Last week I dutifully filled out my bracket and just knew that I had the insight that no one else had and that I was well on my way to winning the bracket challenges and office pool. Sound familiar? I think we all did. How is your bracket doing now? Having second thoughts about putting Duke into your final four? Wishing you take back the glowing reviews you were giving Georgetown going into the tournament?
Well here is your chance at a do-over...Time to pick a NEW final four.
Here are the rules: They say confession is good for the soul, so you have to own up to your original picks and either defend them or change them and give the reasons why your new pick is the one to make the trip to San Antonio.
I'll start:
My original pick from the East was North Carolina - in fact I picked them to win it all against Texas. After impressive wins over Mt St Mary and Arkansas, the Tar Heels look as strong as ever - albeit against subpar competition. I don't think Washington State will give them any more of a challenge than their first two opponents. Louisville makes me nervous in this bracket. Even though I am a devout Tennessee fan and love coach Bruce Pearl, I have trouble envisioning them getting past Louisville. In fact, if it weren't for early-season injuries to the Louisville squad, they may be the #1 seed in the tourney right now instead of North Carolina. Pitino's team matches up well against Carolina, are one of the hottest teams in the country and just dismantled Oklahoma by 30, while at the same time holding them to a season-low 48 points. Regardless, I'll stick with my original pick of North Carolina and hold out a faint hope that I am wrong and my Vols do the impossible and make it through this part of the bracket to the final four.
ORIG NOW
My original pick from the Mid-West was Georgetown. In hindsight - not one of my more sterling predictions. After watching the first two rounds, I have to say that I have been surprisingly impressed by Wisconsin and think that they will handle the Curry-led Cinderella squad from Davidson. Even more impressive, though, has been Kansas. As long as they can keep the tempo up and not let Wisconsin slow them down into a low-scoring half-court game, my new pick for this region will have to be Kansas.
ORIG NOW
My original pick for the South was Texas. I picked Mississippi State to knock off Memphis; and they were a late bucket from doing just that. Memphis cannot shoot free throws and sooner or later in the tournament that always comes back to bite a team in the nether-regions. I think that they will make it past Michigan State by simple out-manning them, but will not be able to handle D J Augustine and the Longhorns. It's gonna be a close game and Texas can hit from the charity-stripe late in the game. My pick stays with Texas.
ORIG NOW
My original pick for the West was Duke. Yeah...'nuff said. With who is left in this bracket, I think that UCLA is the odds on favorite, but that Xavier is the best team; and in spite of all of that, West Virginia will win it. Bob Huggins has a score to settle with UCLA dating back to when he was bounced early from the Tourney by them when his Cincy team entered the tournament as an overall #1 seed. He knows how to coach at this time of the year and by the looks of his players and the defense they played in the second half of the Duke game - they are buying what he is selling right now. My new pick from the West is - believe it or not - West Virginia.
ORIG NOW
I still think the final is going to be North Carolina vs Texas with the Tar Heels taking it by 7 points.
I caught your handle and had to stop by. I'm not a big b ball fan... I've never filled out a bracket in my life but just for you I'll put my huge reputation for "right on" prognostication on the line and select the following as making it to the Final Four with the over-riding thought that the West is the BEST!:
Nice job. If some of these ego-inflated sportswriters and analysts had your humility, they would be a fun read. I also like Carolina to prevail on the one side, but on the other I have UCLA getting to the final. A Carolina-Kansas matchup might even make the semifinal a better game than the championship. Carolina vs. UCLA a classic offense vs. defense. Carolina has too many horses and the best player in the land in Hansbrough. Watch out for dark horses Louisville and Wisconsin-2 great coaches with teams playing well within their system.
In the East I picked Tennessee and that looks shaky at best, but I've got to stick with them.
In the West I had UConn, yeah. Um, yeah. As long as UCLA doesn't make it, I'll be happy. I'll go with West Virginia, just like you.
In the Midwest, Kansas all the way. They're my pick to beat Memphis in the title game, so obviously I'm one of the few who believes in Memphis. Memphis could go down against Texas, but not against MSU. MSU has been way too inconsistent to put any true confidence in.
Man, some of these elite eight matchups are going to be incredible, I can't wait.
Good to hear from you. It HAS been a while. I've missed chatting with you guys. I had a lengthy illness and also have been working a new contract that has had me going practically non-stop for a couple of months. My 80 hour weeks are finally slowing down to a respectable 60-64...that I can handle.
That Eastern bias is gonna turn around soon if the current trend continues. Some of the best in the country are looking to the midwest and west coast instead of automatically centering their interest around tobacco road. The ACC was way down this year and the Big East and Western teams have dominated.
Just look at who is remaining in this tourney.
UCLA had better not let themselves get down as far as they did in their last game from here on out...I don't think any of the remaining teams will collapse and allow such a comeback as UCLA had in their last game.
Thanks for the kind comments. I'm glad that you enjoy my writing. I used to write quite a bit out here and hope to have time to write a little more now that my schedule is calming down.
I agree that Carolina-Kansas would be a great shoot-out to watch. Wisconsin could just as well make it to the final also...they have been impressive. Louisville is still the scariest team to me of the ones that I didn't pick though.
Hoit,
Your pick is what my heart hopes...a Tennessee final four. I hope you are right; I just have trouble visualizing it. I guess its my conditioning - being a Tennessee basketball fan...once bitten, twice shy.
Memphis is tough...they just can't hit a free throw to save their lives. I think it is gonna eventually bite them in a close game. It is how they lost to Tennessee earlier this year.
I am also ripe with anticipation for Thursday night to get here.
Thanks a million for dropping by and leaving a comment.
Hey, when at first you don't succeed, try try again. I'm still holding steadfast to my Memphis victory over Lousville in the final. We can all dream can't we?
Ahhhhhh..... to heck with it. Carolina wins, we all acknoweledge it, and I guess we move on to more important things. Like......College Football!! Right? I'm fearful of your next GIANT X.
I still have all four including the Davidson upset. I have Tenn., UCLA, Memphis, and Kansas(although I hope Bucky gets a shot at them and wins) Finals is Memphis and Kansas with Memphis winning. After watching I don't think this will happen.
Wise choice. It's not the safest bet to stake your money on the performance of a teenager who could have the worst game of his life just because he and his girl had a spat before the game.
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