east

Big Time Upset: 7. Washington over 3. Syracuse (Third Round)
Big East has a lot of quantity but give me Isaiah Thomas. The man sweats clutch. Look out for this kid.

Tourney Tested Mid-Major to Fear: 6. Xavier
Since 2008 the Musketeers have made it to at least the Sweet 16 every year. After a devastating double OT barnburner to Kansas State last year, this team is seeking revenge. And revenge will get them another crack at the Buckeyes, a team they nearly shocked back in 2007.

Look Out World, here comes: 5. West Virginia
Bob Huggins is a really good coach and West Virginia was actually in the Final Four last year. Yeah, I forgot that too. Not as good this year, the Mountaineers finished a brutal Big East slate with 7 top 25 teams in their last 10 games. That’ll really help them come tourney time.

We’re Going to Houston: 1. Ohio State
Most consistent team all year, last team to lose, I keep looking for reasons to pick against them. I can’t find any.

west

Big Time Upset: 11. Missouri over 6. Cincinnati (First Round)
Nothing more than a gut pick. Tigers have won at least one game in NCAA Tournament in their last 5 appearances. Look for that to continue against over-ranked Bearcats.

Tourney Tested Mid-Major to Fear: 2. San Diego St.
I can’t put my finger on the Aztecs who are the most mysterious 1 or 2 seed since St. Josephs way back when. The Aztecs got a confidence boosting win over the Fighting Jimmers in their conference title game. UConn eventually runs out of gas after epic Big East Tourney run.

Look Out World, here comes: 5. Arizona
Arizona had rare tournament hiatus last year after unbelievable run dating back to 1985. In 2011, they have a stud in Derrick Williams, and he’s just the guy to take down faltering, tourney disappointment Texas.

We’re Going to Houston: 1. Duke
The defending champs have a wildcard in injured star Kyrie Irving. If they can get him some minutes before the big teams come along, the Dukies could be primed for a run at a repeat.

southwest

Big Time Upset: 12. Richmond over 4. Louisville (Third Round)
There once was a spider that sat down beside her, and shocked the world. The Spiders are good, seriously they beat Purdue and Temple amongst others, and they’ve played some legit competition. They have the goods to stun Pitino’s Cardinals.

Tourney Tested Mid-Major to Fear: 11. VCU
Simply put the Rams show up when the lights shine brightest. In 2007 they beat Duke, and in their last 3 tourney losses they’ve fell by an agonizing 7 points combined. I’m taking Georgetown though because I can’t see the Hoyas getting shocked two years in a row in the first round, ahem now second round.

Look Out World, here comes: 12. Richmond
Because if I have the 12 seeded Spiders getting all the way to the Sweet Sixteen, clearly I think the world is about to learn a little about the tiny school from Rich-what? Richmond!

We’re Going to Houston: 1. Kansas
Jayhawks are loaded as usual and still fuming after second round ouster to Northern Iowa last year. This year’s cartoon birds are pretty darn good too, and probably on their way to the Final Four.

southeast

Big Time Upset: 5. Kansas State over 1. Pitt (Sweet Sixteen)
I’m convinced that if K-State wasn’t gassed from 2OT epic against Xavier, that they would have been Final Four bound. This year they’re getting hot at the right time and I just love that kid Jacob Pullen. K-State is the perfect ‘blow up/go up’ pick in this tourney. Plus, I don’t trust Pitt. Like, at all.

Tourney Tested Mid-Major to Fear: 11. Gonzaga
America’s favorite mid-majors are back to mid-major stature after working their way up to tourney mainstays. The Zags started slow but finished fast and I think Johnies charmed run is about to come to an end.

Look Out World, here comes: 3. BYU (Final Four)
Jimmer Fredette is this year’s must watch player in the tournament. BYU was a few games away from getting a 1 seed. Instead they landed as a 3. Jimmer has the power to knock out a team like Florida all by himself if he gets hot. Which is exactly what I predict will happen.

We’re Going to Houston: 3. BYU
Kansas State is too unpredictable, Pitt is too erratic on the biggest stage, and Florida is

east

Big Time Upset:  7. Washington over 3. Syracuse (Third Round)
Big East has a lot of quantity but give me Isaiah Thomas.  The man sweats clutch. Look out for this kid.

Tourney Tested Mid-Major to Fear:  6. Xavier
Since 2008 the Musketeers have made it to at least the Sweet 16 every year.  After a devastating double OT barnburner to Kansas State last year, this team is seeking revenge.  And revenge will get them another crack at the Buckeyes, a team they nearly shocked back in 2007.

Look Out World, here comes:  5. West Virginia
Bob Huggins is a really good coach and West Virginia was actually in the Final Four last year. Yeah, I forgot that too.  Not as good this year, the Mountaineers finished a brutal Big East slate with 7 top 25 teams in their last 10 games.  That’ll really help them come tourney time.

