This has been the craziest tournament I have ever witnessed by a mile. The Sweet 16 and Elite 8 were no exception.
Needless to say, I'm disappointed that my hometown Huskies lost, but they had a good run and they have been the best representative of Seattle sports the past couple years. I was 4 for 8 out of my Sweet 16 picks and 3 for 4 in my Elite 8 picks. Not too bad if you ask me, but all the games were close, which made it more exciting.
My Final 4 picks:
1. Duke vs. 2. West Virginia
I picked WVU to go to the National Championship Game and they haven't failed me yet, but Duke poses a big challenge for them. Both coaches are well experienced and both have talented teams. I still have WVU winning, but don't be surprised if I'm wrong, I wouldn't be.
5. Michigan State vs. 5. Butler
Two teams I didn't pick to go very far, but I'm impressed regardless. MSU lived up to their #2 preseason ranking by going to the Final 4 and Butler proved that their 23 game winning streak (Now 24) wasn't a fluke. I honestly don't know who I'll pick to win this game, but I'll try. Eeney, meeny, miney, moe. Michigan State. :)
I'll be back in a week to write my Championship game prediction. Until then, Enjoy the games!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
NCAA Tourney: Second Round
The second round had a few good upsets, Saint Mary's over NOVA, UW over New Mexico, Cornell over Wisconsin, and Northern Iowa over KANSAS?!?!?! Needless to say my bracket is completely shot; mainly because I had I Kansas winning the whole thing! Oh well, upsets happen. In this post I'll tell you who I think will do well in the Sweet 16 and what I expect to happen.
Needless to say, don't take my word for it. :)
10. Saint Mary's vs. 3. Baylor
Saint Mary's has arguably the best big man in the tournament in Omar Samhan. Their offense runs through him and he's rebounding machine. I haven't watched Baylor enough to really have an opinion about them. You might say, "They're a 3 seed, they must be good." False; you haven't been watching this tournament if you said that. I'll be sure to watch this game. Saint Mary's might surprise some people.
1. Duke vs. 4. Purdue
Purdue might have had Duke's seed if Robbie Hummel didn't get hurt, they're still a good team, but they're a different team without him. Duke is just too complete of a team compared to a shorthanded Purdue team. I expect Singler and Scheyer to shine in this game.
2. West Virginia vs. 11. Washington
The Huskies are obviously the most underseeded team in the tournament and they've shown it. They play faster than everybody, they shoot the 3 better than anybody, and they have a good shot against West Virginia. Desean Butler on WVU is one of the most solid players in the tournament. This may be the most nail biting game in the Sweet 16. Buckle up!
1. Kentucky vs. 12. Cornell
I honestly think that John Wall and Demarcus Cousins will dominate this game like they have in many games this year. Cornell has many weapons to use and I'm sure they plan on using them, but I think Kentucky is just to strong.
9. Northern Iowa vs. 5. Michigan State
I honestly think that there is no stopping Northen Iowa at this point, especially since they beat Kansas. MSU has a great chance at losing this game without their best player Kalin Lucas. They have the experience from being in the Final Four last year and they have a great coach in Tom Izzo. I just think that UNI is to motivated to lose this game, any loss after the Kansas upset would be a huge let down.
6. Tennessee vs. 2. Ohio State
I haven't watched these teams enough to pick who will win. I do know that Tennessee beat Kentucky 1 out of 3 times this season and they also beat Kansas. I know that Ohio State won the Big Ten and almost earned a 1 seed in the tournament. I also know that they have one of the best players in the country in Evan Turner. This will be one heck of a game.
1. Syracuse vs. 5. Butler
I have Syracuse in the Final Four, even though their Big Man Arinze Onuaku is probably out for the rest of the tournament. I just think they are superior to Butler. I also think that Butler one their last game due to questionable calls by the officials.
2. Kansas State vs. 6. Xavier
I think that Kansas St. has two of the best guards in the country with Jacob Pullen and Dennis Clemente. But I wonder where their head is when they play in big games. They have been beaten convincingly by Kansas 3 times this year and I hope for their sake they don't go into this game overconfident because Kansas is out.
Needless to say, don't take my word for it. :)
10. Saint Mary's vs. 3. Baylor
Saint Mary's has arguably the best big man in the tournament in Omar Samhan. Their offense runs through him and he's rebounding machine. I haven't watched Baylor enough to really have an opinion about them. You might say, "They're a 3 seed, they must be good." False; you haven't been watching this tournament if you said that. I'll be sure to watch this game. Saint Mary's might surprise some people.
