Yo, me again, and I’m here with another sports article. This is one of my favorite times of the year, the NCAA Tournament. Mid-March is always a great time for me getting to see this fun tourney filled with upsets, buzzer-beaters, and tears of joy/sorrow for all the glory and/or agony of the chance to win a championship. Since I can, I’m gonna break down each region for you. Now, this is just me basing on what I think could happen, and quite frankly, if your reading this, you more than likely shouldn’t follow my advice. Because I suck at these things, and the NCAA Tourney is really unpredictable (See Baylor and Iowa St. last year, or Florida Gulf Coast 3 years ago. Which btw, Welcome Back, Dunk City!) But if you want, you can humor me and share in this wonderful time of year. 63 games in 3 weeks. Let’s do this!

South Region

Top 4 seeds: #1 Kansas, #2 Villanova, #3 Miami (FL), #4 California

Let’s start with the South Region, and take it from there.

Best Team: Kansas

I mean, this isn’t a given. Kansas won its 12th, again 12th!!, conference regular season title in a row, and have been on a hot streak since late January. There’s a reason they are the #1 overall seed. Led by Perry Ellis, who I believe has been there since 1983, they have a ton of depth and talented stars. Now is it as talented as past Kansas teams? Probably not. Put they have very good balance, and work well. They are alot of people’s choices to making it to Houston.

Lower Seeded Team (#8 or lower) that could break your brackets: Wichita St.

Aww, Wichita State. We meet again. They made it to a Final Four before, and have the talent in Fred Vanfleet and Ron Baker to cause damage yet again. Sure, they were in the First Four game yesterday (and embarrassed Vanderbilt) but that shouldn’t be an issue. There’s enough chemistry and experience on here that could easily send this team to the Sweet 16, maybe farther. The teams in this bracket, other than Kansas, I really don’t trust alot, so seeing the Shockers go far would not be a total surprise.

Sleeper Team: California 

I should tell you, there’s a difference between “Sleeper” and the lower seeded teams I like. I think these teams that no one will count on, if they get really hot, could get to the Final 4. And my money is on California. They have a mix of young and veteran players, but the talent is off the charts with NBA talent. They been in close games too, and while they lost most, they are gonna be a tough out. I think this is the toughest opponent for Kansas, and should be fun to watch. If they do make it to the Sweet 16 vs Kansas, Jayhawks fans should worry.

Team to avoid: Maryland

In a field that includes Iowa (The hell happened in the 2nd half of the Big 10 schedule with ya, Iowa?) and Villanova (See their tourney seed and results the last 2 years), I think the most overrated team in this region is Maryland. Now, I seen enough Maryland games this year, and quite frankly, this team should be MUCH BETTER. Even MSU star Denzel Valentine said after Saturday’s game that this team is “the most talented he’s ever faced.” And they do got talent with Melo Trimble, Diamond Stone, and Jake Layman. However, this group for some reason can look so off at times. When they’re on, they can compete with the best (Look at Saturday’s B1G Semifinal with MSU). When they don’t, it gets ugly (See the final 10 minutes of the same game when they made only 1 field goal, and vs Minnesota). This team has Final Four talent. Now can they put it together and make a run, I have no clue.

My Upset Pick in First 2 Rounds: #11 Wichita St. over #6 Arizona

As I said. Wichita State can cause drama. And this Arizona team, while talented, has lost some games it shouldn’t have. I believe this is still be true, and think the Shockers will get it done. Others that could happen: South Dakota St. over Maryland (As listed above) and Hawaii over California (Beware Hawaii and their defense.)

My Final 4 pick from this region: Kansas

They’re too good, and been playing out of their minds. I think this region is gonna be all Rock Chalk.

 

West Region

Best Team: Oklahoma

We all heard of Buddy Hield and his player of the year candidacy. We all seen how he does, and we all know what he can do. But there is more to this team than Hield. He has some good teammates in Isaiah Cousins and co., and this team has a lot of chemistry and veteran leadership to make a big run. The only question is if they can hit their 3’s. Because when they don’t, this team isn’t as dangerous. But still, I believe this is the best from the West for now.

Lower Seeded Team that could break your brackets: Saint Joseph’s

The Hawks have been on a roll lately. The won their Atlantic 10 tourney,  and beat some good teams throughout it. They have some good players and a great coach in Phil Martelli who can cause some damage. Now, I’m not saying they will beat Oregon, even if I did I Twitter Sunday night, but they can do it. And I believe this region is very wide open, so if they do beat Oregon (that is, if they can also get past Cincinnati in the first game), anything is possible from there on out.

