Ranking the Sweet 16 Matchups

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

NCAA Tournament Looks a Lot Like the Mid-1980s

The mid-80s were a great time. Reagan-omics. Back to the Future. Smurfs. Great college basketball.

In the mid-80s, North Carolina was an elite team filled with stars, the Big East put three teams in the Final Four and Memphis State was the fourth team.

In 1984, North Carolina was the overwhelming favorite to win the tournament. They fielded a team with Michael Jordan, Sam Perkins, Kenny Smith and Brad Daugherty. The best Tar Heels team ever fizzled in the Sweet 16 and were bounced by Indiana. In 1985, the Big East sent St. John's, Georgetown and Villanova to the Final Four. That still is the only time one conference placed three teams in the Final Four. Memphis State was the only non-Big East team to make it.

In 2009, North Carolina was the overwhelming favorite to win the tournament. Despite some missteps, they enter Championship Week as the No. 1 ranked team in the nation. The Big East has a chance to put UConn, Pitt and Louisville as No. 1 seeds and all could make it to the Final Four in Detroit. If one of them doesn't get there, Memphis just may.

Can Pennsylvania Be the New New England?

Right now, people who live in the Keystone State are having quite the sports year. The Philadelphia Phillies are your World Series Champions, the Pitt Panthers are the No. 1 ranked team in the college basketball polls and both the Eagles and Steelers are favored to win their respective conference championship games.

Can Pennsylvania be the next New England?

Remember that New England has had a great run of late. The Red Sox have won two World Series since 2003, the Patriots have three Super Bowl titles and four appearances since February 2002 and the Celtics are defending NBA Champions.

It remains to be seen, but if both the Eagles and Steelers win this Sunday then the Vince Lombardi trophy will be in PA.

Both are the anti-Seattle. Seattle has watched the SuperSonics bolt for Oklahoma City, the Seahawks fall into the tank, the Huskies football team put up an 0-fer and the Mariners have been among the worst teams in baseball.