NCAA BRACKET UPDATE 4

SUNDAY'S RESULTS-It turns out that there isn't much to picking the bracket. Every team left is seeded #1-#4, besides #5 Purdue and #12 Arizona. Syracuse dominated Arizona St. and the Orange look strong heading into the Sweet 16. The only problem for Syracuse is they have to first go against Blake Griffin and Oklahoma, and if they win that they will most likely meet UNC in the regional final. Cleveland St. didn't take Arizona by surprise, the Vikings cinderella run came to an end today at the hands of the Wildcats. Arizona was perhaps the last team in and they are in the Sweet 16. Xavier took care of business against Wisconsin, the Badgers may be the most boring team to watch in college basketball. Pittsburgh struggled again but found a way to get buy Oklahoma St. Pittsburgh has a lot of work to do this week if they want to advance to the Final 4. Missouri beat a pesky Marquette team in the final moments, setting up a great 2/3 match-up against Memphis next week. Michigan St. won ugly against USC, look for them to get beat by Kansas in the Sweet 16. The Jayhawks had no problem putting away a bad Dayton team which I have no idea how they got by West Virginia in round 1. Finally, Louisville looked less then sharp getting by Sienna.

Sweet 16

Midwest

Louisville
Arizona

Kansas
Michigan St.

West

UCONN
Purdue

Missouri
Memphis

East

Pittsburgh
Xavier

Villanova
Duke

South

North Carolina
Gonzaga

Syracuse
Oklahoma

TOP QUESTIONS GOING INTO SWEET 16

1. Pittsburgh and Louisville have looked less than impessive as #1 seeds. Can they get their focus and swagger back?

2. Kansas has had an easy run to this point. How will the Jayhawks respond when they face Michigan St. Kansas had the easiest run to this point, beating North Dakota St. and Dayton.

3. Can #12 Arizona continue to surprise? I don't think so.

4. Does Missouri and Purdue have an edge over their opponents because both survived tight 2nd round games?

5. Duke and Villanova have some of the best guard play in the country. Which backcourt will be better?

6. Can the Big 12 beat Syracuse? As a #3 seed in 2003, Syracuse beat 4 Big 12 teams in route to a titile. Will Oklahoma be able to handle Boeheim's 2-3 zone?

7. How healthy will UNC's Ty Lawson's toe be?

With the lack of upsets this weekend, it will set up a great Sweet 16. I'm sticking with my original picks, but I think Louisville, Kansas, UCONN, Memphis, Pittsburgh, Duke, UNC and Syracuse win.

MY BRACKET-I did not have a great weekend because I over-thought the process of picking my bracket. I still have 10/16 teams left, 7/8 Elite 8 teams and all Final 4 teams. I guess I'm OK since none of my big dogs went down.

SUNDAY STRAIGHT UP-I could only play 4 out of the 8 games straight up because of previous misses in my bracket. I went 3-1 in those games. I hit Syracuse, Missouri and Pittsburgh. I had Louisville goint to the Sweet 16, but not against Sienna. I did not have Kansas and Dayton even getting to the 2nd round. I had Xavier losing to Maryland in round 2. Finally, I had Arizona and Cleveland St. originally in their match-up, however I took Cleveland St. and lost.

SUNDAY AGAINST THE SPREAD-2-5-1.....Sometimes you lose, I got smoked today.

OVERALL TOURNAMENT RECORD STRAIGHT UP-28-12

OVERALL TOURNAMENT RECORD AGAINST THE SPREAD-26-20-2

OVERALL RECORD AGAINST THE SPREAD ON THIS BLOG-98-64-3

YOU CAN VIEW MY ORIGINAL BRACKET BY CLICKING ON MY PREVIOUS POST TITLED "BRACKET"

Time now to take a deep breath and step away from the tourny. I will pick up coverage again beginning Wednesday night or Thursday morning. Between now and then I will focus on the other sports. Have a good week and talk to you tomorrow.