March Madness (2019)

   Hello Everyone,

     It is the best time of the year as the brackets have been released and we will have nonstop basketball starting Tuesday night during the First Four (and also some NIT action). As those that have read this blog before know, I do not like giving out predictions. Instead, I prefer to just provide you with information that will help you make picks that you feel comfortable. With this mind, I am going to change it up a little and place teams in categories based on methods that people use to make their picks. It may not be as detailed as in the past, but I think it will better help those understand who they are picking and why. So, without further delay, let's look at this year's tournament.

  Before I dig into the teams, I would just like to touch on the selection process really quickly. I don't have very much to say. The committee did not make any egregious errors, and even the ones people are trying to stir up controversy over today are not that crazy. Michigan State probably should not be in the same region as Duke. However, they do get a geographical edge over Michigan by going to DC instead of having to fly across the country and that is a part of the selection criteria. I would really love to see teams like UNC Greensboro, Lipscomb, and Furman get spots over the likes of St. John's, Arizona State, and Florida (I mean, how many times are we going to have Arizona State limp out to Dayton and lose in the First Four). However, the committee was able to get Belmont in there, some of the mid-major conference champions got some nice seeding, and UNC Greensboro would have made the tourney had Oregon not won the Pac 12 tournament Saturday night. The divide between the power conferences and the mid-majors is shrinking and hopefully the committee will notice this trend for years to come. With the committee out of the way, it is time for the good stuff.

If you like Chalk, these are the teams for you:

 Duke - I don't have too much new to say about Duke. They have the best player in the country, arguably the best coach in the country, and they are the overwhelming favorite to cut down the nets. So while you hear their praises over the next few days, I will try to play devil's advocate. First, the Blue Devils cannot shoot it from deep. They ranked 333rd(!!!!!) in the country at 3 point shooting this season shooting at a 30.6% clip, easily the worst in Coach K's tenure. Of course, Zion and RJ Barrett have no issues getting to the rim. However, they are going to have matchups against teams who could get hot from behind the arc like UCF, Virginia Tech, and Michigan State (and that's just in their region). If one of these teams gets hot, will Duke be able to keep up? Along with their poor 3 point shooting, the Blue Devils also struggle to get it going at the free throw line shooting a bad 68.9% ranking outside the top 200 in the country. They won't be able to blow everybody out. There are going to be a couple of games where they are going to need to close games out. Will they be able to find a cure for their poor free throw shooting or will they falter when they need it the most? Despite the poor shooting numbers, the one thing that could plague them the most is their lack of depth. Sure, they have three guys that are going to be drafted in the top 10 of the NBA draft, but after that, there isn't too much. Tre' Jones is a solid point guard and Javin DeLaurier is starting to find his niche. However, we all saw what happened when Zion went down. Hell, even when Tre' Jones went down, the Blue Devils lost at Cameron to Syracuse (and they had Zion). If teams can find ways to get Zion, RJ, Cam, or Tre', Duke could struggle to recover. So, if we have learned anything, the key to beating Duke will be keeping the studs from being able to get into the paint while forcing them to shoot from the perimeter and get them into foul trouble and exposing their lack of depth.

Virginia - I'm sure seeing UVA brings up very dark memories for many looking at the bracket. Everyone said that they were the real deal, and that they were really one of the two contenders last season. Then, the impossible happened. They became the first number one seed to ever be upset by a 16 seed. Being the victim of the biggest upset in the tournament's history could have led to an unbreakable tailspin that would haunt the program forever. However, the Cavs came back stronger this year and are looking to erase their demons of the past. They have all of the ingredients to make  a tourney run. They have the floor general, Ty Jerome, the sharpshooter, Kyle Guy, the NBA prospect, DeAndre Hunter, and a deep rotation that can overcome foul trouble. They were the best team in the country this year according to KenPom, and their only losses in the regular season (ACC tourney loss to Florida State) were to the Zion-led Blue Devils. Many will look to their loss in the Semifinals of the ACC tournament as a sign that they still cannot compete in the one and done setting. However, I think this could be the year that Virginia exorcises the demons and gets to the Final Four. They have the friendliest draw of all of the #1 seeds. Teams that could beat the Cavs are going to need to be able to pick up the tempo and hit shots at a ridiculous rate. There isn't really an opponent in their region that has the ability to that. Tennessee, Purdue, Kansas State, Wisconsin, and Villanova are all teams that really grind and play almost as slowly as Virginia. At the end of the day, Virginia is just better than these teams and will most likely be able to outwill them over 40 minutes. While many may cower in fear looking back at their past, I think there is reason for optimism when it comes to the Cavs.

North Carolina - I feel like UNC has been somewhat overlooked this year. While their arch rivals have the monster recruits, the Tar Heels have mostly depended on their experience to carry them this season. Past March hero, Luke Maye, is the do everything leader of the team that will be looking to get his second national title. Cameron Johnson, the senior transfer from Pitt, is probably the best natural scorer on the team. They also have sharpshooter, Kenny Williams, who has struggled to find consistency this season. Although the upperclassmen have played a gigantic role on this team, they also have a couple of freshmen who they need to come up huge this March. Starting point guard, Coby White is probably the fastest player, getting from one end to the other, in the country. At the beginning of the season, he was a little too quick and would force the issue a bit much. However, with a little seasoning, White has transformed into one of the best point guards in the country and really peaked in the second meeting between UNC-Duke. Along with White, there is Nassir Little, who was actually their highest ranked freshman coming into the season. Little has struggled to find the court coming off the bench this season, however, he could be the X-Factor this team in the tourney. Although it probably won't be as a guy playing 30 to 35 minutes a game, he could be the high-energy defender who hit timely buckets in limited minutes. If he can fit this role, it could elevate his draft stock and help the Heels win the title. The Heels will be fan favorites as they love to just run up and down the court with the fifth highest tempo in the league. Honestly, the Tar Heels will run into trouble if they run into a team that is able to slow the game down and limit the number of possessions UNC can get. The perfect example is Virginia as their previous meeting in Chapel Hill showed (a 69-61 Virginia victory). The one team in their region that could really give them fits is Kentucky. They play at pretty deliberate pace and could throw the young White off his game and create turnovers. UNC appears to be in a good spot and should be able to advance as long as they are able to play at their pace.

Gonzaga - The Zags continue to be an enigma to most of the country. Their detractors will say that they don't play anyone. They say Mark Few can't coach in the tourney. They say you play too late at night, play earlier. First, the Zags went out and challenged themselves in the non conference portion of the schedule. They faced off against UNC at the Dean Dome, Tennessee on a neutral floor, and went to Maui and came back to Spokane the champions after defeating Duke. They were the only team to beat a full-strength Blue Devils team thus far this season. Second, Mark Few is one of the best coaches in the country. Anybody that can build a top program at a small Jesuit school in Spokane, Washington will never receive the proper amount of credit that they are due. Also, the man made the national championship game two years ago. Lastly, yeah, they do play games pretty late at night. You can't win them all. On a serious note, this team is increidbly deep. Their best NBA prospect at the beginning of the season does not even start at the moment, Killan Tillie. Their starting lineup currently includes a Japanese sensation, Rui Hachimura, a freakishly athletic big man, Brandon Clarke, an experienced point guard that has played in a national championship, Josh Perkins, an athletic sharpshooter, Zach Norvell, and a bulldog (see what I did there), Corey Kispert. Along with a deep bench, this is probably the best team that Mark Few has ever had. For being the lowest seeded #1, their road to Minneapolis isn't too daunting. While many may overlook the Zags, it is in your best interest to respect this squad for being incredibly deep and incredibly athletic.


WOW!!! That took way too long. From here on out, I'll probably just so some quick strengths/weaknesses when it comes to teams. If I need to describe players, it will probably be more detailed

If you like Blue Bloods, these are the teams for you: 

Kentucky -

Strengths: . Incredibly deep rotation
                 . Coach Calipari is one of the best in the country.
                 . Incredibly strong frontcourt prescense led by PJ Washington and Reid Travis (best graduate transfer this season.
                . Ashton Hagans has really grown throughout the year and really gives the Wildcats some much needed stability at the point.
                . Tyler Herro is the best college player to come from the state of Wisconsin since Sam Dekker.
   
Weaknesses: . Tyler Herro spurned Wisconsin to go to Kentucky.
                     . The Wildcats struggle to hit from three point land.
                     . The Wildcats can also struggle to defend from three point land.
                   
Essentially, the Wildcats will falter if the games gets decided from behind the arc. If the Wildcats are able to limit their opponents to mid-range shots and are able to get into paint on the offensive end, they should be good to go.

