March Madness

If you're like me, and millions of other people throughout the country, you diverted a few moments away from your normal office duties to fill out some brackets. Maybe you're in an office pool, hoping to finally take home the grand prize after the ditzy receptionist won it all last year after taking Carolina because her best friend's husband once drove by Chapel Hill, NC.

Like me, you have no chance of winning the pool you're in. But you did it anyways, and in a few days, you're going to be screaming at the TV when some freshman from Murray State hits a running 3 at the buzzer, successfully ruining your bracket from the start. You'll mutter to yourself "Ok, I had UNC losing the title game to Duke, so I still might have a chance", and you'll be kidding yourself.

As of right now, though, everyone's bracket has potential. And that's what's so great about it. For a day or two, you have a chance, and that feels pretty good. That's why I'll be taking half days on Thursday and Friday, so I can actually feel that rush one gets from picking an upset, and seeing it happen live on TV.

So without waxing too poetically about the NCAA Tournament, here is my take on each of the regions. I'm basing this on my #1 bracket, which is the one I feel most strongly about. I'm not the type that buys into the "Sheet of Integrity" nonsense. I'm in it, to win it. Sometimes that takes filling out more than one bracket.

Atlanta

First round winners: Duke, George Washington, Syracuse, LSU, West Virginia, Iowa, Cal, and Texas

To the Sweet 16: Duke, Syracuse, Iowa, and Texas

To the Elite 8: Duke, Texas

Region winner: Duke

Atlana region notes: Iowa could sneak past Texas, but I don't see Syracuse or LSU beating Duke. Syracuse has been playing well, but they're not as deep as Duke, and LSU is still very, very young. They're a year away from serious title contention.

Oakland

First round winners: Memphis, Bucknell, Pitt, Kansas, Indiana, Gonzaga, Marquette, and UCLA

To the Sweet 16: Memphis, Kansas, Gonzaga, UCLA

To the Elite 8: Memphis, UCLA

Region winner: UCLA

Oakland region notes: Nobody on the east coast realizes how good UCLA is. They absolutely fly towards the basket, and will easily trounce Belmont, Marquette/Xavier and even Gonzaga. Kansas, the #4-seed, could give Memphis a hard time in the Sweet 16. Gonzaga will be a popular pick because of Adam Morrison, but the team does not play defense and struggled in the WCC tournament. Indiana has been playing well since the head coach announced he was resigning at the end of the season. For some reason, that doesn't make me want to jump on their bandwagon.

Washington, DC

First round winners: UCONN, UAB, Washington, Illinois, George Mason, UNC, Seton Hall, and Tennessee.

To the Sweet 16: UCONN, Washington, UNC, Seton Hall

To the Elite 8: UCONN, UNC

Region winner: UCONN

Washington, DC sleeper(s): George Mason is worth taking, since UNC can easily beat Michigan State. Picking them is a good way to get cheap points in your pool. Tennessee should not be a #2-seed and #15-Winthrop could beat them. That game is worth watching, because UT's head coach has a comical problem with perspiration. My big sleeper in this region is Washington, who are led by Brandon Roy. They're the only team in this bracket capable of beating UCONN, as unlikely that is to actually happen.

Minneapolis

First round winners: Villanova, Arizona, Nevada, BC, Oklahoma, Florida, Georgetown, and Ohio State

To the Sweet 16: Villanova, BC, Florida, Ohio State

To the Elite 8: BC, Florida

Region winner: Florida

Minneapolis region notes: BC has the talent to go very far in this tournament, but watch out for Pacific, who have knocked out two Big East teams from the tournament the last two years. BC isn't in the Big East anymore (ACC), but it's an intriguing matchup nonetheless. Georgetown is another school that could go far, but I don't see how they get past Florida. I have Villanova in the championship game in one bracket, and that BC-'Nova matchup next weekend is going to be a good one.

Mac's Final Four: UCONN, Florida, Duke, UCLA

Mac's National Champ: UCONN over Duke