Filling out the bracket: Big 12 starts stumbling
I have the Big 12 going 7-0 in the first round, which seems awfully optimistic. The league basically has three tossup games in the first round, not counting a Texas A&M-Utah State matchup that could be a grinder.
Anyway, let’s move on to the second round.
Midwest Regional
Kansas over UNLV:Won’t be the first time the Jayhawks have broken the heart of a Lon Kruger team in the NCAAs. Remember K-State 1988?
Michigan State over Maryland: How did Michigan State fall to a 5-seed? The Spartans are one of those team — heck, what am I saying? The Spartans are THE team — you can count on to play well in March no matter what.
Georgetown over Tennessee: I’m already regretting picking Tennessee over San Diego State.
Ohio State over Oklahoma State: I think Evan Turner is the player of the year, but what a great matchup with Turner and James Anderson. I don’t think the Cowboys could win this game, but Anderson could win that duel.
West Regional
Syracuse over Gonzaga: Man, I’d love to see an upset here. I don’t know why, but I’ve never been a big Jim Boeheim fan.
UTEP over Vanderbilt: This could be the first time in history a 12-seed is favored over a 4-seed. This is an upset only if the Commodores win.
Pitt over Xavier: Don’t these teams play every year? What? They’ve never met in the NCAAs? Could have fooled me.
Kansas State over BYU: I think the Wildcats are ripe for an upset. I don’t know why. And I’m not picking it. Didn’t like the matchup. I’ve never been big on Brigham Young.
East Regional
Kentucky over Texas: I see no way the Longhorns can win this game, but I see no way the ‘Cats win by a blowout. Texas always plays tough in the NCAAs.
Temple over Wisconsin: Fran Dunphy is a solid coach. An old Philly guy. I like his team. Wish it could make the Final Four.
Marquette over New Mexico: Come on, Lobos. Come on. You can do it.
West Virginia over Missouri: Bob Huggins has been to just one Final Four, way back in 1992. He might make it this year.
South Regional
California over Duke: I don’t think the Golden Bears are half bad. And I do think Duke is half bad. So let’s go with a repeat of 1993, when Jason Kidd and Cal upset Duke in the second round.
Texas A&M over Siena:The Aggies are just happy they weren’t paired with Brigham Young again, after two straight first-round matchups.
Baylor over Old Dominion: Yes, I’m picking both A&M and Baylor to reach the regional semifinals in Houston. And no, neither team will have homecourt advantage.
Villanova over St. Mary’s: With OU and Indiana not invited, and Texas out of the tournament, the last link to Kelvin Sampson is ‘Nova point guard Scottie Reynolds.
-------------Berry Tramel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including AM-640 and FM-98.1. You can e-mail him here and follow him on Twitter @BerryTramel. Visit Berry's website here.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
The thing which made my heart sink even lower in this Winter of Sooner Angst–was how far would I have a team with Scottie Reynolds and Damien James advancing in this year’s draw? And the answer is … Final Four and maybe with a bounce or two… a touch better. Of all the teams projected as No. 1 or No. 2 seeds–the outside-inside combo of Reynolds and James would have been as good as any in the nation. Very tough to swallow given what we suffered through in Norman this season.
El Prez