2015 Barnes Bracketology - Feb. 9

So here we stand, 5 weeks until Selection Sunday and from all accounts, this tournament is Kentucky's to lose. The lone undefeated team and clearly, the most talented on paper. But what may keep Kentucky from winning it all will be the matchups they must face en route to the championship game. Teams like a veteran squad in Wisconsin or defensive-minded Virginia team could be exactly what could trip up the Cats. How long will UK have until they face a team they may have real trouble with on a neutral floor? That's why putting the bracket together is so important.

MY PROJECTED FIELD OF 68
(changes in italics)

LOCKS: Made our first addition to this group since I've begun posting. Baylor is now a LOCK to get in, after a resounding win on the road at West Virginia, which adds to an already solid resume.

This group is in order, so you have an idea of how they rank on my S-Curve.

LOCKS (15): Kentucky, Virginia, Duke, Wisconsin, Kansas, Villanova, Gonzaga, Arizona, Iowa State, Louisville, Notre Dame, North Carolina, Utah, Baylor, VCU



AUTOS: Every Sunday night, I'll check back on this group to see if I need to make any tweaks. I made a couple but nothing too drastic.

Teams that have clinched their berth will appear in bold

AUTOS (24): America East - Albany, American - Cincinnati, Atlantic Sun - Florida Gulf Coast, Big Sky - Eastern Washington, Big South - High Point, Big West - Long Beach State, Colonial - William & Mary, Conference-USA - Louisiana Tech, Horizon - Valparaiso, Ivy - Harvard, MAAC - Iona, MAC - Toledo, MEAC - NC Central, Missouri Valley - Wichita State, Mountain West - San Diego State, Northeast - St. Francis (NY), Ohio Valley - Murray State, Patriot - Bucknell, Southern - Wofford, Southland - Stephen F. Austin, SWAC - Texas Southern, Summit - North Dakota State, Sun Belt - Georgia Southern, WAC - New Mexico State

AT-LARGE: It was a fun weekend for many of these teams. Lot of matchups between 2 teams in this category, so a win means a quality win while a loss just meant a missed opportunity. Kudos to Illinois, Boise State and LSU who with wins this weekend, now find themselves among the field of 68 but barely.

These are in order, so the last four teams will be playing in the "First Four" in Dayton.

AT-LARGE (29): Northern Iowa, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Providence, Butler, Arkansas, Georgetown, Maryland, Oklahoma State, Ohio State, SMU, Xavier, Texas, Indiana, Dayton, Georgia, Ole Miss, Temple, Iowa, Miami (FL), Stanford, St. John's, Seton Hall, Colorado State, Illinois, Michigan State, Texas A&M, LSU, Boise State

BUBBLE WATCH

BUBBLE: Still a fairly large bubble right now, which is good news. That bubble will shrink and ultimately burst on a lot of teams as the weeks go on. And there is a lot of movement too as some teams like a George Washington creep up with a good win vs. a team projected in the field while others like Alabama and Washington are in a bit of a freefall.

These are in order, so to figure out the first teams out, head to the final team from the AT-LARGE category and look for all the teams behind them.

BUBBLE (47): Wichita State, Northern Iowa, Cincinnati, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Providence, Butler, Arkansas, Georgetown, Maryland, Oklahoma State, Ohio State, SMU, Xavier, Texas, Indiana, Dayton, San Diego State, Georgia, Ole Miss, Temple, Iowa, Miami (FL), Stanford, St. John's, Seton Hall, Colorado State, Illinois, Michigan State, Texas A&M, LSU, Boise State, Tennessee, George Washington, Purdue, NC State, BYU, Pittsburgh, Oregon, UCLA, Wyoming, Tulsa, Rhode Island, Alabama, Washington, Saint Mary's, Old Dominion

SEEDING

CONFERENCE BREAKDOWN
 Big East (7), Big Ten (7), Big 12 (7), ACC (6), SEC (6), American (3), Mountain West (3), Pac-12 (3), A-10 (2), Missouri Valley (2)

NEW TEAMS IN: Illinois, Boise State, LSU

NEW TEAMS OUT: Tennessee, Purdue, Tulsa

(Click on bracket to enlarge)
MIDWEST vs. WEST
EAST vs. SOUTH

**Kentucky is the overall top seed

Next update will come after Thursday's games.

