The NCAA Tournament

There are several reasons why the NCAA Tournament is one of the biggest sporting events of the year. First, there is the fact that 65 teams make the field every year, including the conference champions of every Division I conference in the country. That's why a college such as Cleveland State, which would never seriously be in the discussion of the national championship, gets to enter and try to run the table. The result is a tremendous build-up of fan interest all over the country. Second, there are the bracket pools. Everyone and their brother fills out a bracket and enters an office pool, convinced that this year they will be the grand winner. And every year, the pool is won by some non-fan who picks the winners based on their nicknames, or mascots, or where he/she went to college/grew up/got married/honeymooned, etc. etc. The resulting interest in this tournament by the non-sports fan has resulted in a complete explosion of this sporting event's popularity.

Most colleges or universities are located in small towns or medium-sized cities, and not the major urban centers. Sure, there are plenty of major colleges and universities in the great cities of this country, but most are elsewhere. Which is why places like Tucson, Arizona, Durham, North Carolina, and Lawrence, Kansas live for this tournament. It has truly become one of the great American spectacles. And with that introduction, let me post a few words about this year's tournament.

I think this is the first time since the tournament expanded to 64/65 teams that every single number one, two, and three seed won their first two games and landed in the Sweet Sixteen. If nothing else, that's a testament to the fantastic job done by this year's Selection Committee. Every year, the Committee comes under fire for some of their selections. This year, the biggest criticism came for the inclusion of my beloved Arizona Wildcats, an appearance which kept alive the Cats' streak of consecutive tournament appearances at 25 years, the second-longest streak in NCAA history. Even yours truly initially questioned the decision, although once I examined the schedule and the impressive wins over some quality top-25 teams (Kansas, Gonzaga, Washington, UCLA), I agreed with their inclusion. And the Cats have made good on that decision, dominating a tough Utah team in the first round and beating a very game Cleveland State team (which in turn had ousted Wake Forrest in the first round). The Wildcats never trailed in either game and won both by double digits. Not bad for a 12th seed, the only one still standing. Not only that, the Pac-10 sent six teams to the Big Dance this year, and the only one left is the Arizona Wildcats. So there, Dick Vitale, put that in your pipe and smoke it, I guess you were wrong, although you'll never admit it.

Syracuse looks like a Final Four team. They disposed of a very tough Arizona State team pretty handily, and made James Harden, the Pac-10 player of the year, a complete non-factor. It wouldn't surprise me if at least two, and maybe three, Big East teams made the Final Four. Any of the group of Connecticut, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, or Villanova are good enough to get there.

It's no longer an upset or a Cinderella story to see Gonzaga once again in the Sweet Sixteen. Mark Few has built a dynasty at this little school in Washington state. They have a tough draw with North Carolina, but they just might pull off the upset. However, with Ty Law back in action, UNC has to be one of the favorites to make it to the Final Four. The Zags will have their hands full.

Connecticut seems to be the best all-around team. They are playing in the West Regional in Phoenix (or Glendale, to be exact), and the last two times they did that, they won the National Championship. On paper, they seem way too much for Purdue to handle, and should then beat the winner of the Missouri-Memphis game.

The East Regional could feature a regional final pitting Big East Conference foes Pittsburgh and Villanova, although you can never underestimate Coach K's (I refuse to try to spell his full name) Duke Blue Devils. Despite their pedigree, I think Villanova gets past them. Assuming Pitt beats Xavier, the resulting Pitt-Villanova game should be a dogfight. Flip a coin, I won't even try to predict who would win that game, although my bracket says Villanova.

Then there's the Midwest Regional. My heart says the Arizona Wildcats will upset Louisville, and then the winner of Michigan State-Kansas. There's even precedent for it, in 1997, the Wildcats were the fifth place team in the Pac-10 conference regular season, and then knocked off the number one team in that tournament (Kansas) in the Sweet Sixteen on their way to their only national championship. Of course, my brain says "what have you been smoking?" I actually think the Cinderella story of the Wildcats will end on Friday, while Michigan State will upset Kansas, only to lose to Louisville. My Final Four prediction is Louisville, Connecticut, Villanova and North Carolina, with Louisville beating North Carolina in the Championship game. Too bad I didn't submit that bracket in any office pool.