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Monday- March Madness column
Tuesday- All-Americans, Upset specials
Today- my list of tournament breakout players and my list of must see games. Also, a special March Madness edition of “Great Americans”.
Thursday- Look at each region and my predictions
It’s time once again for the start of March Madness and what better way to start a tournament than with the best four days of sports. Despite my ardent passion for college basketball, my bracket is usually wrecked within the first weekend. I have had a few memorable victories, but usually the winner is some girl who doesn’t know a Wildcat (Villanova) from a Wildcat (Kentucky) or a Huskie (Washington) from a Huskie (Connecticut).
This year, I decided to find out the real key to winning from March from the people who have actually been there before. I first asked St. Joseph’s head coach Phil Martelli, who took the Hawks to the elite 8 last year. He gave the usual answer of guard play, but also brought up a good point about coaches.
“You have to have good assistant coaches, because you don’t have much time to prepare for opponents after the first round,” Martelli said.
I went to Boston College star forward Craig Smith to verify what Coach Martelli said, but Smith went with another route.
“Defense has got to be the key, that’s how we won all of our games in the Big East tournament last year and that’s how we won all of our close games,” Smith said.
Confused, I decided to find another point of view, so I talked to Nate Robinson, the star guard for 1-seed Washington.
“In March, it’s just, you gotta dig deep down in your heart and leave everything, all the negative things that’s coming in your way, and just be focused,” Robinson said. “you gotta have tunnel vision in wanting to win and block out everyone telling you this and that, and just give it up for your team.”
“You gotta have that fight in your heart to not want to go home early,” he added. “You have to treat it like a business trip, but it’s also a vacation and you don’t want to go home early.”
After all my work, I end up even more confused than when I started. I even did my homework this year, talked to the guys who knew the game, watched more games and went to more games, but still I have no answer for the one key to March Madness. As far as my bracket goes, my expert picks will be proven to be worth less than the paper they are printed on within the first weekend. Nevertheless, here are my thoughts on the tourney.
SYRACUSE
- Ohio may upset Florida. I know there are plenty of Florida apologists out there, but they have proven one thing this season, they know how to beat Kentucky. That isn’t enough for me, so I don’t think they will go far. Villanova will beat them if the Gators can get by the Bobcats of Ohio U.
- Why is Northern Iowa in this tournament over teams like Miami, who had a 28 rpi? As far as the 6 v 11 games go this year, I think we may see no 11 seed advance. UCLA has the best shot, but I still don’t like them against Texas Tech.
- A lot of people like UCONN in this regional, but I am just not impressed. They have a few Big East wins, but the frontcourt is soft. I think that Julius Hodge from NC State is going to go off and carry the Wolfpack over the Huskies. Hodge is simply an incredible player and I think he will play himself to the middle of the first round with his play in the first weekend of the tourney. He’s had some trouble getting his act together, but I think he finally has it going.
- Speaking of head cases, I think I’m the only person in the country who doesn’t have UNC or UCONN in the final four. I like Rashad McCants and company and acknowledge their greatness, but Rashad is also a head case and I don’t know that he will be strong enough to take his team to the final four. UNC has a tough draw to go through a hot ISU team, a very tough Villanova team, and then Kansas. I will get blasted for this, but I just don’t like UNC going against Roy Williams’ old players at Kansas.
- Kansas is coming out of this region, the kids on that team simply know how to win the in the tournament. Those seniors have been to three straight elite 8s and Wayne Simien will bring them back to the final four. Langford’s health is in question, but he should be fully recovered by the time they need him, which won’t be until Kansas faces NC State.
AUSTIN
- Here’s a hint, don’t take Cincinnati. Huggins and company have never beaten a higher seeded team in the tournament and won’t beat Kentucky if they are lucky enough to beat Iowa (they won’t be.)
- Tom Izzo will have Michigan State ready to go and I think they make a run to the sweet 16.
- I know Vermont has a lot of firepower, but Michigan State gets to the sweet 16 through Syracuse, who will knock off the Catamounts. Vermont just doesn’t have enough to beat Syracuse. Hopefully it’s a good game.
- Utah will handle UTEP, despite some objections. Bogut is just too good and will give his team at least one win.
- Duke will surprise some with their elite 8 run, especially in what is supposed to be a mild rebuilding year for them. If you told me Duke would make the elite 8 at the beginning of the year, I would’ve thought you were crazier than Mariah Carey.
- Kentucky comes out of this region. Chuck Hayes will lead by example and his will to win will take the Wildcats far. The reason they get to the final four, though, is because of frosh point guard Rajon Rondo. He is going to become a major player in the country and his name will be well known in April. This kid is simply a great point guard.
Albuquerque
- Washington WILL get to the elite 8. I know Louisville and Pittsburgh are trendy upset picks, but Nate Robinson and company have that “fight in their heart” to go far. They will surprise most of the country with this run, but don’t get caught off guard, this team is for real.
- Look for George Washington over Georgia Tech. Too many people have jumped on the yellow jacket bandwagon and I am just not down. George Washington is inconsistent, but have beaten a few big teams in Michigan State and Maryland.
- Gonzaga has been a great tourney team the past few years. I predicted the big Nevada upset over the Bulldogs last year, and this year Gonzaga bows out in the second round again, this time to Texas Tech. Bank on it.
- Wake Forest comes out of this region, I think Chris Paul elevates his play to another level and plays himself into the NBA Draft lottery. I am really looking forward to see how he plays; it should be a performance to remember.
Chicago
- I like Wisconsin-Milwaukee over Alabama mainly because of Ed McCants. The guy is just incredible.
- Boston College makes an easy run to the sweet 16, but gets bounced by a hot Illini team. Tough draw for the Eagles, but they will be back next year.
- Arizona makes the elite 8 behind the performance of Salim Stoudamire, hands down the best 3 pt shooter in the country. Slim and company will beat Oklahoma State in a classic, but don’t have enough to take down Illinois.
- Clearly Illinois comes out of this region, the trio of guards will take down every team in their path and the Illini will roll to Chicago. There are a lot of doubters now that they aren’t undefeated, but trust me, they will win it all. I knew that back in December, when I first saw them play in person. After talking to some of their guys and watching their unselfish play firsthand, I just knew this team was a lock for the national championship.
My final four- Wake, Illinois, Kansas and Kentucky. Give me Illinois over Kansas in the final, as Bill Self gets the same medicine his boys delivered to Roy Williams earlier in the tournament.
As play starts today around 12 est, this information should be totally worthless in about three days. Either way, it is time for the best sporting event in the country and it’s going to be a freaking great tournament.
Mark Chalifoux is a weekly columnist with SportsFan Magazine. You can read all of his March Madness coverage at www.sportsfanmagazine.com. You can contact Mark at Rockne48@und.com
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