The madness of March is here.
But does it even matter, when our own beloved Wildcats
aren’t dancing into the postseason?
For one, if you don’t think the big dance matters just because
your team’s not in it, then probably just leave this page now (just kidding,
please stay.) For two, THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST SPORTING EVENTS OF THE YEAR
SO YOU MIGHT AS WELL GET USED TO IT.
That being said, a big part of the fun of the NCAA
tournament is filling out a bracket BEFORE the tournament begins, and make your
own predictions of the outcome in the tournament. If you didn’t accomplish
this, much like I didn’t accomplish publishing this blog before the tournament started, don’t worry! You can
still complete in many round by round competitions, which takes a lot of
pressure off of making your picks.
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| A slight chance... but a chance. You never know unless you try! |
But, for the sake of a good time, let’s assume you could
care less about the First Four play in games and are still trying to decide who
is going to win it all this year. My advice for filling out a competitive
bracket? It’s impossible. No matter how much research you do, no matter how
much you know or think you know about the game and the teams, you will end up
finishing behind a dumbass who filled out their bracket based on the schools’
mascots.
However, as the tournament hasn’t technically started
yet, I might just say now that my bracket is perfect and superior to everyone’s.
ESPECIALLY Barrack Obama’s. I’ve beaten Obama in ESPN’s Tournament Challenge for
the past three years and this year will be no different.
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| Thanks Good Advice Duck, but I will probably end up looking like a Jackass no matter what I do. |
The real key to winning bracket challenges is winning the
later rounds in the tournament. This seems like a no brainer, and Duke has
killed my bracket multiple times by being disappointing, but I’m ready this year. This year, instead
of picking winners based on stats and style of play, I picked more on odds and
trends. That being said, I’m putting a lot of confidence on Brad Underwood and
Stephen F. Austin taking out the Blue Devils in the Sweet 16. Also, Brad
Underwood is a K-State guy, so of course I have to root for him.
Let me give you my perspective at some teams with the
potential to cut down the nets in Indianapolis:
KENTUCKY
Everyone keeps saying it is Kentucky vs. the field. This
is true, but it is also false. It is true because when Kentucky is on their
game and John Calipari and William Wesley are paying off the refs (not saying I
believe it, but it’s an interesting read. You can find it here.)
they are unbeatable. The Harrison twins are nuts. Willie Cauley-Stein, the SEC
player of the year, is actually an Olathe Northwest alumni with ties to
Spearville according to Kpreps.com.
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| Yes Dick, we know. We know he's really good. We don't need to see his damn highlights. |
The only shadow of doubt I have about Kentucky is the fact that they are going into this tournament undefeated.The odds
of winning it all after never losing don’t favor the Wildcats. Maybe if Bob
Knight threw a chair across the floor I would feel more confident.
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| FUN FACT: This was 30 years ago on Feb. 23. Despite a few bumps and bruises, that chair hasn't aged a bit! |
Kentucky
WILL fall. I’m to the conclusion that they are either going to win it all, or
lose in the first round to Hampton. Or maybe in the Sweet 16 to Valparaiso (one of my underdog picks). I've said this since December, if Kentucky is going to lose, five players AND Calipari himself are going to have to walk into that gym with their heads up their butts. There's no better place to choke then at the big dance.
VILLANOVA
Who the heck are these guys? Nova hasn’t gotten much
media attention all year. They didn’t pop up on my radar until around the time
of the Big 12 tournament when I was desperately trying to figure how K-State
could get back on the bubble (there was no way in hell they could have). However
these Wildcats rely pretty heavily on their 3 game, and we all know that
tournament nerves can make the outside shooting game suffer. The Wildcats haven’t
made it past the second round in the past four years. In fact, I specifically remember picking them as a final four team a few years ago and being incredibly disappointed. If they’re ready to make a run,
Josh Hart shoots 46% from three point range, and four players’ average double
digits. I picked them to go to the championship game, simply because I know
very little about them and the teams I know very little about always manage to
mess up my bracket.
VIRGINIA
A year ago, I loved the way Virginia played so much that
they were my championship team. Then they lost to Michigan State in the
regional final. I only assumed this would happen again, so I have them getting
knocked out by the Spartans in the Round of 32. I guess I’m bitter. But maybe
they will be a pleasant surprise.
WISCONSIN
My pick to cut down the net in Indiana is the Badgers,
simply because the odds of Kentucky being perfect are so slim. Honestly though,
it is Wisconsin’s time. They’re pissed, after coming up one point short to
Kentucky in the final four last season. I predict an exact repeat, except this
time, the Badgers manage to go the extra mile and overcome the favorite
Wildcats. You will never run Kentucky down, their bench is just too deep, so
taking them down is all about efficiency. Wisconsin is all about efficiency.
They don’t make mistakes. They are the well-oiled machine that is going to earn
me a ton of money in all the bracket challenges I’m entered in. I’ve got to pay
for college somehow.
So these are my unprofessional, minimal researched
thoughts on probable National Championship teams. The rest of the field is a
tossup, and to be honest the only game I really care about is the possibility
of a Wichita State and Kansas matchup in the Round of 32. I can’t wait to see
those chicken hawks get spanked by VanVleet and Baker.
But hang in there cat fans! If you’re looking for some
post-season hoop action, don’t forget the Lady Wildcats are playing Akron in
the first round of the WNIT in Bramlage! The lady cats are 13-3 in the WNIT,
and are 4-0 in first round games, winning by 11+ points. But just because you
may have never heard of the Akron women’s basketball team doesn’t mean it won’t
be a show. Defense will be the name of the game, as Akron is 25th in
the nation in scoring offense. Breanna Lewis block party? I’ll supply the
music.
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| DISCLAIMER: This is not actually me. |
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