NCAA on tap!!!

NCAA Brackets crank up!!!

After two days of “First Four” games, the 2011 NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament gets into full swing Thursday. Thus far I am a perfect 4-0 in picking tourney games. So time to jump into prognostications full swing!! Some of my picks may differ from my overall bracket in which I have picked Wisconsin, North Carolina, San Diego State and Notre Dame as my Final Four with Carolina taking the title from the Badgers.

My first round picks for Thursday are:

EAST:

Clemson (12) vs. West Virginia (5)

West Virginia by 5

Princeton (13) vs. Kentucky (4)

Kentucky by 12

WEST:

Penn State (10) vs. Temple (7)

Temple by 4

Northern Colorado (15) vs. San Diego State (2)

S.D. State by 14

Bucknell (14) vs. Connecticut (3)

UConn by 17

Missouri (11) vs. Cincinnati (6)

Cincy by 8

SOUTHWEST:

Morehead State (13) vs. Louisville (4)

Louisville by 10

Richmond (12) vs. Vanderbilt (5)

The 5 vs. 12 upset!! Richmond by 7

SOUTHEAST:

Old Dominion (9) vs. Butler (8)

ODU too strong on the boards…..Monarchs by 11

UNC-Asheville (16) vs. Pittsburgh (1)

Pitt by 20

Cal-Santa Barbara (15) vs. Florida (2)

Florida by 22

Wofford (14) vs. Brigham Young (3)

BYU by 16

Belmont (13) vs. Wisconsin (4)

Wisconsin by 8

Michigan State (10) vs. UCLA (7)

Michigan State by 4

Gonzaga (11) vs. St. John’s (6)

St. John’s by 3

Utah State (12) vs. Kansas State (5)

Utah State by 2

Ok, there are my first day regional picks. Enjoy the games…….

My current record: 4-0

Ogilvy Going Pro

From the NBL

AUSTRALIAN AJ OGILVY DECLARES FOR NBA DRAFT

Australian basketballer A.J. Ogilvy has announced that he has decided to forgo his senior US college season at Vanderbilt University in order to enter the 2010 NBA Draft.

"I talked with my family and coaches here, and I think (going pro) is what's best for me,” Ogilvy said at a press conference to announce his decision. “I really enjoyed all my time at Vanderbilt. I really want to thank the coaches and fans for everything they've done for me. I'm just excited to try to get my game to the next level."

Ogilvy has also taken the step of hiring an agent, the Wasserman Group, meaning he has now forgone his collegiate eligibility and cannot return to college.

"This is what I wanted to do. Once I put my name in, I wanted to put all my effort and time into it," Ogilvy added, when asked why he hired an agent.


The 6’11” center from Sydney is a three-time All-SEC performer and averaged 15.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game in three years at Vanderbilt. He is the Commodores' all-time leader in free throws made (471) and blocks per game (1.51), and earlier this year became only the second player in Commodore history to record 1,000 points and 100 blocks in his career.

Ogilvy attended the Australian Institute of Sport and represented Australia at the FIBA Under-19 World Championship in July 2007. At that event, he averaged 22.3 points and 9.8 rebounds while shooting 69 percent from the field and 78.8 percent from the foul line in nine games. He finished third in scoring and posted six double-doubles, including a 32-point and 11-rebound effort against Spain. He helped the Australians sweep the field in Group F and finish fifth with an 8-1 mark, losing to Brazil in the quarterfinals.

"We certainly appreciate everything A.J. has done, both on and off the floor, at Vanderbilt," said Vanderbilt head coach Kevin Stallings. "He has had a very accomplished career, and will hopefully experience the same kind of success as a professional. A.J. has been instrumental in our two NCAA Tournament berths in the last three years and has demonstrated a very good work ethic from the very first day he walked on campus."
"Hopefully his agent's projection of being a late first-round draft pick is accurate and he will have a long and prosperous NBA career," continued Stallings.

The NBA Draft is set for June 24 in New York City.

Two other Australians were also drafted to the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) earlier today. Alison Lacey of Canberra was chosen with the number 10 pick by the Seattle Storm, the team that Opals superstar Lauren Jackson plays for. Victorian Brigitte Ardossia also went at number 21 to the Atlanta Dream.

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!!!!