Talking East Bracket
Pittsburgh honestly screws me in my bracket every season. Every year I think they’re so tough, with at least one guard that can score and they lose to some awful team in the second or third round. But this is the best Pittsburgh team of them all, right? Fields, Young, Blair; they’re excellent and they have it all. If the Panthers can get through their first weekend against East Tennessee State and Oklahoma State or Tennessee, they should make the Elite Eight where I would guess they’d see Villanova or Duke.
Florida State looked good in the ACC Tournament, but I just can’t respect a team that lost to Northwestern by double digits. Xavier had some questionable losses this year and is a little overrated as a 4-seed, so they should look out for Portland State and their 5′6″ point guard. Okay, not really, but I say they don’t win two games. Wisconsin is a curious case in the tournament. They have some games where you wonder why they’re even in, but the defense is so good it allows the offense to come back. This year however, the offense just isn’t that good a lot of the time and might not be able to take advantage of that staunch defense. Still, I wouldn’t want to be Florida State in the first round.
The games in Philadelphia should be interesting. Virginia Commonwealth won the hearts of America a couple years ago when they beat Duke in the first round, and their star from that game, Eric Maynor, is still around. So can they beat UCLA this year? It will be up to Collison to make it not happen, as the Bruins have been very inconsistent this season. Villanova should be fine against American, and I like them to make it through to the Sweet 16, and beyond if they can heat up from outside.
Texas takes on Minnesota in the 7-10 game and this could be interesting. Texas has also been inconsistent and Minnesota has showed they can win big games with a victory over Louisville earlier in the year. Minnesota blocks an insane amount of shots: about 19% of the shots their opponents put up get sent back. I like Texas here though, with James, Abrams, and Pittman. Duke has looked good this year, but lack the two things you really want in the tournament: a true point guard and a great big man. Scheyer has been solid since taking over the point guard duties, but as good as Duke is, the Devils could go down at any time.
Predictions sure to ruin your bracket:
Sweet 16 lock: Umm, Pitt?
Upset Pick: Wisconsin over Florida State
Bold Call: Portland State gives Xavier a game.
Best Games: Thursday- UCLA vs. VCU, 9:50 et.
Friday- Ok State vs. Tennessee, 12:25 et.
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