16 to 8 in 2 days

So it’s time for the sweet 16, huh? Let me first start off by saying my long weekend was fantastic, Holschbach was great company to watch Aquinas and Lincoln play at State, the games were okay on television, big thank you to Kevin and Tracey for housing us in Chicago, and being at the United Center for “Rock. Chalk. Jayhawk. K.U.” was one of the coolest experiences I have ever had.

Well, I was off on a few picks, but I’m here to redeem myself for the sweet 16. Hopefully, I have some time Saturday morning to knock out the Regional Final winners, but we’ll see. Anyway, here we go:

Midwest Regional

1 Florida vs 5 Butler

Florida is the more talented team in this game. Butler is riding high after two big wins in the tournament and is proving doubters wrong. AJ Graves is on fire from the outside and if he is hitting and Florida’s guys aren’t, the Bulldogs could pull the upset. However, since everyone seems to be picking Butler, I can’t go that way.

Pick: Florida 75 Butler 64

3 Oregon vs 7 UNLV

UNLV wore down and beat up Wisconsin. Kevin Krueger looked extremely good against the Badgers down the stretch. I haven’t seen any of the Ducks’ games in this tournament, but considering the UNLV fans were absolute jerks at the United Center after the game, I’m cheering hard for Oregon.

Pick: Oregon 93 UNLV 42


West Regional

1 Kansas vs 4 Southern Illinois

I really wish these two teams wouldn’t have been in the same regional. SIU plays stifling defense, but Kansas has the talent and the smarts teams need not to be rattled by pressure. Kentucky committed a fatal flaw during their game with the Jayhawks, they pressed, and kept pressing, even after Kansas was getting easy basket after easy basket. If SIU’s defensive pressure can’t get Kansas to make uncharacteristic mistakes, they can stay in this game.

The Salukis’ other problem will be if they go on prolonged offensive droughts, which they are accustomed to. Kansas also can play shut down defense with the athletes they have, and in this game, a 7 point lead for Kansas will be like a 20 point lead because of the SIU struggles on the offensive end.

I really like both teams, but after seeing Kansas in person, they are even more my favorite to win the title.

Pick: Kansas 71 SIU 57

2 UCLA vs 3 Pitt

The only region in which the seeds held through the first two rounds features student against teacher for the second time in the tournament (Crean vs Izzo). Pitt’s only chance in this game as I see it is if Aaron Gray goes for a 26-12 type performance, which he is capable of. However, they have to travel cross country and play in San Jose, so a virtual home game for UCLA with the fan support. Remember what happened when UCLA went to West Virginia during the season? I foresee the mentor once again being better than the protégé, just as in the MU/MSU matchup

Pick: UCLA 78 Pitt 73


East Regional

1 UNC vs 5 USC

I hate this game because I hate UNC and USC knocked out Kevin Durant. Ty Lawson has been playing very well for the Tar Heels and is basically leading them to a Final Four birth. I can’t name one player on USC, but they are getting O.J. Mayo next season assuming he doesn’t get arrested and thrown in jail first, and as much as I hate UNC, I can’t pick a team I don’t know anyone on.

Pick: UNC 86 USC 80

2 Georgetown vs 6 Vanderbilt

All due respect to the Buster Olney alumnus, but there is no way the commodores are beating the Hoyas. Georgetown right now is about as unstoppable as a team can be in March. I really want to see them play in Atlanta and have little doubt they will get there. If they didn’t play in the Big East with Marquette, I would like them a whole lot more, but right now, they are probably my second favorite team in the tournament.

Pick: Georgetown 80 Vanderbilt 62


South Regional

1 Ohio State vs 5 Tennessee

Love Bruce Pearl as a coach, hate Ohio State basketball, love Chris Lofton, respect Greg Oden and Mike Conley’s abilities, like Thad Matta as a coach, hate the fact Oden wasn’t called for an intentional foul for shoving the Xavier player, which I was yelling at the television during the play.

Ohio State has been involved in the most exciting game of the tournament so far (at least the regulation part) and Tennessee broke a record for most points scored. As much as I want to see Ohio State go down because they shouldn’t be this far because of a missed call, I can’t see how Tennessee stops Greg Oden.

Pick: Ohio State 91 Tennessee 82


2 Memphis vs 3 Texas A&M

What I haven’t told you is that out of my Elite Eight teams, only Texas is gone, and that is reflected in all of my picks. When the bracket came out, the first team I went to pencil into a position was Texas A&M because of Acie Law 4 and Billy Gilespie. I didn’t care what the matchup was for them, I had them in the Final Four. I’m not going to go against that now, especially since this team can defend Memphis and make them take tough shots. If Memphis doesn’t shoot well, they can be beaten, especially by a well coached team.

Pick: Texas A&M 74 Memphis 72


- Until next time…