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 | Written by Jim Sarruda on Tuesday, 18 March 2008
Category:Sheldon on Sports
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Anybody can make NCAA tournament picks. Sometimes, it is boring to read another person’s picks. Maybe, you want to read because you are curious. Maybe you don’t want to read at all. But if you read my picks, I promise I will piss you off at least once.
I think by this point it goes without saying how much I despise the University of North Carolina. North Carolina is the most over rated and lazy compilation of pampered and revered athletes I have ever watched in my life. I hope they lose the play in game.
In spite of myself, I see no other alternative to pick them as my first candidate into the elite 8. Remember, this is coming from me. If you don’t remember why I hate North Carolina, read my other article.
The Tarheels hold a track meet like no other team in the nation. Ty Lawson is so fast that I don’t think anyone in the Denver/Raleigh games can keep up with him. Tyler Hansbrough scores relentlessly, despite whatever kind of defense you play on him. He’s nothing short of ridiculous and kind of irritating.
I like Indiana over Arkansas. Eric Gordon can play great defense and will create points off turnovers. I am not sold on the Southeastern conference as you will see consistently on all my picks, but I do think Arkansas has some talent. They impressed me in the SEC conference tournament. However, although I think it is possible for Indiana to upset UNC to get to the sweet sixteen--I don’t think it’s likely. Eric Gordon could probably guard Lawson, but the Tarheels will be way too quick on offense and put up a lot of points if Indiana doesn’t get back on defense.
I have Notre Dame emerging to the sweet sixteen out in Denver. I think Notre Dame can go inside/outside with the best teams in the nation. I think Harangody is a workhorse and the Irish will be a force in the tournament and an easy sweet sixteen candidate.
My first UPSET CITY comes in the first round out in Denver. Although I think Washington State has a lot of size and talent playing out in the tough Pac-10, watch out for Winthrop. Winthrop upset Notre Dame last year and that same team is returning, with an additional year of development. Look for the Notre Dame/Winthrop rematch in the second round, which I think the Irish win this year.
In the bottom half of the East region, I like the Louisville Cardinals. They have a great combination of size and shooting, and of course, let’s not forget one of my favorite coaches. Rick Pitino has a very capable squad this year and they have a relatively straight shot to the sweet sixteen with Boise State and Oklahoma/St. Joe’s standing in their way. The biggest road block for the Cardinals comes in the form of Tennessee, who has a very talented team this year. Although I think it is still pretty much a toss up, I like Louisville over Tennessee to get to the elite 8.
Saint Joseph’s is a very capable #11 I keep hearing, but I just don’t see it. I think Saint Joseph’s is absolute junk and are simply over matched by Oklahoma. The Big 12 is full of ridiculous talent and I think it will become evident in this tournament that the lower half of the Big 12 moves forward this year, because they are better then the top half of the A10.
I will be really interested in the Butler/Tennessee game, if it happens. Butler has an absolute crap draw for a team that made the sweet sixteen last year. They will absolutely have their hands full versus Tennessee, and sadly, I just don’t see the Bulldogs making it happen.
To the Midwest we go. In the top half I am surprisingly going with Clemson. I think that Clemson’s full court trap is the exact kind of defense that can contain Kansas. Kansas is a very talented team--don’t get me wrong, but they have a history of tournament choking and I think Clemson’s hot streak will be enough to pull out the upset.
Furthermore, after Sienna upsets Vanderbilt, I think Clemson will have an easy time making it to the sweet sixteen. Villanova is inconsistent but challenging none the less. I’m not too impressed with the Wildcats recent performance and their dependence on Scotty Reynolds. I think the Tigers are playing very good ball these days and will handle my Villanova wildcats sadly
Vanderbilt is also a good team and they certainly have had their moments this year, but watch out for Siena. The Saints took down Stanford this year and will have something to prove come tourney time.
Let’s not forget about the Runnin Rebels! Las Vegas had quite a tourney run last year, upsetting both Georgia Tech and Wisconsin. It’s not the same team as last year, but they have the same talent. Look for them to give Kansas a run for their money in the second round.