Sleeper Team: Texas

Shaka Smart is back, but with a new team. And a very different style. He’s not gonna pressure you with this team like with VCU, but this team is big, physical, and could have a Final 4 run in them if it all comes together. They have proven to play with the big boys and win (They have 4 Top 10 wins this year) and being in the Big 12 and the hell they had to go through, yeah, this might be a cakewalk. In fact, they might be motivated because in their way could be rivals Texas A&M, Oklahoma, and Baylor (who I also think could be a sleeper) consecutively after the first game. They will be up for those games.

 Team to avoid: Duke

This Duke team found their strive a bit after a big losing streak in January. Led by the new hated Duke white boy/tripper Grayson Allen, and maybe a top 3 NBA draft selection in Brandon Ingram, this team can score with the best of them, and have beaten some good teams. However, one thing this team doesn’t have alot of: depth. They played with 6-7 players near the end because of injuries, and those guys aren’t returning. Also, they kinda stink on defense. The depth will come to strike them, I believe at some point. A good team, but not as good as last year.

My Upset Pick in the First 2 rounds:#14 Green Bay over #3 Texas A&M

I told you how Saint Joe’s could be Oregon in the 3rd round, and I still think it can. But why not go with something out of the blue? Texas A&M has a very good team this year, one of it’s best in a while, and while it’s been fun for the Aggies, I really don’t think they are a damn 3 seed. Green Bay, meanwhile, took out a very good Valparaiso team in the Horizon semis, and could be a treat to beat them. They have some good players from what I saw, and hey, upsets we never see coming can happen. I think the Phoenix rise up (I’m so sorry) and upset Texas A&M. Others that could happen: Northern Iowa over Texas (Ask North Carolina, Iowa State, and Wichita State how good Northern Iowa is), Yale over Baylor (54 years since their last appearance. What do they have to lose?), and UNC Wilmington over Duke (The depth and defense.)

My Final 4 pick from this region: Oklahoma

This region is very wide open, and can go a lot of ways. But I believe Hield and co. do enough to make it to the Final 4.

 

Midwest Region

Best Team: Michigan State

Yeah, I’m a homer, and going with my Spartans on here. But then again, can you blame me? They have the best player in the conference, and more than likely the whole tourney in Denzel Valentine. They have a great 3 point shooter in Bryn Forbes. Alot of depth abound, with 11-12 players playing. And let’s not forget Mr. March himself, Tom Izzo. Also, they are a really good defensive team, rebound the ball alot, make a ton of 3’s, and will create enough on passes to leave you wondering how to stop them. This team has it all.

Lower Seeded team that can break your brackets: Arkansas-Little Rock

This team had only 13 wins last year, and got rid of their coach. Now, they have only 4 losses out of 33 games, and a first year coach leading them to the promise land. Not only that, they went to Tulsa and San Diego St. and won at those places. Sure it’s not the best choices to pick out, but hey, Tulsa is still a tourney team (even if they shouldn’t be one) and SDSU is usually a hard team to beat, esp. on their home court. Purdue should be worried about this team, cause they might not go down easy.

Sleeper Team: Seton Hall

Seton Hall was a mess last year. Not this year though. Led by Isaiah Whitehead, this team is really dangerous, and proved it in the Big East tourney, by beating Xavier (who they beat before) and Villanova. They are a tough team who won’t go down without a fight, and I do believe might be the toughest team for MSU in this bracket. They prove they can hang with the big boys this year. It should be fun to watch the Pirates play.

Team to avoid: Virginia

Now, I could’ve gone with the easy choice, and picked Syracuse. Because they really should be in the first 4, if in the tourney at all. But again, that is the easy route. So why not go with a different one? That’s right, I’m taking you down a peg, Virginia. Now, Virginia is still the psychically bruising team that it is, and does have Malcolm Brogden still. And yes, it does have some good wins on it’s resume. But, this is a team that still lost to George Washington, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech and Florida State. They also didn’t win their conference regular season title AND tourney title. And they’re still a #1 seed? HUH?! And to be honest with ya, I think Purdue is a better Virginia team this year. And guess who the Hoos might meet in the Sweet 16? Forgot facing MSU a third time in a row. Virginia could be in trouble.

My Upset Pick in the First 2 Rounds: Ummmmm?

Yeah, I actually don’t have any. I think all the best seeds get out of this. But if I had to choose. Little Rock over Purdue, as mention above. Iona over Iowa State, because AJ English is that team, and he can ball. And in the 3rd round, maybe Texas Tech over Virginia, because Tech has shown they can beat some good teams, and Virginia did fall in this time last year to a not that good, but hit-their-stride MSU team. Tech could be that team this year.

