The Final Region of the NCAA Tournament: Minneapolis
The #1 seed in this bracket is Villanova from the Big East conference. This gives the Big East 2 #1 seeds with UCONN as well. Villanova deserves this spot as they have beaten quality competition all year. It is tough to judge their Big East tournament loss without star guard Allen Ray who had to leave because of an eye injury. Some people thought his possible injury might drop Villanova down to a #2 seed but in the end the selection committee made the right decision. Nova’s first round game is against the winner of the play in game Manmoth vs. Hampton. My pick for the play-in game is Manmonth only because I think that Hampton is the worst team in the field of 65. Whichever team wins though gets the right to play Nova and loose by 30. No #1 seed has ever lost to a #16 and this will be no different.
The interesting #8 vs. #9 match-up is Arizona vs. Wisconsin. I haven’t seen much of Wisconsin but I do know that Arizona has struggled all year long. At times they have looked lost. Wisconsin is the pick in a toss up game.
#5 Nevada vs. #12 Montana. Nevada is a good squad and last year that got good tournament experience. Montana is only in because they won their division. Montana will put up a good fight in their loosing effort..
#4 Boston College vs. #13 Pacific. Boston College is very talented and deep and they are too good of a team to loose to Pacific, who despite having some tournament success in recent years, will loose this one to B.C.
#6 Oklahoma vs. #11 Wisconsin Milwaukee. Alright! Time for an upset pick. In the first round there are always a couple of upsets that shock people and I believe this will be one of them. Last year Wisconsin-Mil was ranked much lower and beat a very good Alabama squad. I picked against them last year and I am not making that same mistake again. Wisconsin-Mil in a tight thriller.
#3 Florida vs. #14 S. Alabama. Yes I think Florida is over ranked but it is so hard for a #14 seed to loose. Florida will have an early exit in the tournament but not in this game. Florida is the pick in a game that shouldn’t be close but will.
#7 Georgetown vs. #10 Northern Iowa. I like Georgetown a lot in this game. During the regular season Georgetown beat Duke and other quality opponents in the tough big east. They win this game big by going on a run in the 2nd half.
#2 Ohio St. vs #15 Davidson. Ohio St. has proved itself all year in the tough Big 10 conference. They deserve their #2 seed and win this one in a rout.
The Picks: for the NCAA tournament and Final 4
How far can Villanova go? That is the question as they beat Wisconsin.
The other day I was watching Boston College go toe-to-toe with Duke, one of the best teams in the country. All game long the score went back and forth. B.C. even withstood a dramatic J.J. Reddick 3 point run. B.C. lost by 3 but it was a great classic game. B.C. is the pick over Nevada and I also pick them in a huge upset to beat Villanova. B.C. has 3 very good forwards led by senior Craig Smith. Their size and strength will be too much for the 4 small guard lineup of Villanova.
I also pick the upset of Wisconsin-Mil to beat and over ranked Florida team. Even in Oklahoma wins, they win still beat Florida.
I am really tempted to pick Georgetown over Ohio St. but I won’t. My heart tells me to go with Georgetown but my brain says Ohio St. will win this one down the stretch. Ohio St. is the pick in a close one.
Ohio St. will advance to play B.C. I really like B.C. and their toughness with defense and their ability to score at will. Their upperclassmen will lead them is a thrilling game past Ohio St.
B.C. is the surprise pick to make it to the Final 4.
