I went away from the usual headline today to signify the excitement you should have about my bracket. Really, when you analyze it, my entire life (well, since November) has led up to this point. All of the college basketball I’ve watched. All of the polls I’ve broken down. All of the articles I’ve read. All of it for this. And at this point, my entire life seems pretty pointless. And when my picks fail and I look like a fool, you will wonder, “Why the hell have I read this every day for the last X weeks?” With that said, Let’s Bracket:

FIRST ROUND

East Region
(1) North Carolina over (16) Mt. St. Mary’s.
(9) Arkansas over (8) Indiana
(5) Notre Dame over (12) George Mason
(4) Washington State over (13.) Winthrop
(11) St. Joseph’s over (6) Oklahoma
(3) Louisville over (14) Boise State
(7) Butler over (10) South Alabama
(2) Tennessee over (15) American

Midwest Region
(1) Kansas over (16) Portland State
(9) Kent State over (8) Nevada-Las Vegas
(5) Clemson over (12) Villanova
(4) Vanderbilt over (13) Siena
(6) Southern California over (11) Kansas State
(3) Wisconsin over (14) California State Fullerton
(7) Gonzaga over (10) Davidson
(2) Georgetown over (15) Maryland-Baltimore County

South Region
(1) Memphis over (16) Texas-Arlington
(9) Oregon over (8) Mississippi State
(5) Michigan State over (12) Temple
(4) Pittsburgh over (13) Oral Roberts
(6) Marquette over (11) Kentucky
(3) Stanford over (14) Cornell
(10) Saint Mary’s over (7) Miami (FLA)
(2) Texas over (15) Austin Peay

West Region
(1) UCLA over (16) Mississippi Valley State
(8) Brigham Young over (9) Texas A&M
(5) Drake over (12) Western Kentucky
(4) Connecticut over (13) San Diego
(6) Purdue over (11) Baylor
(3) Xavier over (14) Georgia
(10) Arizona over (7) West Virginia
(2) Duke over (15) Belmont

Breakdown: Pretty chalk, as I stated yesterday. I think that much like last year, there will be very little in the way of first round upsets. As I also said yesterday, Siena could beat Vandy and I also smell a San Diego/Connecticut tight matchup.

SECOND ROUND

East Region
(1) North Carolina over (9) Arkansas
(5) Notre Dame over (4) Washington State
(3) Louisville over (11) Saint Joseph’s
(2) Tennessee over (7) Butler

Midwest Region
(1) Kansas over (9) Kent State
(5) Clemson over (4) Vanderbilt
(6) Southern California over (3) Wisconsin
(2) Georgetown over (7) Gonzaga

South Region
(1) Memphis over (9) Oregon
(4) Pittsburgh over (5) Michigan State
(3) Stanford over (6) Marquette
(2) Texas over (10) Saint Mary’s

West Region
(1) UCLA over (8) Brigham Young
(5) Drake over (4) UConn
(6) Purdue over (3) Xavier
(2) Duke over (10) Arizona

Breakdown: The Second Round is always incredibly exciting and completely underrated. Duke/Arizona would be a great matchup as would Georgetown and Gonzaga and Tennessee and Butler.

SWEET 16

East Region
(1) North Carolina over (5) Notre Dame
(2) Tennessee over (3) Louiville

Midwest Region
(1) Kansas over (5) Clemson
(6) Southern California over (2) Georgetown

South Region
(1) Memphis over (4) Pittsburgh
(3) Stanford over (2) Texas

West Region
(1) UCLA over (5) Drake
(2) Duke over (6) Purdue

Breakdown: Trying to pick the North Carolina/Notre Dame matchup is and was a lot tougher than you or I would think. I’m verrrrrrry intrigued by the Luke Harangody/Tyler Hansborough matchup in that game, but really, it’s all about USC and Georgetown. If that happens, and I hope it does, Wow! Great game.

ELITE 8

East Region
(1) North Carolina over (2) Tennessee

Midwest Region
(6) Southern California over (1) Kansas

South Region
(1) Memphis over (3) Stanford

West Region
(2) Duke over (1) UCLA

Breakdown: Your head probably exploded at the USC pick and I understand. Also understand that KU and USC played a tight neutral court game at the beginning of the year. USC has meshed better as a team since that game (a four point loss). I really think USC is this good. As for the other “upset,” please don’t take it as my being a homer, I picked Duke to lose in the first round last year. However, I have confidence in this team. Because of their great perimeter scoring, I think they can beat UCLA head-to-head.

FINAL FOUR

(1-East) North Carolina over (6-Midwest) Southern California
(1-South) Memphis over (2-West) Duke

Breakdown: Pretty chalk. I don’t think Taj Gibson of USC can defend Psycho T in the post and I think Ty Lawson is too quick for OJ Mayo. USC’s run ends here. Memphis is just too strong and physical for Duke. You’ll notice that only 1 of my original Final Four from the preseason makes their way into my Final Four now.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Memphis over North Carolina

Breakdown: There is one thing, only one, that can hold Memphis back in my opinion from winning the National Title and that is their free throw shooting. They’re good enough to get past UT-Arlington, Oregon, Pittsburgh, Stanford, and Duke to not have to worry about their free throw shooting. It is this game where Memphis meets someone who is better than they are, overall. North Carolina is the best all-around college basketball team. However, Joey Dorsey will neutralize Psycho T in this game and it will be a battle of the young, dynamic point guards on both teams. The X-Factor, to me, is Chris Douglas-Roberts. I don’t think Danny Green can defend such a long shooter.

So there you have it. My National Champion pick is the Memphis Tigers.

Game O’ The Day: Boston @ Houston. Destiny vs. The Streak. Sound intriguing? It should. TNT, 9:30. Game of the Year in the NBA, to this point. Be in front of a T.V.