My Final Four? Kentucky, North Carolina, Marquette, and Ohio St. Kentucky and Carolina are easily the two best teams, and since Ol' Roy is relatively upset-proof since he left Kansas (thanks for that, guy) I feel pretty solid on that championship game. I never pick games with my heart, but I physically could not write the word 'Missouri' in the Final Four spot, even though I think they can make it. I would grab the pencil, and end up with words like 'Misfjkejf' or 'Missonniregwecnk'ff' or 'Go Fist Yourself Missouri'. So Marquette it is. They can play small ball and match up well against Mizzou anyway. No, seriously. And yes, I had Ohio St. penciled in there before Fab Melo was deemed ineligible for Syracuse. I've been on the Buckeye wagon all year.
I looooooove KU's bracket, except for the fact that the team I wanted to face the least in the Elite 8 was Carolina. Partly because they're have seven McDonald's All-Americans, partly because they're playing well, and partly because Elite 8 games are stressful enough without having to go up against your old coach and a bunch of your buddies who cheer for the opposite team. KU killed Carolina in the '08 Final Four, we got our revenge on Ol' Roy, and that was that. Let's not add another chapter to this book.
But am I terrified of KU losing before the Elite 8? Of course. Have you watched the Bill Self era? In the last seven years, KU's season has been ended by a team seeded at least eight spots lower four times. That is an insane statistic. These effing mid-majors, dude. I think I'd rather play all top-notch teams the whole tournament; KU has more success against them, and it's not a world-ender if they lose. And heads up in the first-round game-- people are calling Detroit the best 15-seed in history (so naturally KU gets them.) They have more McD's All-American's (1) than KU does (0). I will be watching this game with both hands pressed against my temples, massaging in a clockwise rotation, while hammering down nervous beers (Nervous Lites, as we call them.)
Upsets? Mini-sleepers? Like Freddy Mercury and his bad mistakes, I've made a few. (Please somebody get that one....) I've got Long Beach State in the Sweet 16, where they meet up with Memphis, who goes on to the Elite 8. I've got Montana over Wisconsin. NC State over San Diego State. I really wanted to take St. Choose Your Own Bonaventure over FSU, but couldn't quite pull the trigger. Same with New Mexico St. over Indiana, Ohio over Michigan, and Belmont over Georgetown. Don't be surprised if any of those upsets happen. And I'm not a betting man, but for those that are, you'd be doing yourself a disservice to not at least look at the money lines for KU losing to Detroit or St. Mary's/Purdue in the second round.
No, I did not get both Thursday and Friday off to watch games. Unfortunately, between not having a ton of vacation built up yet at this (relatively) new job, and needing a lot of time off later in the year, I could only take off Thursday, and even that is because I'm having a small oral surgery done in the morning and using sick time for the rest the day (RESOURCEFUL.) So between doing taxes (2008, 2009) and being at a new job that has sapped my vacation time (2010, 2012) last year was the only year I've been able to be sans work both days of the first round. After an entire lifetime of never missing those games-- my parents used to let me skip school to stay home and watch tourney games since I was never sick and never missed school otherwise-- this is unacceptable. This will be the last year of my life that I have to work during this two-day stretch. Mark that down.
My champion? North Carolina. I'm a little worried about their toughness, which is weird considering they're the tallest team in the country, but it's just easier for them to get shots than anybody else. They'll gladly run if you want to run with them, but when games slow down and it becomes a half-court game, they've got a couple of highly efficient big dudes to throw it inside to, and capable shooters to surround them. If they do meet Kentucky in the championship, it has the potential to be the greatest championship game of all time. Not that my blind hatred of Coach Calipari would let me enjoy it.
