I’m just gonna go over a few Tourney related thoughts, and react to some of Pat’s thoughts.

East

Agree with everything said about Paulus and Duke. To me this is a Duke team typical of the past several years that can beat any team with less talent, and can take advantage of their home crowd to beat some better teams at home. But when they go up against more talented and athletic teams in neutral court situations, they’ll be exposed, and I expect that to happen in the sweet 16 of the tournament – whether it’s against ‘Nova, UCLA, or VCU.

Since Pat did the Who gives a shit game, I’ll highlight the game in each region I’m most looking forward to. Florida St./Wisconsin should be a tight game, but the choice is clear here with the UCLA/VCU tilt. I expect it to be one of the best games of the first round, with VCU having two NBA talents on the floor to try and match up with a slightly overrated but very motivated UCLA team.

To me, the player who is really good that wasn’t mentioned is Sam Young. Blair is the key to the team’s success on many levels, but Young is a good defender, a very good shooter and a very effective mid-range slashing game. I’m not as low on Levance Fields as Pat is, and I think Pitt has what it takes to get out of this region since there’s not a real post presence to take Blair out of the game – unless Soloman Alabi has a big game in the Sweet 16.

South

I’m very high on Temple’s draw. I think they can make a run to the sweet 16, and if the bracket totally blows up, maybe even the Elite Eight. Pat and I have both talked about our dislike for Arizona St., and I think Dionte Christmas is a better college player than James Harden, so I’m hoping he’ll step up in that matchup. I also think this is the best game in the region. Then I think they can take advantage of a Syrcause team that might be looking ahead, and I believe they have the personnel to be effective against the zone.

That being said, I’ll highlight Jonny Flynn as the player who has impressed me the most. Aside from the minutes he logged in the Big East tournament, I think he can get to the hole as good as almost any guard in the country (Jeff Teague had been the best at this for the first half of the season, but he’s been more hesitant to do so of late). His shooting has improved, and he’s a good enough passer to play the point in the pros.

As for my shitty player, it’s Austin Daye. I’ve watched Gonzaga play a few times this year, and every time I do, Austin Daye has done nothing. He disappears on the floor, isn’t as good a rebounder as he should be, and is a spotty shooter at best. I honestly have no explanation for why he’s so highly regarded.

West

Agree with everything Pat said about Connecticut, and I think there’s a really legitimate shot that they could lose to BYU in the second round. This really as a crappy bracket, and might have the best potential for a serious blowup – but I’ll say that Washington/Mississippi St. is the most inriguing first round game. Jarvis Varnado can neutralize Jon Brockman, and if Isaiah Washington has an off game, the Bulldogs can spring the upset in Portland.

I also agree with Pat about Jerel McNeal, which is why I think Marquette is the most underrated team in this bracket. Because it seems to me that Memphis has such an easy road to Detroit, I’ve been trying to identify who could possibly slow them up, and Marquette is really the only I’ve talked myself into in that regard. Even without James, they have the guard play to hang with Memphis, and if McNeal plays his A game, he can carry them to the upset.

Midwest

Tough for Louisville, in that they get the number 1 seed and have what is clearly the most difficult region. Aside from having a stacked 2-4 seeds, they also have a potential away game in the second round against Ohio State, and the most underseeded team in the tournament in terms of overall ability in West Virginia. Of course, that makes the Mountaineers my underrated team, and I think they have a very real chance to get to the final four.

Now, I love the Deacs, and James Johnson has been amazing in the second half of the year. I also agree that he’s one of the 5-10 best players in the tournament, but I don’t think he’ll be one of the 5-10 best pro’s in the tournament. He’s just so much older than he should be, and I don’t see that much room for improvement other than his already-improved shooting. He’s already as athletic and built as he’s going to be, and he’ll only be facing better athletes in the future. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a very well-rounded player and I think he’ll be a very good pro – a consistent starter – but I don’t think he has the star potential that some other players in the country do this year.

And I do think that the Wake/Cleveland State game is the most intriguing first round game here. Cleveland State is a very good team, and I would have been all over them as an upset pick against a lot of potential 3-6 seeds, but I’m hoping that Wake’s athletic ability and talent will carry them through.

And my Shitty Player is a tie between Luke Neville and Chase Budinger. I’m so disapproving of both of them that I don’t even want to waste any more words on it – suffice it to say that they’re both really really bad.