2010 NCAA Tournament Predictions

The Blue Team does not pay, so pardon me for working the past three days and not providing any sort of follow-up to my Sunday night post of bracket thoughts. This too will likely be brief, as I am writing extemporaneously less than an hour prior to the first game.

Midwest:
1st Round - Kansas, UNI, Michigan St, Maryland, Tennessee, Georgetown, Oklahoma St, Ohio St
2nd Round - Kansas, Michigan St, Tennessee, Ohio St
Sweet 16 - Kansas, Ohio St
Elite 8 - Kansas

As tough a draw as this is for the Jayhawks, they will only have to play Michigan St OR Maryland, Ohio St OR Georgetown OR Tennessee. Prior to the pairings, I could have absolutely seen a scenario where my Final Four was KU, Ohio St, Georgetown, & Michigan St though. Regardless, the bottom half of this region will be fun to watch. Tennessee has a tough first round opponent in SDSU and will probably lose now that I've put them to the Sweet 16. I definitely think that Oklahoma St or Georgia Tech could give the Buckeyes trouble. I really like Ohio St's squad, but their lack of depth is really concerning if foul trouble becomes an issue in that second round game. Ultimately, Kansas is still the best team in the Midwest Region, and the country, and will play as such.

West:
1st Round - Syracuse, FSU, UTEP, Vandy, Xavier, Pitt, Florida, Kansas St
2nd Round - Syracuse, UTEP, Xavier, Kansas St
Sweet 16 - Syracuse, Kansas St
Elite 8 - Syracuse

First of all, let me say that I am picking a team to go to the Final Four that could lose its first-round game. I'm sure some of you saw the story of the Vermont player whose mother passed away right before the America East Tournament Final from a long bout with cancer. The Sports Guy says never bet against God or puppies, and one would have to think that God would be on this kid's side right now.

In all honesty and seriousness, I basically picked Syracuse by default on this region. The more I look at the West, the easier it is to see it totally falling apart. I don't have a lot of faith in K-State keeping its head on straight for four consecutive games, nor Pitt hitting enough shots to win multiple games. I even picked Florida to go to the Elite 8 in one bracket. I could see Vanderbilt giving Syracuse problems, as they might have the shooters to beat the vaunted 2-3 zone, but the Commodores have to get through two tough upset-minded teams first. Syracuse was the "safe pick" here and nothing more.

South:
1st Round - Duke, Cal, A&M, Purdue, ND, Baylor, Richmond, Villanova
2nd Round - Duke, A&M, Baylor, Villanova
Sweet 16 - A&M, Villanova
Elite 8 - Villanova

Everyone has been down on 'Nova for a return trip to the Final Four, mainly because they struggled a bit against big-time Big East teams late this season. I think their experience and the time they've had to rest/refocus will help the Wildcats immensely. I'm not buying erratic-yet-athletic Baylor all the way to Indianapolis myself, and you know Duke is poised for a letdown. I honestly think A&M can give Duke a tough one and pound them down low. We'll see.

East:
1st Round - UK, Texas, Temple, Wisconsin, Washington, New Mexico, Missouri, WVU
2nd Round - UK, Wisconsin, New Mexico, WVU
Sweet 16 - UK, WVU
Elite 8 - UK

No time to summarize, maybe letter. UK is good, really good.

Final Four - KU over Syracuse, UK over Villanova
Championship - KU over UK 80-72

Enjoy the tournament ya'll, go Heels. Damn.