We may disagree on a litany of issues these days, but March Madness never fails to unite the United States. Americans love to gamble. Americans know we're always right. The NCAA men’s hoops tournament has exploded to a multi-billion dollar enterprise entirely thanks to those two indisputable truths.
This year’s tourney appears to be a crapshoot with the regular season amounting to a whole lot of nothing. Look at Syracuse, who seemed like a contender after its early February classic versus Duke. The Orange are fading fast at season’s end after an early round loss versus lowly NC State. Check out mid-major Wichita State, who is following up a charmed Final Four season with the first perfect regular season since 1991. Congrats Shockers! You get to share a region with last year’s national title game participants, Louisville AND Michigan. On top of that, the Cardinals are in a strong position to angle for a repeat title. That's what we get when Virginia wins the regular and post-season ACC title.
Ever since VCU rode the play-in game in 2012 to the Final Four, bracketology has devolved into a guessing game enlightened solely by the five random Saturday games you caught on ESPN. NCAA basketball is turning into pro hockey: the team with the hottest hand when the tourney starts becomes the odds-on favorite. Look at Kemba Walker and Trey Burke. Those dudes made a lot of money off of spectacular post-season runs.
Allow me, for the first and only time, to make like our president and toss out my NCAA tournament picks. I feel for the guy: Crimea voting to rejoin the Soviet Union couldn't have happened at a worse time. I envision Obama flicking in between the Selection Sunday special on ESPN with the election returns from Crimea. Crimea was the George Washington University of the nation-annexation draft: its selection was never in doubt.
I skipped ahead to the Final Four because all the tourney pools are won with which teams rank amongst the last four standing. Trust me: I was killing it after the first weekend last season only to falter when my annual pick of Michigan State making the Final Four was disproved during the Sweet Sixteen. But hey, it's a new year. Let's see if Coach Izzo can replicate his tourney magic.
Let’s get after some Robert-o-tology.
Final Four
South Region Champion: Florida
The Gators have been shooting lights out and, as the top seed, have the easiest path to Dallas-Fort Worth.
East Region Champion: Michigan State
Sparty will follow up their football team's Rose Bowl title with a trip to the Final Four behind its rugged starting line-up. Villanova will be a tough out in the Elite Eight, but I trust Tom Izzo's fashion sense over 'Nova coach Jay Wright's.
West Region Champion: Arizona
The Wildcats have been a solid team all season and I project their talent to carry them over a tough Wisconsin squad. But I wouldn't be shocked if the Badgers upset UofA and made the Final Four.
Midwest Region Champion: Louisville
The defending National Champion will have to overcome a #4 seed. But you have to pick coaching in March/April and Rick Pitino is one of the best out there.
National Title
Florida's shooting will prove too much for the grind-it-out Spartans.
Louisville's defense and experience are the logical pick over the spastic Wildcats
National Champion: Louisville
The Cardinals had a blessed season last year and look to replicate it as they bring an experienced squad to Dallas. So much of the college game is dictated by defense. Louisville has the best path laid out to take advantage of that.
