Atlanta

Breakdown: This region is the toughest in the tournament, as it possesses the number one overall seed in the tournament in Duke along with some very good double-digit seeds. Although the Blue Devils won the ACC tournament, they have looked vulnerable in the last two weeks. Seeds 2-6 are Texas, Iowa, LSU, and Syracuse, all of whom won either their regular season or postseason conference titles. Any of those schools could be primed to knock off Coach K’s squad, which I would personally love to see.

Upsets: One of the best first round contests in the tournament falls in this region with #6 West Virginia taking on #11 Southern Illinois. Both teams are known for their deliberate styles and accurate outside shooting, but I see the Salukis of the Missouri Valley Conference eliminating last season’s Cinderella in a low-scoring affair.

Also look for a physical Texas A&M team to bring a worn-out Syracuse team back to earth in the dreaded 12-5 matchup. Is anyone else wondering how Gerry McNamara has suddenly become a basketball god? Two weeks ago there were three people in the nation that would have selected G-Mac to their roster of top 25 players in the country, and now a career 37.6 percent shooter is going to carry his team to the Final Four? I think not.

Sleeper: LSU
If you can designate a #4 seed a sleeper, then this is your team. The Tigers won the SEC regular season crown and six of their eight losses came against teams in the NCAA tournament, with one of the other losses at Cincinnati before they lost star Armein Kirkland to an injury.

Winner: LSU
A balance of talent inside and outside, LSU has the athletes that can give Duke problems in their Sweet 16 matchup. Look for Glen Davis, the third 300+ pound star to play at LSU, to assert himself in the Regional Final versus Texas.

Minneapolis

Breakdown: Like the Atlanta region it could be the toughest of the four. There is a nice balance in the 1-7 seeds, but Florida and Ohio State are both teams who seem to be too erratic, while Boston College has quickly become a popular pick despite their defensive problems. Villanova has the #1 seed, and barring injury problems there is no team in this bracket that can derail the Wildcats.

Upsets: Look out for Wisconsin-Milwaukee who returns most of their key players from last year’s sweet 16 team, including guard Boo Davis. The Panthers will knock off a struggling Oklahoma team, who we know is not struggling because of Calvin Simpson’s commitment to academics.

Sleeper: Georgetown
The Hoyas come into the tournament with a 21-9 record, having hung close in many of those losses. They have the athleticism and style of play to give Ohio State problems in a second round matchup.

Winner: Villanova
‘Nova has shown its toughness all year long in the Big East, and their four-guard lineup is going to give everyone in this region headaches. As long as Allen Ray is nearly 100 percent, the Wildcats will move on to Indy.

Oakland

Breakdown: The weakest region of the four, with Memphis holding the top spot for the first time in school history. This bracket appears to be wide open, with anyone from seeds 1-7 with a chance to reach Indianapolis. Look for defense to prevail over offense, with teams like Kansas and UCLA setting up nicely.

Upsets: First round upsets could be few in this bracket, with San Diego State and Alabama the two schools most likely to bust your bracket. In the second round, look for the top three seeds to struggle, with one of them falling.

Sleepers: Indiana
This team has won five of six since coach Mike Davis announced that he would be resigning at the end of the season. If the Hoosiers can survive SDSU, a second round matchup with the defensively challenged Zags could sway in their favor unless the power of the ‘stache is too much to overcome.

Winner: UCLA
A very competitive region yields UCLA, who have the superior defensive skills to win this region and bring back the magic to Westwood.

Washington, D.C.

Breakdown: With three of last years final four participants sprinkled in with U Conn, Tennessee, and Washington, this region has experience and glitz but little in the way of contenders. The Huskies are many people’s favorites to win the whole tournament, but they will find tough opponents at every turn in the Beltway Region.

Upsets: The 12-5 matchup could produce another upset as Utah State has the tools to slow down Washington’s attack. This game will be a contrast in styles, as the Huskies like to run while the Aggies will grind it out on the offensive end.
On the bottom half of the bracket, the Shockers of Wichita State will be this year’s Cinderella and make a run into the sweet 16 beating an overrated Tennessee team and Bruce Pearl’s ugly Orange blazer in the process. Also, be on the lookout for Michigan State, as Coach Izzo’s teams always seem to produce come tournament time.

Sleeper: Wichita State
Don’t be “Shocked” if the team to reach the Sweet 16 with the lowest seed will be Wichita State, who won the regular-season title in the Missouri Valley Conference. Four players score in double figures for the Shockers, and we all know how important balance is in the NCAA tournament.

Winner: Connecticut
Unless Marcus Williams needs a new computer or the team is not let into the arena because of their hideous looks, Connecticut will take this region. The last two NCAA champions will collide in the regional final, with Connecticut toppling North Carolina in a game that will be hyped more than last year’s, “Spring Break Shark Attack”.

Final Four

Two #1 Seeds, a #2 seed and a #4 seed will make it to college basketball’s grandest stage at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.

In one matchup, the Big East’s #1 and #2 from the regular season will battle it out. Villanova and Connecticut split in the regular season, with each team winning on its home floor. In the rubber match, Connecticut will suddenly catch the disease which plagues the Colts in crucial situations in that same venue and Villanova will beat U Conn.
The other matchup will feature LSU and UCLA in a battle to see which acronym can play better basketball. UCLA’s defense will be the difference as Ben Allen leads his team into the title game against Villanova.

Title Game: Villanova 73, UCLA 66