#1’s Still Top Choice

For the 43 entries received thus far, the top three teams picked to win it all are all #1 seeds and the 4th team is Memphis, which should’ve been a #1 seed.  UNC leads with 14 followed by fellow 1’s Louisville (8) and Pitt (7).  Memphis (5) edges out Oklahoma (4) with the remaining #1 seed UConn being picked by just 2.  Three others have a vote each.  11 teams haven’t been picked by anyone to win their first game.  Not much love for UCLA or USC (neither being picked past the Sweet 16) and Northridge is still looking for that one person to pick them to beat Memphis. 😉

USC Wins Pac-10 Title

Whoa… now I gotta pick them to make the 2nd round.  There’s one loss in my bracket already.  This is probably the final nail in Arizona’s coffin in extending their steak of 24 straight tourneys.  That gives the Pac 10 5 teams in the tourney, which is already one too many.  No room for ‘Zona to sneak in this time.  Barring some extreme generosity by the selection committee, Arizona and Kentucky failing to make the tourney will only leave Kansas as the lone team to be in every bracket since our pool started in 1995.

Only when it counts…

I see UCLA is following Pitt and UConn’s lead in losing early in the conference tourney in order to be rested for the REAL tournament.  Unfortunately, it was to rival USC.  Now, USC is just a win away from the tournament (and still has a slim shot even if they lose in the conference final to ASU).  Yes, this pool will be very unpredictable.  And Syracuse only needed ONE overtime tonight, and has played 115 minutes of bball in two days.