The TSB.net staff NCAA tournament picks
For a more in-depth forecast and rationale please our College Hoops expert David K’s Region by region breakdown.
By the way, Week in Review will not be seen this week. I have been crazy busy and will recap a lot of the stuff that’s been keeping me busy next week. It’s also March Madness, quite possibly the greatest week in all of sports, so I’m wicked busy. Without any further ado, here’s what the panel picked
PAUL M BANKS
Midwest Regional
Winner Louisville- battle tested and ready
Sleeper North Dakota State- The Bison are underrated and dangerous
Early Exit Kansas- Remember the Bucknell Bison? History could repeat itself
West Regional
Winner UConn- Fear the Thabeet!
Sleeper Maryland- Fear the Turtle
Early Exit Washington- The Pac 10 is garbage this year
East Regional
Winner Villanova- athletic, quick and in the shallowest bracket
Sleeper Texas- does that really count as a sleeper
Early Exit Duke- Coach K. talks like SpongeBob’s neighbor Squidward
South Regional
Winner UNC- or should I say UGH, they’re becoming more loathable than Duke
Sleeper none
Early Exit Gonzaga- the glory days of the early 2000s are gone
Title Game North Carolina (God, I @#ing hate Hansbrough and his teammates) over Loserville
DAVID PALMER
Midwest Region
-Louisville should have little resistance on their way to the Final Four.
-Look out for a senior laden North Dakota State team; if they can get past Kansas, they could do some serious damage.
-One of the most overrated teams this year is Michigan St. I see an early exit at the hands of BC or Kansas.
West Region
-I think Purdue is peaking and getting healthy at the perfect time. Look out UConn, the Boilermakers are coming through.
-Marquette isn’t coping well with the Dominic James injury, could be a first round exit.
-Utah State won 30 games this year and can really shoot the ball; a sweet sixteen berth is not out of the picture.
East Region
-Pittsburgh is the class of this region, they will march their way to the Final Four.
-I don’t trust Villanova, I don’t see them getting past the second round.
-UCLA has strangely become underrated, they could be a semi-sleeper with their ability to play defense.
South Region
-I love Syracuse after their Big East tourney run, but I think Oklahoma is getting past everybody to the Final Four. They have the best player in the country in Blake Griffin.
-Illinois struggles to score the ball, one and done for them.
-Western Kentucky will give some teams fits, they are going to be a tough out.
Louisville over Purdue
Pitt over Oklahoma
Finals-
Pitt over Louisville
PETER CHRISTIAN
Midwest Regional
Winner – Louisville
Sleeper – North Dakota State
Early Exit – Michigan State
West Regional
Winner – Memphis
Sleeper – Washington
Early Exit – Missouri
East Regional
Winner – Villanova
Sleeper – Minnesota
Early Exit – Florida State
South Regional
Winner – Oklahoma
Sleeper – Gonzaga
Early Exit – Illinois