Michigan State: -

Strengths: . Tom Izzo
                 . Big Ten Player of the Year, Cassius Winston
                 . Tons of experience with Winston, Nick Ward, Matt McQuaid, and Kenny Goins     
                 . Top ten in terms of efficiency in both offense and defense
                 . Incredible at rebounding

Weaknesses: . Tons of injuries (Josh Langford and Kyle Ahrens are out for the year)
                     . Lack of NBA talent
                     . Duke is in their region
                     . Nick Ward is incredibly foul-prone.
                   
The Spartans are tough, gritty and talented. Tom Izzo has made his mark in March before and he will look to do it again. While the team has tons of experience, it is mostly due to the fact that most of these guys will not be playing in the NBA in the future. A possible battle with Duke in the Elite Eight will be your favorite narrative (Freshmen NBA prospects vs experienced college players)

Michigan -

Strengths: . John Beilein
                 . Incredible on the defensive end of the floor
                 . Most of the team that played in the National Tournament game last season is back
                 . Great pedigree in the one and done format
                 . Do not turn the ball over

Weaknesses: . Offense sputters at times
                     . Lack depth, especially at the point
                     . Zavier Simpson really struggles at the free throw line
                   
John Beilein has really become the czar of March. He's won two of the past three Big Ten Tournaments went to the National Championship last year, and he will be looking to replicate that this year. Michigan is incredibly strong on the defensive side of the floor. The key for them will be to avoid long spells on the offensive end of the floor. Their defense will be able to keep them in most games, but if Charles Matthews and Ignas Brazdeikis are unable to put the ball through the net, the Wolverines will fall short of expectations.

Kansas -

Strengths: . If they get to the Sweet Sixteen, they will be playing in Kansas City

Weaknesses: . The losses of Azubuike and Vick
                     . They can't win outside of Phog Allen
                     . Incredibly inexperienced
                     . Their Big 12 Championship streak ended
                     . Embroiled in scandals

If you couldn't tell, I am not very high on Kansas. It is really in their best interests for their season to just end. I think it just might against Northeastern.

If you like hot teams coming off Conference Tournament Championships, these are the teams for you:

Auburn -

Strengths:  . One of the best backcourts in the country (Jared Harper and Bryce Brown)
                  . Deep rotation
                  . Getting hot at the right time.
                  . Chuma Okeke is a baller

Weaknesses: . Bruce Pearl is a crook.
                     . This season probably won't count
                     . Bryce Brown has not been the same player this year as he has in the past
                     . Lack of tournament pedigree

 Auburn had fairly high expectations this season. A preseason ranking of #11 had people in Alabama feeling high on this team. However, a rough non conference slate and a bad start to the conference season tempered expectations a bit. The Tigers caught fire last week and won three straight games including their second victory over Tennessee in a week to capture the SEC tournament. The biggest reason for their success was their ability to hit from deep. They just kept shooting away all weekend, and the ball just kept going in. They are going to need more of the same to continue their hot streak, and it starts with their two-headed monster in the backcourt, Jared Harper and Bryce Brown. Brown has not been the same player this year, but he seems to excel in a tourney setting. In order to get to the second weekend, he will need to keep showing up in the one and done format.

Iowa State -

Strengths: . Fan base travels well
                 . They have six to seven guys who are capable of putting up points consistently
                 . Virginia transfer, Marial Shayok, is an asbsolute game changer
                 . They can shoot from deep

Weaknesses: . They are not a great rebounding team
                     . Only one starter is taller than 6' 5''
                     . They aren't the most amazing team defensively

  Iowa State is incredibly efficient offensively, and it all starts with Marial Shayok. The Canadian born star must have brought over some of Virginia's secrets when he transferred. The guy is an amazing athlete and can shoot from anywhere on the floor. He may be their biggest weapon, but the Cyclones can get scoring from all over the floor. They have three other starters who average double figures and even have a guy off the bench (Lindell Wigginton) that averages 13 a game. This team can score, but they are going to run into trouble against teams with big bodies. If they can get to the Sweet 16, which will be a difficult task, a front court like Kentucky's would likely wreak havoc on a team like Iowa State. Hopefully, their sharpshooting can carry them far in this tourney.

Cincinnati -

Strengths: . Jarron Cumberland is one of the most underrated scorers in the country
                 . Athletic junkyard dogs that can play D against anyone in the country
                 . They will be playing "home" games in the first weekend

Weaknesses: . Who else is going to score other than Cumberland?
                     . .500 record against Quad 1 teams
               
Cincinnati teams in the past have been built on defense. This one is no different. They are gritty, physical, big and will prevent you from getting in the paint. One thing this is Cincy team has that many previous versions did not is a stand-alone starter. Not since Sean Kilpatrick have the Bearcats had a bonafide scorer like Jarron Cumberland. The guy can drive to the hole or make shots from deep. Their big issue will be if Cumberland gets into foul trouble or he has poor shooting night. Will someone be able to pick up the load? Maybe Keith Williams or Tre Scott can be those guys? However, the Bearcats may need to depend on their proximity to home to get through Iowa and Tennessee in the first weekend.

Oregon -

Strengths: . Dana Altman
                 . Payton Pritchard

Weaknesses: Pac-12
                    No Manute Bol's son, Bol Bol

   I don't have too much to say about the Ducks. Everyone is raving about how hot Oregon is. Guys, they play in the Pac 12. The Pac 12 is having the worst year by a power conference in history. Add in the fact they are still without Bol Bol, and we can disregard the Ducks.

If you like slow-paced teams that are "ruining the game," these teams are for you:

Kansas State -

Strengths: . Knocked Kansas off of their throne
                  . Incredibly efficient defensively

Weaknesses: . No consistency offensively
                     . If Dean Wade is out for the tournament, the Wildcats are done

 Yes, Kansas State won the Big 12 this year and are able to stop teams consistently on the defensive side of the court. However, if Dean Wade misses any time in this tournament, the Wildcats will go down with him. He just means too much to this squad. He scores, he prevents players from coming into the paint, and he is an emotional leader. I just don't think the 'Cats will be able to recover without their King Meow.

Virginia Tech -

Strengths: . Justin Robinson is back
                  . Buzz Williams is a premier coach
                  . Kerry Blackshear is one of the most improved players in the country
                  . VT can shoot the 3 ball

Weaknesses: . Will Justin Robinson be rusty?
                     . Tough draw being in same region as Duke
                     . 4-8 record in Quad 1 games
                     . 4 guard lineup leaves open paint on defensive side of ball and leaves Blackshear prone to foul trouble

 Although this Hokie team plays slow, they are a ton of fun to watch. They spread out the court in order to drive and kick for threes. Also, they get the ball into the post to Kerry Blackshear who either takes on the one-on-one matchup or dishes out to one of his fellow four guards to take more 3's. With Justin Robinson coming back after a 12 game absence, the Hokies become one of the most dangerous teams in the field. However, we really don't know what we are getting with Robinson. An early game against A-10 Champ, Saint Louis, will provide Robinson with a stiff challenge. It is worth noting that the Hokies beat the Duke Blue Devils in Blacksburg earlier this season However, that team did not have Zion. With a small lineup, a potential Sweet 16 showdown with Duke could be disastrous as Zion and RJ could have a field day in the paint and put Blackshear in serious foul trouble. The key to a successful March for VT will be hitting their shots and keeping Blackshear on the court.

Wisconsin -

Strengths: . Ethan Happ
                 . Incredible defense
                 . Don't really turn the ball over

Weaknesses: . Who will score when Happ isn't on the floor?
                     .  Happ cannot shoot free throws
                     . Lack of athleticism

   It is scary times in Madison. Basically, the Badgers run through Ethan Happ. They will get the ball to Happ in the post, and then he will either draw a double/triple team in the post that leads to open threes, or he can just take the guy one-on-one with his old school post moves. After Happ, there is a lot of standing around the perimeter and just throwing up threes. The worst part is that Happ hasn't even been that great lately, and his poor free throw shooting has made him a liability late in games. In order for the Badgers to be successful, Happ will need to be the stud that he has been throughout his career, and he will just have to hit some free throws. If coach, Greg Gard, needs to take Happ out of games due to his poor free throw shooting, the Badgers could be bowing out early.

St. Mary's -

Strengths: .  Jordan Ford is an efficiency monster
                 . Ability to frustrate opponents with methodical approach
                 . Just beat Zags, can beat anyone

Weaknesses: . 2-6 against Quad 1 teams
                     . Who will score outside of Ford?
                     . How will they play against better competition?

St. Mary's was able to take down the Zags in the WCC title game by taking up all 30 seconds of the shot clock during their possessions and absolutely frustrating Rui and Josh Perkins on the other side of the court. They forced Gonzaga to play at their pace, and it worked to perfection. In a different region, I would feel better about their chances. However, they got placed in the "region of patience" with teams like Virginia, Wisconsin, Kansas State, and their first round opponent, Villanova. Playing against teams just like them will be a detriment to the Gaels and may lead to an early exit this weekend.

