Final Four picks!!!

Four will become two

The 2012 NCAA season has reached the Final Four in New Orleans with Louisville battling Kentucky for the right to represent their state in the Championship game and Kansas squaring off against Ohio State for the other berth.


My bracket was busted long ago and none of my picks for the Final Four made it through after North Carolina and Baylor were beaten last weekend. Oh well, there’s always time to start working on my 2012-2013 predictions!! 


Now on to this weekend’s predictions, may as well try to end on a positive note!!


Louisville vs. Kentucky


This one is bigger than the normal bragging rights tilt which Kentucky won 69-62 on New Year’s Eve.


Form is out of the window for this one, though conventional wisdom says Kentucky should win but Louisville is looking UConn-ish this season.


I have predicted their demise a few times this season so now I will probably put a curse on them by giving the nod to the Wildcats.


Kentucky by 9


Ohio State vs. Kansas


This one is another rematch with Ohio State hoping to reverse a 78-67 loss at Kansas in early December. After losing to Michigan State in the Big 10 title game the Buckeyes have picked themselves up and powered through the tourney. 


The story is the same for Kansas who have advanced after losing to Baylor in the Big 12 title affair.


This time around, the game will be closer and I will have to give the slight edge to Ohio State on a neutral court.


Ohio State by 4


I will have a quick look at the NCAA Women’s Final Four tomorrow along with preparing my pick for Monday night’s championship game.

Aussie Hoop playoffs start tonight....

Playoff time in Australia 

Australia’s National Basketball League has reached the postseason with four teams vying for the title. The semi-finals which are the best of three start later today when the New Zealand Breakers host the Townsville Crocodiles. In the other semi-final the Perth Wildcats will meet the Gold Coast Blaze.


New Zealand finished the regular season on top of the ladder with a record of 21-7, Perth went 19-9 in finishing second, Gold Coast finished 17-11 and Townsville came in at 15-13 for fourth.


New Zealand is hoping to send the retiring CJ Bruton off in style and is favourites to take the crown. Breakers Gary Wilkinson, Thomas Abercrombie, Cedric Jackson and stalwart Daryl Corletto will be integral in making that happen. Perth will continue to look to NBL MVP Kevin Lisch to lead their charge. Jesse Wagstaff and Shawn Redhage round out the major threats for the rugged Wildcats lineup. For the Queensland teams, the Gold Coast  squad of Coach Joey Wright to advance, they will need solid play from Captain Adam Gibson and forward Mark Worthington. Finally North Queenslanders Townsville  is hoping Peter Crawford and Eddie Gill can lead them to a couple of upsets on the way to the title.


Prediction wise, I will give the nod to New Zealand and Perth for a championship series.


You can read the preview from the NBL site here.


I’ll be back with my NCAA Final Four picks tomorrow.

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!!