Sunday Night Ramble-Bracket Breakdown

Whatever you do, don’t listen to me. Have faith in yourself, go with your gut, but don’t wager any money on what coolhand has to say. Through the years, I’ve had some very good runs and other times, I’ve flamed out early. 1995 is a prime example of the unpredictability of March Madness. One of my Final Four squads got beat out in the first round (Villanova’s triple OT loss to Old Dominion) and I was seconds away from losing both UCLA and Arkansas before the Sweet Sixteen. Then Tyus Edney made his incredible 94 ft. dash down the court to defeat Missouri and Arkansas outlasted Syracuse in a double OT game and it turned out they faced each other in the championship game, garnering me bragging rights and the cash for that year. With that being said, here’s my initial thoughts on what we’re see in the next three weeks or so. . .

Atlanta Region
Gut reaction: George Washington loses two games and receives a 8 seed? Syracuse jumps off the bubble to a 5 seed (some other time I’ll get on my soapbox about conference tournaments)? Did Duke finally piss someone off, as their potential matchups are fraught with problems?
First round, upset specials: Honestly, I really don’t see any here. Maybe, NC State over Cal but that’s hardly an upset in my eyes. I’m also not sold on Syracuse, but don’t see Texas A&M knocking them off.
Games to watch for: 2nd round Duke vs. GW (this is based on faith of some other posters, since I haven’t seen GW play much, but they sound extremely athletic, something that gives Duke trouble) 3rd round Duke vs. LSU (Love to see Big Baby arrive welcome himself to the nation with a huge game here); West Virginia vs. Texas (a repeat of an early season game which WVU gave away with missed free throws; if the Mountaineers shots are falling. . .)
Regional Final: Duke vs. Texas
Final Four Bound: Texas (Duke faces a really tough road, and by the time they get to the Longhorns, they’ll be run ragged by the likes of GW and LSU and Texas is a much better squad than when the Dukies beat them by 31-vengeance is served.)
Most Outstanding Player-Region:LaMarcus Aldridge, Texas

Oakland Regional
Gut reaction: This is my region I vote “most likely to blow up”. Memphis facing Arkansas or Bucknell in second round could be the exit of the first 1 seed; Kansas and Pitt as 4 & 5 seeds seem vulnerable; and #3 seed Gonzaga has not wowed me. I do however, really like #2 seed UCLA.
First round upset specials:Could see a few here-I’d jump all over #6 Indiana vs. #11 San Diego St., except I think the Hoosier kids are on a mission for Mike Davis. Kansas is awfully young and has been doing their damage in a very weak Big 12-7″ footer Patrick O’Bryant could give the Jayhawks fits. And Pitt doesn’t feel like a classic Pitt team of old, if I knew more about Kent St., I’d feel more solid on saying Pitt could go down.
Games to watch for: 2nd roundMemphis vs. Arkansas(two very athletic squads, and Arkansas is peaking at the right time); Indiana vs. Gonzaga (goodbye Zags and Adam Morrison) 3rd roundUCLA vs. Indiana (these two tradition-laden programs face off, with the Bruins ending the Mike Davis era)
Regional Final: Memphis vs. UCLA
Final Four Bound: Memphis (everyone remembers why we were so high on the Tigers back in January, before they disappeared into Conference USA play).
Most Outstanding Player, Region: Darius Washington, Memphis

Washington Regional
Gut Reaction: Kentucky as a 8 seed? Give me a break; As everyone else said, Tennessee as a #2? UConn should have a pretty easy run through this region; Michigan St. could conjure up some March magic once again.
First Round Upset Specials: I hardly would call UAB beating mediocre Kentucky an upset, but the seeds say it’s so; watch out for Washington vs. Utah St, it’s hard to gauge how good Washington is this year in the weak Pac-10.
Games to watch for: 2nd round Washington vs. Illinois (should be a very entertaining matchup, two athletic squads with All-American candidates in Brandon Roy and Dee Brown); Michigan St. vs. North Carolina (quite a matchup to go to the Sweet Sixteen-Michigan St. can (and I think will) redeem their disappointing season with a win here); Wichita St. vs. Tennessee (Jim Nantz eats his words on this one-the Volunteers poor defense catches up with them against this solid MVC squad) 3rd round UConn vs. Illinois (The Illini will be game and make the Huskies sweat some, but eventually the Huskies will prevail)
Regional Final: UConn vs. Michigan St.
Final Four Bound: UConn (Facing off against Hilton Armstrong, Josh Boone, and Jeff Adrien, this may be the game where we see Paul Davis completely break down and throw a full-out tantrum)
Most Outstanding Player, Region: Rudy Gay, UConn

Minneapolis Region
Gut Reaction: Our city has some entertaining teams headed our way, potentially: Nova, Ohio St., Florida, BC, Georgetown; Ohio State seems to be put on additional probation for the teams they would have to forge through to face Nova; Arizona as a 8 is almost as disgusting as Kentucky as a 8; I’m really pulling for Allen Ray to be back for the second round game against Sconny or Lute’s boys.
Upset Special, First Round: Easiest pick on the board for me-UW-Milwaukee taking down Oklahoma; I think Wisky will beat ‘Zona
Game to watch for: 2nd round Nevada vs. BC (Everyone’s in love with BC with their ACC run; I think they’re vulnerable here); Ohio St. vs. Georgetown (This is why I don’t project Final Four squads before brackets are released-I would have chosen the Buckeyes, but I hate this matchup for them) 3rd round Florida vs. Ohio St. (I know many doubt the Gators, but I think this will be one of the best games of the tourney, with Florida prevailing in the end against a gassed Buckeyes squad)
Regional Final: Villanova vs. Florida
Final Four Bound: Villanova (This will be another extremely entertaining game, but the guards of Nova will eventually wear down Taurean Green and advance)
Most Outstanding Player, Region: Randy Foye, Villanova

Final Four
So, three #1 seeds and a #2 seed-pretty ballsy on my part, huh? I learned as a young man playing the brackets that those long shot projections usually don’t hold. The upsets are for the first couple rounds. I could see this year’s Madness springing many surprises, due in large part to a lack of dominating point guards out there. All four of these squads have pretty good guard play, and here’s how I see it playing out:
Texas vs. Memphis: The Longhorns snuck past Memphis in early January to salvage their season and I think they will once again beat the Tigers with PJ Tucker showing Shawne Williams he should stay in school one more year, and LaMarcus Aldridge showing us all that he’s NBA ready.

UConn vs. Villanova: This might be a reach on my part, but I’m going with Villanova here. This will be the rubber match between these Big East behomeths, and UConn will pay for sleep walking through their season and the weakest regional. Heart triumphs here.

Championship Game: Texas vs. Nova. Another rematch from earlier this season, an ugly affair that Texas ended up pulling out due to a very poor shooting effort from the Wildcats. We won’t see a repeat of that performance and the very short bench of the Longhorns will catch up with them and Allen Ray will show his eyesight is at full strength by ripping the nets for twenty some points.

National Champs: Villanova
Most Outstanding Player, Final Four: Allen Ray, Villanova