If you like teams with gaudy records, these teams are for you 
      
Houston -

Strengths: . 27-3
                 . 6-2 in Q1 games
                 . Experienced coach in Kelvin Sampson and experienced team
                 . Two elite scorers (Armoni Brooks and Corey Davis Jr.)

Weaknesses: . Was the American Conference too easy?
                     . Despite 27-3 record, they are only 15th in the Kenpom
                    . Rob Gray is no longer there to bail them out

Let's be real this Houston Cougars team is good. Are they as good as their 27-3 record states? Eh. Sure, they can hit three pointers, keep up on the defensive side of the floor, and most importantly they win ball games. They deserve much credit for their wins against LSU and Utah State in non-conference play and also for their two regular season wins over Cincy. However, in a tourney where they will be consistenly play top competition, can they keep up with limited rest? Last year, they should have beaten Michigan were it not for a miracle 3 from Jordan Poole. The Cougars have Sweet 16 potential, but they are going to need someone other than Brooks and Davis Jr. to step up (perhaps Galen Robinson, Jr or Dejon Jarreau) in order to get out of the first weekend.

Buffalo -

Strengths: . 31-3
                 . Most of the team that beat DeAndre Ayton and Arizona last year is back
                 . CJ Massenburg is a baller
                 . Nic Perkins averages 14 ppg off the bench

Weaknesses: . They play in the MAC
                     . Fast tempo leads to bad shots
                   
I won't lie, I have not watched the Bulls too much this year. What I do know though, is that they have one of the best players in the country, CJ Massenburg. They have a lefty that can go off at any time, Jeremy Harris. They have possibly the best sixth man in the land, Nic Perkins. Lastly, their coach was a high school math teacher, who former coach, Bobby Hurley started a relationship with, and now he is the coach of the best mid-major team in the country. This team has proven in the past that they can compete with top NBA talent. The key for Buffalo will be taking smart shots and being able to stay in the moment. If they start forcing up terrible shots in the face of a little adversity, their season will end in disappointment.

Nevada:

Strengths - . 29-4
                  . Incredibly Talented
                 . Eric Musselman
                 . Will not have to play San Diego State

Weaknesses: . 27 in Kenpom
                     . Eric Musselman
                     . Didn't even win their conference tournament
                     . Team may not be on the same page

 Nevada was at one point seen as the 7th best team in the country. Now, they enter the tournament as a #7 seed. This team is definitely talented and have true scorers in Caleb Martin and Jordan Caroline. However, the Wolfpack really didn't challenge themselves in their non-conference schedule. Also, they could not finish the deal in Vegas last weekend and win the Mountain West. In order to even get out of the first round, Nevada is going to need to get it together and become a team. If they can't do that, it's going to be a long summer in Reno.

Wofford:

Strengths - . 29-4
                  . Incredibly efficient offensively
                  . They can shoot from behind the arc
                  . Incredible backcourt duo of Fletcher Magee and Storm Murphy

Weaknesses: . 3-4 in Q1 games
                     . Not the most athletic team
                   
 Wofford has the potential to be the darlings of the tourney. They have two guys named Fletcher and Storm who just drain 3 pointers. They got a strong big man in Cameron Jackson, who is a monster inside. Plus, they have an adorable mascot, Terrier. If they are given any space on the perimeter, they are going to unload at will, and they are probably going to win the game. However, they will struggle against physical, athletic teams that will not give them any space to take jump shots.

If you think this is a college football bracket, these are the teams for you:

Tennessee:

Strengths - . Expereience
                  . Incredible resume
                  . Great balance
                  . All-American Grant Williams and All-name Admiral Schofield
                  . 9-4 in Q1 games

Weaknesses - . Sputtered down the stretch
                     . Rick Barnes' postseason record
                     . Not incredibly deep

 I guess maybe Tennessee is more of a basketball school at the moment. The Volunteers have had an incredible year that has seen them exceed even their wildest expectations. They have the third most efficient offense in the land and can get scoring from anywhere in their starting five. They have an All-American in Grant Williams who has developed into one of the finer players in the country. While they have had a great season, there is some cause for concern heading into the tourney. One, their coach is Rick Barnes. Barnes has historically struggled in the NCAA Tournament. Hell, he couldn't get out of the first weekend with Kevin Durant and DJ Augustin in 2007. Second, their rotation only goes 8 deep, and two of the guys coming off the bench average less than 4 ppg. If they get into any foul trouble, their lack of depth could be exposed. Lastly, they just haven't been the same team over the past month. It may have just been the toll a season can take on a team, but something felt off with the Volunteers in the last month of the season. It has led me to believe that their season could end in a multitude of ways, unlike a month ago where it appeared they would at least get to the second weekend of the tournament.

Oklahoma -

Strengths: . Battle-tested
                 . Christian James
                 . Lon Kruger is a fine coach

Weaknesses: . Under .500 in conference play
                     . Really bad during the last month and a half of the season
                     . Who else can produce other than Christian James
                   
I'm not going to too deeply into this team. Christian James is basically it, and he is really good. However, he isn't good enough to carry the Sooners very far. If they even get passed Ole Miss, Virginia is going to beat this team by 20+. Sorry, Trae Young isn't coming through that door. It is onto next year in Norman.

Florida -

Strengths: . Battle-tested
                 . Very strong defensively
               
Weaknesses: . Don't know where the scoring is going to come from
                     . What happened to KeVaughn Allen and Jalen Hudson?

Florida is a weird tale. While most players/teams get better with time, the Gators seem to have peaked early and regressed over the past couple of years. Maybe some of their offensively-driven players tailed off as they have committed to Mike White's defense first game. If Kevaughn Allen and Jalen Hudson can somehow find that scoring touch they had early last year when they were two of the most feared scorers in the country, the Gators may have a run in them. However, at the moment, it seems like more of a reach than a reality.

Ohio State -

Strengths: . Chris Holtmann is a wonderful coach
                 . Incredibly bright future for the basketball program
                 . Solid Defense

Weaknesses: . Kaleb Wesson and CJ Jackson are the only consistent scorers
                     . Did not challenge themselves in the nonconference schedule
                     . One of the lowest Kenpoms among at-large teams

Ohio State really doesn't have too much of a chance in the tournament this year. However, they have an incredible coach in Chris Holtmann, and he's got a top 10 class coming in next year. If anything, Holtmann could muster a run out of this team, but it is still highly unlikely. Don't worry though Buckeye fans, the future is very bright in Columbus.

If you like a Defending Champion, this is the team for you:

Villanova -

Strengths: . Championship pedigree
                 . Jay Wright
                 . Duo of Eric Paschall and Phil Booth
 
Weaknesses: . Lost a ton of last year's championship team
                     . Although they won the league, they struggled in a down Big East
                     . Where will scoring come from outside of Paschall and Booth?

  When you are the defending national champion, you get your own category. This is the not same Villanova team that has dominated college basketball the past three seasons. This team really struggled at the beginning of the season, even losing to Furman at home. Then, they somewhat regained their status early in Big East play, but then stumbled again later in the season. Their season culminated in a Big East Tournament championship, and the hope that maybe they could repeat again. The committee does not feel this way and only gave the Wildcats a #6 seed. I'm going to have to side with the committee here. It's hard to throw doubt at a Jay Wright coached team, but they are a little too dependent on Paschall and Booth. If Jermaine Samuels and Collin Gillespie can provide some secondary depth, maybe the 'Cats can get into the second weekend. However, I think the magical run 'Nova has enjoyed over the past few years may be coming to an end. 


Alright, I need to shorten this again, I am just going to list teams and write maybe a sentence or two about them. Let's see how this goes.

Purdue - Carsen Edwards is one of the best players in the country. However, that could be a detriment to the Boilermakers. The game where they get knocked out of the tournament, Edwards will totally shoot 3 for 15 from the field. Purdue is pretty balanced and can get scoring in the paint and from behind the arc. However, I'm not sure how trustworthy Matt Painter is in March.

Ole Miss - The Rebels' coach, Kermit Davis, was the coach at Middle Tennessee a couple of years ago when Reggie Upshaw and the Blue Raiders pulled off one of the biggest upsets in tourney history over Denzel Valentine and Michigan State. With the backcourt of Terence Davis and Breein Tyree, could he do it again in round 2 against Virginia?

Iowa - The Hawkeyes have been absolutely dreadful the past month, depending on rather miraculous plays to win games against mediocre competition. Maybe if Tyler Cook and Luke Garza can get right, maybe they will steal a game or two.

UC Irvine - The Anteaters are really good and could pull off some shockers this March. Led by Max Hazard and Doc Rivers's son, Spencer, Irvine dominated the Big West this season. With a matchup against a downtrodden Kansas State team, let' see if Irvine can take advantage of this opportunity.