MB

2015 Barnes Bracketology - Feb. 6

Still more than a month before Selection Sunday and already, I can tell how tough this year may be finding teams that are worthy of the tournament. Seems like every year, there are about 60-64 teams that deserve to get into the tournament. But that final group of 4 is always hard to narrow down, especially when they all continually lose. That was the case this week.

MY PROJECTED FIELD OF 68
(changes in italics)

LOCKS: No one added or deleted from this group. Again, the goal is to never delete anyone from this group. I did change the order of teams slightly.

This group is in order, so you have an idea of how they rank on my S-Curve.

LOCKS (14): Kentucky, Virginia, Kansas, Duke, Wisconsin, Arizona, Villanova, Gonzaga, Notre Dame, Louisville, Iowa State, North Carolina, VCU, Utah



AUTOS: This is the group of teams that will only make the tournament by winning their conference tournament. Obviously, I do not follow all of these conferences so I tend to just write in the team that leads the standings. I will update these as the weeks go on to make sure I predict the team playing the best at the time.

Teams that have clinched their berth will appear in bold

AUTOS (24): America East - Albany, American - Tulsa, Atlantic Sun - Florida Gulf Coast, Big Sky - Eastern Washington, Big South - High Point, Big West - Long Beach State, Colonial - William & Mary, Conference-USA - Louisiana Tech, Horizon - Valparaiso, Ivy - Harvard, MAAC - Iona, MAC - Toledo, MEAC - NC Central, Missouri Valley - Wichita State, Mountain West - San Diego State, Northeast - St. Francis (NY), Ohio Valley - Murray State, Patriot - Bucknell, Southern - Wofford, Southland - Stephen F. Austin, SWAC - Texas Southern, Summit - South Dakota State, Sun Belt - Georgia Southern, WAC - New Mexico State

AT-LARGE: In typical fashion, more than half of these teams lost, making for some interesting decisions on my part in moving them up, down or not at all. There were some quality wins (Oklahoma State, Cincinnati, Oklahoma, Providence) but also some pretty terrible losses (Xavier, Seton Hall, Tennessee, LSU, NC State) that caused me to shuffle this group more than usual in the first week of posting.

These are in order, so the last four teams will be playing in the "First Four" in Dayton.

AT-LARGE (30): Baylor, West Virginia, Northern Iowa, Providence, Georgetown, Cincinnati, Maryland, Butler, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Indiana, Dayton, SMU, Oklahoma State, Texas, Xavier, Georgia, Seton Hall, Ole Miss, Michigan State, Temple, Miami (FL), St. John's. Stanford, Iowa, Tennessee, Colorado State, Texas A&M, Purdue

BUBBLE WATCH

BUBBLE: It's only the first week in February and I'm already frustrated with this group of teams. They are all pretty mediocre and in the past 4 days, did nothing to change my opinion. Besides Purdue and Wyoming, none had an impressive win. Others like Richmond and Kansas State tallied embarrassing losses that really dropped them. In other words, plenty of moving and shaking happened and I'm sure plenty more will occur in the weeks ahead.

These are in order, so to figure out the first teams out, head to the final team from the AT-LARGE category and look for all the teams behind them.

BUBBLE (50): Baylor, Wichita State, West Virginia, Northern Iowa, Providence, Georgetown, Cincinnati, Maryland, Butler, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Arkansas, San Diego State, Indiana, Dayton, SMU, Oklahoma State, Texas, Xavier, Georgia, Seton Hall, Ole Miss, Michigan State, Temple, Miami (FL), St. John's. Stanford, Iowa, Tennessee, Colorado State, Texas A&M, Purdue, LSU, Boise State, Illinois, Washington, NC State, George Washington, Wyoming, UCLA, BYU, Alabama, Clemson, Tulsa, Kansas State, Pittsburgh, Oregon, Memphis, Richmond, Old Dominion

SEEDING

CONFERENCE BREAKDOWN
 Big East (7), Big Ten (7), Big 12 (7), ACC (6), SEC (6), American (4), Pac-12 (3), A-10 (2), Missouri Valley (2), Mountain West (2)

NEW TEAMS IN: Iowa, Texas A&M, Purdue

NEW TEAMS OUT: Washington, LSU, NC State

(Click on bracket to enlarge)
MIDWEST vs. WEST
EAST vs. SOUTH

**Kentucky is the overall top seed

Next update will come after Sunday's games.

