Jersey Appreciation Friday Vol. 63

This week's Jersey Appreciation Saturday goes to the Davidson Wildcats. I recently received a Steph Curry Davidson jersey as a gift, and I realized just how cool it is. The white jersey from the Curry era features black letters with a red outline. This may look clunky to some, but that's okay because the neckline is only accompanied by a red line going around it. It's simple in some areas and complex in others. Overall just a fantastic look. Click Here

Midwest Regional Preview

The Midwest Regional commences tonight, and it's not as good as the East. I do like the fact that we have Kansas and Duke playing, but Syracuse doesn't really excite me. Clemson, however, is the wild card here. The Tigers have played really well in the Tournament so far, knocking off a good 12 in New Mexico State and just pounding 4 Auburn. They play 1 Kansas, though, so we have to see how that goes. Clemson certainly has convinced me that they are good, but Kansas is a different animal. I'm way less excited for 2 Duke and 11 Syracuse. I just don't think this will be close. Syracuse had a nice run, but Duke looks so good right now. Marvin Bagley and Wendell Carter will make Syracuse pay for playing the zone, something the Orange's previous two opponents didn't do. 

Predictions:

1 Kansas over 5 Clemson

The backcourt of Devonte' Graham and Malik Newman will overpower Clemson's tough defense. 

2 Duke over 11 Syracuse

This will be a blow out. I will be punished if I'm wrong. 

2 Duke over 1 Kansas

Once again Kansas will lose in the Elite Eight. This time it won't be their fault. Duke is simply the better team. They have more inside than Kansas, and I don't think the Jayhawks will be able to counter that. 

East Regional Preview

The East Regional kicks off tonight with two awesome games in 1 Villanova vs 5 West Virginia and 3 Texas Tech vs 2 Purdue. This is probably the best Regional of the four simply because of the high-profile teams involved. This is also the chalkiest region we have left, so we should cherish the normalcy that it represents.

In the first matchup, we have Villanova and West Virginia. This is an enticing matchup because we have the best offense in the country vs one of the best full-court defenses in the country. Villanova's Mikal Bridges has been playing like a top 10 pick in the Tournament, and the point guard matchup between Jalen Brunson and Jevon Carter is phenomenal. Both are Cousy Award finalists and both hail from Illinois. I expect a fast-paced ballgame with a lot of threes being shot. 

The second matchup is another offense vs defense thriller. We have the offensively beautiful Purdue vs the hard-nosed defense of Texas Tech. Again, the guard matchup will be something to see. Carsen Edwards has been one of the best guards all season, while Keenan Evans has carried his Red Raiders to this point. This is the best game we will see tonight. I expect a close game won on the final possession. 

Time for my predictions. What used to be my favorite part of college basketball is now turning into something I dread. Yesterday I went 1/4, getting only Michigan correct. Tonight I hope to do better. 

1 Villanova over 5 West Virginia 

Villanova shoots too well and scores too much for West Virginia to keep up offensively. West Virginia's press will be sliced up by the talented Villanova guard play, and their offense won't match the efficiency of Nova. West Virginia has struggled scoring in the second half all year, and I think it dooms them tonight. 

3 Texas Tech over 2 Purdue 

This is a really tough game for me to call, but I love a hot guard in March. This year, it's Keenan Evans. Purdue can easily win this game, but I think Isaac Haas not being at 100% if he even plays will hurt Purdue's efficiency around the rim. Texas Tech is a premier defensive team, and I think they can handle the Boilermakers. 

1 Villanova over 3 Texas Tech

Villanova's offense is historically good. This year especially I feel that teams that are more offensively challenged than defensively have been more vulnerable. Look at Cincinnati, Tennessee and Virginia for example. It's tough to win when you can't score. That's why Villanova will go to the Final Four, and Texas Tech won't. 

South Regional Preview

The South Region is completely messed up. This is the first time ever where seeds 1-4 were all eliminated before the Sweet 16. As a result, we have 5 Kentucky vs 9 Kansas State and 11 Loyola-Chicago vs 7 Nevada. Take that however you want. In my personal view, upsets in early rounds just lead to crappy regionals and Final Fours. I think we see this happening here. These matchups are fun because of the Cinderella aspect of each team, but expect the quality of basketball to take a nose dive due to the lack of top teams. Despite that, we should be seeing exciting basketball. Kansas State got here by killing Creighton and surviving 16 seed UMBC, and Kentucky got here by taking care of business against 12 Davidson and 13 Buffalo. The second matchup in this regional is a bit more exciting. In Loyola-Chicago and Nevada, you have two teams that love winning on the last possession. Loyola has won two straight games on buzzer beaters over 6 Miami and 3 Tennessee, while Nevada has survived second half double digit deficits in its first two games, the latter featuring a 22-point comeback against 2 Cincinnati. 

Since my South bracket is totally screwed, I'll do a new prediction: 

5 Kentucky over 9 Kansas State 

I like the way Kentucky is playing with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Also, K-State played horrendously against UMBC. 

7 Nevada over 11 Loyola-Chicago

I really want Loyola-Chicago to win as they're currently the best basketball team in Illinois. (I'm including the Bulls.) But Nevada has a really strong starting lineup consisting of the Martin twins, Kendall Stephens and Jordan Caroline, and I can't see them slipping up here. The Cardiac Pack got this.

7 Nevada over 5 Kentucky 

I really like the way Nevada is playing right now. They shoot lights out in the final 5 minutes of every game they've played so far, and the energy brought by Eric Musselman is enough to get Nevada to the Final Four. 

