Two things. First, watching sports on the East Coast is really hard. Being an Arizonian means sports are off my screen by 10/11 (except the WAC championship), this starting at 9:20pm is bullshit. Two, get these bozos playing their way into the dance off my screen, it’s time for the big dance. Before you just fill out your bracket willy nilly, make sure to take a look at these final four picks. Let’s get it.
The South shall rise again
TL/DR: Alabama…sprinkle Arizona
It’s Alabama and everyone else, but I just read a report that Braxton Miller is having security follow him around everywhere. I’m not saying he didn’t have crazy people yelling at him during the SEC tourney and on the road (South Carolina was brutal and he still dropped 40), but there are about to be more lib snowflakes screaming obscenities at him. Arizona is worth a sprinkle in this region as well, but I would take those two and fade the rest of the region.
I like several upsets early and often in this region with Charleston making a sweet 16 run over San Diego State and Virginia (if they get past Furman, I’ll take Furman ATS and the under). They had an incredible non-conference and were 21-1 to start the season. They have the ability and experience to push the pace on anyone and are a prime 12 over 5 upset.
NC State was going to be my dark horse to win the ACC tournament before they shit the bed to end the season. I still believe they have the talent to beat an inconsistent Creighton team, so this could be terrible game. Either way the winner gets beat by Baylor in the next round.
I’d be a hypocrite to not take Utah State after pounding the table for them to get in. They have a tough matchup against Kobe Brown and a Mizzou team with strenth and lenth.
If anyone can matchup with Bama in this region, it’s Arizona. They have good, experienced guards who can defend the perimeter with Kerr Kriisa and Courtney Ramey and a legit rim defender in Oumar Ballo.
East
TL/DR: Fade Purdue–take Duke/Marquette
I’m not a believer in 1 seed Purdue or the B1G this tournament. I’m fading all of them and don’t see forsee any in the Sweet 16. This is a solid region from top to bottom with American conference tournament champion 8 Memphis, mid-major darling 9 FAU meeting in the first round. I like either one to upset Purdue in the second round.
Duke and Oral (lol) Roberts is an intriguing 5/12 matchup. Oral Roberts was the incredible cinderella story two years ago with an improbable sweet 16 run. Duke is red hot with a ton of talented freshman who will probably overwhelm the Golden Eagles in the first round, but could be an issue later. I like them to get past a banged up Tennessee team without Ziegler in the second round before a dog fight with Memphis in the Sweet 16 before falling to Marquette in the Elite Eight. They have a great draw to make a deep run.
Kentucky has been hot against everyone not named Vandy in the tournament, and could keep Coach Cal off the hot seat with a deep run. I like them to get past Providence and getting at least to the Sweet 16 before falling to Marquette.
I feel like Marquette is the most overlooked team in this tournament which means I love them to make a Final Four run. After USC upsets Sparty, Marquette will cruise past them, beat Kentucky and meet Duke in a Final Four before matching up with Alabama in the Final Four. Not only should you take them to make the Final Four, sprinkle them to win the whole damn thing with Shaka Smart’s resurrection.
Midwest
TL/DR: Houston/Texas
This is the most compelling region, in my opinion, with two legit national championship contenders and solid teams throughout. I like both Drake and Kent State in early round upsets with the Drake Bulldogs making an improbable sweet 16 run.
I’ll save your time and say I like chalk everywhere else, but an elite eight matchup between Houston and Texas would be electric. I think both teams have a great draw to the second weekend, especially if Marcus Sasser is able to go for the Cougs. I know you need to make a pick now, so I’ll take Texas to make it out of this group, but with both teams being plus money, you can easily hedge with Houston (or vice versa).
West
TL/DR: Take Kansas, sprinkle UConn
I got really chalky in this region, with my only upset being Boise State over Northwestern in the first round. I’ll save your time and get to the Elite eight matchup between Kansas and UConn which depends on how you feel about McCullar’s health for Kansas. I’m taking Kansas to make a Final Four run, but I will be hedging by taking UConn to win this game outright. Kansas has the ability and depth to win the whole thing, but without McCullar, they can’t get by a physical UConn team if his back starts acting up again.
I’m fading UCLA in this region. I love the Bruins, but I hate their bench. Their back up bigs looked lost against Arizona in the Pac12 championship, and the absence of Jaylen Clark is going to bite them in the ass. TCU is a team who could make an Elite Eight run and make noise against Kansas or UConn, but the distractions around the team with Eddie Lampkin concerns me.
Hopefully this helps with your brackets, otherwise we’re both fucked.
The Morning Flush 