MB

2015 Barnes Bracketology - Feb. 2

For the sixth year in a row, Barnes Bracketology is here! Been a very successful 5 years as I have correctly predicted 67 out of 68 teams each year. (Feel free to check out my self-congratulatory recap post from last year here). This year, I hope to be perfect -- though as I will point out numerous times, just because I miss a team does not mean I am wrong, just means I do not agree with the tournament committee. There is no RIGHT way to make these brackets. It is sort of like a puzzle that can be put together in different ways. Barnes Bracketology is simply just another one of those ways.

These early posts are always a bit rough and the projections will fluctuate a good amount as I really start to get a feel for the teams. When you're a football fanatic like myself, it's hard to throw yourself into this immediately so it takes a week or two. But just like the previous years, I continue to find ways to make this process easier, faster and hopefully more enjoyable for the reader and I think I will do that again this year.

If you are new to this column, here is a quick intro. I will update this every Monday and Friday. That is because teams tend to play one game from Mon-Thurs and then another between Fri-Sun. I will explain where each team stands. I will NOT look at one Bracketology projection on any other site (ESPN, CBS Sports, etc..) during this process as to not be influenced by so-called "experts" (who just simply get paid to do what I am doing as a hobby). I love your feedback too so if you have any questions or comments, go for it.

So for the sixth (!) year, here we go.

MY PROJECTED FIELD OF 68
(changes in italics)

LOCKS: This group is for the teams that will pretty much locked up their spot in the tournament. My goal is to never take a team out of this group, so I may be hesitant to put teams in here early on until I know for sure a team has done enough to make the tournament. I will put these teams in order so you know how I rank these teams on my S-Curve.

LOCKS (14): Kentucky, Virginia, Kansas, Duke, Wisconsin, Arizona, Villanova, Gonzaga, Notre Dame, North Carolina, Louisville, Iowa State, VCU, Utah



AUTOS: This is the group of teams that will only make the tournament by winning their conference tournament. Obviously, I do not follow all of these conferences so I tend to just write in the team that leads the standings. I will update these as the weeks go on to make sure I predict the team playing the best at the time.

Teams that have clinched their berth will appear in bold

AUTOS (24): America East - Albany, American - Tulsa, Atlantic Sun - Florida Gulf Coast, Big Sky - Eastern Washington, Big South - High Point, Big West - Long Beach State, Colonial - William & Mary, Conference-USA - Louisiana Tech, Horizon - Valparaiso, Ivy - Harvard, MAAC - Iona, MAC - Toledo, MEAC - NC Central, Missouri Valley - Wichita State, Mountain West - San Diego State, Northeast - St. Francis (NY), Ohio Valley - Murray State, Patriot - Bucknell, Southern - Wofford, Southland - Stephen F. Austin, SWAC - Texas Southern, Summit - South Dakota State, Sun Belt - Georgia Southern, WAC - New Mexico State

AT-LARGE: This group is for the teams that are not LOCKS to get into the tournament as of yet but still are worthy of being included in the field. This is the group that will slowly get smaller and smaller as the weeks go on. Some of these tams will graduate to LOCKS. Others will fall out and simply be on the BUBBLE on the outside looking in.

These are in order, so the last four teams will be playing in the "First Four" in Dayton.

AT-LARGE (30): Baylor, West Virginia, Georgetown, Northern Iowa, Providence, Ohio State, Cincinnati, Maryland, Butler, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Indiana, SMU, Xavier, Dayton, Texas, Seton Hall, Oklahoma State, Georgia, Miami (FL), Michigan State, Ole Miss, Temple, St. John's, Washington, Tennessee, Stanford, LSU, Colorado State, NC State

BUBBLE WATCH

BUBBLE: You know what this group is about. The teams that are not LOCKS and are hoping to be an AT-LARGE selection. You'll notice, all of the AT-LARGE teams are in this group because if you aren't a LOCK, you're still technically on the BUBBLE. Some teams are just safer than others. You'll also see teams from the AUTO category in here. That's because they would be in the AT-LARGE discussion if they were to lose in the conference tournament.