The bottom half of the Midwest is pretty tough. I consider both USC and Kansas State to have sweet sixteen potential, but unfortunately they have to play each other. I elected to go O.J. Mayo over Beasley for the following reason. I think USC is a better team, they have beaten tougher teams, and they play better defense.
Side note, the reason I have Wisconsin beating the winner of this game is because I honestly couldn’t decide whether to pick USC or Kansas State. I’m actually disgusted that I was forced to choose between the two.
I think Davidson is a very talented team. However, I have seen the absolute worst of them, so I don’t have much faith in them. That said, I have absolutely no faith in a Gonzaga team that could not close out the WCC conference, so I’m pretty sure Davidson can handle them.
I think Georgetown will come out of Midwest. They are the team in this region that is most built to go to the final four. They have size, they have shooting, and they have Hibbert. What more can I say?
Ever since Day 1 I have argued that they were the best team in the nation. Ever since Day 1 they have marched onto the court game after game and dominated the opposition. They are 33-1 and have played a tough out of conference schedule. They play tenacious defense. They hustle. They score. They are very, very, good and are my pick to win the tournament.
As far as the opposition, I think Mississippi State has a good squad and should make quick work of the Oregon Ducks who really don’t belong in the tournament. How they got a nine seed is unbelievable.
There is a lot of talk about Pittsburg being the team to beat because of how they played in the Big East tournament. I think people forget how inconsistent this Pittsburg team is. Don’t be surprised if Oral Roberts takes it to them in the first round. Pittsburg is PRIME for bracket busting, so be careful how deep you take them. Sure they create their own shots and can score, but sometimes, they turn the ball over and play lazy defense. Sometimes, they have no concept of an offense, and sometimes they look AWFUL. For example, let’s not forget LAFAYETTE (my alma mater) was up on Pittsburg at the half this year.
You want to blame that on injuries? Go ahead. Young, Blair, and Ramon all played.
Nobody believes in Michigan State because they have trouble scoring. I got news for you. Michigan State plays some of the best defense in the nation. They have a good concept of an offense, but like every team, sometimes they go cold. This is due in part to the fact that they never settle for an easy shot, and they use the entire shot clock to try and get a lay-up. This hurts sometimes, but it is also very efficient. It is very organized. They will beat you if you play stupid basketball and they will take forever doing it. I like them over the undisciplined Pittsburg team, which relies on brute talent and strength to create points. Look for the Spartans to force Pittsburg to take bad shots. The Spartans will wear them down in the long run and prevail.
I love Temple. My mom went there. However, that all said, they are a garbage basketball team. They may have won the Atlantic 10 tournament, but in my opinion, this is because the Atlantic Ten is terrible. St. Joe’s should have never lost that game, and the fact that they did goes to show that St. Joseph’s is terrible as well. Let’s not forget Temple got decimated by Florida, who is complete garbage. Temple doesn’t even belong in the tournament. They will be an easy out, book it.
It just occurred to me how many chances I’m going to have to eat my words. Good. I hope I’m wrong and I hope Austin Peay buzzer-a-fies Texas.
I said all year the toughest conferences to play in are the Big East, the Big 12, and the Pac-10…in that order. Texas proved to me against Kansas a while ago that they are a great team. They are a #1 seed. Their just simply isn’t room for a fifth one seed. If there was, it would be Texas.
Take a look at the Longhorn’s draw too. After absolutely obliterating Austin Peay, they have to take on the winner of Miami/St. Mary’s. Wow. I would go as far to say that Miami shouldn’t even be in the tournament. Miami is awful. Miami is terrible. They are going to get beat by St. Mary’s and it’s going to both hilarious and hugetime.
Speaking of teams that shouldn’t be in the tournament, who’s mentioned the Kentucky Wildcats? How’d they sneak in? Do you remember when they didn’t score more then 14 points against Vanderbilt after twenty five minutes of garbage basketball? And to add insult to injury, they have to play Marquette, who in my mind is one of the premier teams of the Big East! Put this one in the “no chance” column. In fact, plan on the Golden Eagles winning two straight games, because Stanford is pretty weaksauce.
