South Region

March Madness is the best time of the year period, and always seems to revive the blog. So let's get to it with a region by region breakdown.

Round 1 (2)

1 UK vs 16 Miss Valley St/WKU

First off I am picking Miss Valley St over WKU because WKU is under .500. Then since 1 seeds never lose to a 16 I'll take UK to move on easily. (This is a halfhearted attempt at a reverse jinx on dirty Coach Cal)

8 Iowa St vs 9 UConn

This game is a toss-up, as a lot of 8/9 matchups are. UConn relies heavily on Jeremy Lamb and Shabazz Napier, and Iowa St's success this season has been largely due to the addition of (former Gopher) Royce "hey Paul Blart Mall Cop I paid for this jacket at Macy's" White. Anyway, Royce and good old Fred Hoiberg get the Cyclones to the 2nd round. I mean 3rd round. I think.

12 VCU vs 5 Wichita St

Another game that could go either way, but last year's surprise team VCU lost 4 of 5 starters and Wichita St won the NIT last year (I know) and returns all 5 starters. While this may be one of the 12/5 sexy pick upsets, I think Wichita State advances past the Shaka Smarts.

4 Indiana vs 13 New Mexico St

Indiana lost Verdell Jones III tore his ACL in the Big 10 and will now have to rely on Zeller and Watford for the offense. IU has played some shaky D at times and missing Jones III will undoubtedly affect their team play. Upset alert here, New Mexico St moves on.

6 UNLV vs 11 Colorado

Colorado stole a bid and doesn't deserve to be in the big dance and the Runnin' Rebels run all over Colorado in a blowout win. Also UNLV's fight song is Viva Las Vegas. How cool is that?

3 Baylor vs 14 South Dakota St

If it said 3 Minnesota instead of Baylor I would consider the upset given the history between the Gophers and Jackrabbits, but the Bears send the first team from the lovely state of South Dakota to make the tourney home in a big loss. If Baylor plays to their max potential they are a easily a final four team.

7 Notre Dame vs 10 Xavier

I'm picking Notre Dame here and I really don't know why. This game is probably a toss-up and a sure thing is that Xavier will "fight" to the bitter end.

2 Duke vs Lehigh

What's Lehigh? Duke advances easily and Doc Rivers gets really excited in the stands.

Round 2 (3)

1 UK vs 8 ISU

UK is too talented and Royce "I'm going to be a rapper" White can't handle the inside presence of the Wildcats, and UK gets another win that will inevitably be vacated.

5 Wichita St vs 13 New Mexico St

The Cinderella run for the Aggies runs out as the senior experience and leadership for Wichita St advances on.

6 UNLV vs 3 Baylor

Baylor stays consistent for another game and their athleticism in the front court shines in a win over the Runnin' Rebels.

7 Notre Dame vs 2 Duke

Duke stays hot again as well and their guards shoot the lights out against an overmatched ND team.

Sweet Sixteen

1 UK vs 5 Wichita St

This matchup could spell trouble for Coach Cal, and Wichita St will be in it at the end. But the better talent that UK has will prevail sending the Cats to the Elite 8.

3 Baylor vs 2 Duke

Two teams that are somewhat inconsistent at time, and the team that stays hot off their early tourney wins will punch a ticket to the Elite 8. And that team will be the Baylor Bears. Their talent in the frontcourt with Perry Jones III will outplay that of Duke's Seth Curry and Austin Rivers. The Blue Devils have looked shaky at points this year and the Baylor Bears stay hot and move on.

Elite Eight

1 UK vs 3 Baylor

Well we made it to the final of the region with the UK Wildcats and the Baylor Bears. Baylor got to this point by getting consistent great play from the Quincy's and Perry Jones III. UK got here by riding the talent that fills their roster, including the uni-browed POY candidate Anthony Davis. And the team that advances to the Final Four is the Kentucky Wildcats. Their roster is too deep and has too much talent for Baylor to stop. The Bears hot streak comes to an end here, and Coach Cal is cutting down a net when it is all said and done. Does he have to give that back once he gets busted in like 3 years?