These are in order, so to figure out the first teams out, head to the final team from the AT-LARGE category and look for all the teams behind them.

BUBBLE (47): Baylor, Wichita State, West Virginia, Georgetown, Northern Iowa, Providence, Ohio State, Cincinnati, Maryland, Butler, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Indiana, San Diego State, SMU, Xavier, Dayton, Texas, Seton Hall, Oklahoma State, Georgia, Miami (FL), Michigan State, Ole Miss, Temple, St. John's, Washington, Tennessee, Stanford, LSU, Colorado State, NC State, Texas A&M, Kansas State, Iowa, Illinois, Florida, George Washington, Boise State, Purdue, Richmond, Alabama, Pittsburgh, Clemson, Wyoming, Tulsa, Old Dominion

SEEDING

CONFERENCE BREAKDOWN
ACC (7), Big East (7), Big 12 (7), SEC (6), Big Ten (5), American (4), Pac-12 (4), A-10 (2), Missouri Valley (2), Mountain West (2)

(Click on bracket to enlarge)
MIDWEST vs. WEST
EAST vs. SOUTH

**Kentucky is the overall top seed

Next update will come after Thursday's games.

MB

My (Sports) Christmas List

 My parents never told me Santa was not real. It's something they pledged to do with their children.

But thanks to some sleuthing and deductive reasoning as a child, I figured it out on my own. But what if I'm wrong?

So for fun, I made a Christmas list for Santa. But instead of asking for material things for myself, (which these days consists of things like socks, ties, and gift cards to restaurants so I don't have to cook), I decided to send a list to the North Pole asking for help for each of my favorite sports teams.

The following is a copy of what I sent to Saint Nick. Here's hoping I made the nice list this year:

Matt Barnes

My Address Ave

Columbus, OH 43212

Santa Claus
North Pole, USA

Dear Santa,

It's Matt. I really hope 2014 was jolly for you. It was for me, but it would have been better if my favorite sports teams had a bit more success.

And with that in mind, in lieu of asking for something for myself, I was hoping you could be a little genie-like and share some Christmas magic with my favorite teams. My requests are as follows:

1. Columbus Blue Jackets: Health
- This may seem a bit general but if you've kept up with the CBJ, you know why I'm asking. Seems like every week, a different player is going down with an injury. And not just a day-by-day injury, but a week-to-week or month-to-month injury. The team has fought valiantly through it all, just like I know you do on Christmas Day when weather is not ideal. But with some health, the team might actually play like the playoff team they were last season. There's plenty of time left in the season but the sooner, the better. They are 9 points out of a playoff spot right now so cutting into that by the All-Star break is probably a good idea.

2. Indiana Pacers: Tank for 2015
- It almost pains me to ask you to get my favorite NBA team to stop winning but in the long run, it's best for the franchise and fan base. Once Paul George went down to injury, the season was lost. I mean, the chances of them getting to the NBA Finals with the roster they have now is as slim as Kim Jong Un making the "nice" list. A bad season would mean a better draft pick, and for a team that could use an infusion of young talent, that is a big deal. This won't be easy with a coach like Frank Vogel and a veteran leader like David West, but hey, You're Santa. I know you can do it!

3. Indianapolis Colts: An effective offensive line and run game
- Getting Andrew Luck in the draft is the Christmas gift that keeps on giving. So props to you for any help on that. But a QB can only be as good as the guys that protect him and the run game that takes the heat off of him. This season, Luck has had neither. Now, they are playoff bound but their line is having trouble protecting Luck (who has turned the ball over way too much lately) and their run game is non-existent. Forget 3 yards and a cloud of dust. Right now, it's just dust. The defense is much improved so with your help, I think this team could make the next step toward becoming a real Super Bowl contender.

4. Cleveland Indians: A return to form for Nick Swisher
- I really want to ask for a new owner who is willing to spend some money but part of me enjoys the underdog way the Indians operate. But it would be nice for their highest paid player to play like it for once. I like Nick Swisher a lot. He's as jolly as you are and been great for the fan base and the city. But his production is....well, I'll put it this way. Just imagine if you only delivered presents to 20% of people? Yeah, not good. With a bounce back season from Swisher (and a couple of others), I think the Indians are real World Series contenders. Really.

