Jeff,

Great fun watching Davidson v. Georgetown. Any idea what's the deal with G-Town's Roy Hibbert? He was a surefire first round NBA pick last year...12 months later he's fouling out w/ 6 points in the playoffs?

Any chance for a podcast of your KUMU show? woudl really like to hear feinstein but may not be able to listen.

Here are my 'choose one team per seed' picks (and points so far):

1) North Carolina- 4 points
2) Texas- 4 points
3) Xavier- 4 points
4) Pittsburgh- 2 points (eliminated)
5) Clemson- 0 points (eliminated)
6) USC- 0 points (eliminated)
7) Butler- 2 points(eliminated)
8) Mississippi St.- 2 points (eliminated)
9) Kent State- 0 points (eliminated)
10) Davidson- 4 points
11) St. Joseph's- 0 points (eliminated)
12) Western Kentucky- 4 points
13) Winthrop- 0 points (eliminated)
14) Georgia- 0 points (eliminated)
15) UMBC- 0 points (eliminated)
16) Portland State- 0 points (eliminated)
WILDCARD- UCLA- 2 points (only 1 point per wildcard win, regardless of round)

I post this because I really dislike the traditional 'fill your brackets' game. In my game you have 16 teams to root for. From the #1, pretty much who you think will win it all, to the lower seeds, which you are happy if they win 1 game, to the mid-seeds, whom you hope to win at least a couple of games.

Wouldn't bet on Davidson to beat Wisconsin. Think the Badgers, who flew under the radar all season, make the Final Four by beating Kansas.

I think the Cougs have a real shot against Carolina. NC and also Kansas for that matter have not been in a tight game, and with Wazzu's style and defense they could well get them in one of those grinders where every possession counts. Also they have the big Aussie Aron Bayne to bang with Tyler. I can see NC getting frustrated when they can't get many easy buckets by pushing the ball, and D-Low and company hitting their shots = a number one bites the dust. The Ville is really playing well and could surprise the Vols.

You get the feeling that Memphis is also ripe for the taking with their horrendous FT shooting a significant factor. Stanford is a very tough match-up for anyone. I picked Texas to win that regional but I'm beginning to have my doubts now.

KU still figures to get there but Villanova is the kind of team that can give them trouble. Is Riley Wallace right when he says that Bill Self won't be able to coach a team to an NCAA title? I see a KU-Wisconsin regional final.

As far as the West goes, interesting that UCLA has played seven games against the teams in the Sweet Sixteen. For Bruin fans, after their real tough win over the Aggies, there is a real similarity with their last title when they just escaped Missouri with the Tyus Edney coast to coast 4 second game winner in the second round and then went on to win it all. On paper it looks pretty good for their chances to make it to a third straight FF but as always they will be wearing the bulls eye and the opposition will come with their best.

3 Pac-10 teams in the FF?? Now that would be something special!!
Go Wazzu, Cardinal and Bruins. In your face East Coast! However UCLA would have to take down Stanford again in the semis - that would be
really tough - like an NBA playoff series where each team really knows each other.

Jeff -- you should consider doing a special fans phones for about this time during the tournament. THIS is when everyone basically gets into it, willing to let a few responsibilities go and all to keep an eye on the tourney, heh-heh. Tends to get excitin' right about now!

Correction: Of the number ones, UCLA has played eight games against the sweet 16 teams (forgot MSU) and is 7-1. Carolina: 1-0 (Davidson in a tight game). KU: 1-1 (split with Texas). Memphis: 0-1 (Lost to Tenn).

UNC only won by 4 over Davidson earlier this year. If Davidson had more depth, they'd be dangerous. Honestly, I think Davidson has a great shot of upsetting Wisconsin who I think has been burning the midnite oil to much. They are due to lose already.

It comes down to defense,free throws and bench production.

What I think will happen after this Thursday and Fri (in order of game I want to see/listen to most):

Davidson v. Wisconsin
Nice run for Davidson; for the fan of the underdog (not me), Davidson would do well to take the 'tourney.
But, the dream ends here with Wisconsin's win.
Bright side: recruiting'll become much easier for the Davidson coaching staff, here on out. Davidson's on the map now, at least.

North Carolina v. Wash' St.
Sad. If this game was played anywhere else but one of the nation's best teams, I'd say WSU has a chance. A change of venue happened earlier this year for Georgia, and, while I'm not advocating the same natural occurence occurring to move this game somewheres else, well, it's the Cougar's only chance; ah, might serve 'em well, playing this slow-down kind of game -- which brings me to. Everyone's saying, oh, Wazzu's ability to slow the opponent down, etc., ad nauseum; Tarheels will be the ones dictating who moves slow and who moves fast and who doesn't move at all in this game. My pick for the Sun Tzu's Every Battle is Won Before It Starts citation.
Bright side: to us Hawaii people . . . D-Low will do well in this game.

Tennessee v. Louisville
This is the game where Tennessee pulls out all the stops. This is where the rest of the nation says, "woah. YOU guys were playing the shell game all this time."
Bright side: the momentum from this game carries the Vols into the final 4, and makes them unpredictable in the last 2 if they get there.

Stanford v. Texas
You ain't # 2 for nothing, and Stanford will learn that. And, I like Stanford and everything it stands for. Seriously.
Bright side: we'll get to see the NCAA b-ball version of Texas justice.

Michigan St. v. Memphis
I'm a b-ball Warrior fan and, it's just innate in me to say that this is where Izzo and crew meet their end.
Bright side: is there anything more positive for a b-ball Warrior fan than to see MSU lose? SPARTAAAAAAAAANS. Yeah. Whatever.

Xavier v. West Virginia
Hilltoppers' dream ends here, too. The Musketeers' rapier is just too sharp nowadays.
Bright side: West Virginia to have the same gain as Davidson. WV's a force to reckoned with, now, i.e., no more, "West Virginiiiiiaaaaaa / Moutain mama / Take me home . . . " references anymore when talkin' 'bout this team.

UCLA v. Western Kentucky
Done deal already. Every end-of-year tourney/bowl/etc. has one o' these kind games where, you look at the opponent and figure a sports massacre's gonna happen. It'll be here with this matchup.
Bright side: only for UCLA. Easy game for them in this one.

Kansas v. Villanova
Kinda' ditto above UCLA v. WKU, with Kansas as the UCLA'er.
Bright side: only for Kansas. Easy game . . . oh, did I say that already?

fini

responses to blogs. Hibbert had a good year, not a great year. Davidson's run will end against Wisconsin. Wisconsin just does not lose to lower seeded teams. Washington State has had a great run, but beating UNC in Charlotte having had to fly back and forth across the country twice in a week, and with a healthy Ty Lawson, is a tall order. Carolina struggles in the half court, so Wazzou has a shot at an upset. I still like the Kansas, UCLA, and Texas. Dont count out Stanford or Louisville however

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