1-North Carolina vs Gonzaga: You can say that I ranked this game up here because I'm a Tar Heel fan, but I don't think another game in this round will feature more guys who will be playing in the NBA. There are stars in this one with Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington, Jeremy Pargo and Josh Heytvelt. The key guy may be Matt Bouldin who is the kind of guy that kills Carolina. This will be a high scoring affair that should be quite a show. Pick: UNC
2-Memphis vs Missouri: This will be an amazing game. Both are great defensive teams, but in different ways. Memphis locks down opponents all over the place. Missouri puts on that rabid press that forces guards to cough up the ball and give the Tigers (Missouri, that is) easy buckets. It will be interesting to see freshman Tyreke Evans handle that. There is the factor that Mizzou coach Mike Anderson used to coach at UAB, the last Conference USA team to beat Memphis (Anderson was the coach of that team). Still, Memphis is so deep and so tall that they have the talent to deal with the pressure. Pick: Memphis
3-Duke vs Villanova: One of those 50-50 games. These teams are very similar. Great guards, defensive nature and not the most depth in the frontcourt. Interesting now that this game is in Boston. That was Big East country for years and should benefit Nova. But Boston has become ACC country now that BC is a member and Duke's last non-Carolina loss was up in Boston. Pick: Villanova.
4-Michigan State vs Kansas: Of all the games out there, this is probably the one where the picks are split down the middle. Now, we've already seen this game before with the Spartans blew out the Jayhawks a few months ago in East Lansing. But Kansas gets this game on a neutral court and Cole Aldrich is playing better than any big man right now (save Blake Griffin). Michigan State is playing better, too.
5-Oklahoma vs Syracuse: Above, we have seen games against similar type teams. This one will be a battle of opposites. Syracuse will use it's zone against Blake Griffin and the Sooners. This will make Griffin's job tougher and force the Okie guards to have big games. The Orange are deep, talented and have the horses to deal with Oklahoma. Pick: Syracuse.
6-Louisville vs Arizona: Here is a game featuring the tournament's overall top seed against the "Cinderella" of the dance. But that number by their names will be the only evidence of that. Zona has ballers and they may be playing their best ball right now. Louisville hasn't been very impressive thus far but it seems that when they are pushed they put it together to get the win. Pick: Louisville.
7-Pittsburgh vs Xavier: Of the No. 1 seeds, most people see Pitt as the shakiest. The Panthers have struggled in both of their games this year. Xavier, like Pitt, is a tough defensive team that loves to bang and rough it up. But Pitt is better at it and should find their footing. This will also feature Xavier head coach Sean Miller taking on his alma mater. He was the one who assisted on the "send it in Jerome" dunk. Pick: Pittsburgh.
8-UConn vs Purdue: There will be a few more eyes on this one since allegations have arisen of recruiting violations at Connecticut. Moving that aside, no one has played better than the Huskies in this tournament. Coming into the season, Purdue was highly regarded but they may be the 16th-best team left in the tournament. Louisville-Arizona may feature the top seed against the lowest seed ... but this one may feature the best team left against the worst. Pick: UConn.
ACTUAL RANKINGS AFTER THEY PLAYED
1-Pittsburgh/Xavier
2-Michigan State/Kansas
3-Missouri/Memphis
4-Oklahoma/Syracuse
5-Villanova/Duke
6-North Carolina/Gonzaga
7-UConn/Purdue
8-Louisville/Arizona
2-Memphis vs Missouri: This will be an amazing game. Both are great defensive teams, but in different ways. Memphis locks down opponents all over the place. Missouri puts on that rabid press that forces guards to cough up the ball and give the Tigers (Missouri, that is) easy buckets. It will be interesting to see freshman Tyreke Evans handle that. There is the factor that Mizzou coach Mike Anderson used to coach at UAB, the last Conference USA team to beat Memphis (Anderson was the coach of that team). Still, Memphis is so deep and so tall that they have the talent to deal with the pressure. Pick: Memphis
3-Duke vs Villanova: One of those 50-50 games. These teams are very similar. Great guards, defensive nature and not the most depth in the frontcourt. Interesting now that this game is in Boston. That was Big East country for years and should benefit Nova. But Boston has become ACC country now that BC is a member and Duke's last non-Carolina loss was up in Boston. Pick: Villanova.
4-Michigan State vs Kansas: Of all the games out there, this is probably the one where the picks are split down the middle. Now, we've already seen this game before with the Spartans blew out the Jayhawks a few months ago in East Lansing. But Kansas gets this game on a neutral court and Cole Aldrich is playing better than any big man right now (save Blake Griffin). Michigan State is playing better, too.
5-Oklahoma vs Syracuse: Above, we have seen games against similar type teams. This one will be a battle of opposites. Syracuse will use it's zone against Blake Griffin and the Sooners. This will make Griffin's job tougher and force the Okie guards to have big games. The Orange are deep, talented and have the horses to deal with Oklahoma. Pick: Syracuse.
6-Louisville vs Arizona: Here is a game featuring the tournament's overall top seed against the "Cinderella" of the dance. But that number by their names will be the only evidence of that. Zona has ballers and they may be playing their best ball right now. Louisville hasn't been very impressive thus far but it seems that when they are pushed they put it together to get the win. Pick: Louisville.
7-Pittsburgh vs Xavier: Of the No. 1 seeds, most people see Pitt as the shakiest. The Panthers have struggled in both of their games this year. Xavier, like Pitt, is a tough defensive team that loves to bang and rough it up. But Pitt is better at it and should find their footing. This will also feature Xavier head coach Sean Miller taking on his alma mater. He was the one who assisted on the "send it in Jerome" dunk. Pick: Pittsburgh.
8-UConn vs Purdue: There will be a few more eyes on this one since allegations have arisen of recruiting violations at Connecticut. Moving that aside, no one has played better than the Huskies in this tournament. Coming into the season, Purdue was highly regarded but they may be the 16th-best team left in the tournament. Louisville-Arizona may feature the top seed against the lowest seed ... but this one may feature the best team left against the worst. Pick: UConn.
ACTUAL RANKINGS AFTER THEY PLAYED
1-Pittsburgh/Xavier
2-Michigan State/Kansas
3-Missouri/Memphis
4-Oklahoma/Syracuse
5-Villanova/Duke
6-North Carolina/Gonzaga
7-UConn/Purdue
8-Louisville/Arizona
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