5. Ohio State football: Win vs. Alabama
- This may seem really greedy but hey, I could ask for a national championship! The reason I ask for just this win is because it would silence a lot of people. Losing a close game to Bama, even in OT, would do nothing. This needs to be a win. It would bring some real credibility to the Big Ten, which most certainly needs it. It would also help quiet those who think Baylor or TCU were more deserving of OSU's spot (they aren't). If OSU were to lose in the championship, yes, I would not be happy but I'd also be content considering I think this team is a year ahead of schedule.

6. Ohio Football: Solich calls it quits in 2015
- This one hurts to write, because I know how much Solich has done for the program. They are relevant, competitive, and heading to bowl games nearly every season. The expectations for this program are much higher than they were I stepped foot on the campus in 2004. But now is the time. The program is a bit stagnant right now, while the rest of the MAC has hired younger, more vibrant head coaches who can recruit better. And in the MAC, talent > coaching many times. In a perfect world, Solich wins a MAC title next year and retires on a real high note. He's done wonders for the program and the fan base, but all good things must come to an end, right? Well, except you Santa.

7. Ohio State Basketball: One more year for D'Angelo Russell
- I know this won't happen but if it did, what a big deal it would be for this team. He is unquestionably the best player on the team not and one of the more productive freshmen in the nation so far. But in 2 games vs. ranked teams, he has not exactly been a star. So maybe he could use another year to improve that draft stock. And if he does come back, he'll join a good recruiting class that could elevate OSU to the top of the Big Ten and the polls quickly. Again, this is unlikely but hey, so was you finding a reindeer with a red nose.

8. Ohio Basketball: Positive Momentum
- This is actually one that may already be happening. The team is under .500 right now but I do see some hope there. The guys are fighting, the coaches are into it, and the recruiting classes look strong. Plus, there are transfers waiting in the wings to help as well. But it doesn't hurt to ask for more right? The more momentum this program can get, the better.

That's it for my favorite teams. But if I've been an especially nice guy (which I would argue that I have been), I have a few other things too:
- A competitive Super Bowl
- A Final Four without Kentucky
- No more weekly College Football Playoff rankings shows
- Tiger Woods finishing in top 5 or winning a major championship in 2015
- The big four in men's tennis (Nadal, Djokovic, Federer, Murray) stay healthy

So that's it Santa. I hope that's not asking for too much. I know you've got a lot to do before the big day but most of these don't need your attention immediately.

Thanks for all the great gifts through the years. I'll leave you a couple cookies and skim milk near the fireplace. I'm sure Mrs. Claus will appreciate my attempt to keep you healthy!

Matt Barnes

P.S. Do you really watch me while I'm sleeping? Just wondering. Because that's kind of creepy.

2014 Barnes Bracketology: My Picks

So yesterday, I was very self-congratulatory about my predictions of the field. I can assure you that there will be no such post about my predictions of my picks of how the tournament actually turns out. 

That's because I have been notoriously bad with this part. Some years, I take too many chances and pick a lot of upsets. Other years, I look at numbers so hard that I talk myself out of just using common sense. Lately, I've gone more chalk which is less fun but supposedly more effective. I haven't seen the results of that yet. In fact, I finished dead last in a bracket pool just last year. It had 142 people in it. That's sad.

So with my credibility as a sports anchor in the balance, here are my picks for the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament

MY PICKS

BREAKDOWN

SOUTH REGION

Best Second Round Matchup: 6 Ohio State vs. 11 Dayton - Two schools separated by an hour with all kinds of familiarity. OSU has a superior defense but cannot shoot. Dayton can shoot lights out but their defense is spotty at times. Neither team has a dominant big guy so this will come down to the guards.

Upset Special: 3 Syracuse vs. 14 Western Michigan - I'm not picking it but beware of the Broncos. The MAC is a solid league and a 14 seed for their regular season and tournament champ could mean Syracuse overlooks them. WMU is not great from 3-point range which would help against the zone but they do have a big man in Shayne Whittington who will get points in the paint and a natural scorer in David Brown. Also, WMU has faced zone from a Syracuse disciple in Rob Murphy's Eastern Michigan squad so they know what to expect. But the Orange are obviously much more athletic. They have not been great as of late (losses to Georgia Tech and Boston College at home) but they should survive this one.