 

West Regional Preview

The West Region in the 2018 NCAA Tournament had some twists and turns without a doubt. The 1 and 2 seeds (Xavier and North Carolina) are both gone after losing in the second round, and the 3 seed Michigan would've been too if it hadn't been for Jordan Poole's crazy game winner against Houston. 4 Gonzaga had two close calls after blowing leads to both UNC-Greensboro and Ohio State, but they  managed to survive. The teams who beat Xavier and UNC, 9 Florida State and 7 Texas A&M, respectively, also pose as viable threats to get to San Antonio. 

Like the South bracket, this region is also pretty screwed up for me. I got Michigan and Gonzaga, but I was blindsided by Texas A&M and Florida State, so here's my second chance at predicting the West. 

4 Gonzaga over 9 Florida State

I've been high on Gonzaga all year, and I won't stop believing now. I had them in my Elite Eight, beating Xavier to get there, so I'll stick with that. Zach Norvell Jr is a star, and the Zags also have some nice size to combat that of FSU. 

3 Michigan over 7 Texas A&M

I'll be honest and say if I didn't have Michigan winning the whole thing in my original bracket, I would pick A&M. The Aggies ran UNC out of the gym behind the play of Tyler Davis and TJ Starks, and they are finally looking like the team we expected them to be back in December. These are guys dangerous. But I'll take Michigan because of their elite defense and their ability to get baskets by some method. Michigan doesn't have a star, but their offense is so methodical that it will frustrate the hell out of Texas A&M. 

3 Michigan over 4 Gonzaga 

Again, Gonzaga is a great pick here too, but I gotta be loyal. Michigan has momentum again after hitting that shot against Houston, and Gonzaga struggles in late-game situations and in holding early leads. I'll stick with Michigan. 

Jersey Appreciation Friday Vol. 62

This week's Jersey Appreciation Friday goes to the UMBC RETRIEVERS!! I honestly hate these uniforms but who the hell cares? They just became the first 16 seed to beat a 1 seed in NCAA Tournament history by knocking off Virginia. What a day! Click Here

NCAA Tournament Predictions

We are about 12 hours out from the official first game of the NCAA Tournament so I thought I'd best give my predictions now. The first and second rounds came pretty easily to me, while the later rounds were much harder.   I wasn't totally sure about my national champ until a half hour ago. Currently, I am confident in my picks, but that likely won't be the case by Day 3. Anyways, here goes nothing. 

I'll start by listing some of my notable upset picks. I'm not really explaining the reasoning because I don't have much of it. It's just a feeling for the most part.

11 San Diego State over 6 Houston

The Aztecs are coming off a fantastic Mountain West tourney victory, and I'm not uber confident in the 3rd best team in the American.

13 Marshall over 4 Wichita State

I like Dan D'Antoni's vibe and offense. Marshall also has an awesome nickname and a great shade of green. 

12 New Mexico State over 5 Clemson

I was really impressed with NM St at the Diamondhead back in December, and I don't know how Clemson can rebound well enough without Donte Grantham. 

13 Charleston over 4 Auburn

Probably my biggest stretch. Auburn hasn't been the same since losing Anfernee McLemore. 

So as you notice, I don't really have many huge upset picks in the first round. I think that since the top teams aren't as good this year, then the bottom teams must be worse than usual as well. 

Now for my long-awaited Final Four. Long-awaited by me, at least. I've been waiting to predict this year's Final Four since...uh...last year's Final Four, and I can't believe the day has finally come. 

South Region

In the South I have a Sweet 16 of Virginia vs Arizona and Miami vs Cincinnati. I then have a Virginia-Cincy Elite Eight with Cincinnati going to the Final Four. I really like Virginia's defense, but the loss of De'Andre Hunter really hurts them. Cincinnati has the second best defense in America and Gary Clark is turning into a monster on offense. 

WINNER: Cincinnati

West Region

My Sweet 16 is total chalk. Xavier vs Gonzaga and North Carolina vs Michigan. I really like the Zags to get by Xavier, and I'm taking Michigan over UNC. I'm riding high on momentum this year, and Michigan currently has a boatload of it. They'll beat Gonzaga in the Elite Eight.

WINNER: Michigan

East Region

Villanova vs West Virginia and Florida vs Purdue are my Sweet 16 matchups. Villanova and Purdue hold seed as both get to the Elite Eight, where Villanova edges past them to get to the Final Four. The Wildcats have the easiest route to the Elite Eight, so I'm inclined to pick them here. Jalen Brunson is getting all the headlines for this team, but it's Mikal Bridges who will lead this team to a Final Four. 

WINNER: Villanova 

Midwest

This is a loaded region with Kansas, Duke and Michigan State, but I like the Spartans getting out alive in this one. They'll beat Duke in the Sweet 16 and Kansas (who knocks off New Mexico State in the Sweet 16) in the Elite Eight to get there. The combination of size and athleticism will get them to the Final Four.

WINNER: Michigan State

Final Four

Cincinnati vs Michigan

Both of these teams have top 10 defense in the country. In these cases you look at which team has the better offense, and I think that's Michigan. Mo Wagner can spread Cincy out, and I like Michigan's bench better. 

WINNER: Michigan

Villanova vs Michigan State

The guard play of Villanova and the fact that they don't turn the ball over has me taking the Wildcats here. Size means nothing if you can't use it properly. Nova does a good job of denying the post despite their small squad, and I think that'll rattle the Spartans.

WINNER: Villanova

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Michigan vs Villanova 

In this case, I like momentum. Michigan is clicking at the right time. Their defense and rebounding is really strong, and they are shooting extremely well too. Call me crazy, but I ride with the underdog here. Go Blue.

WINNER: Michigan

There you have it. Those are my picks for this year. Let's hope we get an awesome tournament regardless if these are right or not.