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Now that we have that out of the way, let’s move on to the picks.

Round of 32

East

(1) North Carolina over (9) Arkansas

I know everyone says UNC will trip up somewhere, but I just don’t see who in their region will beat them. And after the Kelvin Sampson firing, I think Indiana runs the risk of not getting all their shoes on at once, let alone winning an NCAA game.

(5) Notre Dame over (13) Winthrop

As much as it pains me, I just think that big players play big games during March Madness. All things being otherwise equal, give me the team with the blue chip stud. Irish forward Luke Harangody is that stud.

As for the other teams in this subregional, a lot of people are picking George Mason to pull the first round upset. I rode Gonzaga to the Sweet Sixteen way too many times based on one memorable year to fall into that trap. I like Winthrop to upend Washington State mostly because after all the preseason hype, Wazzou just didn’t get it done this year in the Pac-10.

(3) Louisville over (6) Oklahoma

Yawn.

(2) Tennessee over (7) Butler

It’s soooo tempting to pick South Alabama to beat Butler in Birmingham. But the Bulldogs are an under-seeded Top 20 team. I don’t think they’re losing their first game.

I was unimpressed that Tennessee couldn’t build on the Memphis win, but I think they’re still strong enough to win this one.

Midwest

(1) Kansas over (8) UNLV

It’s boring to pick the #1 seed. Also, no one ever seems to accurately predict the sleepers. Bad news for all the Kent State bandwagoneers.

(5) Clemson over (13) Siena

Clemson is just a tick below UNC and Duke in the ACC. I can’t really explain the Siena pick. It just seems like Vandy is the type of team that could blow an early game.

They also, of course, could put it all together for 3 weeks and blow my chance of winning the donuts. But that’s neither here nor there.

(3) Wisconsin over (6) USC

Mayo over Beasley. Then Mayo leanrs how Big Ten basketball is played. I’m very high on Wisconsin.

(10) Davidson over (2) Georgetown

Davidson is good. Let’s not forget that. And no matter how hard I try, I can’t get my hopes up for Georgetown. I didn’t like Hibbert disappearing during the Big East tournament. One game, he scored zero points. That’s not the play of a stud who can carry you in the Dance.

South

(1) Memphis over (8) Mississippi State

I think Memphis has a laughably easy road to the regional finals.

(4) Pitt over (5) Michigan State

This was probably the toughest call for me. On the one hand, I was throughly unimpressed with the Spartans this year. They didn’t scare anyone. On the other, Neitzel is a stud who could start draining three’s all the way to San Antonio.

Unless the Pitt team that blitzed through the Big East stops them here. The same Pitt team that went 10-8 in the Big East. Ultimately, I think the play of Pitt PG Levance Fields - returning strong from a mid-season injury - puts the Panthers into the Sweet 16.

(3) Stanford over (6) Marquette

As my buddy Gavrie put it: “Stanford has two 7-footers that play the whole game!”

(2) Texas over (10) Saint Mary’s

Does anybody think Miami can beat Saint Mary’s? I haven’t seen it. Texas is too strong for the Gaels, though.

West

(1) UCLA over (8) BYU

The Bruins win the alphabet game. Read Simmons to see why.

(5) Drake over (4) Connecticut

Notre Dame : Drake :: Harangody : Emmenecker

(3) Xavier over (6) Purdue

Resurrecting the program from the ashes of the murder / cover-up scandal a few years back, Baylor is the feel-good story of the tournament. But the Boilermakers showed the toughness in the Big Ten to not fall into Baylor’s trap.

Problem is, Xavier’s just better than either of those teams.

(2) Duke over (7) West Virginia

Two other 7-seeds, Butler and Gonzaga, would beat Duke here. But not this one.

Sweet Sixteen

East

(1) North Carolina over (5) Notre Dame

Thanks for playing, Irish. The good teams will be taking over now.

(3) Louisville over (2) Tennessee

I’d be happy to be proven wrong, but again, Tennessee’s fade down the stretch has me down on them. This is more a pick against the Volunteers than for Louisville.

Midwest

(1) Kansas over (5) Clemson

It’s tempting, but keep in mind as good as Clemson is, they’re still a tick or two below the top of the ACC. Kansas is at the very top of the Big 12.

(3) Wisconsin over (10) Davidson

The Badgers void a tough game against Georgetown here. The Hoyas have the bodies to bang with Wisconsin. Instead, the Cheeseheads go to the Elite 8.

South

(1) Memphis over (4) Pittsburgh

Again, Memphis’ road is too easy. I would pick Memphis to lose in any other top-seed third round matchup in my bracket. But I don’t think Pitt is that good. They used up their pixie dust in the Big East tourney.

(2) Texas over (3) Stanford

Another tough one. Texas has speed and shooting. Stanford has two 7-footers. Comes down to Houston-court advantage for the Longhorns.

West

(1) UCLA over (5) Drake

Do you see where this is going?

(3) Xavier over (2) Duke

Hooray! Duke loses!

Elite Eight

(1) North Carolina over (3) Louisville

North Carolina is never seriously challenged on the road to the Final Four

(3) Wisconsin over (1) Kansas

I just think Wisconsin is tougher than Kansas.

(2) Texas over (1) Memphis

Maybe the best game of the tournament. Speed vs. speed. Again, Texas ride the Lone Star crowd to victory.

(1) UCLA over (3) Xavier

UCLA also never seriously challenged.

Final Four

North Carolina over Wisconsin

The Badgers run out of steam against a bigger, stronger, faster Tarheels team.

UCLA over Texas

Another great matchup. Kevin Love is the difference.

UCLA over North Carolina

The matchup we all want to see ends with the Bruins cutting down the nets. Neither team was serious challenged before the Final Four because they’re both better than basically everybody else.