Best Potential Matchup: 1 Florida vs. 2 Kansas - Talk about talent on the floor and teams with championship pedigree. This matchup just oozes great basketball. When Kansas is healthy, they have the highest ceiling of any team in this tournament. They depend a bit too much on young players which is a bit of a worry and Joel Embiid is not 100%. Florida has simply just won the last few months and plays the exact style that makes you feel like they are always in control. And they may not sport the lottery picks the Jayhawks do but these Gators can play with anyone....and beat them.

Final Four Sleeper: 7 New Mexico - They are an experienced team and a team on a roll right now. Fresh off a Mountain West Tournament title so they have good mojo heading into the Big Dance. They also have a sneaky good draw in a ho-hum Stanford squad, a Embiid-less Kansas team, and then either a struggling Syracuse or Ohio State squad before making the regional final.

Champion: 1 Florida - They are just the most solid team in the region bar none. They have not lost since December, been to 3 straight Elite Eights and are coached by a championship caliber coach in Billy Donovan. What worries me if anything is their lack of competition in the SEC. Are they ready for the likes of UCLA and Kansas?

WEST REGION

Best Second Round Matchup: 6 Baylor vs. 11 Nebraska -  What used to be an annual game in the Big 12 now will now decide who moves on and who heads home. This is a game between two of the hottest teams in the nation. Baylor was 2-8 in conference play but then went 7-1 to end the regular season and then made the Big 12 Tournament Championship. Nebraska was bounced by Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals but they ended the year with a flurry of quality victories. And something tells me a team making their first tournament appearance since 1998 has something to prove.

Upset Special: 5 Oklahoma vs. 12 North Dakota State - Two words: Taylor Braun. The sharpshooter from the Bison is a stud. Averages 18 points and shoots 44% from 3-point range. He is a handful to guard and this is a confident team overall too. Only one loss since Jan. 9. The Sooners are a good team and no doubt can win this game. Something just tells me the Bison are primed to pull off this upset in Spokane.

Best Potential Matchup: 3 Creighton vs. 11 Nebraska - I want this just for the state of Nebraska. They don't often play each other (which is a shame) but are separated by 60 miles. We all know about Doug McDermott. But Nebraska is a fun watch as well. Shavon Shields and Terran Petteway are dynamic scorers and Tim Miles has coached this team up to be a great defensive squad.

Final Four Sleeper: 9 Oklahoma State - This is just truly a different team with Marcus Smart on it. Ever since he came back, this team has played at a new level. Yes, they have lost a few games since his suspension but they were all close. If they can pull off the upset vs. Arizona, they could see favorable matchups the rest of the way. Just beware a team on a mission like this one and a team with a point guard as god as Smart.

Champion: 1 Arizona - Just more talent than anyone else in this region. Nick Johnson is just the kind of guard you want on a team in March. Aaron Gordon is a freshman playing like a veteran down low. Nice role players like Kaleb Tarczewski and T.J. McConnell to round out a solid squad. And maybe most importantly, a great defensive team. They don't rush their shots and they challenge your shots. Will be tough to beat.

MIDWEST REGION

Best Second Round Matchup: 8 Kentucky vs. 9 Kansas State - Everyone is just giving this game to the Wildcats, who are crazy talented but also inconsistent. They have shown signs of real progress and nearly pulled off the huge upset of Florida in the SEC Tournament Championship. But now with all the pressure on them to win this game and many looking forward to their potential matchup with Wichita State, don't count out a letdown from them. And if they do not play their best, Kansas State can beat them. The Wildcats played in a rugged Big 12 and despite losing their last 3 games, have proven they can beat the big dogs like Kansas, Texas, Iowa State and Oklahoma. 

Upset Special: 5 Saint Louis vs. 12 NC State - NC State was a little bit lucky to get into the field but beware that kind of team that feels like they have something to prove to the committee and the nation. VCU felt the same way and rode that to the Final Four What is in NC State's favor is they played a bruised Xavier squad first (1-3 in last 4) in Dayton and then a bruised Saint Louis team, losers of 4 of their last 5. The Wolfpack have the ACC player of the year in T.J. Warren who can be a one-man wrecking crew. If he's on, look out. If he's off though, it could be a one-and-done for NC State.

