NCAA play in games....

Let’s Play(In) NCAA Style

The time is upon us…the 2012 NCAA tournament gets underway Tuesday (Wed AM Aussie time) when Western Kentucky tangles with Mississippi Valley State and Brigham Young faces off against Iona.

Western Kentucky (15-18) vs. Mississippi Valley State (21-12)

Western Kentucky pulled a surprise in the Sun Belt conference tourney winning it with a losing record while Miss. Valley State has won 20 of their last 21 games and swept through the SWAC regular season and tournament.

Look for the delta Devils to get a first up tourney win.

BYU (25-8) vs. Iona (25-7)

BYU’s record is deceiving, though without “Jimmer” and after downgrading to the West Coast Conference, the Cougars did not have things go their way as easily as first thought.

Iona gained an at-large bid in spite of losing the MAAC final against Fairfield and will be a tough foe for BYU.

No run for the Cougars this year, Iona in a close one.

I will be back with me first round picks tomorrow…enjoy the games….

NCAA Sweet 16

Sweet 16 …Here we go!!!

The 2011 edition of the Men’s NCAA basketball tourney is here. Well I did not get my six correct last Sunday but went 5-3 on the day. One of my Final Four picks…Notre Dame fell by the wayside thanks to Florida State so I’m down to North Carolina, Wisconsin and San Diego State with my title game picks of Wisconsin and UNC still alive.

Here we go for Thursday’s games.

WEST REGION:

Connecticut (3) vs. San Diego State (2)

UConn has had a good run thus far but San Diego State also has a chip on their shoulders and is out to prove they are an elite outfit. Look for the Aztecs to stifle Kemba Walker and pull out a 3 point win.

Arizona (5) vs. Duke (1)

My “Duke Beaters”…the Texas Longhorns were upset by ‘Zona so I will go with ACC loyalty for this game at least and put “the curse” on Duke by picking them to win by 7.

SOUTHEAST REGION:

Brigham Young (3) vs. Florida (2)

BYU have been the “darlings” of the tourney so far but the Gators are out to avenge last years early round loss to the Cougars…..could come down to a Jimmer miss. Florida by 2.

Butler (8) vs. Wisconsin (4)

Butler is as dangerous as ever but the Badgers are looking solid so I am sticking by them. Wisconsin by 8.

Current Record: 35-17

Back tomorrow for the second day of Sweet 16 pick

NCAA Hoops...

And now there are 32

As the NCAA Men’s tournament enters Saturday and Sunday games my bracket has gone kaput….my final four picks are all still alive but some of my other picks fell by the wayside. I did however tip both George Mason and VCU wins. For Friday’s games, I finished the same as Thursday…11-5.

Here we go for Saturday.

SOUTHWEST:

Morehead State (13) vs. Richmond (12)

Both teams come in off huge wins but I’ll take Richmond to move on by 7.

WEST:

Temple (7) vs. San Diego State (2)

San Diego State by 8.

Cincinnati (6) vs. Connecticut (3)

Big East survivors face off; I’ll call the minor upset, Cincy by 2.

EAST:

West Virginia (5) vs. Kentucky (4)

West Virginia sneaks through by 1.

SOUTHEAST:

UCLA (7) vs. Florida (2)

Florida moves on by 6.

Butler (8) vs. Pitt (1)

Pitt by 3.

Gonzaga (11) vs. Brigham Young (3)

Goodbye Jimmer, Gonzaga by 4.

Kansas State (5) vs. Wisconsin (4)

Wisconsin holds off K-State by 3.

Current record: 26-10

Back tomorrow for a look at Sunday’s action.

Half of Kansas Contingent ….. Gone!!!

The highly fancied Kansas Jayhawks were shocked by little known Northern Iowa

69-67 in the latest upset of this years NCAA tournament. The Northern Iowa Panthers looked like the favourites down the stretch as they calmly made their shots and free throws to preserve the win.

Meanwhile, the Kansas St. Wildcats put away the pesky Brigham Young Cougars

84-82.

It was a day that also saw the surprising Washington Huskies top New Mexico 82-64, Kentucky blow out Wake Forest 90-60, Tennessee ease by Ohio 83-68, Baylor trip Old Dominion 76-68, and Butler eek out a 54-52 win over Murray St.

The other big one of the day saw St. Mary’s send Villanova packing 75-68.

Today’s action reminds me of something a wise man (my grandfather) once said to me when I complained about having to show up for a game against a fellow baseball team in younger years, after getting our hats handed to us, he simply said, “that is why you play the game, you just never know when surprises are gonna happen and teach you a little humility”.

As for my predicting, ouch, I had a 2 right, six wrong day!!!!

There is always tomorrow!!!

True Madness from the start

It is only day one of the NCAA tournament but what a day!! We have seen that the Big East Conference is not necessarily the “Big Beast” of a conference that it was seen as coming in. Ohio University beat Georgetown 97-83, Old Dominion beat Notre Dame 51-50, Washington beat Marquette 80-78, and highly fancied Villanova had a scare, escaping with a 73-70 overtime win over Robert Morris.

The Southeastern Conference did not escape unscathed with Vanderbilt falling to Murray St. 66-65, Florida falling to Brigham Young 99-92 in two overtimes and Tennessee hanging on against San Diego St. 62-59.

In a minor upset St. Mary’s pulled out an 80-71 win over favoured Richmond.

For full coverage, check out the NCAA website.

As for my predictions……well, 7 right and 9 wrong, hope you are not taking my tips to the bookies!!!!

Back after day two with more!!!!