March Madness thoughts

Because I have not blogged in a long time...what better casual thing to blog about other than March Madness. So...here are my thoughts. I do not know how many I will have but I will just start and end when I am done!

1. No Stephen Curry this year. This is sad but leaves room for someone else to drop 45 a night and will their team to the elite 8.

2. No South Carolina. Listen I am not a faithful South Carolina grad on most days. Our sports programs (minus Baseball, track, and I think we are pretty good at soccer) are not the best. In fact we have a saying and it is "maybe next year". I have actually learned to say it quite well...BUT this year the men's basketball team did a great job knocking off key people like Baylor (almost won the Big 12), Florida, and Kentucky (twice). We finished with a similar record in and out of conference as Tennessee and completely turned the program around from last year.

3. Top 15 seed (BINGHAMTON): It hurts me to say this but watch out Duke. I say that because we (I am a huge Duke fan, and have been ever since I was born) always have trouble in the first round and Binghamton is pretty good. They could role over and fall to Duke BUT given the right conditions...this could happen.

If this does not happen, watch out Michigan State only because Mich. St. is a very inconsistent team.

4. Top 14 seed (American University): American over Villanova. I got see American play the other day and they look tough.

5. Top 13 seed: This is a tough one and here is why...3 out of the 4 13's look good. Mississippi St. just won the SEC so I might actually pick them over Washington so I do not know if I consider this an 'upset' just because MSU should not be a 13 seed, BUT the other two that are appealing to me are Portland State and Cleveland State.

Cleveland State almost beat West Virginia and did beat Syracuse.

Portland State lost by 1 point to Udub and did beat Gonzaga pretty easily.

I am just saying...looks like the most upset action could come from #13 this year.

6. Top 12 seed (this is the last 'top seed' anything, anything over #12 is not an upset in the first round): I think Western Kentucky looks good for this spot. They DID be Louisville this year which makes 5 people who did that all year...and they beat them by 14...I am just saying.

I think Wisc. might be ok as well but in relation to an 'upset' pick...W. Kentucky might be a good pick to make some noise.

7. UCONN owes someone some money. Louisville was the number 1 seed of the whole tourney yet UCONN COULD have the easiest ride to the Elite 8...and then there is Memphis who has been scrimmaging all year in their division, saving all of their energy, to go really far this year.

8. Who might be in trouble: Oklahoma. They need to figure out how to play together again with their big man back. Also, Pitt could have a tough game with Ok. State in the second round...that is a tough second round and Pitt is hurt a little at the guard spot.

9. Who got the shaft: Baylor, South Carolina, Davidson, maybe Virginia Tech, Boston College, and did I say Baylor...?

10. Who paid the most to get in the tourney: CLEMSON! REALLY....REALLY....8-7 for their last 15 games including loosing to Virginia. I guess that is better than last year when they went 6-9. So...I guess they ended a lot better than last year...good job.

11. Final Four picks: Louisville (they are playing soooo well and have a killer press and even the water boy is all conference; that is how deep they are). UNC. Memphis. Pitt.

12. Final Four for fun: Louisville. Duke (Pitt is hurting and I do not see anyone else in the region that can win it). Syracuse (if they have any more energy). Memphis.

Cannot wait to fill out my bracket. Happy March Madness.