Brackets have been busted and we're only through the first weekend! The first one seed, Pittsburgh, has fallen to an eighth seeded Butler team that was in the National Championship last year. VCU, a team from the play-in round, has upset sixth seeded Georgetown and third seeded Purdue, both by 18 points. The Big East got eleven teams in and has already lost nine of them to the competition or themselves. Ohio State has shown their dominance in two easy match-ups, most recently George Mason. Syracuse, Texas, Kansas State, and Louisville were all popular picks that couldn't make it to a Sweet Sixteen game. Today there are still sixteen teams, but in four days the field will be thinned out to four teams heading to Houston, Texas with the chance to become the 2011 NCAA National Champions. Whose it going to be?
The West Region kicks off in Anaheim, CA tonight with UConn(3) and San Diego St.(2) in the early game and Duke(1) and Arizona(5) right after them. San Diego St. and Arizona will see some extra fans in the crowd against the two East Coast teams. Both teams may be in over their head against the ACC and Big East Champions. My original pick was San Diego over UConn, but it was mostly because I thought UConn would be worn out by now. Showing no real signs of fatigue, the Huskies defeated Bucknell and Cincinnati in the first two rounds and it should continue. Kemba Walker takes over games, and there's no reason that won't happen here. For Duke, I made it clear in the past that a healthy Kyrie Irving means I have the Blue Devils as the team to beat. He played well in his first game back, and the deeper they go the more time he should see on the court. Arizona made a statement beating Texas, that they could play with the top competition. Derrick Williams is an NBA prospect and top college player, but Duke has plenty of those too. While Williams should get his share against the Plumlee brothers, Nolan Smith and Kyrie Irving will take over the game and secure the win for Duke. That leaves Duke and UConn meeting out West in the Elite Eight Saturday. The game would have the top guard play in the country with Nolan Smith, Kyrie Irving, and Kemba Walker all on the court at the same time, creating a dream match-up before the Final Four. Both teams have great coaching and a conference championship this season. With Duke slowly getting back to the team they were early in the season, I am sending UConn home and Duke to Houston out of the West Region.
New Orleans plays host to tonight's other two games starting with Florida(2) and BYU(3), followed by Wisconsin(4) and Butler(8). Butler is the surprise here with two last second wins over Old Dominion and Pitt. How much of a surprise can it really be after being in the National Championship last year? They face a tough task against a defensive Wisconsin team that defeated a preseason favorite, Kansas State. I bet against Butler in their game against Old Dominion. I even went as far as to say if they some how won and faced Pitt that I didn't like their odds in that game. Now I am done and give in to Butler. In the past year they have succeeded further than anyone would have ever predicted. I am taking Butler over Wisconsin. Florida really impressed me in their opening game against an over matched fifteen seed. The game really showcased their versatility with Chandler Parson's ability to act like a 6'10 guard at times. Jimmer Fredette led BYU to an impressive win over Gonzaga to make it to the Sweet Sixteen. Again when you expected them to fail after losing Brandon Davies for the season, Fredette keeps the team moving through. Florida's Boykin is a little dinged up, but he has guarded some of the top guards in the nation this season, so if his ankle can hold up I think he can hold Fredette to under 30 and from running away with the game. The Gators have waited a few years to return to the success they had in back to back national championships, so look for them to move on past Fredette's led Cougars. With such a weak region at this point, the Gators should be able to whether the competition to get themselves to Houston and into the final weekend.
Maybe it is appropriate for Kansas to be playing their next two rounds in the state of Texas, the same place as the final four. They won't have to travel far to Houston after only having to beat Richmond(12) and either VCU(11) or Florida St.(12). You couldn't ask for an easier path through the second weekend. Will they take advantage of it? Each team poses an interesting threat to the Jayhawks. Richmond can hold their own shooting lights out from the 3-point line. Florida St. may be the best defensive team in the tournament and locked down Notre Dame already. VCU is riding the highest wave of momentum in the tournament outside of UConn. Despite who they face, Kansas is more talented than every one of these teams and should be a lock to win. David can always slay Goliath, but there is no logical reason to bet on any one of these teams making it past Kansas and out of the Southwest Region. If I had to pick one, I would pick VCU because they have been the most impressive team not named Ohio State in the tournament so far. But I wouldn't count on it.
Out in the East region UNC(2) will face Marquette(11) followed by the tournament favorite, Ohio State(1), against Kentucky(4). The talent is there with UNC, Kentucky, and Ohio State. All three start at least one freshman with NBA talent. Marquette looks to be the odd man out, and if they defeated UNC it would be a true upset. I like UNC in this game, as they have been the hottest ACC team since mid season by only losing to Duke twice. That means after Ohio State faces Kentucky, and if they win, they would face UNC. I still believe Ohio State has the toughest road to the championship and I don't like their odds for that reason. Kentucky and UNC have the talent, athleticism, but lack the experience of a tournament tested team. I will go out on a limb and stick with my bracket of Kentucky upsetting Ohio State and then losing their next round game from being exhausted emotionally. I like the Tar Heels to move on to face their biggest rival, the Duke Blue Devils.
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