Every year there's a rush to fill out sheets and figure out who will advance, who will steal our hearts and who will break them. Coupled with St. Patrick's Day... the President making picks... and a Husky bailout it'll be one incredible day. Time for the annual BOLD (lower seed to surprise), FOLD (beware these favorites) and GOLD (who gets into the Final Four) picks.
East-- the regional weekend shifts to Newark from the tried and true East Rutherford... I'm hoping eventually they'll build an arena in Paterson. Bold-- Xavier begins its tournament run in Cleveland against a bad Marquette team (I thought the Golden Eagles didn't belong in the field) and potentially play a Syracuse team that has had trouble defending the three. Fold-- Kentucky has been consistently uneven this winter and plays a Princeton team that will stretch them in every way; and coach John Calipari's teams never outperform their seed. Gold-- North Carolina has lost two games in the last two months-- both to a red-hot Duke. After not caring about last weekend's ACC Tournament, the Tar Heels infuriate everyone by turning it on and off at a whim when it suits them.
Notes on the "First Four"-- I was actually more interested in the NIT games... a shame St. Mary's lost with Teenwolf playing for them (Rob Jones)-- perhaps he should have stayed the wolf throughout the final minute of play.
Southeast-- I was surprised to see Michigan State make the field... and the Big Ten was the home to uglyball this past winter. Word is instead of waterboarding they show gametapes to suspects. Bold-- Old Dominion upset Notre Dame last year-- and has the talent to win a pair of rounds this year... especially against a Pitt club that falters in March. Fold-- BYU has the tournament's best player... but lost a key component a few weeks ago and doesn't defend well. Gold-- Florida has a decent draw and the Gators have played better as the season's progressed. Billy Donovan is a proven tourney coach too.
Southwest-- not the Midwest mind you... as this has been referred to in the past... as the NCAA must keep directional integrity. Bold-- Georgetown was 10-5 in the Big East when guard Chris Wright went down with a broken hand... Hoyas are 7-4 under coach John Thompson III's tenure. Fold-- Louisville reached the Big East finals last week... but under coach Rick Pitino recently the Cardinals have developed a reputation as a lamb rather than a lion in March. Gold-- Notre Dame completes my Big East fixation... the Fighting Irish no longer have the guy who took Brenda Walsh to the senior prom but Mike Brey's bunch looks like they will break through.
West-- UConn is in the dance with the major bounce of having won five games in five days at the Big East Tournament... and I have tickets to the games at Verizon so I invited my buddy "UCONN JAMES"-- and he respectfully declined, saying he was partying on St. Patty's Day. I was shocked that a Husky fan would skip watching his team. Bold-- Temple tangles with a less than beautiful Penn State (36 points in a win? Only in the Big Ten!) and a San Diego State that is largely a mystery. Fold-- UConn spent itself to get to the dance... and UCONN JAMES won't even watch them play? I'm ashamed to even know you, buddy-- and your Huskies will feel the pain. Gold--Duke has played well all season and gets guard Kyrie Irving back for the tournament-- game, set, match.
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