Old Dominion - If you are looking for some inspiration, Monarchs' coach Jeff Jones got his team to the tournament while battling Prostate Cancer. We all wish him the best in his battle and hope he can get a few games in this tourney. He can rely on the power duo of BJ Stith and Ahmad Caver to pull off some upsets.

Colgate - The Raiders had their first 20 win season in school history. It's crazy they couldn't accomplish that with Adonal Foyle.

Gardner-Webb - Sorry, it is the wrong year to draw Virginia.

LSU - Sadly, this team is a total mess. The coach, who is about to be charged with federal crimes, is calling out the Athletic Department. The fan base appears to have the crook coach's side, and the players are stuck in this mess. The really sad part is that the players are good. Tremont Waters is one of the best defenders in the country, averaging multiple steals a game. Naz Reid and Kavell Bigby-Williams are big men that can defend and fly at the rim. The Tigers are an exceptional basketball team but will they be able to overcome the controversy surrounding them.

Mississippi State - Ben Howland has done a great job down in Starkville. This team is pretty well-balanced and has a very strong backcourt. If you want to cheer for a senior who stuck it out through some rough years and will finally get his shot at One Shining Moment, Quinndary Weatherspoon is your guy. He is a great scorer and has ushered in a new era at Miss State. Good luck to you Quinndary.

Maryland - The Turtles are very talented and have made great strides this season. They also could have legit home games in DC if they can get to the second weekend. However, Mark Turgeon is one of the worst in-game coaches in the Power Conferences, and the fourth youngest team in the country will probably be unable to work around that.

Louisville/Minnesota - Both these teams don't have much going for them, but their first round matchup is the Pitino bowl. Minnesota's coach is Richard Pitinio, the son of former Louisville coach, Rick Pitino. Father Pitino was run out of Louisville for paying Addidas to pay for players. If Rick makes it to the game, it will be primetime television.

VCU - If Marcus Evans plays, they may win their first round game. If he doesn't, move on please

UCF - We've got a father-son coach-player duo: Johnny and Aubrey Dawkins. Aubrey can really shoot from 3, but the real attraction is 7'6'' Tacko Fall. If UCF can get to the second round, imagine Tacko going up against Zion #mustseetv.

Belmont - The whole world is excited to see Belmont get an at-large bid, and it looks like they proved their worth against Temple tonight. Let's see what they can do against Maryland.

Temple - Sad way for Fran Dunphy's career to end. However, it was nice that he got to the dance in his last year.

Liberty- They play really, really slow. If they are going to win, they are going to have to stick to their snail's pace of a game.

Saint Louis - SLU has a fun mascot, a Billiken. That's all I got.

Yale - The Bulldogs has one of those guys that you need to watch this weekend. Miye Oni has real NBA potential. He had one of those "magical growth spurts" and now he has the size and athleticism, along with a shot, to work for a sport in the association next year. Yale just loves to throw up shots and with a meeting with a reeling LSU on the horizon, could the Ivy Darlings pull off the biggest upset of the tourney?

Bradley - The Braves are the only school in Illinois to make the tournament. Cool!!

UNC Central - If UNC Central can win their play-in game, we will have the battle of Durham between Duke and Central. Should be fun.

North Dakota State - Since, North Dakota State won the Summit League, I don't get to talk about Mike Daum, who lost to Texas in the NIT today. So, thanks, all I've wanted to do all year is talk about how great Mike Daum is. Now, I can't.

Utah State - Sam Merrill is a baller, and the Aggies have a real shot at possibly knocking off UNC in the second round.

Washington - The Huskies aren't that good. They play in the Pac-12. With their matchup zone, they could cause trouble against most teams. However, Utah State and possible next opponent UNC are not those teams

Seton Hall - I feel like the Pirates always come on strong at the end of the year. The 2018-2019 Pirates have Myles Powell, who is one of the few guys in the tourney who can win games by himself. Just pull up some clips from Seton Hall's games against Kentucky earlier in the year.

New Mexico State- Another team called the Aggies in this region, ha. I feel like the Aggies are always a popular upset pick, but then once they play, we realize they play in one of the worst conferences in the country and that they don't play any real competition all year. Will probably be the same thing this year.

Northeastern - I don't know much about Northeastern other than the fact that they won the Colonial, they have a wonderful Co-op program, and they were the fortunate ones to draw Kansas (don't hear that too often).

Georgia State - Ron Hunter is still the Panthers' coach. Remember when he fell off of the stool after his son hit the game winning shot against Baylor in 2015? Good times.

Abilene Christian - I imagine this is the most popular team in the country.

Iona - They love to run and run and run. Against UNC, they will probably give up triple digits.

Texas Tech - The Raiders go as Jarret Culver goes. If he goes off, Texas Tech will go far. If he falls short or gets into foul trouble, this will not be a great tourney in Lubbock.

Florida State - The Seminoles play a million different guys and are incredibly athletic. They upset Gonzaga last year and could get them again in the Sweet 16. Also, yes, Leonard Hamilton does look incredible for being 70 years old.

Marquette - The Golden Eagles are really good at offense and seem to have finally seemed to find some stability on the defensive end. They have the best pure scorer in the country in Markus Howard. The only question is if his wrist is totally healthy? If it isn't, it may be a total Ja Morant day on Thursday.

Syracuse - Syracuse finally wasn't a controversial bubble team this year, and yet they are still pretty irrelevant in this field. They probably won't get out of the first weekend, and Syracuse will try to get back onto the bubble next year so they can make the Sweet 16 again.

Baylor - Scott Drew doesn't get enough credit. He literally took a program that hosted a guy that murdered one of his own teammates in 2003 and completely saved it from total disaster. Baylor consistently makes the tourney and that is a testament to the great coaching of Drew.

Arizona State/St John's - Not worth the time. Congrats on being the last two teams in.

Murray State - Ja Morant is the Russell Westbrook of college basketball. Do whatever you can to watch this guy in the tournament. And if you miss him, it's okay. You'll see him in an NBA All Star Game in the future.

Vermont - The Catamounts should have won the America East last year. However, the UMBC Retrievers stunned Vermont with a buzzer beater three pointer in Burlington. Who knew the state Virginia would rue the result of that game?

Northern Kentucky - Another cool nickname: The Norse

Montana - I really wish I had good things to say about the Grizz in their rematch against Michigan, but the one guy they need to attack the Wolverines, Jamar Akoh, has been out since early February. With a lack of inside presence for the Grizz, it could be a very long night.

Fairleigh Dickinson - Mr. Dickinson was the founder of a Fortune 500 company that focused on medical technology and apparently the founder of the school that will lose to Gonzaga on Friday.

Prairie View A&M  - Their football team had the longest losing streak in NCAA football history, losing 80 straight games. The streak lasted from 1989-1998. Well, at least they appear to be much better at basketball.



Well, there it is. Enjoy the madness and remember, pick your brackets how you would like. You only have control of so many things in life.
                     

       
                 

March Madness (2018)

   Hello,

  It has been a while, but after a long hiatus, I am back to make your March Madness viewing more entertaining and to also give you some information that may help you when you are selecting your brackets. Looking back on last year (here is a link), I did a decent job evaluating the players, teams, and regions in the tourney. My one major oversight was obviously, South Carolina, who ended up in the Final Four. I found the most success in highlighting the teams that had the easiest and the most difficult roads to the Final Four. The two finalists, Gonzaga and North Carolina, were on #1 and #3, respectively. The three teams with the most difficult path to the Final Four all failed to make it past the Elite Eight with my number one choice, Villanova, crashing out in the Round of 32. This year, in order to avoid repetition, I am going to change the format of the blog. I am going to start with a few notes on the selection process, and then I am going to go region by region to give some tidbits about the teams, players, and matchups that will fill the next month with much excitement. Again, these are not meant to be predictions or picks. The information below is merely here to give you insight that you may not otherwise have. Your bracket is one of the few things in life you have true control over (slight exaggeration), so you should construct, however you feel best. However, it doesn't hurt to be a little more informed while doing it. So, let's dig into it and see what will make this March so special.