1. Duke vs. 4. Purdue
Purdue might have had Duke's seed if Robbie Hummel didn't get hurt, they're still a good team, but they're a different team without him. Duke is just too complete of a team compared to a shorthanded Purdue team. I expect Singler and Scheyer to shine in this game.
2. West Virginia vs. 11. Washington
The Huskies are obviously the most underseeded team in the tournament and they've shown it. They play faster than everybody, they shoot the 3 better than anybody, and they have a good shot against West Virginia. Desean Butler on WVU is one of the most solid players in the tournament. This may be the most nail biting game in the Sweet 16. Buckle up!
1. Kentucky vs. 12. Cornell
I honestly think that John Wall and Demarcus Cousins will dominate this game like they have in many games this year. Cornell has many weapons to use and I'm sure they plan on using them, but I think Kentucky is just to strong.
9. Northern Iowa vs. 5. Michigan State
I honestly think that there is no stopping Northen Iowa at this point, especially since they beat Kansas. MSU has a great chance at losing this game without their best player Kalin Lucas. They have the experience from being in the Final Four last year and they have a great coach in Tom Izzo. I just think that UNI is to motivated to lose this game, any loss after the Kansas upset would be a huge let down.
6. Tennessee vs. 2. Ohio State
I haven't watched these teams enough to pick who will win. I do know that Tennessee beat Kentucky 1 out of 3 times this season and they also beat Kansas. I know that Ohio State won the Big Ten and almost earned a 1 seed in the tournament. I also know that they have one of the best players in the country in Evan Turner. This will be one heck of a game.
1. Syracuse vs. 5. Butler
I have Syracuse in the Final Four, even though their Big Man Arinze Onuaku is probably out for the rest of the tournament. I just think they are superior to Butler. I also think that Butler one their last game due to questionable calls by the officials.
2. Kansas State vs. 6. Xavier
I think that Kansas St. has two of the best guards in the country with Jacob Pullen and Dennis Clemente. But I wonder where their head is when they play in big games. They have been beaten convincingly by Kansas 3 times this year and I hope for their sake they don't go into this game overconfident because Kansas is out.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
NCAA Tourney: Round 1
The first day of the NCAA Tournament was hands down the best day of basketball I've ever seen in my nearly 18 years of life. Upsets + buzzer-beaters + overtimes = Simply amazing. In my bracket, I went 23 for 32. I'll tell you what I didn't see coming and what I was pleasantly surprised by.
What I didn't see coming:
1. Notre Dame losing to Old Dominion (Which by the way, is a very depressing name for a University) It's a give in that that are going to be upsets in the Tourney, but Notre Dame was thought to be one of the tougher teams out there and nobody really knows about Old Dominion, seeing how they're a mid-major.
2. Georgetown getting destroyed by Ohio. Seriously????
3. Vanderbilt losing to low seed Murray St. by a buzzer-beater. Vandy played 1 Seed Kentucky close during the regular season, I thought that experience would translate better to the Tourney with some wins.
What I was pleasantly surprised by:
Two Pac-10 teams winning in the first round. I wasn't surprised so much by Washington winning over Marquette, but I thought Cal was overseeded and that they would lose to what I thought was a more experienced Louisville team. Did I mention they both beat a Big East team?
Second round starts today! I hope there's gonna be more drama!
What I didn't see coming:
1. Notre Dame losing to Old Dominion (Which by the way, is a very depressing name for a University) It's a give in that that are going to be upsets in the Tourney, but Notre Dame was thought to be one of the tougher teams out there and nobody really knows about Old Dominion, seeing how they're a mid-major.
2. Georgetown getting destroyed by Ohio. Seriously????
3. Vanderbilt losing to low seed Murray St. by a buzzer-beater. Vandy played 1 Seed Kentucky close during the regular season, I thought that experience would translate better to the Tourney with some wins.
What I was pleasantly surprised by:
Two Pac-10 teams winning in the first round. I wasn't surprised so much by Washington winning over Marquette, but I thought Cal was overseeded and that they would lose to what I thought was a more experienced Louisville team. Did I mention they both beat a Big East team?
Second round starts today! I hope there's gonna be more drama!
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