We’re Going to Houston:  1. Ohio State
Most consistent team all year, last team to lose, I keep looking for reasons to pick against them.  I can’t find any.

west

Big Time Upset:  11. Missouri over 6. Cincinnati (First Round)
Nothing more than a gut pick.  Tigers have won at least one game in NCAA Tournament in their last 5 appearances.  Look for that to continue against over-ranked Bearcats.

Tourney Tested Mid-Major to Fear:  2. San Diego St.
I can’t put my finger on the Aztecs who are the most mysterious 1 or 2 seed since St. Josephs way back when.  The Aztecs got a confidence boosting win over the Fighting Jimmers in their conference title game. UConn eventually runs out of gas after epic Big East Tourney run.

Look Out World, here comes:  5. Arizona
Arizona had rare tournament hiatus last year after unbelievable run dating back to 1985.  In 2011, they have a stud in Derrick Williams, and he’s just the guy to take down faltering, tourney disappointment Texas.

We’re Going to Houston:  1. Duke
The defending champs have a wildcard in injured star Kyrie Irving.  If they can get him some minutes before the big teams come along, the Dukies could be primed for a run at a repeat.

southwest

Big Time Upset:  12. Richmond over 4. Louisville (Third Round)
There once was a spider that sat down beside her, and shocked the world.  The Spiders are good, seriously they beat Purdue and Temple amongst others, and they’ve played some legit competition.  They have the goods to stun Pitino’s Cardinals.

Tourney Tested Mid-Major to Fear:  11. VCU
Simply put the Rams show up when the lights shine brightest.  In 2007 they beat Duke, and in their last 3 tourney losses they’ve fell by an agonizing 7 points combined.  I’m taking Georgetown though because I can’t see the Hoyas getting shocked two years in a row in the first round, ahem now second round.

Look Out World, here comes:  12. Richmond
Because if I have the 12 seeded Spiders getting all the way to the Sweet Sixteen, clearly I think the world is about to learn a little about the tiny school from Rich-what? Richmond!

We’re Going to Houston:  1. Kansas
Jayhawks are loaded as usual and still fuming after second round ouster to Northern Iowa last year.  This year’s cartoon birds are pretty darn good too, and probably on their way to the Final Four.

southeast

Big Time Upset:  5. Kansas State over 1. Pitt (Sweet Sixteen)
I’m convinced that if K-State wasn’t gassed from 2OT epic against Xavier, that they would have been Final Four bound. This year they’re getting hot at the right time and I just love that kid Jacob Pullen.  K-State is the perfect ‘blow up/go up’ pick in this tourney. Plus, I don’t trust Pitt.  Like, at all.

Tourney Tested Mid-Major to Fear:  11. Gonzaga
America’s favorite mid-majors are back to mid-major stature after working their way up to tourney mainstays.  The Zags started slow but finished fast and I think Johnies charmed run is about to come to an end.

Look Out World, here comes:  3. BYU (Final Four)
Jimmer Fredette is this year’s must watch player in the tournament.  BYU was a few games away from getting a 1 seed.  Instead they landed as a 3. Jimmer has the power to knock out a team like Florida all by himself if he gets hot.  Which is exactly what I predict will happen.

We’re Going to Houston:  3. BYU
Kansas State is too unpredictable, Pitt is too erratic on the biggest stage, and Florida is over-rated despite dominating sub-par SEC.  I’m gonna roll with the biggest story in college hoops this year: The Cougars and Jimmer.  Not because I expect this to happen, but because this is what college hoops needs.

final four
1. Duke over 1. Ohio State
It’s not you, it’s me.  Young Buckeyes get upended one game short of goal by veteran laden Devils.

1. Kansas over 3. BYU
Dream run ends for well publicized BYU, Jimmer against deeper stronger Jayhawks.

national championship

1. Duke over 1. Kansas
No one’s repeated since Florida.  That changes.  Irving’s return sparks Coach K’s team to another championship.  He is the big key.  A healthy Irving gives Due chance to be elite.  A struggling Irving could doom Devils to early ouster.  Bank on the first, not the latter.

over-rated despite dominating sub-par SEC. I’m gonna roll with the biggest story in college hoops this year: The Cougars and Jimmer. Not because I expect this to happen, but because this is what college hoops needs.

final four
1. Duke over 1. Ohio State
It’s not you, it’s me. Young Buckeyes get upended one game short of goal by veteran laden Devils.

1. Kansas over 3. BYU
Dream run ends for well publicized BYU, Jimmer against deeper stronger Jayhawks.

national championship

1. Duke over 1. Kansas
No one’s repeated since Florida. That changes. Irving’s return sparks Coach K’s team to another championship. He is the big key. A healthy Irving gives Due chance to be elite. A struggling Irving could doom Devils to early ouster. Bank on the first, not the latter.