I think that this year is the most unstable group of top seeds I have seen in quite some time. All seem vulnerable and I am going to predict that at most 2 number one seeds make it and I would not be suprised to see one get bounced in the 2nd round.
I think Louisville is the most overrated #1 seed especially considering they won the Big East by taking down Prov, Nova, and then an exhausted Syracuse team. I believe they make an early exit. Here is my final four.
Memphis
Wake Forest
UNC
Duke - This one is tough between Duke and Pitt, but I really like the way that Duke is playing right now. They are mentally tough, and having Coach K doesn't hurt.
So right now I got three teams from North Carolina in the final four. We shall see...........
I think Louisville is the most overrated #1 seed especially considering they won the Big East by taking down Prov, Nova, and then an exhausted Syracuse team. I believe they make an early exit. Here is my final four.
Memphis
Wake Forest
UNC
Duke - This one is tough between Duke and Pitt, but I really like the way that Duke is playing right now. They are mentally tough, and having Coach K doesn't hurt.
So right now I got three teams from North Carolina in the final four. We shall see...........
Memphis and UNC are the two best teams. Carolina with Lawson wins ACC tourney easily. They have great road to the F4. I'm not from NC , but watch them year in and year out. This is a solid team with Hansbrough and Lawson. This team is better than Pitt and they are very solid. Big East and ACC are top of the crowd. You will not have all four #1 seeds in the Final Four this year either. There will be at least one and maybe two #2 seeds make it. Memphis is probtably of them.
So I see UNC, Pitt, Wake and Memphis
So I see UNC, Pitt, Wake and Memphis
nice stats.
I would like to see more of this type of thinking
working on it....we all know #1 seeds are 96-0 in the first round, they are also 84-12 in the second round....in the 8/9 matchup, the 9 seed holds a 51-45 edge, but of the 12 games the one seed has lost in the second round, 9 of those losses were against the 8 seed...
cbs has an easy to use bracket for every year of the tourney....i think a 3 seed goes down in the first round this year this year, it is due...
elite 8
louisville
kansas
pitt
ucla
uconn
missouri
unc
syracuse
sleepers (5 seed or lower)
usc
fla st.
purdue
ariz st.
the only team in pittsburgh's way to their first trip to the elite 8 is florida st. in my opinion. although, i would like to see tennessee beat okl st. because i think pitt would crush a soft team like the vols.
louisville
kansas
pitt
ucla
uconn
missouri
unc
syracuse
sleepers (5 seed or lower)
usc
fla st.
purdue
ariz st.
the only team in pittsburgh's way to their first trip to the elite 8 is florida st. in my opinion. although, i would like to see tennessee beat okl st. because i think pitt would crush a soft team like the vols.
Final Four: Louisville, Memphis, Pitt, and UNC.
First round upsets based on seeds:
Siena over Ohio St.
Arizona over Utah
USC over Boston College
Texas A&M over BYU
Miss St. over Washington
VCU over UCLA
Western Kentucky over Illinois
Michigan over Clemson
Sleeper Final Four teams: Wake Forest, Purdue, Villanova, and Syracuse.
First round upsets based on seeds:
Siena over Ohio St.
Arizona over Utah
USC over Boston College
Texas A&M over BYU
Miss St. over Washington
VCU over UCLA
Western Kentucky over Illinois
Michigan over Clemson
Sleeper Final Four teams: Wake Forest, Purdue, Villanova, and Syracuse.
watch out for WVU. I have said they were a top 15 team all year, and they have really been hitting their stride. The emergence of Ebanks has elevated them to where I thought they would be in the preseason. They can easily make a final 4 run.
funny that all a sudden everybody is liking syracuse? hmmmm interesting.
funny that all a sudden everybody is liking syracuse? hmmmm interesting.
I think Cuse has an "easy" road to the Sweet 16. SF Austin and ASU/Temple? Not that hard.
My problem is they probably end up playing Oklahoma. That will be a great game to watch, and think Cuse *could* win, but I've watched them blow it too many times this year to take them over Oklahoma.
they have made a lot of improvements as the season progressed. Just look at the decrease in their number of turnovers. the last month of the season they have been as good as ANYBODY. I think their zone really can have an effect on OU. If they pack it in on Griffin OU could be in trouble. I don't trust Crocker, and Warren enough to knock down 3's. Davis is someone who Syracuse would really have to identify on the wings when he comes into the game, but overall the zone really has the ability to give teams who aren't familiar with it problems. Offensively Syracuse is as good as anybody. However a potential match up with OU is a long ways away. They both have some tough games coming up.
Interesting side note on games in the tournament (saw this on another forum):<br/>
Since the field expanded in 1985:<br/>
1st ROUND<br/>
#1 96-0 scoring margin +25.1<br/>
#2 92-4 +16.6<br/>
#3 81-15 +11.3<br/>
#4 76-20 +9.4<br/>
#5 65-31 +5.1<br/>
#6 66-30 +4.4<br/>
#7 60-36 +3.1<br/>
#8 44-52 +0.2<br/>
Since the field expanded in 1985:<br/>
1st ROUND<br/>
#1 96-0 scoring margin +25.1<br/>
#2 92-4 +16.6<br/>
#3 81-15 +11.3<br/>
#4 76-20 +9.4<br/>
#5 65-31 +5.1<br/>
#6 66-30 +4.4<br/>
#7 60-36 +3.1<br/>
#8 44-52 +0.2<br/>
