As promised via a quick Writing mainly posted to mask the state of torpor that both my mind and my typing fingers * were in yesterday, it’s time for The Writings to break down the NCAA Tournament bracket. Three quick notes before we begin:
1. This breakdown may have no semblance of order and will be comprised of random thoughts presented in a fashion that may bring the phrase “willy-nilly” to mind.
2. Bracket thoughts are written for entertainment purposes only. Any attempt to use these ramblings points to aid in bracket pools will be judged swiftly and harshly. (Translation: When it comes to analysis, I am slightly less astute than water-fearing manatees. You will probably lose money and lose it quickly if you take these notes as gospel.)
3. Note No. 3 is completely unnecessary. If you would like to know why, please refer to Note No. 3.
*As opposed to, you know, the nontyping fingers I possess.
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One team whose bracket situation we won’t be discussing is Colorado. If you are a Colorado fan, odds are strong that you were tearing up brackets in a fit of rage after Sunday’s selection show wrapped. The Buffalos beat one No. 4 seed (Texas), beat a No. 5 seed (K-State three times), beat an 11 seed (Missouri), and lost to two other tourney teams (KU and Texas A&M) by 7 points combined. It’s true, their nonconference schedule was slightly more difficult than tying one’s shoe, but I am still unsure how they are not more deserving of a spot in the 68-team field than the Clemson Tigers, who defeated one other tournament team all season long.
I assume that the Selection Committee just could not bear having a coach named Tad in the field.
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In a very daring move, I am predicting that the top two seeds meet to determine the winner of the East region. (The Writings: We’re not short on chalk.) Entering Sunday, I thought that Ohio State and North Carolina could make a pretty dandy (that’s right, dandy) championship game. Now it turns out that they will potentially meet just to reach the Final Four. I predict that the Tar Heels would trump the Buckeyes in the battle of nonsensical mascots.
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In the West region, it was difficult to refrain from picking Bucknell to advance, since – fueled by their victory over Kansas in 2005 (and the fact that I was probably the only person outside of Bucknell’s basketball program to predict that result) – I once purchased a school t-shirt from their online university bookstore. Alas, I don’t see them topping Connecticut this season. (Sorry, Bucknell.)
In the region, I think the winner comes down to Duke and UConn. While I really enjoy watching Kemba Walker for the Huskies, I think Coach K* and the Blue Devils** are destined to meet North Carolina (for the fourth time this season) in the Final Four.
*The Writings: We’d rather not type Coach Kryzezdkafkzyzydizsski
**I agree. Naming a school mascot after depressed residents of Hades IS strange.
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The popular pick to win the Southwest region is Kansas. Alas, making such a pick would violate the only strict, nonnegotiable, longstanding rule that I have when it comes to bracket predictions: never pick KU to advance beyond the second round. Sure, the rule doomed my bracket when they won the National Championship in 2008, but there have been occasions (Bucknell, Bradley, Northern Iowa) where the rule has proven valuable.
With Kansas out of the picture in round two, this Final Four spot seems pretty wide open. I trust No. 2 seed Notre Dame about as far as Rudy Ruettiger’s reach, so I have No. 3 Purdue and No. 4 Louisville meeting in the Elite Eight.
Who wins?
Louisville.
Why?
The answer has something to do with Coach Rick Pitino, but nothing to do with his hair.
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Last, but not least (in any way, shape, form or conjurable scenario) we get to K-State’s draw. In the 24 hours since the bracket has been released, there has been much discussion that Utah St. as a 12-seed could upset the No. 5 Wildcats. The Aggies, after all, only lost three games all season long; they’ll be playing closer to home than K-State; and they share a nickname with a squad that KSU already lost to this season. (That counts for something, right?) Naturally, the purple tint of my blood* won’t allow me to consider such a premise.
*I hope that’s not a result of mercury poisoning.
Beyond the Utahians (Utahns? Utihtes?), the bracket presents the opportunity for some interesting rematches for K-State. In the round of 32, KSU could potentially face Wisconsin, who dropped the Michael Beasley-led Wildcats from the tourney three years ago. The probable foe should K-State reach the Sweet 16 is the 1-seed Pittsburgh, but there’s a slim possibility that the Wildcats could face the Butler Bulldogs. Butler knocked off K-State in the Elite Eight last season and advanced to the tournament’s championship game. Continuing the rematch theme, should K-State win its way to the Elite Eight, they could face 2-seed Florida – who bested K-State earlier this season in one of the ugliest games ever recorded – or 3-seed BYU. Last season, the Wildcats sent the Cougars home from the tournament despite the fact that guard Jimmer Fredette entered the game touted as the top guard in the nation, the best scorer in years, and future president of the yet-to-be-formed Galactic Council of Unified Planets.
As for the region’s winner, I don’t think there’s a clear-cut favorite. Naturally, the longstanding “When in doubt, pick K-State” rule applies. For no real reason other than the fact that I’ve actually seen this team at its (impressive) best, I have K-State advancing to the Final Four.
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So we have a Final Four of North Carolina, Duke, Louisville and K-State. We also have a bracket with no real Cinderella teams, as the furthest I have a double-digit seed advancing is the Sweet 16. Add that factors together, and we end up with a bracket that is sure to have red marks all over in a week.
Where do we go from there? Who wins it all?
Answer: I can’t divulge said information at this time for fear of bad mojo. Forgiveness is requested.
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The Wildcats take the court Thursday night in Tucson, but opening round tournament games begin Tuesday night. Get your brackets ready. (Just don’t copy mine. It’s really a horrible idea.)