Selection Process

1. A Chaotic Bubble - Last year, the Selection Committee didn't have too much trouble picking at-large teams and avoided the usual controversy that comes with picking the Last 4 teams in. The only true gripe may have been that the Committee continued to punish Mid-Majors for not having the opportunities to pad their resumes every game like the Power 5 schools do. This year, however, was one of the most crowded bubbles in recent memory as many teams failed to do much late in the season to stay floating. For the most part, the Selection Committee did a decent job selecting the correct at-large teams. I only have two legitimate gripes, and they involved the two last teams into the field. My first gripe is with the Arizona State Sun Devils. Look, I understand that beating two #1 seeds in the same season is an incredible feat but winning two games is not your entire resume. The Committee Chair said that we must remember that games in December are just as important as games in February. That's great Chair, I agree with you. So, why didn't you evaluate Arizona State that way? The Sun Devils finished 9th in the Pac 12. 9th!!!!!!! Five teams ahead of them couldn't even sniff the bubble. The third place team, UCLA is headed to Dayton with them. College basketball has had significant trouble trying to convince the casual sports fan that the regular season is relevant. When you allow two wins to undermine your evaluation of an entire team's resume, it further proves that point. Crazy things can happen in small sample sizes, which is why we usually allow larger samples of data to guide our decisions. Unfortunately, the committee failed to do that with Arizona State's resume. I could go on forever about ASU, but I have to move on to Syracuse. I'm not going to spend much time on them, but I am just baffled by their inclusion into the tournament. Their best non-conference win is over Maryland. I guess they won at Miami, whoopi do. Why not give this spot to Middle Tennessee, who had the 13th toughest non conference schedule, according to Kenpom, and had a magical season that would be remembered by those associated with the school for a long time. No one associated with Syracuse will remember this season two years from now. Look, I get that the process is supposed to be objective, but we have to reward mid-majors for trying to build up their resume. Middle Tennessee did everything the comittee asked them to do, and they still got overlooked. It is what it is, and the worst part is that Syracuse and Arizona State have a great chance to move onto the round of 32. Ever since the inclusion of the First Four, the winner of the Wednesday night game went onto win their next game.

2. FBI Investigation - The FBI investigation has been a cloud that has hung very high over this NCAA basketball season. It would only make sense that three teams that have been major focal points in the FBI probe were left on the outside looking in. USC (who I think should have gotten in over Arizona State), Oklahoma State, and Louisville had legitimate cases to get into the tournament. However, the committee decided that there were resumes were just not good enough. When asked about it, the Committee Chair was asked about whether the probe had any effect on their decision making, he vehemently denied it and refused to go further into it. Obviously, he is going to say no, but there is no way the people in the room were at least not thinking about it. The NCAA's legitimacy is already at question. The last thing they want is for the probe to weigh down the tourney. Along with these snubs, the Committee also underseeded Arizona and possibly Auburn. The committee is always going to make some errors in seeding, it is just interesting these schools happened to be on the wrong side of seeding this year. 

3. Seeding - Outside of the two aforementioned schools, the seeding this year wasn't too bad. I don't think any number one seed has been unfairly punished by poor seeding like Villanova last year. The 1s and 2s this year are pretty much who we expected them to be. Questions start to get asked with Tennessee, Arizona, and West Virginia, but there isn't anything too egregious. 

South Region

#1 Seed's Path to Final Four: Least Difficult - This is definitely not a popular take, but I think the Virginia Cavaliers got a pretty nice draw. They got a pretty mediocre 16 seed in UMBC (Go Retrievers!!!), and then will face either Creighton or Kansas State in the next round, who are both outside of the Kenpom Top 25. After the first weekend, a matchup with either Arizona or Kentucky awaits them in the Sweet 16. This possible matchup has gotten pundits riled up. I understand the sentiment. Arizona is probably a top 5 team in terms of talent and have three guys on their roster, who will definitely be on NBA rosters in the near future (DeAndre Ayton, Allonzo Trier, and Rawlie Alkins). Kentucky is loaded with talented freshman and Coach Cal is one of the better coaches in the country. However, Arizona did not necessarily dominate a very weak Pac-12 that could only muster up three tourney teams (and Arizona State shouldn't even be in). Also, let us not forget that Sean Miller teams historically choke in the Tourney. Also, people think Kentucky is back, because they won the SEC Tournament. I'm not buying it. They beat a mediocre at best Georgia team, an Alabama team playing its 3rd game in 3 days that was well aware it had cleared its way to the tourney, and a good Tennessee team that shot the ball poorly. Regardless of who ends up getting there, it will no doubt be a tough game, but the Cavs have faced similar opponents in the ACC, who they have dispatched. If they can claw through the Sweet 16, they will most likely get Cincinnati or Tennessee. Both of these teams are just "Virginia Lite." Kenpom has Cincy and Tennessee are #2 and #4 in defensive efficiency behind Virginia who is #1. In terms of offensive efficiency, Virginia is ranked much higher than both of them. Essentially, Virginia will be playing a worse version of themselves. They play against this style every day in practice and will know exactly how to beat it. Many people may not agree, but I really like Virginia's path to the Alamo. If they fail again this year, it would be fair to say that Virginia may never get to the Final Four

Most Intriguing First Round Matchup: Creighton-Kansas State: Most people will point to Kentucky-Davidson or Loyola-Chicago-Miami, however, nothing gets me going like a nice revenge narrative. Creighton guard, Marcus Foster, played his first two collegiate seasons at Kansas State. His freshman year he was a breakout star. Foster averaged 15 points a game and was must watch TV. Any time Kansas State played, Foster was a mainstay on SportsCenter. Unfortuntaly, for KSU and Foster, his sophomore year did not go very well. Foster got caught up with the hype and started being a detriment to the team. His numbers went down and Coach, Bruce Webber, suspended him multiple times. At the end of the season, Webber dismissed Foster from the team for his negligent behavior. After his dismissal from the team, Foster transferred to Creighton where he has found new life. Foster leads the team with 20 points a game this season and just hit the 2,000 point plateau. Also, this game will not have much of an impact on the tournament, I am intrigued to see Foster go against his old school in what could be the last game of his college career. 

Star Freshman: DeAndre Ayton, Arizona - This guy is just a monster. He is 7' tall, can shoot the basketball, defend, rebound effectively, and just be a presence in the post. Ever since his name was associated with the FBI probe, he has just been on a mission. In the Pac 12 Championship game against USC on Saturday, he went for 32 points and 18 rebounds. Ayton has shot up mock draft boards and some are saying he could be the number one pick in the draft this June. I think he has a fairly comparable game to Karl-Anthony Towns, and he definitely has that upside. If you believe that one man can carry a team to a championship, Ayton and the Wildcats may be your squad.

Region of Poor Tourney Coaches: Another interesting storyline in the South is that a bunch of coaches are looking to breakthrough and finally reach their first Final Four. Tony Bennett (Virginia), Sean Miller (Arizona), and Mick Cronin (Cincinnati) are three of the most respected coaches. They constantly have good squads that are filled with Final Four potential. However, neither of them have been able to breakthrough the door. With all of them in one region, there is a good chance that one of them may do that. Tennessee coach, Rick Barnes, has been to one Final Four (and lost in the Semis). Despite his one Final Four appearance, which was in 2003, Barnes has a reputation for falling short in the tournament. The only coach in this region with a National Title is Coach Cal. It is also worth noting Jim Larranaga and Shaka Smart are also creeping around in this region. Both made shock Final Four runs with (at the time) 11 seed CAA schools in George Mason and VCU. Will the tormented coaches break their curse, will Coach Cal add to his legacy, or could Larranega or Smart surprise the nation again?

Matchup We all Want to See: Arizona-Kentucky - I talked about this a little bit in my blurb about Virginia, but this potential matchup would be happening around too early. Coach Cal talked about it on Sunday and essentially said his team got a raw deal. He may have a point, but his team should have performed better throughout the season. Every year, the committee pits two Blue Bloods against each other in the Round of 32 and put it on a Saturday night to draw some good ratings. Two years ago, the Committee put these same Wildcats against the Indiana Hoosiers. Led by Yogi Ferrell, the Hoosiers beat the Wildcats. Maybe, this is where Coach Cal's anger stems from. Regardless, this game will have tons of talent, large fan bases, and top notch coaching. It has all of the makings of a classic March Madness game. I hope it comes to fruition.

