I’ve never actually seen them play but I’ve heard good things. WVU could be a real threat to win it all. They are long and athletic so they play tough D and have a bona-fide star in Butler to score when they need it.
South
Louisville
Sienna
Baylor
Nova
A little different here as well. If Louisville shows up, they can easily beat Duke and Cal and get to the sweet 16. They are very athletic and when they shoot it well are capable of getting past Duke. Sienna is a good program and I think can win a couple games. Baylor I am not a huge fan of but they got a high seed so why not? Nova has not played well of late but got a gift 2 seed so they should be able to win 2 games.
So there you go, the sweeter 16. We will have to see who gets more right and think of some kind of prize, I hope its a date with Chuck Dizle’s all time man crush Jeff Van Gundy!