Stupid Stanford. Stupid tree mascot. Stupid Lopez brothers.
Off to the West as I take us down the home stretch. UCLA has this pretty locked up. The Bruins should dispatch Brigham Young or Texas A&M with relative ease. I actually think Texas A&M would present more of a difficult match up for UCLA. Brigham Young has some good shooters but as a team they look absolutely dreadful. Death to the mid majors!
Speaking of mid majors, Drake has won the MVC. Drake has a five seed because there is a lot of hype surrounding them as a possible competitor. Okay, fair enough, but just to be sure, let’s look at who they played this season.
Drake has played NOTHING this season.
Drake has lost to Bradley and the Salukis.
In fact, I don’t care what anyone says, what did they do to prove to me that I should pick them over Western Kentucky?
What did Western Kentucky do to prove to me they can beat Drake?
In fact, who CARES about this game?
The way I see it, there needs to be a 5/12 upset, and what better one then this. Someone get Gary Busey in here…..I’m taking Western Kentucky. Heck, at least Western Kentucky was on the same floor as Tennessee. They hung in too.
Last and certainly least, we get to what has to be perhaps the most upset-ridden bracket ever. I am either going to look like a genius or a moron. My guess is moron. However, time will tell. Either way it will be awesome.
More Upsets More Upsets! I have Georgia knocking of third seed Xavier in the first round! My reasoning goes back to what I said earlier about the Atlantic Ten. Everybody put your ears to the computer screen. Ready? One…two…
THE ATLANTIC TEN STINKS LIKE HORSE RADISH!
Xavier is going to get wrecked and it’s going to be phenomenal. Georgia is on a hot streak, they won the garbage SEC. All I know is, they have made a habit of winning and I think Arkansas presented more of a challenge to them then Xavier will.
Now I will move onto the real idiocy. I actually believe that Arizona is going to emerge out of the bottom half of this bracket. I am a huge fan of Jarryd Bayless and I think he can score pretty much whenever he wants. I also enjoy watching Chase Budinger drop three balls coming off screens. These two young players are very special and I think they will win a close one against West Virginia.
Assuming Arizona beats out the mountaineers, then they will have their hands full against Duke. I think Duke is a real solid team, and they have some depth on their roster. I think Paulus is a capable point guard and an athlete, I think Demarcus Nelson has improved infinitely and has NBA potential. Kyle Singler is a threat from three and John Scheyer is one of my favorite players in the nation. Although this Duke team is very good and disciplined, I think they are going to be upset by the winner of the Arizona/West Virginia game. Duke has always needed to work on their defense and if they go cold, they will have problems in the tournament. I am predicting that Bayless will rip Duke to shreds, and Duke will be on the losing end of a close game.
This brings me to Baylor. I like Baylor this year. I think they have a lot of talent and have played a very difficult Big 12 schedule. Sure they have a lot of easy wins, but they have also won some tough ones. They are 9-7 in the Big 12, which is impressive. They have hung in games against Washington State, Oklahoma, Texas, and even scored 90 points on Kansas. Their wins include a 116 point victory over Texas A&M and a huge end of season victory of Kansas State. They played poorly in the Big 12 tournament, but I believe they have a lot to prove and will move past a weak Purdue team. Purdue is good, but they haven’t impressed me this year. I think they are susceptible to upset and I think Baylor can pull it out. They have been on the losing end of a lot of close games, and I think they are due.
I also like Baylor in the next round over Georgia. I am pretty convinced Georgia will be a one win and out team, if that. I also think Baylor could defeat Xavier, if it came to that. I like Baylor into the sweet sixteen.
What is really interesting is my Baylor/Arizona match up into the elite 8. Hahaha. Well, you always have to try to find upsets somewhere. Who knows these days.
Alright, that about does it. You probably noticed I’ve stopped after the elite 8. There really is no sense in going further until the tournament gets under way. However, if you are curious:
I have Louisville, Georgetown, Memphis, and UCLA in the final four.
I have Memphis beating Louisville in the final.
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By:Jim Sarruda
Category:Sheldon on Sports
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