Lesson of Perseverance

Lesson of Perseverance: CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – North Carolina had every opportunity to make excuses for not reaching its 19th Final Four on Sunday. Instead, the Tar Heels focused on maneuvering around the considerable obstacles that injuries presented along the way in hopes of finding a passage to New Orleans.

Elite Eight picks...

Final Four spots available!!

I had a decent day, prediction wise yesterday with only NC State not getting through from my picks. Oh well…today I will give my picks for all four regional championship games.

Here we go:

West Region:

Florida (7) vs. Louisville (4)
Louisville is healthy and the Cardinals have shown it in this UConn like run through the Big East tourney and the NCAA field thus far. This matchup is also a teacher versus pupil game with Rick Pitino facing off against his former player Billy Donovan. 


I will give an edge to “teacher” in this one…Louisville by 8.

East Region:


Ohio State (2) vs. Syracuse (1)
This region went to form in the end with a 1 vs. 2 for the ticket to NOLA. But Syracuse may have survived as long as they can without being exposed. Ohio State has been brutal inside and has gotten good results from beyond the arc.


Ohio State by 3 in a close one…

South Region:


Baylor (3) vs. Kentucky (1)

Hmm….I will predict the end of the line for Kentucky here. 


Baylor by 5.


Midwest Region:

Kansas (2) vs. North Carolina (1)

Carolina is hurting … Kansas has overachieved…Roy Williams vs. former school … this one has a bit of everything…not to mention a few “Duke” fans I know who would love to shut me up if Carolina loses!! Well, in spite of it all. Look for the ‘Heels to roll on. 


Carolina by 7.

Back later in the week with my Final Four picks….remember I predicted Carolina over Baylor for the title!!!

Fridays Sweet 16 picks....

Sweet 16 Day 2

(Gotta be better)

Oh well….none of my picks from yesterday won so I will have to soldier on for Friday’s games….with the East and the West regionals down…we move now to the South and Midwest.


South Region:


Xavier (10) vs. Baylor (3)
Baylor should win this one but will need consistency…Baylor by 10
Indiana (4) vs. Kentucky (1)
Kentucky gets revenge by 3


Midwest Region:


Ohio (13) vs. North Carolina (1)
North Carolina by 11
NC State (11) vs. Kansas (2)
Upset here…NC State by 6


Today’s picks have to be better!! LOL!!!

Sweet 16 picks...

Bracket Sweetness (16)

We are down to the Sweet 16 in the men’s 2012 NCAA tournament with the West and East Regions in action Thursday night (Friday morning Aussie time).

East Region:

Wisconsin (4) vs. Syracuse (1)

So far…the Orangemen have survived but the end is here….Wisconsin by 6.

Cincinnati (6) vs. Ohio State (2)

Two of the four Ohio teams meet for a spot in the regional final…Cincy in an upset…by 7

West Region:

Louisville (4) vs. Michigan State (1)

Mich. St.by 9

Florida (7) vs. Marquette (3)

Marquette by 10

Back tomorrow with Friday's picks....

Sunday's NCAA predictions...

Final Sweet 16 spots up for grabs….

After going 5-3 on a Saturday where all of the favourites had wins, I am looking forward to a few of the matchups on Sunday. Will chaos ensue again?? Hmm…let’s pick ‘em!!

Midwest Region:

N.C. State (11) vs. Georgetown (3)

The Wolfpack should have been seeded higher and will get a win on Sunday by 7

Ohio (13) vs. South Florida (12)

One of these lower seeds will get into the Sweet 16….Ohio should roll on by 9

Creighton (8) vs. North Carolina (1)

Will be a good test for UNC who should win by 11

Purdue (10) vs. Kansas (2)

Kansas gets by ….by say 10 points

West Region:

St. Louis (9) vs. Michigan State (1)

Mich. State by 4

Norfolk State (15) vs. Florida (7)

Upset number 2 for Norfolk State?? Yep….Norfolk State by 3

South Region:

Lehigh (15) vs. Xavier, OH (10)

Xavier by 7

East Region:

Cincinnati (6) vs. Florida State (3)

Florida State by 3

See you later in the week when the Sweet 16 games kick off!!

Here we go....Saturday's picks...

After a day of surprises….we have 32!!

Friday was definitely “freaky” for some of the higher seeded teams in this season’s NCAA Tournament. Overall I had a relatively good 10-6 picking record that saw San Diego State, Missouri, Memphis, Duke, Michigan, St. Mary’s, Temple and Notre Dame lose to lower seeded teams.

I’m back for more so here we go with Saturday’s picks:

East Region:

Kansas State (8) vs. Syracuse (1)

Syracuse may survive one more round before crashing…they beat K-State by 7

Gonzaga (7) vs. Ohio State (2)

Ohio State by 5

Vanderbilt (5) vs. Wisconsin (4)

Vandy by 4

West Region:

Murray State (5) vs. Marquette (4)

Marquette by 8

New Mexico (5) vs. Louisville (4)

New Mexico by 2

South Region:

VCU (12) vs. Indiana (4)

Why not…VCU by 8

Iowa State (8) vs. Kentucky (1)

Not yet Kentucky but soon…Kentucky by 12

Colorado (11) vs. Baylor (3)

Baylor by 14

Ok…see you tomorrow!!

NCAA Friday games....

Round of 64…Day 2

Now the action is heavy with the full field of the 2012 NCAA Basketball tournament seeing action. After Thursday’s games I had a 12-4 record…putting me at 12-8 overall factoring in the First Four games.

Friday sees a few heavyweights in action and I am looking for a better record as my ACC teams see action.

East Region:

Texas (11) vs. Cincinnati (6)

Cincy by 5

St. Bonaventure (14) vs. Florida State (3)

FSU by 9

Midwest Region:

NC State (11) vs. San Diego State (6)

Not a big upset but NC State by 7

Alabama (9) vs. Creighton (8)

‘Bama by 4

Belmont (14) vs. Georgetown (3)

Georgetown by 12

Vermont vs. North Carolina (1)

Carolina by 21

Ohio (13) vs. Michigan (4)

Upset alert!! Ohio by 6

Purdue (10) vs. St. Mary’s (7)

St. Mary’s by 8

South Florida (12) vs. Temple (5)

Temple by 13

Detroit (15) vs. Kansas (2)

Kansas by 17

West Region:

Norfolk State (15) vs. Missouri (2)

Missouri by 15

Virginia (10) vs. Florida (7)

Mild upset…UVa by 3

St. Louis (9) vs. Memphis (8)

St. Louis by 1

LIU-Brooklyn (16) vs. Michigan State (1)

Mich. St. by 24

South Region:

Lehigh (15) vs. Duke (2)

Duke by 17

Xavier (10) vs. Notre Dame (7)

Xavier by 5

Back with more after tomorrow’s games….