Rapid Fire: 

Trendy Upset Pick to Avoid: 11 Loyola-Chicago over 6 Miami

Player I want with ball on last possession: Allonzo Trier, Arizona

Player (s) that will become household names by Monday: Cody and Caleb Martin, Nevada

Best Nickname: Loyola-Chicago Ramblers

Guys You need to know: Kyle Guy (Virginia), Gary Clark Jr. (Cincinnati), Admiral Schofield (Tennessee), Barry Brown (Kansas St.), Peyton Aldridge (Davidson), Mo Bamba (Texas), Kevin Knox (Kentucky)

#6 or Higher seed that could make it to second weekend: 7 Nevada


East Region

#1 Seed's Path to Final Four: Less Difficult - I was struggling between Villanova and Kansas for this spot, but I think the Wildcats have a slightly easier path. After the Round of 64, they will have semi-tough matchup against either Virginia Tech or Alabama. People are very excited about the Crimson Tide because of Collin Sexton (we will talk about him more in a little bit). However, they are the fourth lowest efficient at-large team in the field according to Kenpom and 'Nova blows them away in offensive efficiency (over 100 spots). Virginia Tech is incredibly balanced and took down Virginia in Charlottesville earlier this year. However, I do not think that the VT will be able to get enough baskets to keep up with the Wildcats. In the Sweet Sixteen, the Wildcats would have potential matchups with Wichita State or West Virginia. I think Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges would run the Shockers out of the building. The more challenging opponent for 'Nova would be the #5 seed, West Virginia. The Mountaineers are a veteran squad that play a very high pressure press defense that can wreak havoc for teams that have an inexperienced guards that struggle to protect the ball. Villanova is not one of those teams. Lastly, if they pass this test, the Wildcats would most likely play Purdue, Texas Tech, or even possibly Florida. Matchups with Purdue and Florida would be absolute shootouts and would be one of the more fun games of the tournament. However, Purdue coach, Matt Painter, has not gotten past the Sweet Sixteen in his coaching career. He has been at Purdue since 2005. Florida has the potential to make the Final Four, but they have been one of the most puzzling teams in the nation. Which team will show up this March: the one that drained 17 three pointers at a 47% clip against Gonzaga? Or will it be the one that lost to Georgia at home and at Mississippi? Regardless, I think that Texas Tech provides the toughest matchup for the Wildcats. The Red Raiders have a bonafide star in Keenan Evans and a defense that ranks in the the top 3 in terms of defensive efficiency. It is a pretty similar build to the South Carolina team that went to the Final Four last season. All things considered, I think Villanova got a decent draw even though they will definitely have a couple of challenges to overcome.

Most Intriguing First Round Matchup: Wichita State- Marshall - Many analysts are pegging Wichita State as a dark horse candidate to win the entire tournament. They are a senior-laden team with a great point guard in Landry Shamet, strong bigs in Shaq Morris and Zac Brown, and a coach that has been to a Final Four in Gregg Marshall. Despite all of the intangibles in the world, I cannot get behind this Shockers team. Look, they are more than capable of scoring buckets, but I am not as confident that they can stop others from scoring buckets. The Shockers are only 107th in defensive efficiency and allowed UConn to score 74 points in their building. Gregg Marshall teams are known for being ferocious on the defensive side of the ball, and this version is just not getting it done this season. In their first round matchup they will be playing the Marshall Thundering Herd and a very familiar name at coach, Dan D'Antoni. If you are curious, yes, that is Mike D'Antoni's brother, and his style is exactly the same as Mike. Marshall plays at the sixth fastest tempo in the country, has top 100 offense in terms of efficiency and has the 12th highest scoring offense in the country. Their stud is senior, Jon Elmore, who is averaging twenty-two points, six assists, and six boards a game. His stat line somewhat reminds of you of Nikola Jokic. This is game to be an up and down affair that involve a lot of short possessions and a lot of points. I think this is a dangerous spot for the Shockers. If Elmore can get hot, I think the Herd can pull of the big upset. Either way, it should definitely be a very fun game. 

Star Freshman: Collin Sexton, Alabama - In this stacked class of freshmen, the best athlete of the bunch is definitely Sexton. Sexton has essentially been the Russell Westbrook of this Alabama team. He is averaging twenty points, four rebounds, four assists, and two turnovers a game for the Crimson Tide. He has a very solid year, but his most impressive performance of the season was in November when a on-court skirmish between Alabama and Minnesota led to the Crimson Tide only having five guys left to play for the rest of the game. After two minutes, an Alabama player fouled out, leaving the Tide with only four guys to play in the game. A minute after that, another Tide got injured and was unable to return to the game. This left the Tide with only three players for the last ten minutes of the game. Alabama was down by 11 at this point. They would go on to only lose by only 5 points to Minnesota. Sexton dropped forty points that night and proved what an incredible athlete he is. He has been inconsistent at times this year, but when he is on. He carried the Tide to a tourney berth in the SEC tournament last week, and there is no denying that he could be the key to pulling off a major upset against 'Nova in the Round of 32.

Region of Varying Coaching Pedigree: In this region, we only have one coach that was won a National Championship. That would be Jay Wright. Despite winning a title and also reaching a separate Final Four, Wright has a reputation underachieving in the tournament. I think the title should put those calls to rest, as he is a very good coach. A couple of other coaches have reached Finals fours in the aforementioned Gregg Marshall and West Virginia coach Bob Huggins. One potential coaching matchup that I find intriguing would be a possible Sweet 16 matchup between Purdue's Matt Painter and Texas Tech's Chris Beard. Two years ago when Beard was at Arkansas-Little Rock, the Trojans upset Purdue as a 12 seed. It would be interesting to see if Beard could pull off the same magic with the Red Raiders. As I mentioned before, I am not a fan of Matt Painter as a tourney coach.

Matchup We all Want to See: Villanova-Purdue - It is easy to say that the juiciest matchup is the 1-2 game, but Villanova and Purdue have the first and second most efficient offenses in the country according to Kenpom. We love offense. We also love depth, and both of these teams are very deep. If either squad gets into foul trouble, there will be bodies on the bench that can come in and keep the game interesting. Again, Matt Painter will need to overcome a history of tournament failure for this to happen.

Rapid Fire:

Trendy upset pick to Avoid: 14 Stephen F. Austin over 3 Texas Tech

Player I want with ball on last possession: Keenan Evans, Texas Tech

Player (s) that will become household names by Monday: Mikal Bridges, Villanova

Best Nickname: Wichita State Shockers

Guys You need to know: Jalen Brunson (Villanova), Carsen Edwards (Purdue), Landry Shamet (Wichita State), Sagaba Konate (West Virginia), Chris Chiozza (Florida), Kelan Martin (Butler), Jaylen Adams (St. Bonaventure), Kyle Allman Jr. (Cal-State Fullerton)

6 or Higher seed that could make it to second weekend: 6 Florida


Midwest Region

#1 Seed's Path to Final Four: More Difficult - Although they are ranked as the third best number one see, I am not a big fan of the Kansas Jayhawks. They have pretty good guard play, and they won another Big 12 Title. However, they are not very deep in their front court, and they lost three times at home and once in Kansas City. Kansas never loses this many times in their home state (yeah, Kansas City is in Missouri too, whatever). Kansas will get their tournament started off against one of the better #16 seeds in recent memory, as they will play the Penn Quakers. The Ivy League automatic bid usually gets into the tourney at around the 12 to 14 seed line. This year, it fell all the way to #16. It was a down year for the Ivy, but this is still a very capable Penn team. Chances are that the Quakers will not pull off the upset, but they can make the Jayhawks fight more than they would like. I think Kansas could be in big trouble in the round of 32, as they could face off against NC State or Seton Hall. I'm not too sold on the Wolfpack, but I think the Pirates of Seton Hall could present an incredible challenge to the Jayhawks. The Pirates have incredibly athletic guards that can shoot from the three point line and get to the whole. Most importantly, though, they have one of the most underrated big men in the country, Angel Delgado. Delgado is a double double machine and can really exploit the lack of depth in the Kansas front court that I mentioned. Kansas's starting center, Udoka Azubuike, missed the Big 12 Tournament with a left leg injury and is expected back for the tournament. However, if he aggravates the injury during the tournament, it could lead to a field day for Delgado. If the Jayhawks can get out of the first weekend, they will actually have a pretty reasonable opponent. I think it could be anyone from Auburn, Clemson, New Mexico State, and Charleston. That quarter of the region is pretty wide open, and I think each opponent sets up for the Jayhawks. Their real problem would form in the Elite Eight where they would most likely face either Duke or Michigan State. Personally, I think that both the Blue Devils and the Spartans are better than the Jayhawks. Kenpom rankings agree with me as they have Duke (#3) and Michigan State (#6) ranked higher than Kansas (#9). At the end of the day, Duke and Michigan State have better rosters and better coaches than Kansas. Bill Self does have that national title, but I think he has fallen short of the Final Four many times with better rosters than the one he currently has. I think it may happen once again this season. 


Most Intriguing First Round Matchup: Rhode Island-Oklahoma - Everyone is excited to see Trae Young play in the NCAA Tournament. I get it, and I am going to talk about it in a little bit. I am actually intrigued by the Rhode Island Rams in this matchup. I really believe the Rams had an outside shot of making the Final Four this year. They brought back a bunch of talent and have one of the most sought after coaches in the country, Dan Hurley. However, they had rough end to their season, and then they were given a pretty difficult draw. If they get past the Sooners, they will take on Duke, and then if they can get by that tough test, the Spartans will most likely be waiting. This matchup will really be a great veteran leadership vs. Freshman stud matchup. I'm excited to see which side prevails. 

