I like the Memphis Tigers to win it all this year.
Losing Derrick Rose and a couple other players from last year's runner-up hurt Memphis early as it started 6-3, but John Calipari puts Tyreke Evans at the point and Memphis wins 25 in a row.
The 31-3 Tigers are the only team in the tourney with as few as three losses.
The Tigers deserved a No. 1 seed, but that doesn't matter. As Bob Knight says, he went to the Final Four five times and was a No.1 seed just once.
I like the Tigers.
I also think Illinois is in trouble in the first round.
In fact, Western Kentucky is my upset special for the first two rounds.
My move vulnerable No. 1 seed? UConn.
I'd like to think that Memphis' bloated record was mainly because of a generally weak conference in Conference USA, plus I don't think Evans is anywhere near as good as Rose, but for the most part, there is no clear cut favorite team or 2 teams to win it all this year. I say for bragging rights, someone should start up a Full Court Press bracket pool online. What do you think? I'll join.
I like Pittsburgh, but they're not a team without flaws either. Should be a fun tournament again!
Illinois is in trouble against Western KY, but even then, their road to the Final 4 is brutal. No worries though, I didn't expect them to go that far. I'm already looking more forward to their heralded 2009 recruiting class coming in next season.
If Tyler Hansbrough is indeed hurt as reported, they're my pick as the first #1 seed to go down.
Good luck in your bracket pools, all!
i do like memphis as a team but i do not like them to go all the way. i do not think they have the same kind of talent that got them to the finals last year. as for a sleeper team i have to go with Syracuse they are coming off a great big east tourney and i think johnny flynn will shine under the big lights of the NCAA tourney i would watch out for them to pull off some games they are not expected to win. another team i like to pull off some upsets is washington i truly believe they could meet and beat Uconn. no matter what it will be a great tourney as far as a winner i just can not pick against louisville their defense is just to good with that full court press
Good pick and excellent reasoning, but I believe the champ will come from the ACC.
Coaching, team experience, MENACING defense and point differential are my favorite criteria aside from the usual conference and schedule strengths. I wouldn't be surprised if a Cleveland State threw a few wrinkles in the tourney. Those men can play some 'D'. Memphis and Calipari are two favorites of mine. It's the erratic shooting displays against bigger teams that bother me about the Tigers. Defense will keep you in, but won't win it all for you. Sorry Roman, but I don't see Memphis making it past Connecticut. With Dyson, UConn would have been my fav, but Pitt has to be the most consistent at both ends, and on the bench. Syracuse and Louisville are tough, and North Carolina may be out of it if Lawsons injury is serious. There is no playing around turf toe, drug or brace. My surprise team has to be Wake Forest. If they upset Louisville, look out!
Poor Illinois, they got jabbed worse than any team in the tourney. Probably would have done better as a six.
It's really hard to see Memphis going all the way. Their best win was against Gonzaga. If they were in the Big East they would have gotten slaughtered. Last years team was special mainly because they had the best player in college basketball (Rose). Evans is good but nowhere near as dominant as Rose and he will struggle to carry the team, especially when the game is tight late on. Memphis cheat the system every year by playing in C-USA and sweeping the garbage programs. Can you imagine if UCONN or UNC were in conference USA? I'm sure they would have big winning streaks as well. Anyway, why is everyone overlooking Oklahoma? Who can stop Blake Griffin? Two things will happen during this tourney. Evans will be exposed as a weak player, and Griffin will affirm his #1 NBA Draft spot.
Wait a minute! I'm an Illini fan, true to the end. I'll take Portland State over Xavier as my upset special. If Illinois' tough guards can put pressure on the Hilltopper backcourt (which I think they will, even without Frazier), and Davis AND Tisdale play 'BIG' (c'mon Weber, you bum) we beat Western Kentucky. Brock will be a steady rock, and Legion and Jordan need to come up big.
My main question is, 'which McCamey is going to show up'?
Go Illini!!!
Villanova!
Navarro - I too am a homer, but the big 10 is one of the weakest confernces in tournament. They ought to rename this the NCAA-ACC tournament (lol). ACC is the best, Big East, Pac 10, Big 12, then the Big 10. Normally, the big 10 is usually the 2nd or 3rd best, but I guess they are feeling the results of the economic recession (lol).
Navarro - "Coaching, team experience, MENACING defense and point differential are my favorite criteria aside from the usual conference and schedule strengths." This is absolutely correct. That being said, I am rooting for all of the underdogs to mess everything up!!!!
Bruce Pearl, head coach of 9-seed Tennessee, breaks down the 2-15 match-up in the West Region between the Memphis Tigers and the Cal State Northridge Matadors
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyezKq7oTXA&feature=PlayList&p=3B56F85416E1E310&index=1
Memphis is good, but not big east good. The big east is good but not as good as the ACC. The big ten will be a disappointment. Oklahoma is my sleeper for the final four and Championship. UNC is overrated, Wake Forest is the most talented team in ACC, they should be in final four two. I wouldn't be surprised if Washington or UCLA makes it fairly far too. This year won't be 4 one seeds, look for a 2 seed to win it, I'm not saying who, I'm just saying.
I HONESTLY BELIEVE MEMPHIS WILL WIN THA TITLE NOT SAYIN THAT CAUSE I'M FROM THERE, BUT MEMPHIS HAS GOOD DEFENSE, A GREAT CAOACH, THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE ALL THE SKILLS THEY HAD LAST SEASON BUT THEY'RE STILL JUST AS GOOD! NORTH CAROLINA?? DOUBT IT
computer simulations show memphis odds on favorites to beat everyone... most by large percentages. UNC is the favorite by most, but Memphis handily wins in the computers.
Memphis all the way!!!!
Problem with Memphis is you really can't determine how good they are. CUSA is tremendously weak as everyone agrees. Last year I thought they would get hammered in the tourney even with Rose but was proved wrong. They are an unpredictable team that may in fact have what it takes to go all the way this year. Anyone who thinks they don't have a shot because of CUSA is mistaken. Not their fault CUSA is weak. I agree they lost 2-3 against any team with a backbone. However, I think the end of the season is a different team than early on. I have them winning it all.
good call on W.KY
I get really tired year after year of the Memphis bashing because they play in C-USA. People, every team can't play in the Big East or ACC...that doesn't mean they aren't a good team. By the way how's the ACC doing in this tournament so far? Right now Memphis is whipping Maryland by 20..
hey UNC FAN, we just kicked Marylands Turtle out of the shell, we almost won by 30 but we put the walk ons in to fight those scrubs you gave scholarships too.
Vasquez will be pumping my gas in two years!
Weak Conf or not, the ACC just got their arse handed to them!
Below me!