My Final 4 Pick from this region: Michigan State

I know, but hey, it’s the Spartans goal this year. And they are ready for the big time. But I will say this, this region might have the best games, and could have some classic ones this year where they can be all close. (If it comes to, Seton Hall-Utah might be the game of the tourney. It looks to be exciting.)

 

East Region

Best Team: North Carolina

Brice Johnson, Marcus Paige and co. lead the ACC regular season and tourney champs back to a #1 seed again. Roy Williams’s team will attack you in the paint, run on you, and play some good defense at times, and have some good depth and chemistry. The only thing they can’t do well is shoot 3’s, which might come to bite them. But overall, this team can get on fire quickly, and there might be no stopping them, even if the 3’s don’t fall.

Lower Seeded Team that can break your brackets: Stephen F. Austin

Stephen F. Austin has been here before. 2 times in a row, to be exact. And they have won a game too. They are back again with maybe their best team, and will press you into turnovers. They crushed their opponents in their leagues and tourney with ease. I really don’t get why their not getting more exposure. I think this is a dangerous team that, if all breaks right, could be in the Sweet 16.

Sleeper Team: Wisconsin

Bo Ryan coached this team in the early season. And this team lsot to Western Illinois, Milwaukee, and Marquette early on. Then he retire, and Greg Gard took over. He didn’t look good either at first. Then they faced Maryland in Madison. They lost on a buzzer beater, but after that, it was all on up from there. They only lost 3 games since (the last one was a very questionable lost to Nebraska, but then again, MSU also lost very questionably to them) and have gone to very tough environments and won. Gard has proven he can coach this team, led by Nigel Hayes, and this could be a team you don’t see coming.

Teams to avoid: Kentucky

Wait a second, why am I picking a team some have picked to be in the Final 4? Well, because I still don’t trust this team. Tyler Ullis and Jamal Murray lead another talented group of Wildcats, and they have looked good the last few weeks, winning the SEC regular season and tourney titles. But still, this is a team that lost to freakin’ Auburn and Tennessee, lost to Ohio State, and got beat by the Ben Simmons led-disaster that was LSU. I want to say that the good team we seen so far will show up, but I really don’t know. This team can sometimes look lost playing defense, and that’s not a good recipe. Esp. for a potential 3rd round match-up with Yogi Ferrell and offensive-minded Indiana.

My Upset Pick in the First 2 Rounds: #14 Stephen F. Austin over #3 West Virginia AND #13 Stony Brook over #4 Kentucky

Hey, a two-fer! I gave why I think SFA will make an upset. Another is that West Virginia fouls ALOT. And if you get by that press of theirs, you will scores buckets on them. As for Stony Brook, this has been a long time coming. After numerous heartbreaks, they are finally in for the first time, and do they have a beast down low in Jameel Warney. If you don’t know, he scored 43 points(!!) in American East Championship game Saturday, leading this team back from 15 down. He, and his teammates, could get it done. Others that could happen: Chattanooga over Indiana. Because this team is good, and I still question how good this Hoosier defense is, even though others have said it’s very good.

My Final 4 pick for this region: Xavier

Oh, you thought because my first 3 picks for best team were Final 4 picks, I do the same for UNC. WRONG!! Just because they might be the best team, I don’t think they’re gonna win this region. I like this Xavier team alot with Myles Davis and co. Chris Mack can coach, and they can play good defense as well. I think they do beat UNC by making taking away the paint, and making them put up 3’s. Xavier is my last team to be in this mix.

 

My National Champion Pick: Michigan State

Hey, it’s championship or bust baby. Valentine has said it all or nothing, and he wants to be remembered for all of it. I think he and the Spartans does get this done, by beating Kansas (who he posted a triple-double earlier this season on) a second time, and giving Coach Izzo his 2nd National Title.

So that’s my National Tourney selections. I also got one more thing to add. Which ads will annoying the fuck outta me when I watch CBS/TNT/TBS/Tru TV. Here are my picks:

Buick: Because that’s not a goddamn Buick, even though it fucking is.

The Progressive box: If I see that fucking narcissistic asshole box in a new fucking ad, I will bash my head into the TV.

Any Arby’s ad: I hate that narrator and how he tries to make this diarrhea factory sound “fun and hip”.

And anything with Charles Barkley in it: After what happened this Sunday during the Selection Show, I’m already sick of his ass.

That’s all I got. Enjoy the madness.