Star Freshman: Trae Young, Oklahoma - This was definitely the most difficult region to pick between. Trae Young and Marvin Bagley have probably been the two most transcendent freshmen in the country this season. I decided to go with Young, because we know that Bagley is going to be a monster in this tournament, but we really aren't sure to make of Young. Young, as you know, captivated the college basketball world by having one of the most dominant stretches in the sport's history over the non-conference slate. However, as he got into conference plays, teams started to focus in solely on Young and really slowed his game down. He got incredibly frustrated, and it really rubbed off on the team. The Sooners have not won a single road game this entire calendar year. That is quite remarkable for an at-large tournament team. I really think that Young may struggle against Rhode Island in their Round of 64 game. The Rams have a top 40 defense, and like I mentioned earlier, they are senior-laden team with a great coach. I think they are going to goad the freshman into making some bad mistakes early, which will manage to throw him off the game. I hope I am wrong. A Duke-Trae Young battle would be epic. I just think it will be an uphill battle for Trae.


Region of Coaching Immortality: Izzo and Coach K. I don't really have to say much else about their pedigree. We have two other National Title winners in Bill Self and Jim Boehiem (if he can get out of Dayton). We also have some other coaches with tourney success: Bruce Pearl, Lonnie Kruger, and Jamie Dixon. This is definitely the most accomplished region of coaches in the tournament.

Matchup We all Want to See: Duke-Michigan State - I mean this one is obvious. Blue blood vs blue blood, Izzo vs Coach K, Bagley vs Bridges, Carter vs Ward. The list goes on and on. These two teams played earlier in the season during the Champions Classic. Duke came out an 88-81 winner, and this is typically the case when these two teams meet. Izzo and Coach K have met 12 times, Coach K has won 11 times. It is worth noting that many of these games have happened at neutral sites as well. I have to side with history and would think Duke would get the upper hand again, but it would be great to watch these two incredible programs go at it again.

Rapid Fire:

Trendy upset pick to Avoid: 10 Oklahoma over 7 Rhode Island

Player I want with ball on last possession: Miles Bridges, Michigan State 

Player (s) that will become household names by Monday: Marvin Bagley, Duke

Best Nickname: Penn Quakers

Guys You need to know: Devonte' Graham (Kansas), Wendell Carter Jr. (Duke), Angel Delgado (Seton Hall), Tra Holder (Arizona State), Tyus Battle (Syracuse), Jaren Jackson Jr. (Michigan State), E.C. Matthews (Rhode Island), Zach Lofton (New Mexico State), Joe Chealey (College of Charleston)

6 or Higher seed that could make it to second weekend: 12 New Mexico State Aggies

West Region

#1 Seed's Path to Final Four: Most Difficult - I really do like this Xavier team. They have a star senior guard, Trevon Bluiett, a white dude that everyone will hate, J.P. Macura,  and an an excellent coach, Chris Mack. Most of the country is disrespecting the Musketeers based on their name and identity, but this team went to the Elite Eight last year as a 10 seed. They upset Arizona in the process. Although I think this team is talented and has the ability to go to the Final Four, the Selection Committee did not do them any favors. North Carolina, Michigan, and Gonzaga are all rated higher in the Kenpom than Xavier, and the #5 seed, Ohio State, is only spot below the Musketeers. It is not the worst thing in the world. They would have only have to play, at most, two of them if they reached the Elite Eight. However, the idea that there are three teams in their region that are more efficient is a bit troubling. Also, there is a potential matchup with Michael Porter Jr. in the second round. I will discuss Mr. Porter in a little bit, but the road to San Antonio for Xavier will be much tougher than their fellow #1 seeds. 


Most Intriguing First Round Matchup: Michigan-Montana - At first, this matchup was not the first one on my radar. However, I do have some connections to the two schools, so I thought I would give it a look. The Michigan Wolverines are on a tear and for the second year in a row won four games in four days to win the Big Ten Championship. The Wolverines are so good, because they are able to space out the floor so well. Almost every player on the team can shoot from deep, and they have three to four guys that can get to the rim with ease. Along with their talented roster, they have a very underrated coach, John Beilein, who excels in tourney situations. In 2013, he took a #4 seed squad led by Trey Burke to the National Championship game, and I guess they are now technically champions since Louisville had to vacate that title. Basically, this Michigan squad has a lot going for it heading in to the tourney. Now, I won't lie, I don't know much about the Montana Grizz, but I did some research.  I was fairly impressed to see how balanced they are as they are efficient both on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, and they rank at #71 in the Kenpom. They primarily depend on two guys, Ahmaad Rorie and Michael Oguine. They are the only players on the team to average over 30 minutes a game. They have another player, Jamar Akoh, who averages double digit scoring per game, but he only averages 26 minutes a game. I figured that he must be very foul-prone, and I was correct. He is 52nd in the nation at Fouls per 40 minutes, as he averages 3.36 fouls per game, according to TeamRankings. The guy is constantly a presence for the Grizz, but he has to find a way to stay on the floor against Michigan. I think this Montana team is very talented, and I think with right matchup, they could have pulled off a huge upset. However, I do not think they match up well with Michigan. First, in order to keep up with the Wolverines, the Grizz will need to take and make three pointers at a decent clip. Unfortunately, this is not what the Grizz do. The Grizz are outside of the Top 300 in the country in terms of both taking and making threes. Their three point shooting percentage ranks at #215, but it is not something they like to do. If they want to win this game, they are going to have to hope Michigan has a terrible day from behind the arc. Although it is unlikely, it is March, and anything can happen. 

Star Freshman: Michael Porter Jr., Missouri - Like I have stated throughout this blog, this was a stacked Freshmen class. The number one freshman in this class was Michael Porter Jr. Porter was originally supposed to go to Washington, but then Lorenzo Romar was relieved from his duties as head coach for the Huskies. As a result, Porter reopened his recruitment. Over at Missouri, they hired former Cal coach, Cuonzo Matin, and then managed to hire Porter's dad as an assistant coach. This pretty much locked up Porter's commitment to the Tigers, and Mizzou was primed for a breakout year. Unfortunately, Porter got hurt two minutes into their first game of the season and he was ruled out for the rest of the season. Despite the prognosis, Porter worked hard to try and get back for the postseason, and he was cleared just in time for the SEC tournament. He played his second game of the season last week, and he showed some promise. However, he was ultimately rusty and put up a poor 5-17 from the field. I respect Porter for making the effort to come back, and it shows that he truly wants to help his team. However, I think it may just mess with their chemistry. The guy hasn't played all year, and he is just going to throw up seventeen shots in twenty-three minutes. I don't know how that will go with the rest of the guys on the team. It will be fun if Michael Porter Jr. can turn into the guy we all imagined he would be this season. Instead, I think we will have to wait until his NBA career begins next season.

Region of Solid Coaching: In this region, I didn't notice a particular theme with the coaches other than it is just a solid group. We have a National Champion, Roy Williams. We have two coaches that have reached the Final Four, John Beilein and and Mark Few. We have got the coach that is looking for redemption after getting caught texting recruits too much, Kelvin Sampson. There is the up and coming coach that is looking to revitalize one of the bigger programs in the country, Chris Holtmann. Then, there are the solid guys, who usually find in March: Chris Mack, Leonard Hamilton, Ed Cooley, Billy Kennedy, and Cuonzo Martin. This region is just stacked with good coaches, and I am sure we will notice their coaching prowess throughout the tournament.

Matchup We all Want to See: Xavier-Gonzaga - I'm sure there are a good amount of people that would peg UNC-Michigan for this spot. However, I have great respsect for the little schools that turned into national powers. Both of these schools are Private, Christian universities with enrollments below 8,000. Yet, they have both found a way to mainstays in March. Not only do they get to the Dance, but they make statements. Both teams have incredible guard play and are very well-coached. I really see the difference in this game coming from the front court. The Zags are stacked with Jonathan Williams and Killian Tillie. It is going to be a very tall task for Xavier to stop these guys inside. It is going to take an incredible effort from Bluiett and Macura to overcome it. Regardless of the result, we should commend these teams for constantly making Sweet 16's and consistently putting the country on notice.

Rapid Fire:

Trendy upset pick to Avoid: 11 San Diego State over 6 Houston

Player I want with ball on last possession: Joel Berry, North Carolina 

Player (s) that will become household names by Monday: J.P. Macura, Xavier

Best Nickname: South Dakota State Jackrabbits

Guys You need to know: Keita Bates-Diop (Ohio State), Mike Daum (South Dakota State), Rob Gray Jr. (Houston), Trey Kell (San Diego State), Muhammed-Ali Abdur-Rahkman (Michigan), Robert Williams (Texas A&M), Kyron Cartwright (Providence), Luke Maye (North Carolina)

6 or Higher seed that could make it to second weekend: 6 Houston Cougars

 I will finish by saying the three keys to a succesful March. Guard play is key. The Most Outstanding Player last year was UNC point guard, Joel Berry. Guards will take you a long way in March. Second, it is best to not be swayed by analysts. Sure, Jay Bilas picked the National Champion last season, but he was one of the few experts that got it right. At the end of the day, this is your bracket, you make the choices. Lastly, upsets are fun, but they aren't everything. The tournament is won in April with your champion, not in March with your upsets. Just be prudent and you will still get your share of upset picks in. Well, there it is. I hope this was helpful, and I wish all of you a Happy March Madness.

