I've heard some of you complain about me not mentioning my final four picks in this blog from the start of the tournament. Here they are without being altered: Kentucky, Baylor, Ohio State, Kansas. Championship game: Kentucky over Kansas and Kentucky will look brilliant for hiring John Calipari and bringing in the 2 most dynamic freshmen this season: John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins.
With the final four being picked, here is my preview of the second round. But, first, wow what a first round. Plenty of close games, and overtime games. You could feel the tension in those games. So close. Reviewing my bracket, I went 21-11, not bad for a guy who isn't that interested in college basketball. But, I also lost six of my sweet 16 teams. Thankfully I have not lost any of my final four teams though. There was one upset which I regretted making, but thank you Godfor heping me with, Ohio pulld off a stunning upset of Georgetown in the frst round. There was one otherupset which mny folks thought woud happen and did, with Murray State upsetting Vandy. The other upsets were relatively minor, with Cornell beating Temple, Georgia Tech over Oklahoma State, Mizzou over Clemson, and Old Dominion over Notre Dame.
Moving on to the second round preview. There are sme very intriging matchups in Kentucky-Wake Forest, Texas A&M-Purdue, and BYU-Kansas State. The reason why these are intriguing is because Wake Forest has always been a solid team from a very good ACC, but rarely have broken through agaist an inexperienced Kentucky team. Then, there is Texas A&M versus a Robbie Hummel-lessPurdue team to see if Purdue can keep winning without Hummel, their leader. Finally, there is BYU-K-State to see if Jimmer Fredette can continue his high scoring ways against a very defensive minded KSU team.
Finally, the predictions.
MIDWEST
Kansas vs. Northern Iowa: Kansas and their experience leads the over the Missouri Valley.
Michigan St. vs. Maryland: Michigan State will come to play as theynearly lost to New Mexico State, but Maryland pulls it out.
Tennessee vs. Ohio: Ohio pulled the miracle outof their hat once, but they ca't do it again, go with Tennessee.
Georgia Tech vs. Ohio State: Evan Turner leads Ohi State big.
WEST
Syracuse vs. Gonzaga: Another one of those very intriguing games. You wish you could pic Gonzaga, but 'Cuse has too much exprience and leadership.
Butler vs. Murray State: Butler gets number 22 in a row.
Xavier vs. Pittsburgh: Looks like an amazing game on paper, and will be, go with Pitt and its stifling defense.
BYU vs. K-State: K-State pulls it out withtheir superior backcourt play.
EAST
Kenucky vs. Wake Forest: Wall and Cousins continue their march top the fnal four.
Wisconsin vs. Cornell: Ivy League stops hereversus Wiscosin's stiflng defense.
Washington vs. New Mexico: Without Darington Hobson, UNM's best player and leading scorer, Washington will continue their hot treak and advance to their fist Sweet 16 since 2006.
Mizzou-West Virginia: WVU rolls past Mizzou with Devin Ebanks and Kevin Jones leading the way.
SOUTH
Duke vs. Cal: If this was Louisville playing their A game versus Cal, I'd tae them, but Duke pounds a weak Cal team, who looked good versus a C Louisville team.
Texas A&M vs. Purdue: The Boilermakers cotinue to play well as a team and move to the Sweet 16.
Old Dominion vs. Baylor: Tweety Carter and the Bears size are too much for ODU.
St. Mary's vs. Villanova: Villanova rebounds from a very shaky performance versus Robert Morris.
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