NCAA Predictions
Best teams remaining will provide high-quality Final Four
Zach Seastedt
Issue date: 4/3/09 Section: Sports
After last year's NCAA tournament, in which all four regional No. 1 seeds reached the Final Four, I had full confidence that parity would find its way back into our beloved March Madness this year. In fact, I had eight upsets penned for the first round alone, and I only had one No. 1 seed making the trip to Detroit.
Yet for the second year in a row, parity vanished like Madoff's assets and my bracket can be found still smoldering next to the driveway.
Every No. 1, 2 and 3 seed in each regional made it to the Sweet Sixteen, with Arizona being the lowest seed at No. 12. And, they were promptly thrashed at the hands of No.1 overall seed Louisville.
Frankly, this year's NCAA tournament has been boring so far, on par with watching a farmer train a duck to speak Spanish. Where did the upsets go? And why is this happening two years in a row?
But, as Cinderella's glass slipper crashes onto the floor for the second straight year, we can finally set our eyes on Detroit and the last three exciting basketball games of the season.
May the best team win, in six overtimes.
Saturday, April 4
(1) Connecticut vs. (2) Michigan State
The first game on the slate for Saturday should turn out to be the best one.
Connecticut has looked impressive so far in the tournament, winning their first two games by a combined 82 points. A.J. Price was named the West Region's most outstanding player, and his ability to drive to the bucket at any moment has helped scoring come easy for the Huskies so far.
The Spartans are led by guard Kalin Lucas and a strong supporting cast that plays great defense. The Big 10 regular-season champions only allowed 52 points to No. 1 seed Louisville.
This game is tough to call because both teams match up so well against each other. Saturday's contest features game-changing guards, dominating big men and great defenses.
If Michigan State's Goran Suton can continue his success of the last few games and match Connecticut's Hasheem Thabeet, the advantage of playing in the home state of Michigan should be enough to get Tom Izzo and the Spartans into the national championship game.
Yet for the second year in a row, parity vanished like Madoff's assets and my bracket can be found still smoldering next to the driveway.
Every No. 1, 2 and 3 seed in each regional made it to the Sweet Sixteen, with Arizona being the lowest seed at No. 12. And, they were promptly thrashed at the hands of No.1 overall seed Louisville.
Frankly, this year's NCAA tournament has been boring so far, on par with watching a farmer train a duck to speak Spanish. Where did the upsets go? And why is this happening two years in a row?
But, as Cinderella's glass slipper crashes onto the floor for the second straight year, we can finally set our eyes on Detroit and the last three exciting basketball games of the season.
May the best team win, in six overtimes.
Saturday, April 4
(1) Connecticut vs. (2) Michigan State
The first game on the slate for Saturday should turn out to be the best one.
Connecticut has looked impressive so far in the tournament, winning their first two games by a combined 82 points. A.J. Price was named the West Region's most outstanding player, and his ability to drive to the bucket at any moment has helped scoring come easy for the Huskies so far.
The Spartans are led by guard Kalin Lucas and a strong supporting cast that plays great defense. The Big 10 regular-season champions only allowed 52 points to No. 1 seed Louisville.
This game is tough to call because both teams match up so well against each other. Saturday's contest features game-changing guards, dominating big men and great defenses.
If Michigan State's Goran Suton can continue his success of the last few games and match Connecticut's Hasheem Thabeet, the advantage of playing in the home state of Michigan should be enough to get Tom Izzo and the Spartans into the national championship game.
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