Now we hit the Western Region where Duke owns the top seed. Their veteran leadership will be tough to beat, and I do not see Kawhi Leonard and the SDSU Aztecs pulling it off. Regardless, here are my picks.
(1)DUKE over (16)HAMPTON. Even though Kyle Singler looks like the weirdass monk from “Da Vinci Code,” he will hit some three balls early and the Dukies will coast.
(9)TENNESSEE over (8)MICHIGAN. With apologies to Pete Foster, the Fab 5 ain’t in Ann Arbor no more.
(12)MEMPHIS over (5)ARIZONA. The Pac-10 sucked this year, and Derrick Williams will not be able to carry ‘Zona over an underrated Memphis team.
(13)OAKLAND over (4)TEXAS. I am aware this is a risky pick, but Texas is frontloaded with Freshmen and Sophomores who lack big game experience. I’m thinking the bright lights will get to them, and a fundamental Oakland team will take advantage.
(6)CINCINNATI over (11)MISSOURI. Mizzou is dangerous, but Cincinnati will hold on in a close finish.
(3)CONNECTICUT over (14)BUCKNELL. Kemba won’t allow the Huskies to lose.
(7)TEMPLE over (10)PENN ST. Not gonna lie, I don’t know much about either team, but Penn St. lost a lot of conference games in a mediocre Big 10.
(2)SDSU over NORTHERN COLORADO. The Aztecs play fantastic defense, and their athletic swingmen will make this an easy victory.
