My picks concerning the State teams...

Oklahoma: Momentum is always a key when going to the big dance. Oklahoma certainly had that momentum when they started Big 12 play with 11 straight wins. That is until Blake Griffin got knocked around and out at Texas. They have only won two of their last six since then, including a revenge loss to oSu, a beat down at Mizzou, and a blow out collapse at home against Kansas. looking back on their season, OU's only impressive victory may be the early season win at Purdue. This team is a #2 seed, yet has no wins against either Big 12 #3 seeds.

The Sooners should get by Morgan St easily, then face a tough test against either Michigan or Clemson. Michigan has wins against Duke and UCLA, but struggled in Big Ten play, barely making the tournament. Clemson has been plying terrible defense as of late, so the second round game should go the Sooners way.

Third round match up could likely come against Syracuse, a team that has been tenacious the past week, making it to the finals of the Big East tournament. Unless Oklahoma starts hitting shots from the perimeter, I don't see Oklahoma progressing past the Orangemen. So far Oklahoma really hasn't shown alot of heart when it comes to big games, and that may be their downfall, unless fatigue comes into play. I see North Carolina beating Syracuse for a berth in the Final Four out of the South.

Oklahoma State has a tough first draw and even tougher second draw. Tennessee was the choise to win the SEC but guard play has been inconsistant for the Vols. This is good news for the Pokes because Eaton, Page, and Muonelo can flat light it up when they get hot. I see oSu winning this one down the stretch.

However next up would be Pitt, one of the three #1 seeds from the Big East. Unless State has an answer for DeJuan Blair, or he gets into foul trouble, this will mean the exit for Travis Ford's Cowboys. I see Pitt making it all the way to the Final Four and ultimately winning it all against UConn.

By the way, you may now place huge money bets against all of the teams, I just picked, as every year I prove to be the worst at predictions.

I actually agree with your prognosis (I feel like we're going into surgery). I've already filled out my bracket (well, one of them) and I have the Sooners loosing to The Orange in the Sweet 16. I have my boys advancing against Tennessee but losing to Pitt cause there's just no way. I'm sure I'll do another bracket there on ESPN where (and I see nothing wrong with this) I will pick Tennessee to beat us, cause that's a 50/50 game but then the same thing against Pitt. Call me crazy but in my original bracket I have Kansas making it back to the Final Four. If they play every game with the same intensity that they played with at OU then this could be a possibility. Then again, if they played like they did at Texas Tech or against Baylor in the tournament then they will be out before the second round. This is another reason I need to fill out another bracket. My overall champion is Connecticut over North Carolina. I will not share my tiebreaker score.

By the way, you may now place huge money bets against all of the teams, I just picked, as every year I prove to be the worst at predictions.


Your analysis is very rationale. You can look at W/L, SOS, RPI, winning streaks at end the year, player injuries, court advantage, etc....but you can't ever account for - the passion a team gets when it steps onto the court for it's shot at #1, and the how the ball rolls (inadvertants, intangibles, flukes, etc). But that's what makes this time of year so exciting.

Eric

Your analysis is very rationale. You can look at W/L, SOS, RPI, winning streaks at end the year, player injuries, court advantage, etc....but you can't ever account for - the passion a team gets when it steps onto the court for it's shot at #1, and the how the ball rolls (inadvertants, intangibles, flukes, etc). But that's what makes this time of year so exciting.

Eric

That's why I've done a total of 5 brackets of an allowable 10 on ESPN. I just keep coming up with the same two overall winners. The 5-12 seeds have the capability of beating the 1-4 seeds but I do believe 9 out of 10 games would result in the higher seeds winning. So 5 through 12 is where there is the most change in my brackets because those games could really go 50/50. Not much diversity between those teams, really.

That's why I've done a total of 5 brackets of an allowable 10 on ESPN. I just keep coming up with the same two overall winners. The 5-12 seeds have the capability of beating the 1-4 seeds but I do believe 9 out of 10 games would result in the higher seeds winning. So 5 through 12 is where there is the most change in my brackets because those games could really go 50/50. Not much diversity between those teams, really.

It should be against the law to fill out more than one bracket.

My final four mirrors that of the President. Louisville, Memphis, Pitt, and North Carolina.

Side note...How awesome is it, that our president is making a bracket on ESPN.com.

BCS? its the end of the road...

Wow is this not the best time of the year for sports or what? I sort of fell out of love with pro sports probably around 4-5 years ago, although i still watch, i just don't have the same passion for them. But I will always love college football and basketball. And this is by far the best time of year to be watching, in my opinion. Every year there are so many great games, so many great moments. You always have at least a few upsets, you just get to see some great basketball with quality teams playing against each other that you don't usually get to see except for a few non-conference games at the beginning of the season, but they can't compare to the intensity of tourny time.

I did pretty good on day one, I picked 14 of 16 correct, missed the Michigan and Washington game. I did pick Western Kentucky right. Not bad.

All of my Sweet 16 picks are still alive.

I did awful in day one.

It should be against the law to fill out more than one bracket.

I agree with you! My original bracket is my best bracket. On ESPN I'm just within the Top 35,000!! That's practically the best I've ever done!!!

Having picked Wisconsin & Siena to win really put some excitement into those overtime games!

26 of 32 after the first round. 14 sweet 16 teams still alive. 7 elite 8.

I am tied for 23rd in my Yahoo group.

That oSu game was exciting to say the least. I had a conference call start when there was 13 seconds left on the clock. Luckily it started a little late. Is there anyone better than Eaton to penetrate a lane late in a game?

I was watching the game on my computer (being the boss has its perks) and shouted woohoo so loud my husband and his client heard me on the other side of our building. I had to apologize to the client as he was leaving. Luckily he was a sports fan so he could empathize with me.

Not too bad at the end of the first weekend. I had 39 of 48 correct, 13 of the Sweet 16. Six of the elite eight still alive and all of my final four.

My best bracket is currently in 4,991th place. Which is awesome compared to my others which range between 27,000th and 95,000th. I got 25 of 32 in round 1, and 14 of 16 in round 2. I still have all my elite eight and final four in tact. Unfortunately my lead bracket is the one that I showed so much love for the big Xii in. Kind of a feel good bracket I guess, with OU and Kansas playing for the National Title. So I'm sure to sink like a rock unless they really surprise me. Next round I have Xavier beating Pitt :boxing2: Go Musketeers!!!

edit: Im so bummed. I just realized that I am actually #150,705 place nationally. My other brackets range from 826,000 to 3,000,000th. The 4991 ranking is from the march madness group with about 141,000 entries. Still not bad but........

edit: Im so bummed. I just realized that I am actually #150,705 place nationally. My other brackets range from 826,000 to 3,000,000th. The 4991 ranking is from the march madness group with about 141,000 entries. Still not bad but........

I guess that means your PTS is 530, your PCT is 96.7 and yes, you and I are tied at 150,705th, which I can guarantee there's a whole other heap of people bundled into that place, lol.

I got 13 outta 16. My Elite 8 & Final 4 are still intact.

at 150,705th, which I can guarantee there's a whole other heap of people bundled into that place, lol.



I'm guessing somwehere around !00,000-250,000 of us lucky souls are all tied at 150,705. My next best bracket (the more realistic one to finish well) is at 500pts and is at #826,119th place. Think we'll get a trophy? lol