Who are your upset picks? Who's going to the Final Four? BE THE BRACKET GUY. BE ONE WITH THE BRACKET GUY.

Tennessee and Kentucky def got those for the 2 seeds.

and the South is gonna be a bloodbath

but Michigan hasnt been upset in the tournament since 2012*. i like this region a LOT.

*i dont count losing to preseason #1 UK in 2014

Like, I believe ISU, Houston, and Wofford will all play in the second round... but Auburn and Kansas both have really tough opening round games. I also just don't believe in Washington at *all* (they should've been seeded even lower imo), and I don't think Utah State has the athletes to hang. Utah State could be on some Belmont shit and shoot the lights out, but I just can't imagine they have the dogs for that sprintfest. So I think UNC coasts to the Sweet 16, and while they could face Auburn there, they could just as easily face Northeastern or New Mexico State on some Cinderella shit.

I also think Michigan's first couple foes won't really stumble either. I think Nevada and Texas Tech are pretty safe pencils into the second round and Sweet 16-- and I truthfully don't think the Zags will face a real threat til FSU. That should be a pretty chalky bracket, which always makes things tough for the bigger seeds.

>Who are your upset picks? Who's going to the Final Four? BE
>THE BRACKET GUY. BE ONE WITH THE BRACKET GUY.


michigan is winning it all, for sure.


(i hope the Vols win though, Rick Barnes resurgence is a feel good story for me)

happy to avoid Duke, UNC and a 4-peat with Kentucky in the same region. Cincinnati in Columbus is a set-up, but whatever (Tennessee does better as an underdog).

at the end of the day you have to play well for six straight games, which is hard enough against anybody.

>Cincinnati in Columbus is a set-up, but whatever
>(Tennessee does better as an underdog).

Road games to lower seeds in the tournament is so brutally unfair. Cincinnati is the type of team South Carolina was too-- just a brutally physical team, the type of team where, if they aren't getting calls against them, can absolutely get away with murder and demoralize you with physical defense and borderline dirty play.

Granted, Tennessee is better than Duke was that year, and South Carolina's defense was more consistent than Cincinnati's is... but that year just taught me that I never wanna be caught in that sort of bullshit ever again, period.

That said, if Tennessee gets past that malarkey, you've gotta like their chances at taking it all the way to the Final Four.

>That said, if Tennessee gets past that malarkey, you've gotta
>like their chances at taking it all the way to the Final Four.

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His wrist was clearly hurt during that Seton Hall game. If he's injured, Marquette is obviously fucked ten ways til Tuesday. And of course they're going to struggle to defend Ja.

That said, if we're talking college ball, not future pro talent, Howard is arguably the second best player in the field as a whole. I know how Marquette should defend Morant-- pack the paint, make him shoot. Easier said than done, obviously, but he's not exceptionally strong or physical, so slow the game down, sag off him, and if he tries to tiptoe into the lane, get physical with him. Theo John and Ed Morrow are excellent physical interior defenders for guys who get to the cup-- maybe they can make him think twice, take some outside Js, and give Marquette some free possessions.

But I have *no* idea how you defend Howard. Again, get physical with him, I guess... but his shot release is absolutely Curry or Young level fast, his handles are very crafty for a little guy, and he shoots 90% from the stripe so you can't foul him. If anyone's a candidate to be a Kemba Walker or Shabazz Napier in this tournament, it's absolutely Howard. You can pencil him in for a good 25 PPG at minimum.

Not saying that Marquette will even win, mind you-- but I think the public is gonna go HARD on Murray State, and I think the smart money is to bet on Marquette to win and cover. Especially once the line inevitably moves toward Murray State.

I just think Murray State should have been a higher seed but there were a few odd seedings this year.

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Virginia Tech has a much better chance against us than MSU, imo.

Though that's not hard to do when that number is zero.

BUt know theyre going to the sweet 16, then I feel bad for you.

They *are,* however, the second toughest 7 seed in the field-- probably should've been a 5 seed. It's just gonna be hard for Magee to get hot against a perimeter defender like Hagans. Not impossible... but yeah, Magee needs to hang 30 for UK to lose, and I'd be really surprised if that happens.

That said, if we could somehow get a UNC/Wofford neutral court Elite Eight, I'd pop the biggest fucking bag of popcorn.