1. This breakdown may have no semblance of order and will be comprised of random thoughts presented in a fashion that may bring the phrase “willy-nilly” to mind.
2. Bracket thoughts are written for entertainment purposes only. Any attempt to use these ramblings points to aid in bracket pools will be judged swiftly and harshly. (Translation: When it comes to analysis, I am slightly less astute than water-fearing manatees. You will probably lose money and lose it quickly if you take these notes as gospel.)
3. Note No. 3 is completely unnecessary. If you would like to know why, please refer to Note No. 3.
*As opposed to, you know, the nontyping fingers I possess.
-----
One team whose bracket situation we won’t be discussing is Colorado. If you are a Colorado fan, odds are strong that you were tearing up brackets in a fit of rage after Sunday’s selection show wrapped. The Buffalos beat one No. 4 seed (Texas), beat a No. 5 seed (K-State three times), beat an 11 seed (Missouri), and lost to two other tourney teams (KU and Texas A&M) by 7 points combined. It’s true, their nonconference schedule was slightly more difficult than tying one’s shoe, but I am still unsure how they are not more deserving of a spot in the 68-team field than the Clemson Tigers, who defeated one other tournament team all season long.
I assume that the Selection Committee just could not bear having a coach named Tad in the field.
-----
In a very daring move, I am predicting that the top two seeds meet to determine the winner of the East region. (The Writings: We’re not short on chalk.) Entering Sunday, I thought that Ohio State and North Carolina could make a pretty dandy (that’s right, dandy) championship game. Now it turns out that they will potentially meet just to reach the Final Four. I predict that the Tar Heels would trump the Buckeyes in the battle of nonsensical mascots.
-----
In the West region, it was difficult to refrain from picking Bucknell to advance, since – fueled by their victory over Kansas in 2005 (and the fact that I was probably the only person outside of Bucknell’s basketball program to predict that result) – I once purchased a school t-shirt from their online university bookstore. Alas, I don’t see them topping Connecticut this season. (Sorry, Bucknell.)
In the region, I think the winner comes down to Duke and UConn. While I really enjoy watching Kemba Walker for the Huskies, I think Coach K* and the Blue Devils** are destined to meet North Carolina (for the fourth time this season) in the Final Four.
*The Writings: We’d rather not type Coach Kryzezdkafkzyzydizsski
**I agree. Naming a school mascot after depressed residents of Hades IS strange.
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The popular pick to win the Southwest region is Kansas. Alas, making such a pick would violate the only strict, nonnegotiable, longstanding rule that I have when it comes to bracket predictions: never pick KU to advance beyond the second round. Sure, the rule doomed my bracket when they won the National Championship in 2008, but there have been occasions (Bucknell, Bradley, Northern Iowa) where the rule has proven valuable.
With Kansas out of the picture in round two, this Final Four spot seems pretty wide open. I trust No. 2 seed Notre Dame about as far as Rudy Ruettiger’s reach, so I have No. 3 Purdue and No. 4 Louisville meeting in the Elite Eight.
Who wins?
Louisville.
Why?
The answer has something to do with Coach Rick Pitino, but nothing to do with his hair.
-----
Last, but not least (in any way, shape, form or conjurable scenario) we get to K-State’s draw. In the 24 hours since the bracket has been released, there has been much discussion that Utah St. as a 12-seed could upset the No. 5 Wildcats. The Aggies, after all, only lost three games all season long; they’ll be playing closer to home than K-State; and they share a nickname with a squad that KSU already lost to this season. (That counts for something, right?) Naturally, the purple tint of my blood* won’t allow me to consider such a premise.
*I hope that’s not a result of mercury poisoning.
Beyond the Utahians (Utahns? Utihtes?), the bracket presents the opportunity for some interesting rematches for K-State. In the round of 32, KSU could potentially face Wisconsin, who dropped the Michael Beasley-led Wildcats from the tourney three years ago. The probable foe should K-State reach the Sweet 16 is the 1-seed Pittsburgh, but there’s a slim possibility that the Wildcats could face the Butler Bulldogs. Butler knocked off K-State in the Elite Eight last season and advanced to the tournament’s championship game. Continuing the rematch theme, should K-State win its way to the Elite Eight, they could face 2-seed Florida – who bested K-State earlier this season in one of the ugliest games ever recorded – or 3-seed BYU. Last season, the Wildcats sent the Cougars home from the tournament despite the fact that guard Jimmer Fredette entered the game touted as the top guard in the nation, the best scorer in years, and future president of the yet-to-be-formed Galactic Council of Unified Planets.
As for the region’s winner, I don’t think there’s a clear-cut favorite. Naturally, the longstanding “When in doubt, pick K-State” rule applies. For no real reason other than the fact that I’ve actually seen this team at its (impressive) best, I have K-State advancing to the Final Four.
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So we have a Final Four of North Carolina, Duke, Louisville and K-State. We also have a bracket with no real Cinderella teams, as the furthest I have a double-digit seed advancing is the Sweet 16. Add that factors together, and we end up with a bracket that is sure to have red marks all over in a week.
Where do we go from there? Who wins it all?
Answer: I can’t divulge said information at this time for fear of bad mojo. Forgiveness is requested.
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The Wildcats take the court Thursday night in Tucson, but opening round tournament games begin Tuesday night. Get your brackets ready. (Just don’t copy mine. It’s really a horrible idea.)
1 comment:
I probably shouldn't bring this up but my KU friends, when K-State so handily knocked them off this season, pointed out that the last time we did that, they went on to become National Champs! They were thank us for having set them.... once again! Could it be? Surely not!
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