As we enter the greatest three weeks in sports I am going to help all you struggling bracketologists pick the winning teams and perennial busts in this years NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Here are several ideas to keep in mind when filling out your brackets. No one from Dickie V to Mel Kiper Jr. to Digger Phelps to Tim Kurkjian has a clue about what they are doing...except me. I knew Kansas would win last year not because I scouted them out but rather because of the giant Jayhawk at half court. Some general rules and trends to keep in mind are no 16 has ever upset a 1, 5-12 upsets happen at least once, and all four 1s never made the final four except last year. As far as 5-12 upsets go pick Arizona over Utah and Western Kentucky over Illinois. Gonzaga and Tennessee are always disappointments so pick them to lose after they win once. I do not trust the Big Ten anymore after Ohio State football and basketball were beaten by Florida to win the championship in the same year.
The Wild, Wild West:
UConn and Memphis are pick 'em because a team of preschool girls can have a good record in Conference USA and UConn's Jerome Dyson is injured. Missouri may upset both teams and make the final four but that is not likely. I have Texas A+M, Purdue twice, Washington, Marquette, Mizzou twice, Maryland, and Memphis beating UConn to make the final four.
Mouth of the South:
Beware of UNC because Ty Lawson is hurt and they will have to play Oklahoma to make the final four. Take Butler, Western Kentucky twice, Gonzaga, Temple, Syracuse twice, Michigan, and Oklahoma to beat UNC to make the final four.
Beast of the East:
Since I was impressed by Florida State's upset of UNC in the ACC Tournament pick them to make the Sweet Sixteen. Pick Tennessee, Xavier, and VCU to win once. Villanova will make the Elite Eight. Texas will win once and Duke will make the Sweet Sixteen. If Pittsburgh's center DeJuan Blair gets into foul trouble they are just a mediocre team at best. They will make the Final Four but they will not make the championship.
Best of the Midwest:
Take Siena to beat Ohio State and 12 seed Arizona to upset 5 seed Utah. Wake Forest who spent more time as #1 team in the nation than Louisville will make the Final Four. Pick West Virginia, Kansas thrice, Boston College twice, and Michigan State.
The Final Four:
The Final Four will be the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, the Pittsburgh Panthers, the Oklahoma Sooners and the best player in the nation, and the Memphis Tigers.
The Best:
Wake Forest will beat Memphis, and Oklahoma will beat Pittsburgh.
The Champion:
Wake Forest will be the 2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Champion.
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Danny White, you are truly brilliant. I love the fact that you wrote about this is great and this tournament will take up alot of my time over the next 3 weeks. Thursday and Friday are the best days in sports all year. But you are absolutely right that none of the "analysts" have any idea what they are talking about.
ReplyDeleteI agree with several of your upsets but my bracket has ended up slightly different.
I agree that Ohio State will lose and I picked two 5-12 upsets. However, I have the Demon Deacons losing in the 2nd round to Utah but you are probably right.
My elite eight is:
Midwest: Louisville v. Kansas
West: Washington v. Memphis
East: Pittsburgh v. Villanova
South: Gonzaga v. Oklahoma (Gonzaga is always disappointing I know)
Final Four: Louisville v. Memphis
Pittsburgh v. Oklahoma
Champion: Memphis over Pittsburgh (Oklahoma only loses because of Griffin not being at his best and Blair doesn't get into foul trouble but that game will probably go to overtime.)
Should be interesting-- Can't wait for the greatest tournament in sports.
And once again -- You are truly a genius and your bracket will probably be far more accurate than mine I fear.
Danny and Jimmy, I'll put it simply. YOU'RE BOTH WRONG! First of all, Jimmy, Utah is losing to Arizona in the first round and they will advance to sweet 16. Second of all, I never buy into the Memphis hype and am wronged every year. BUT NOT THIS ONE!
ReplyDeleteThis year's final four will be.........
LOUISVILLE, MISSOURI (shocker), PITT, and UNC
Louisville over Mizzou ---- UNC over Pitt
Louisville over UNC by a score of 86 - 78
The Big East is an insane conference and it will show this March as 5 of the final 8 teams will be from that very conference (Louisville, West Virginia, Pitt, Nova, and Syracuse representing while Purdue, Mizzou, and UNC will be the aberrations)
I have a good feeling about this year fellas, so expect maybe one of my final four teams to make it. Take my advice for free, and just reap the benefits.
Well I agree with 3 of Danny's final four teams and 2 of Steve's.. so we are all pretty close.
ReplyDeleteI don't care much for basketball.
ReplyDeleteIt's quite scary how much I agree with your picks Danny White. I have been telling everyone I know how good Wake Forest is and though they lost their #1 ranking quite a few times, their young players can flat out ball. Although I have been ridiculed for that pick the same was said when I chose Memphis as well last year. Also I don't buy into the Louisville hype one bit. Nice picks in general Danny and good post.
ReplyDeleteLouisville won both the Big East (Best Conference) regular season and conference tournament! How do you not like their odds? Expect to be disappointed with your picks this year Arun because I can't be wrong all of the time.
ReplyDeleteWell being that you all agree on most teams, I'm going to have to disagree completely. My elite eight is: Utah, Dayton, UConn, Missouri, Florida St., Villanova, UNC, Syracuse.
ReplyDeleteFinal Four is: Utah, UConn, Villanova, and UNC.
Armadillo.
ReplyDelete3 out of 4. Not bad, not bad at all.
ReplyDeleteNow lets tally up the score:
Cassidy - 0/4
Danny White - 0/4
Steve - 1/4
And well, then theres me.
I will be sure not to consult you for any March madness help after seeing your picks this year danny lol
ReplyDeleteMarch Madness Update North Carolina Won!
ReplyDelete