My Version of the Wrong Answers

Wouldn’t be right if I didn’t post MY picks…

My Random Notes:

1. Collin Gillespie lost a shot at this due to injury. Him and their great overall guard play make a run at this. Nova can make free throws, meaning they win the close ones. Jay Wright has done this before. What others are trying to figure out…he has already done.
2. The best player in the nation is Keegan Murray. He has shooters around him, so you can’t double him too much. And, this Iowa squad is hot.
3. I rode with the Zags, but wouldn’t be surprised if Texas Tech comes out of this region, as Tech plays serious defense. I don’t think the Zags win it all, but think they GET to the Final Four.
4. I gave a fleeting thought about Coach K having a magical run, but decided I just can’t root for Duke for six straight games, last run of the legendary coach or not. “Duke sucks” echoes in my brain from going to UVA. Sorry, Coach K. You DO have a nice team, or at least lethal starting five, but I think your depth gets you.
5. As soon as the brackets came out, I knew my winner was coming out of the East. I kept to that premonition in choosing my final bracket. If I just had to pick 4 teams to make the Final Four without concern of bracket, I would have said UCLA, UNC, Purdue, and Kentucky. But, they all play each other.
6. I truly believe that Purdue can get hot and win this thing, but their defensive stats in comparison to past champions don’t jive.
7. I didn’t give a second thought to Baylor either. They overachieved, in my opinion, for most of the year. They won’t win 6 straight games.
8. It would be adorable if the Zags and Zona met in the final (coach against ex-assistant), but the title game never ends up being that storybook.
9. I really wanted to advance Murray State and South Dakota State farther, but they pulled the wrong teams in their bracket for me.
10. Colorado State is not a homer pick. That team is experienced and solid.
11. I didn’t see any regional locations that changed my picks aside from having Auburn make the Sweet Sixteen in Greenville, SC and having the Zags beat Texas Tech in San Fran.
12. I also think that Auburn overachieved this year. Not winning 6 straight.
13. I think Baylor is the first #1 to fall, KU is second to Creighton, and then Zona to Nova in the Elite 8.
14. Finally, this is the first UK team in a while that has experience. They have contributing transfers, and actually are aged perfectly rather than having a one-and-done foundation. It has been a few years, but this is the team, barring injury, that gets John his next title this year.
15. Everything above is probably over-thinking and wrong. Pick your bracket by favorite colors and mascots and you will smoke me most likely. Good luck, everyone!