Best Potential Matchup: 1 Wichita State vs. 4 Louisville - Yes, Louisville vs. Kentucky would be fun in the Sweet 16 but I like this matchup more. The top seed in the region vs. the team many feel is playing the best right now. Plus, a rematch of their Final Four showdown in Atlanta that went down to the end. Wichita State is a better team since that game while Louisville is not in my estimation. They are still incredibly talented but the Shockers have really grown in the past year. Both teams are on top of their game and the fact that this is just to advance to the Elite Eight is a real shame.

Final Four Sleeper: 2 Michigan - I know what you're thinking. They're a 2 seed but after about 36+ hours since the brackets were announced, who has picked them? A lot of attention has gone to Louisville and Duke to get to the regional final. Let's not forget about the Wolverines, who are capable of shooting lights out from 3-point range at any time. They have great guard play even with the loss of Trey Burke. They also happen to be coached by one of the best coaches out there in John Beilein who I would trust to draw up a play for me any day with 10 seconds or less on the clock.

Champion: 1 Wichita State - Not the sexiest pick right now but I think it's the smartest pick. Why not take the team that has not lost a game all season long! Say what you will about their schedule but this team made the Final Four a year ago and most of that team returns. The target is on their back this time around but judging by that undefeated record, they have handled that bulls eye just fine. It will not be an easy road but they are well-rested and ready for any and all takers.

EAST REGION

Best Second Round Matchup: 7 UConn vs. 10 Saint Joseph's - I really like the guard matchup of Shabazz Napier and Langston Galloway. Has the real possibility of being a game that goes down to the wire. Plus a fascinating coaching matchup between Kevin Ollie, coaching in his first NCAA Tournament game and Phil Martelli, who was under fire at St. Joseph's until he coached this team to the A-10 Tournament title.

Upset Special: 5 Cincinnati vs. 12 Harvard - This is a trendy pick and for good reason. The Crimson are a good team. They have won 20+ games the past 3 years. They are coached by a quality head coach in Tommy Amaker. They have the experience in beating New Mexico last year out west in a 3-14 matchup. And maybe most importantly, they play a Cincinnati team that is definitely beatable. The Bearcats tend to be a one-trick pony, counting on Sean Kilpatrick to do all the scoring. That's not a recipe for success in March. They are simply offensively challenged which means teams can stay in games with them. If Harvard stays in this game, they will win. They are a confident, veteran bunch who expect to win.

Best Potential Matchup: 1 Virginia vs. 3 Iowa State - It's always fun to see the offense vs. defense matchup in any sport. We saw that in the Super Bowl and the defense prevailed. What about in college basketball? Virginia boasts the best defense while Iowa State ranks in the top 10 of most offensive categories. A true clash of styles to advance to the Final Four? Sign me up!

Final Four Sleeper: 6 North Carolina - Never count out the Heels, even this team which underachieved at the start of the season but ended the season on a 12-2 run. The 2 losses have come in a row at the end but it was vs. Duke and Pittsburgh, so not against cupcake competition. They have the talent to win any game they want but they have to put it all together

Champion: 4 Michigan State - Sometimes it takes a whole season for you to play your best basketball. That's the case for the Spartans who are just now hitting their stride after being riddled with injuries all season long. They cruised through the Big Ten Tournament, showing signs of a team that will contend for a national championship. They have veterans at every position, they are ferocious on the defensive end, and have a coach you know will have them ready to go in every game in Tom Izzo. Easily one of the best 4 seeds in recent memory.

FINAL FOUR

Analysis: I could honestly see any of the 4 teams in the group winning it all. I'm going with Arizona though because I think they just have the best combination of offense, defense, experience, raw talent and coaching. They passed my eye test early in the season and did at the end as well. They just have the look and feel of a team that can make a run in 6 games vs. quality competition without being tripped up. Yes, they lost the Pac-12 Tournament Championship but this is the NCAA Tournament. To borrow from the MLB All-Star Game, this time, it counts.

So there you go. My picks from start to finish. Happy March Madness everyone!

MB