NCAA: Welcome to March Madness 2K+1

Well it’s about as unpredictable as the stock market while at the same time it’s the most exciting sporting event there is. It’s the NCAA Basketball Tournament a.k.a March Madness. I will now announce my picks for the 2001 Tourney. While I did watch lots (too much if you ask some people) of ball this year, I’m just going to run down the picks and save the analysis for another time. Let’s do it:

EAST Round 1
1 Duke over 16 Monmouth – duh?
9 Missouri over 8 Georgia
12 Utah State over 5 Ohio State
4 UCLA over 13 Hofstra
11 Oklahoma State over 6 USC
3 Boston College over 14 Southern Utah
10 Creighton over 7 Iowa
2 Kentucky over 15 Holy Cross

Round 2
1 Duke over 9 Missouri
4 UCLA over 12 Utah State
3 Boston College over 11 Oklahoma State
2 Kentucky over 10 Creighton

Round 3 (Sweet 16)
1 Duke over 4 UCLA
2 Kentucky over 3 Boston College

Round 4 (Elite 8)
2 Kentucky over 1 Duke

WEST
Round 1
1 Stanford over 16 North Carolina – Greensboro
9 St. Joseph’s over 8 Georgia Tech
5 Cincinnati over 12 BYU
4 Indiana over 13 Kent State
6 Wisconsin over 11 Georgia State
3 Maryland over 14 George Mason
10 Georgetown over 7 Arkansas
2 Iowa State over 15 Hampton

Round 2
1 Stanford over 9 St. Joseph’s
4 Indiana over 5 Cincinnati
3 Maryland over 6 Wisconsin
10 Georgetown over 2 Iowa State

Round 3 (Sweet 16)
1 Stanford over 4 Indiana
3 Maryland over 10 Georgetown

Round 4 (Elite 8)
3 Maryland over 1 Stanford

SOUTH
Round 1
1 Michigan State over 16 Alabama State
8 California over 9 Fresno State
12 Gonzaga over 5 Virginia (can they do it AGAIN?)
4 Oklahoma over 13 Indiana State
6 Texas over 11 Temple
3 Florida over 14 Western Kentucky
10 Providence over 7 Penn State
15 Princeton over 2 North Carolina

Round 2
1 Michigan State over 8 California
4 Oklahoma over 12 Gonzaga
6 Texas over 3 Florida
10 Providence over 15 Princeton

Round 3 (Sweet 16)
4 Oklahoma over 1 Michigan State
6 Texas over 10 Providence

Round 4 (Elite 8)
6 Texas over 4 Oklahoma

MIDWEST
Round 1
1 Illinois over 16 Northwestern State
8 Tennessee over 9 Charlotte
5 Syracuse over 12 Hawaii
4 Kansas over 13 CS Northridge
11 Xavier over 6 Notre Dame
3 Ole Miss over 14 Iona
10 Butler over 7 Wake Forest
2 Arizona over 15 Eastern Illinois

Round 2
8 Tennessee over 1 Illinois
4 Kansas over 5 Syracuse
3 Ole Miss over 11 Xavier
2 Arizona over 10 Butler (if this match up happens, it should be great!!)

Round 3 (Sweet 16)
4 Kansas over 8 Tennessee
2 Arizona over 2 Ole Miss

Round 4 (Elite 8)
2 Arizona over 4 Kansas (be careful, they could both choke!)

FINAL FOUR
West 3 Maryland over East 2 Kentucky
Midwest 2 Arizona over South 6 Texas
FINAL TWO
Midwest 2 Arizona over West 3 Maryland

Upset Super-Special
15 Princeton over 2 North Carolina in the South

There you have it. I understand there are some weird selections, but it’s THE Tourney! Feel free to send me rants and raves regarding my picks!