NCAA Tournament Thursday

Here is how I see the first day of the NCAA tournament.  I'm going to pick a winner and also show how many times I think they would win if they played each other ten times.

Kentucky has gone from being a powerhouse to lost the last 3 years.  They high Calipari and he gets a couple of freshman and instantly they are a success.  One thing bothers me about this team going all the way is that they haven't been there.  This is all new to everyone but the program itself and Calipari. That will quickly return though. Will it be this year?

Kentucky 10  E Tenn St  0

6 Marquette vs 11 Washington---Marquette is from the Big East and that bodes very well. They are a defensive grind it out team while Washington wants to push the tempo, cause turnovers, and get easy buckets.  Washington is on a roll after winning against Arizona State which all the experts said they had to do to get in.  Then, they won the PAC 10 tournament.  I think they are looking really good.

Washington 6  Marquette 4

8Texas vs 9 Wake Forest---Both teams have played poorly the past couple of months.  The difference is that when they were at their best, Texas was #2 in the country.  Someone has to win this game and the team that does may get it figured out and start playing really well.  The bad news is the next team will be Kentucky.  Texas would have a shot at them. 

Texas 7  Wake Forest 3

3New Mexico vs 14Montana--- New Mexico is good.  Very good. They just simply won't loose this game. New Mexico has everything set up for them to the Cinderella story of the year.

New Mexico 10 Montana 0

6NotreDame vs 11Old Dominion---Ths figures to be a very close game.  Both teams don't mind being physical and Old Dominion will challenge every step of the way.  Notre Dame gets the advantage in a couple of areas. One, they played in the Big East. Two, they lost Harangody for a while and had to be more effecient on offense. They got more effecient and now that he is back, they are very good offensively. Notre Dame is a 6th seed that can make some noise.

Notre Dame 6 Old Dominion 4

2Villanova vs 15Robert Morris----Villanova is a team that can win it all.  Enough said for now.

Villanova 10  Robert Morris 0

3Baylor vs 14Sam Houston St----Both teams score almost 80 so this could be the most exciting game of the day.  Baylor is a team that has size and isn't afraid to just go out and play.  Even though they are a 3 seed, I don't think people expect them to win games.  Which, makes them dangerous.

Baylor 9  Sam Houston St 1

7Richmond vs 10St Mary's---Richmond has really good guards and everyone seems to be able to shoot the 3.  St Mary's hold opponents to below 30% 3pt shooting.  Which will prevail?  Richmond doesn't rebound well and St. Mary's does.  For that, I give the advantage to St. Mary's on a nightly basis.  But, with the 3 ball, Richmond can never be counted out.

St Mary's 6 Richmond 4

8UNLV vs 9N Iowa---This is a defensive battle.  Both teams hold opponents to 40% shooting.  As exciting as the Baylor Sam Houston st game will be, this one will be the opposite.  But, let the drama build and the last 5 minutes may be pretty intense.  These two are really matched up well.  This may be a blip in your bracket, but it won't matter because the winner will play Kansas.

UNLV 5 N Iowa 5.   I'm taking UNLV

1Kansas vs 16 Lehigh-----Kansas to win the championship.

Kansas 10 Lehigh 0

6Tennessee vs 11SanDiego St---Both teams are pretty even. Tennessee has bigger wins and SDst has the advantage in rebounding.  For a 6 vs 11 this is close.  I have SDst as my bracket buster here.

Tenn 5 SD st 5

7BYU vs 10Florida---Everything screams BYU in this one.  They shoot the 3 really well, Florida doesn't.  But Florida does play pretty good perimetere defense.  BYU has size to get missed 3s.  BYU has more bench depth.  Everything says that BYU should win this game.  Except one thing:  BYU has a terrible history of early exits in the NCAA.  Florida has a great tournament history.  But, since winning back to back champtionships, this is their first appearance.

BYU 6 Florida 4

4Vanderbilvs13Murray st---This is going to be a fun and exciting game.  Murray State shoots over 50% from the field!!!  Vandy hold opponents to 41%.  They both like to get out and run when they can.  Vanderbilt has been ranked pretty high all year. This wouldn't be too bad of a pick if you put Murray State down as an upset.  Unless Vandy goes to the elite 8, which they are capable of doing.  Big East experience this year is hard to pass up on.

Vanderbilt 7 Murray St 3

2Kansas State vs 15North Texas----Kansas State could be a final 4 team.  I like how they stumbled late, then got right back on track to make the Big 12 tournament final.

Kansas State 10  N Texas 0

5Butler vs 12UTEP----Butler likes to play a conrolled pace.  UTEP want to force the issue.  Which one will prevail.  UTEP has looked good for a while and Butler has a good reputation and a very good record.  This is the classic 12 upsetting 5.

UTEP 5 Butler 5