Welcome to March Madness

Well it's that time of the year again...MARCH MADNESS. 65 teams have punched their tickets to the big dance and after tonight the first team will be gone and the dance will be in full swing by Thursday. There are favorites in all four #1 seeds: Kentucky, Syracuse, Duke, and the top overall seed, Kansas. However, the bracket is as wide open as this season. Ohio State, Kansas State, and West Virginia all had strong finishes and seasons and could be as dangerous. Will we see a "Cinderella" make a run. Chalk was the word for the tournament last year and could happen this year as the handful of top teams seemed poised to cut down the nets. But before we talk titles, lets talk opening round and first round.

Opening Round Game
(16) Arkansas-Pine Bluff (17-15) v (16) Winthrop (19-13): Arkansas-Pine Bluff got in via the SWAC conference title and Winthrop got in via the Big Sky conference title. Neither has a resume that jumps off the paper and for me, it's basically a flip of the coin. Winthrop has made the NCAA tournament a few times in recent years and will go with that as the difference. PICK: WINTHROP

(1) Kansas (32-2) v (16) Lehigh (20-10): Kansas' only two losses came on the road and beat Kansas State three times including on their way to the Big 12 title. Sherron Collins is one of the top players this year and his surrounding cast is very strong. Lehigh got into the tournament via the Patriot conference title. Kansas is on track for another title. PICK: KANSAS

(1) Kentucky (32-2) v (16) East Tennessee State (20-14): Kentucky's young core led by all-star freshman John Wall have reshaped Kentucky's basketball program. Their only two losses came on the road in conference play and have a balanced attack around Wall. East Tennessee State got into the tournament via winning the Atlantic Sun conference title. A victory over Arkansas and a fairly close loss to Tennessee highlight their season. However, they are severally mismatched here. PICK: KENTUCKY

(2) Kansas State (26-7) v (15) North Texas (24-8): Take away three losses to the Jayhawks and this team led by Jacob Pullen have accomplished quite a bit. They have a defensive philosophy that could be tough to stop. North Texas got to the tournament by winning the Sun Belt conference. Looks like the Wildcats have no problems here. PICK: KANSAS STATE

(2) Villanova (24-7) v (15) Robert Morris (23-11): The tandem of Reynolds and Fisher have been part of Villanova's core for the last few years and this team will depend on them as they struggled down the stretch this year. Robert Morris made the tournament by capturing the Northeast conference. They have a nice team, but Nova despite their recent play have a dangerous team if they are healthy and on the same page. PICK: VILLANOVA

(3) New Mexico (29-4) v (14) Montana (22-9): New Mexico was a team that I didn't expect to play as well as they did they tore through their schedule and an underrated Mountain West conference. They beat a very good BYU team twice. Montana got into the tournament winning the Big Sky conference and made a nice little run. However, they look to be overmatched by a very game New Mexico team. PICK: NEW MEXICO

(3) Baylor (25-7) v (14) Sam Houston State (25-7): The Bears have had a very nice season and could be one of those sleeper teams to make a run. Sam Houston State got into the tournament via winning the Southland conference. Baylor has too much shooting and should win comfortably. PICK: BAYLOR

(3) Georgetown (23-10) v (14) Ohio (21-14): Georgetown started the season strong, but over the last couple months they have had a few off nights that might worry supporters in a dangerous tournament like this. They gave West Virginia a fight for the Big East title and looked sharp. Without making a major run to win the MAC conference title, Ohio would not be in this game. Not too sure how well they match up with some Georgetown's size. PICK: GEORGETOWN

(4) Vanderbilt (24-8) v (13) Murray State (30-4): Vanderbilt has another solid team, but they don't seem to jump off the paper. They lost two games to Kentucky and this might be one of those upset games. Murray State had a very good year and got into the tournament by winning the Ohio Valley conference title. They can be a dangerous matchup for Vandy. PICK: VANDERBILT

(5) Butler (28-4) v (12) UTEP (26-6): Butler might be a 5th seed, but they are one of the most underrated teams and some are even picking against them in this game. They have a good balanced team that can play both sides of the ball well. UTEP's record to me doesn't match this team. They do have enough to pull off the victory, but I don't see it. PICK: BUTLER

(6) Tennessee (25-8) v (11) San Diego State (25-8): Tennessee had a big win against Kansas earlier this and could be poised for a run despite losing some players this year. San Diego State snuck in from a tough Mountain West conference. This one could be a back and forth affair. PICK: TENNESSEE

(6) Notre Dame (23-11) v (11) Old Dominion (26-8): Notre Dame is battled tested from the Big East conference and had a very nice run late in the season. Much of their play often revolved around Luke Harangody. While he was injured they struggled. Old Dominion conquered the Colonial conference to get in and they have a victory at Georgetown on their resume. Should be pretty close. PICK: NOTRE DAME

(6) Marquette (22-11) v (11) Washington (24-9): Marquette started the year strong and ended the year strong. The same thing could be said of Washington. For that reason, this is truly a coin toss. Marquette played in a much better conference and that might be the difference. PICK: MARQUETTE

(7) Brigham Young (29-5) v (10) Florida (21-12): With Jimmer Fredette leading the way, BYU have a very good team who might have enough to win a few in this tournament. This Florida team is young with potential, but not too sure how much fire power they have. PICK: BRIGHAM YOUNG

(7) Richmond (26-8) v (10) Saint Mary's (26-5): Richmond emerges from a better than usual Atlantic 10 and could do a little damage if they get by Saint Mary's. Saint Mary's has a very good player in Omar Samhan and he could the difference in if they win this one and any others. I see Richmond having more balancing and might tip the edge in their favor. PICK: RICHMOND

