Sean B. Fitzgerald It doesn’t go something like this, it goes exactly like this.

NCAA Tournament Picks (Sort of)

Every year on Selection Sunday, I sit down on the couch, grab the remote, put on CBS and wait for Greg Gumbel to tell me which teams made it into the tournament and their respective seeds. After the final team is named, I go to my printer and print out five copies of the bracket. Three for me and two for my dad. I just finished my first bracket and I will tell you what, I am not happy with it. I fall in love with the number one seeds too easily. And if this year has taught us anything, NO ONE is a favorite. Right now, excluding the 13, 14, 15, and 16 seeds, it seems as if anyone can win the tournament. Each team has significant flaws and bad losses.

I ended up with Louisville winning it all after the first bracket. It sounds like a reasonable choice, but I hate it. I just know somewhere along the road they will be knocked off by a Wake Forest or even a Kansas. They are a heck of a team and proved that by winning both the Big East regular season championship and Big East Tournament yesterday. But all year, whenever they were on television, I would turn to my dad and say, "They probably have the most talent in the country, but they play so dumb". And it's true, they make awful decisions; bad shot selection, touch fouls, and unnecessary passes. Each number one has their own problems. Pittsburgh turns into an average team when DeJuan Blair gets into foul trouble, North Carolina relies too heavily on Tyler Hansbrough, and Connecticut has not been the same without Jerome Dyson. All that being said, it wouldn't be unreasonable to say that none of the number ones will make the Final Four. That is why I hate my choice in Louisville to win it all. After posing a objective, reasoned argument stating that the higher seeds are clearly not of the same ilk of years past, I end up with the Cardinals to win it. But you know what, I am going to stick with them. My parents and teachers always told me to go with my gut instinct, and that is what I am going to do.

I might toil around with my other picks though. It is difficult to fill out a bracket objectively without having personal feelings get in the way. I am a sucker for the Big East and after making my picks, I realized that six of the eight teams in the Elite Eight were from the Big East. As much as I would like that to happen, the odds are against it.

I love some of the opening round games and I am estatic that the economy is the way it is so I don't have to go to some job on Thursday or Friday. I can watch college basketball for twelve straight hours and only breaking my visual gait to go to the little boys' room. I will be keeping my eye on these opening round games...

(8) Ohio State vs. (9) Siena
I have always thought the Big Ten was overrated and this year was no exception. Although teams like Michigan St. and Purdue perform well in conference, they would be at the bottom half of the ACC or Big East. The committee didn't see it my way though by inviting seven Big Ten teams in the tournament, including Ohio State. The Buckeyes were poised to have a terrific year and were ranked high in the Top 25 at the beginning of the season. But after getting destroyed by West Virginia in December, they started to struggle. Before the Big Ten tournament they were firmly on the bubble and after a great showing where they made the finals, are now an eight seed. But I like Siena in this game. Look for senior guard Kenny Hasbrouck to carry the Saints to another first round victory.

(7) Boston College vs. (10) USC
(7) California vs. (10) Maryland
(7) Clemson vs. (10) Michigan
The way I see it, it is not a year for the seven seeds. If you are looking for upsets, here they are. I base that off the overratedness (word?) of the seven seeds in the tournament (other than Texas). I understand that Boston College beat both UNC and Duke this season, but that is the extent of their key wins and probably the sole reason they made it to the tournament. Remember that double digit loss to Harvard earlier in the season? "Yes, Boston College, I remember and I am calling you out!" They are in for a rude awakening when Taj Gibson and the rest of Southern California run over the Eagles.

Shouldn't Maryland over California be an automatic pick? The Bears had two losses to Oregon State and a loss to Stanford this season. Sure, if I am going to call out Cal for losing to those two teams, I really should call out Maryland for losing to Morgan State in January. But that is besides the point! Maryland has the big game experience coming out of the ACC and Greivis Vasquez who can take over a game on his own.

Why are people constantly sold on Clemson? I remember writing in a post from September how their entire sports program is based off hype. Prior to every football and basketball season, the Clemson Tigers are overhyped with high rankings and the words "National Championship" following their name. This season, like every season, Clemson started out hot and were one of the last undefeated teams left in the country. Like they are every year. Then they ended the season 7-8 with losses to Virginia, Georgia Tech, Florida State, and Wake Forest. I anticipate a quick exit for the Tigers.

(8) BYU vs. (9) Texas A&M
Isn't BYU an eight seed every, freaking, year? Just something to think about. I like BYU by the way.

Teams to go on a run:

Wake Forest
Why not? At one point in the season they were ranked number one. They have a plethora of talent and have been battle-tested all season in the ACC.

Syracuse:
A lot of "analysts" have been asking if the Orange are going to be burnt out come Thursday after playing for 700 minutes this weekend. I'm not sure if these analysts realize that these are 18-22 year old athletes who will have 5 days off. They have a terrific complement of pure shooters and strength inside. Not to mention a coach who won a National Championship only seven years ago in Jim Boeheim.

Incredibly random team to make a run so I look like a genius when they do:

Virginia Commonwealth University

Only 21 hours until the Women's Bracket is revealed!