MIDWEST REGIONAL
Sleeper: West Virginia- The Mountaineers must survive Dayton, but the emergence of Kevin Jones and Devin Ebanks means WVU can play with anyone. This team could be poised to run to the Elite Eight.
Upset Alert: Cleveland State- The 13th seeded Vikings could be a terror against Wake if they successfully slow the game down and enforce their physical style of play. If the Vikings can get past Wake anything can happen against the winner of Utah/Arizona.
What will happen: Louisville will open the first round thrashing the winner of the play-in game and will get a date with the Siena Saints from the MAAC. Siena will beat Ohio St. who relies heavily on Evan Turner (17.1 ppg, 7.0 rpg &3.8 assists). Utah will face Arizona in the 5/12 match-up and prove that the talent does not necessarily make for a successful team as they dispatch Chase Budinger and the Wildcats. In the 4/13 game Wake Forest will be stunned by Cleveland State who plays gritty defense and does just enough on offense to secure a victory. The Demon Deacons struggle from the outside and are very young, which appears to make them ripe for an upset. The 6/11 matchup puts West Virginia and Dayton in Minneanapolis with three headed monster Devin Ebanks, Alex Ruoff and Da’Sean Butler leading the way. I like West Virginia over Dayton who has struggled to find their way without Chris Lowery. I like Kansas to avoid the curse of the Bison and knock off North Dakota St by less than ten points! In the 7/10 matchup I like USC to prevail because of their defense, defense is not the forte of this young BC squad. This matches Demar Derozan and Tyrese Rice, two players who can take over a game. Finally, in the 2/15 match-up the NEC will remain winless in the NCAA Tournament as Michigan State will march into the second round. Louisville’s match-up with Siena in the round of 32 should be a comfortable win, but don’t be surprised if Siena’s guards outplay the Cardinals because it is a good bunch; Louisville by 13. Utah will advance to the Sweet Sixteen with a hard fought win over Cinderella Cleveland State, ultimately winning a close game. I like West Virginia to knock off Kansas, expect Jones and Ebanks to be forces on the glass. In a match-up of 2/10 I like Michigan State to knock off streaking USC with a stifling defensive effort, placing the Spartans in the Sweet 16. In the Sweet 16 I like Louisville to knock off Utah, who puts up a game effort but just cannot keep up with the Cards. On the other side, I like West Virginia and Bobby Huggins to advance to the Elite 8 with a grind it out win over Michigan State. The Mountaineers are surprisingly efficient on offense and their defense is up there with the best. In the Regional Final, I expect Louisville to advance to the Final Four in a classic, hard fought Big East battle. Louisville has won both meetings this year by a combined 9 points.
LOUISVILLE 
WEST REGIONAL
Sleeper: Washington- Isn’t it fitting that the Huskies would have a shot at Uconn in the Sweet 16? Washington has not been able to overcome the Huskies….
Upset Alert: Utah State- The Aggies won 30 games for a reason….they are very good. They have a favorable match-up with Marquette who has limped into the tournament.
What will happen: Connecticut steamrolls Chattanooga in Philadelphia. In the 8/9 match-up I like Texas A&M in a toss-up game (BYU has spurned me the last few years). In the 5/12 game, Purdue squares off with Northern Iowa who has not been able to breakthrough and this year will be no different as Purdue will advance. The 4/13 game is very interesting because Mississippi State was slotted as a 13 seed and is hot at the right time, however I like Washington to advance with their tough defense. The 6/11 game I really like Utah State to knock off Marquette. The Aggies have superior size with Wilkinson and Marquette is really missing Dominique James. Missouri will run Cornell out of the arena with a helter skelter game. The 7/10 game features another team I felt was undeserving in gaining a bid, and hot shooting Cal will shoot their way past Maryland. Memphis will smash Cal Northridge in a laugher. In the second round Uconn will knock off A&M in a game that is much closer than the experts think. Washington will get the vaunted match-up with Uconn by disposing of Purdue in a back and forth game. Utah State will make a Cinderella ride of its own when they knock Mike Anderson’s Mizzou Tigers out of the dance. Missouri struggles away from Columbia and will be beaten by a Utah State team who does everything right. In a 2/7 game, Memphis will set a date with Utah State by taking out Cal in a hotly contested ballgame. Connecticut and Washington have met for instant classics it seems every time they meet in March and this game will be no exception. Washington will upset the Huskies behind Brockman and Dentmon and the neutralization of Thabeet. Memphis will end Utah States run with too much athleticism and a stifling defense setting up a Memphis- Washington regional final. I like Washington to push its way into the Final Four on the coaching of Lorenzo Romar and on the backs of Dentmon and Brockman.
