Well here we are in the month of March. I was born during this month. I feel as though I was made for this. Nothing more exciting than the NCAA Tournament. So let’s get started. Here are my thoughts on the greatest post season in sports.

SOUTHWEST BRACKET
Survivor: Kansas
Sleeper: Louisville
Show Stopper: Ben Hansbrough
Upset Alert: Richmond over Vanderbilt

This is the toughest bracket. If I were Kansas, I’d be afraid. I’d be very afraid. This is a bracket that is filled with potential upsets and styles of play that could prove problematic for the Jayhawks. But I’m no fool, Kansas is loaded. They have the Morris twins, in Marcus and Markieff, which gives them tremendous size. Tyrell Reed and Tyshawn Taylor can both shoot the 3 point shot. Speaking of the 3 point shot, the #2 seed Notre Dame and #4 seed Louisville can really go nutty from downtown. Ben Hanbrough and Tim Abromitis can shoot you into submission. As a team they shoot 39% from deep. Notre Dame can score with anyone and will be very motivated after bowing out in the Big East Semis. Louisville shot 829 three-point shots on the year while leading the Big East in assists. With their full court pressure style, they led the Big East in forced turnovers and steals. The #3 seed Purdue’s JaJuan Johnson and E’Twaun Moore give the boilermakers an inside outside threat that may be the best in the bracket. Georgetown, with Chris Wright returning, still runs that deliberate offense that is impossible to prepare for. It will be tough for Kansas to survive, but I think they will. By the way, Louisville has one of the best best dance teams in the country. Some teams may be distracted. Factor that in.

SOUTHEAST BRACKET
Survivor: Pittsburgh
Sleeper: Wisconsin
Show Stopper: Jimmer Fredette
Upset Alert: Gonzaga vs. St. John’s

This is the weakest bracket in my opinion. I am a Big East guy, but of all the #1 seeds I think Pitt is the toughest to read. There is no guy on the Pittsburgh team that I truly believe can totally take over a game. With that said, Pitt is the toughest team in the Big East and one of the best rebounding teams in the country. Ashton Gibbs is the best shooter in the Big East, Brad Wanamaker does a little of everything for the Panthers. I think, because of the bracket they are in, they can reach the championship game. The #2 seed Florida Gators don’t seem to pose a real threat in my opinion. They played in a weak SEC this year and lost to Kentucky twice. The #3 seed BYU arguably may have the best player in the tourney in Jimmer Fredette, but their schedule is week, not sure how much they’ve been tested and they lost their best interior player with Brandon Davies got caught doing a little “hanky panky.” There is something about Wisconsin that is scary every year. They are a great free throw shooting team as they lead the nation, that is crucial in the NCAA tourney. They also hold teams below 60 ppg. Not good if their in your bracket. St. John’s has had a great year, but the loss of D.J. Kennedy to a blown ACL will hurt, especially defensively. Playing Gonzaga may hurt even more as St. John’s is not big inside, while the Zags lead their conference in rebounding.

EAST BRACKET
Survivor: Syracuse
Sleeper: Marquette
Show Stopper: Jared Sullinger
Upset Alert: Marquette over Xavier

To me, this is the 2nd toughest bracket. Ohio State is by far the best team in the bracket. Jared Sullinger is an absolute monster averging 17.2 ppg, while grabbing 10.1 rebounds, 2nd in the Big Ten. Jon Diebler leads the Big Ten in 3 pt shooting at 50%, his partner William Buford is 7th at 43%. David Lighty is the lone leftover from the Ohio State squad that lost in the championship game in 2007 so he has experience. UNC has been playing better basketball as of late. Harrison Barnes could be the best player in this region. They finished the regular season with 5 straight wins, while also going to the ACC Tournament Championship game before losing to Duke. But don’t forget that the ACC is weak this year. Syracuse and Kentucky can pose problems in this bracket. Syracuse maybe one of the most talented teams in the tournament, but this is the case most years. Their zone can be a nightmare with their length and they can run in transition with anyone. I can see them upsetting Ohio State. One negative for the Cuse is they are a horrible free throw shooting team, not good in the tournament. Kentucky’s two freshman Brandin Knight and Terrence Jones are great, while John Calipari has championship experience. Do not sleep on Marquette. They don’t have stars but I feel Darius Johnson-Odom could be a pro and Coach Buzz Williams gets the Golden Eagles to play hard night in and night out.

WEST BRACKET
Survivor: DUKE
Sleeper: NONE
Show Stopper: Kemba Walker
Upset Alert: Oakland over Texas

So I think this will the most straight forward bracket of them all. Expect all top four seeds to advance. Duke is the toughest team. Nolan Smith has been awesome, and this tells you how great the Duke Blue Devils are because Smith is not even the best player on his team. That title goes to Kyrie Irving. If he is healthy and can participate in the tournament this could help or hurt Duke. Irving has been out for a while now and not sure how his coming back would affect chemistry. Some say San Diego State could’ve been a #1 seed. I disagree on the fact that they don’t have any huge wins on their resume except beating BYU in their conference tournament on the 3rd try. UCONN is scary for three reasons. First, they have Jim Calhoun a coach who has won two National Championships. Second, they can beat you up on the glass, it’s a UCONN tradition to bully you in the paint. Third, they have Kemba Walker. There is not a more exciting player in the whole tournament than Walker. No one can stay in front of him. He’s the most dominant player in the field. His middle school coach once said, “He is the light, the truth, the destroyer. No man should go before him unless he wants to be destroyed.” I only wish I had said that first.

THE FAB FIVE

So I had to touch on this. The Fab Five documentary last night was awesome. I grew up watching the Fab Five. My favorite college teams ever were the ’87′ Syracuse Team, Derrick Coleman, Sherman Douglas and the boys, the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels, Larry Johnson, Greg Anthony, Anderson Hunt, Stacey “Plastic man” Augmon and finally The Fab Five. The Fab Five probably would rank #1. Let’s not even talk about the basketball aspect. I hated the fact that people would say they “played” undisciplined basketball. I saw that as racist. Culturally, yes, they were rough around the edges, but we created that America. We were the ones that have neglected our inner cities and our youth have become products of that. They weren’t bad kids, actually they were good kids, who were judged all too early. The bald heads, baggy shorts and black socks were all simply forms of expression. Expression that at that time, not many people wanted to hear. Too many people are scared of change, scared of the revolution and want everything to stay the same. They want to stay in their little safe world. This is the way the game was played in the inner city. In tough gyms like St. Cecilia in Detroit, Gaucho Gym in the Bronx, Riverside Church in Harlem or Gustine Lake Rec Center in Philly. There was trash talking, there was bragging, there was intimidation. Thank you Fab Five. Thank you Jalen Rose for finally letting them know that all of you were articulate. You weren’t a bunch of thugs who didn’t deserve to be where you were. You were young men who some wanted to see fail, but you never gave them the satisfaction. Thank you for all you’ve given to the game then and now. Because of you Fabulous Five, they finally had to listen and take notice.