Daily Three 4/14

 Hello,

 We went 2-1 yesterday. It would make sense that the Caps in the playoffs would be the team to let us down. They won the game last night, so all is well. We are going down a similar road tonight as yesterday, so let's get started.

MLB
Milwaukee Brewers +110 (10 units wagered, 11 units won) at Cincinnati Reds
Time: 7:10 EST TV: Fox Sports Wisconsin I am guessing

 We went with the Brew Crew yesterday, and it worked out well. We are going to do it again, although for a different reason today. The Reds opened up as -140 favorites on the money line. They have received 66% of money line bets, yet they have gone all the way down to -115. The sharps are all over the Brewers who have been killing the ball thus far this season. I would not expect to change against Scott Feldman in baseball's friendliest park for hitters. While you are enjoying some brews to kick off your weekend, root on the Brew Crew as they go for their fourth straight win.

NHL
New York Rangers +130 (10 units wagered, 13 units won) at Montreal Canadiens
Time: 7 EST TV: NBCSN
We have the same thing here as the Brewers game. 66% of money line bets are on the Canadiens, yet they have moved from -160 to -150. Sharps are on the Rangers and for good reason. The Rangers finished one point behind the Canadiens this season, and they played in the much harder Metropolitan Division. The Rangers are the better team, and I will not be surprised if they take a 2-0 lead with them back to New York.

Columbus Blue Jackets at Pittsburgh Penguins Even, Regulation Time (10 units wagered, 10 units won)

 We are 1-1 with our little Regulation Time experiment, and we will go back to it tonight. Something that has really caught my eye on Wednesday night was how fast this Penguins team is. Their speed is what took them to the title last year, but it appeared that this season, they may have slowed down a little bit. That was not the case on Wednesday, as they looked like the same team that took down the rest of the NHL last spring. I think the Blue Jackets will be able to slow them down a little bit with their brand of physicality in Columbus but playing in Pittsburgh is totally different. Expect the crowd to get the Pens going and take this thing to Columbus with a 2-0 lead.

Yesterday: 2-1
Overall: 116-108-7 (+84 units)

Daily Three 4/13

 Hello,

 Yesterday was not the best day to come out of hiatus, but I am hopeful. The Wild should have won that game, but Jake Allen, who was a sieve in January, has all of a sudden become a brick wall. The Senators held the Bruins to zero shots in the second period but had their own issues scoring. It isn't all bad, the Sharks made a nice comeback and salvaged our night. Anyway, I know tonight will be better, so, let's do it.

MLB
Milwaukee Brewers -110 (11 units wagered, 10 units won) at Cincinnati Reds
Time: 7:10 EST TV: I'm guessing Fox Sports Wisconsin

 Bronson Arroyo made his first Major League appearance since 2014 last Saturday. He gave up 6 runs in 4 innings. Tonight, he is going up against a hot Brewers team that just swept the Blue Jays in Toronto. He will also be pitching in Great American Ballpark, the most hitter friendly park in baseball. I think the Brewers are a good call.

NHL 
Toronto Maple Leafs at Washington Capitals -1.5, +140 (10 units wagered, 14 units won)
Time: 7 EST TV: USA

 Where did you think I was going to here? The storyline is old, the Caps are trying to exorcise some demons and win their first Stanley Cup, let alone get past the Second Round for the first time since 1998. I really do think this is the year for Ovi and the boys. Their first opponent is very similar to the first Ovi-led "Young Guns" in 2008. Led by Auston Matthews, the Leafs have made incredible strides and are way ahead of schedule in their rebuilding project. Although this team will be making noise in the Eastern Conference for years to come, I think they will be taking a back seat to the Caps this year. This Caps team will be just too much for the youngsters from Ontario. So, let's give the Leafs a goal and a half, it shouldn't make a difference tonight.

Calgary Flames at Anaheim Ducks Even, Regulation Time (10 units wagered, 10 units won)
Time: 10:30 TV: NBCSN
 I know the regulation wager did not work out last night, but the Wild seriously outplayed the Blues. Jake Allen was just unbeatable last night. We move on and will go with the Ducks tonight. The Ducks owned the Flames during the regular season series, winning 4 of 5 their meetings, including two wins over the past two weeks. This series will be fun as the recent meetings got very heated and involved many fisticuffs. Anyway, I know the regular season is a different beast, but the Ducks match up very well with this team, and I think it will show tonight in Anaheim. Let's go with the Ducks to win this one without needing extra time.

Yesterday: 1-2
Overall: 114-107-7 (+74 Units)

Daily Three 4/12

 Hello,

 Alright, the hiatus is over. My favorite time of the year is here as the NHL playoffs start tonight. Tonight will kick off an action-packed couple of months with baseball getting going, the UEFA Champions league revving up, and the NBA playoffs starting on Saturday. The focus, today, will be on the NHL, so let's get to it.

NHL 

Boston Bruins at Ottawa Senators +115 (10 units wagered, 11.5 units won)
Time: 7 EST TV: NHL Network

 We start tonight in the Canada's capitol, as the Bruins and Senators return to the postseason after their absence from last year's edition. Many people are jumping on the Bruins in this series as they have "veteran leadership" and a really strong scoring line in Patrice Bergeron, David Backes, and Brad Marchand. However, I am not sold on the Bruins, especially in Ottawa. First, the Bruins are incredibly banged up on their blue line. Power play stud, Torrey Krug, will not play tonight, and Zdeno Chara's right-hand man, Brando Carlo, will also be sitting out with an upper body injury. Things have gotten so dire for the Bruins, they were forced to sign top prospect, Charlie McAvoy, to an entry-league contract, so he could suit up tonight. By signing this contract, the Bruins essentially given up a year of team control over McAvoy. It seems like a risky endeavor for a team that doesn't have a great chance to go the distance. Also, at least in Ottawa, the aforementioned "Killer B's" line will be matched with Erik Karlsson every time they are on the ice. Karlsson is a two-time Norris trophy winner (best defenseman) and is still one of the more under-appreciated players in the NHL. If Karlsson can shut down this line consistently over the first two games in Ottawa, there is a good chance, Marchand loses his head and takes unneccesarry penalties that will severely hurt his team. Until the Bruins get their blue line situated, I think the Sens are in good position to head into Boston with a 2-0 lead. Trust the best defenseman in hockey to shut down the Bruins and help the Sens take a 1-0 lead in the series.

St. Louis Blues at Minnesota Wild +105, regulation time (9.5 units wagered, 10 units won)
Time: 9:30 EST TV: NBCSN

 First, let me clarify the odds. The Wild must win the game in regulation. If they get the win in overtime, it would count as a loss. I am taking this chance, because the Wild are currently -170 on the money line. Vegas thinks they have a very good shot at winning this game. So, let's just a wager about 7.5 units less and take something that Vegas expects to happen. Anyway, the interesting storyline coming into this series is St. Louis Blues coach, Mike Yeo, returning to Minnesota to coach against the team that fired him after last season. Yeo was able to turn things around in Minnesota, as he made the playoffs consistently over his tenure. However, he was never able to get over the proverbial hump, as the Wild were never able to get past the second round, usually falling to the Blackhawks. Also, the team strayed towards protecting their net and could never get it going offensively. Thus, the Wild brought Bruce Boudreau to use his run n' gun system, and it really got all four lines scoring for the Wild. The Blues have picked things up over the past month, but the Wild are still a significantly better team. The Blues' own GM even knows this as he traded his best defenseman at the trade deadline for a decent haul, instead of making a run for the Cup. Give props to the Blues for continuing to fight, but their stay in the playoffs should be short. Go with the Wild to win tonight in 60 minutes.

San Jose Sharks +150 (10 units wagered, 15 units won) at Edmonton Oilers
Time: 10 EST TV: USA

 Welcome to the big time Connor McDavid. All eyes will be on Mr. McDavid tonight as he plays in his first playoff game along with many other Oilers, who as a franchise have not made the playoffs in 11 years (previously the longest drought in the NHL). Although I imagine Connor will win many playoff games with this franchise, he will not win his first one tonight. I am going to jump on the Sharks, as I see some value with their high money line total. After years of being labeled chokers, San Jose finally broke through last year and made the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in franchise history. Although they ended up losing in 6, it set the tone for this franchise that they can take it to the next level. They are dealing with a couple of injuries to key cogs Joe Thornton and Logan Couture, who are both game time decisions tonight. However, I cannot imagine that they would not suit up tonight. Once, it is announced that they will play, I am guessing this line falls 20 or so points. So, I am going to jump on it now and hope that experience will trump youth in the first game of this series.

Last Monday: 0-3
Overall: 113-105-7 (+78.5 units)