(8) UNLV (25-8) v (9) Northern Iowa (28-4): UNLV is having another good year that consists of a lot of streaks. They won a lot and lost a couple and won a bunch more and lost a few in between before a pretty solid finish to the year. Northern Iowa is the Missouri Valley conference champions and have an intriguing team that could be one of dangerous lower seeded teams. This is a down the middle matchup. PICK: NORTHERN IOWA

(8) Texas (24-9) v (9) Wake Forest (19-10): Texas at one point was ranked #1 and then lost two in a row in January after starting undefeated. They have been tough to figure out since as they lose some and win some. In the course of a week, Baylor beat them twice and convincingly. Wake Forest started pretty good and was looking good early in 2010 before a string of losses that might be concerning. PICK: TEXAS

(1) Duke (29-5) v (16) Arkansas-Pine Bluff (17-15): Duke has been one of the best teams all year and has gotten some criticism for benefiting from a down year for the ACC. The trio of Scheyer/Singler/Smith could be the ultimate decider of how far this Duke team goes. Arkansas Pine Bluff got in barely and then downed Winthrop in the opening round game. They looked good, but reality will strike in this one. PICK: DUKE

(1) Syracuse (28-4) v (16) Vermont (25-9): Syracuse has one of the better players in Wes Johnson and have been very dangerous all year. Minus a few Big East losses they have a lot of talent to make a run at a title. Interestingly they draw Vermont, the same school that knocked them in the first round a few years back. Vermont emerges as the champ of the American East conference. They will have a much harder time this time around knocking off Syracuse. PICK: SYRACUSE

(2) West Virginia (27-6) v (15) Morgan State (27-9): Da'Sean Butler and this Mountaineers team are certainly one of the best as they are playing very good at the right time. Morgan State won the MEAC and that was their ticket in. They will not be around despite having a good shooter in Holmes. PICK: WEST VIRGINIA

(2) Ohio State (27-7) v (15) UC Santa Barbara (20-9): Ohio State has one of the best players in the country and he will be a major cog for this team. UC Santa Barbara's ticket was punched via winning the Big West conference. This one looks pretty self explanatory. PICK: OHIO STATE

(3) Pittsburgh (24-8) v (14) Oakland (26-8): Pittsburgh has a good balanced team that for the most part has looked like a top team. They must play aggressive or they have a tendency to open the door for teams. Oakland won the Summit League conference to get in and could play tough, but don't have enough. PICK: PITTSBURGH

(4) Purdue (27-5) v (13) Siena: Purdue started very strong but a stumble and regained that form that seems capable of doing some damage. Siena gets in via winning the MAAC conference and might have enough to slow down Purdue enough to win. But it's hard to see it. PICK: PURDUE

(4) Wisconsin (23-8) v (13) Wofford (26-8): This looks like another strong Wisconsin team, but its hard to tell how good they are. They lost a couple bad ones early, but seem back to form. Wofford enters champs of the Southern conference and look pretty average. PICK: WISCONSIN

(4) Maryland (23-8) v (13) Houston (19-15): Maryland has been one of the better teams in a so-so ACC and has been peeking lately. Greivis Vasquez is the type of player who can take over a game. Houston needed a miracle run to win the Conference USA tournament to win the conference title and get in. They have a lot of gusto, but it's hard to see this run going on further. PICK: MARYLAND

(5) Michigan State (24-8) v (12) New Mexico State (22-11): This is another balanced team under coach Tom Izzo at Michigan State. They have enough weapons that they present a tough challenge. New Mexico State won the WAC conference title to get in. They don't seem to have a lot in terms of matchup advantages. PICK: MICHIGAN STATE

(5) Temple (29-5) v (12) Cornell (27-4): Temple might a sleeper among small schools as they won a few games against good schools and ran through an improved Atlantic 10. Cornell is the respective of the Ivy League, but is a bit better than most Ivy League schools who make the tournament. They played close against Kansas. This is one of the better first round games and feature two possible sleepers. PICK: TEMPLE

(5) Texas A&M (23-9) v (12) Utah State (27-7): Texas A&M might have a little run in them as their only losses have come to some of the top teams in the field and on a neutral site there might be a different result. Utah State had barely lost since the calendar turned 2010, but tripped up in their conference tournament final. They have a solid team that could knock off A&M. PICK: TEXAS A&M

(6) Xavier (24-8) v (11) Minnesota(21-13): Xavier had another strong year and one of the top teams in a very good Atlantic 10. Minnesota had a good year, but doesn't seem to have a tournament tested squad. PICK: XAVIER

(7) Oklahoma State (22-10) v (10) Georgia Tech (22-12): Oklahoma State has a team that has the possibility to be one and done or survive the weekend. The same thing can be said for Georgia Tech. These two are very even and this one could be a nail biter. PICK: OKLAHOMA STATE

(7) Clemson (21-10) v (10) Missouri (22-10): Clemson has a nice team, but nothing special. Missouri doesn't have a great team, but has had nice stretches at times. They should have enough here. PICK: MISSOURI

(8) Gonzaga (26-6) v (9) Florida State (22-9): Gonzaga has another solid team with good balance. Florida State has the ability to get past this one due to enough of a balanced team themselves. A close one. PICK: GONZAGA

(8) California (23-10) v (9) Louisville (20-12): In a bad Pac-10, California was probably the best team and took advantage of that schedule. Louisville had much better competition this year and at times showed they were a tough team to beat. PICK: LOUISVILLE

Let the games begin and see what type of madness we experience.