WASHINGTON 
EAST REGIONAL
Sleeper: UCLA- This team always plays great March basketball under Ben Howland, they could put it together for a special run.
Upset Alert: VCU- VCU is led by Eric Maynor, which is a good enough reason to believe in them.
What will happen: You heard it here first; East Tennessee State will be in the game against Pitt in the second half. The Bucs always seem to play well in the NCAA’s, and could get into Pitt’s mind. However, this is a 1/16 match-up and Pitt will prevail. Oklahoma St. will knock off Tennessee, who has struggled against quality opponents this season. Can someone tell me why anyone thinks Wisconsin will beat Florida St. because there is no chance this happens, Florida St. by double digits. Portland St. drew a high 13 and Xavier has faltered, but the Musketeers will survive. I absolutely love VCU; UCLA must fly all the way across the country and face a crowd that will side with VCU. American could have been a potential upset team, but they will not beat Villanova in Philly. In the 7/10, I have to take Texas over Minnesota, but in a close one. Duke better be ready for Binghamton because the Bearcats’ are trying to finish Belmont’s work. I’ll take Duke….The second round game between Pitt and Oklahoma St. (led by Eaton and Anderson) could be a tough test for Pitt but DeJuan Blair is just a beast and won’t be denied. Florida State and Toney Douglas will shoot their way past Xavier, who I am just not very high on this season. VCU’s magic will end at the hands of Scottie Reynolds and Villanova in a virtual home game for the Cat’s. Duke will finally return to the Sweet Sixteen with a victory over Texas, who had not put it together at all this season. Pitt bullies its way into the Elite 8 by knocking off Florida St., Sam Young and DeJuan Blair are on a mission. Villanova sets up a Big East Regional Final with Pitt using a big effort from Scottie and Dante Cunningham to knock off Duke. Pitt and Nova bully each other for 40 minutes but the trio of Young, Blair and Fields prove to be too much and the Panthers avenge their loss to Nova.
PITTSBURGH 
SOUTH REGIONAL
Sleeper: Butler- The Bulldogs are always a tough out and if they can get a shot at UNC anything can happen.
Upset Alert: Western Kentucky- The Hilltoppers have what it takes to spring their second upset in two years.
What will happen: North Carolina thwarts Parakhouski and Radford’s upset bid EARLY. There’s something to be said for a team that does not beat itself, Butler knocks LSU out making the SEC 0-3. As much I want to take Illinois, I think Western Kentucky Ty Rodger’s the Illini. Gonzaga ends their recent tournament futility and makes it out of the first round over Akron. Christmas will not come in March, as Arizona St. and James Harden will handle Temple. Syracuse and their tired legs deal will avoid an upset against Stephen F. Austin but it won’t be pretty as the Lumberjacks are anything but shabby on defense (13th adjusted defensive rank). Clemson imposes themselves on Michigan and gets a date with Oklahoma who hurts Morgan State. North Carolina avoids the shocker against Butler using timely three point shooting to fend off the Bulldogs. Gonzaga earns a date with North Carolina as they dispose of Cinderella Western Kentucky in a tight game. Arizona St. puts an end to Syracuse tournament run behind the firepower of James Harden. I’m going to go with Oklahoma over Clemson because of Blake Griffin, Willie Warren, Austin Johnson, oh and Tony Crocker isn’t too shabby either. Gonzaga brings back their tournament magic with a shocking upset over North Carolina, the Tar Heels unraveling is their defense. Arizona St. and James Harden put up a huge effort, but Blake Griffin proves to the difference and his dominant presence puts Oklahoma in the Elite 8. Gonzaga completes a special run and takes out Oklahoma to advance to the Final Four!
GONZAGA 
My National Champion will be revealed tommorrow…. And now for two memorable tournament moments that still give me chills.
