Predicting the Sweet Sixteen Showdowns

There are no Cinderella stories to rally behind, but the Sweet 16 features plenty of magnificent matchups. With no further ado, here are my predictions:

EAST

Pittsburgh vs. Xavier: Sean Miller's Musketeer's will put up a good fight, but they won't have a sufficient answer to Pittsburgh's DeJuan Blair and Sam Young. PITT wins fairly easily.

Duke vs. Villanova: Best game of the Sweet 16 will be decided in the final minutes. In the end, Scottie Reynolds and Dante Cunningham will lead VILLANOVA over Kyle Singler, Gerald Henderson and the Blue Devils.

WEST

UConn vs. Purdue: Robbie Hummel and the Boilermakers will be a feisty challenger, but Hasheem Thabeet and the Huskies will pull away in the second half and cruise to victory. UCONN will prevail, and they will not be distracted by the recent controversy over the alleged recruiting violation.

Memphis vs. Missouri: Spectacular game between two remarkably athletic teams. It's a total toss-up between Mike Anderson's Tigers and John Calipari's Tigers, but I'll take MEMPHIS in what should be a wildly entertaining affair.

MIDWEST

Louisville vs. Arizona: Coach Russ Pennell and star Chase Budinger should be commended for making an unexpected run into the Sweet 16, but LOUISVILLE will hardly break a sweat in this one.

Michigan State vs. Kansas: This will be a tremendously compelling game, with Sharron Collins leading KANSAS to a mild upset over Tom Izzo's Spartans.

SOUTH

North Carolina vs. Gonzaga: The Zags are a respectable opponent, but if Ty Lawson's toe holds up, UNC should have little trouble advancing to the Elite Eight.

Oklahoma vs. Syracuse: Another thriller that will go down to the wire. SYRACUSE will find a way to slow down Blake Griffin, and the Orangemen will advance.

Random Observations: March Madness Edition

In the words of the great San Francisco Chronicle sports columnist Scott Ostler, here are my deep thoughts, cheap shots, and bon mots:

---The Sweet 16 is set, and it is chalk-heavy. As much as I would have loved to see a Cinderella make it past the opening weekend, the volume of high seeds in the Sweet 16 should translate into excellent basketball.

---Syracuse-Oklahoma, North Carolina-Gonzaga, Villanova-Duke, and Missouri-Memphis will be wildly entertaining games to watch that will come down to the final minutes. The only teams that I expect to cruise into the Elite Eight are Pittsburgh and Louisville, who should make quick work of Xavier and Arizona. Look for the rest of my picks later this week.

---Has there ever been a more frustratingly inconsistent college basketball team than Wake Forest? Even after a roller coaster season, many thought the Demon Deacons would make the Final Four. Instead, they got crushed by a very good Cleveland State team. One day after their shocking defeat, head coach Dino Gaudio announced that his team has changed their nickname from the Demon Deacons to the Jekyll and Hydes.

---I hope all NBA scouts in attendance at the Rose Garden on Saturday night took notice of Western Kentucky's Orlando Mendez-Valdez. Mendez-Valdez drained deep three after deep three in an eventual loss to Gonzaga, displaying the kind of range that rivals the likes of sharp shooters Peja Stojakavic and Hedo Turkoglu.

---Speaking of NBA talent, I know everyone is crazy about Oklahoma's Blake Griffin, and rightfully so. He is a magnificent player who will likely be the number one pick in the NBA Draft. However, lost amid the Griffin hype has been the brilliance of Pittsburgh's DeJuan Blair. Blair is every bit as good as Griffin, and his heroics rescued the Panthers from near-defeats against East Tennessee State and Oklahoma State.

---I love Jim Nantz, but the best play-by-play work over the weekend came from Kevin Harlan. The enthusiasm that he brings to each and every broadcast is tremendously infectious.

---Is there a better coaching story than that of Arizona's Russ Pennell? Pennell spent several years at rival school Arizona State, both as an assistant coach and color analyst. This past year he was tapped as the interim head coach at Arizona following the departure of the great Lute Olson. Pennell has already been told by the school that he will not be named the permanent head coach at the end of the year, but he has led the 12-seeded Wildcats into the Sweet 16. Will he get the job after all?

---I'll leave you with one final thought on the NCAA Tournament. The tourney is much more easy on the ears without the pompous voice of Billy Packer.

My NCAA Tournament Bracket

Selection Sunday is one of the greatest days of the year on the sports calendar. Today, the NCAA selection committee did an admirable job overall, with just a few exceptions (Arizona over Saint Mary's?). Big East champion Louisville is the deserving number one overall seed, and UConn, North Carolina, and Pittsburgh round out the number one seeds. So, with no further ado, here are all of my picks, all the way to the national championship:

ROUND OF THIRTY-TWO

Louisville
Siena
Utah
Wake Forest
West Virginia
Kansas
USC
Michigan State
UConn
BYU
Purdue
Washington
Marquette
Missouri
California
Memphis
Pittsburgh
Oklahoma State
Florida State
Xavier
VCU
Villanova
Texas
Duke
North Carolina
Butler
Western Kentucky
Gonzaga
Arizona State
Syracuse
Clemson
Oklahoma

SWEET SIXTEEN

Louisville
Wake Forest
Kansas
USC
UConn
Washington
Missouri
Memphis
Pittsburgh
Florida State
VCU
Duke
North Carolina
Gonzaga
Syracuse
Clemson

ELITE EIGHT

Louisville
USC
Washington
Memphis
Pittsburgh
VCU
North Carolina
Syracuse

FINAL FOUR

Louisville
Memphis
Pittsburgh
Syracuse

NATIONAL CHAMPION

Pittsburgh

Six overtimes later, a classic is born.

On paper, it had all the trappings of a standard conference tournament game. Yes, Syracuse and Connecticut are great teams from the nation's best conference, and yes, respective members of Orangemen and Huskie faithful filed into Madison Square Garden expecting the two teams to put on a compelling show. However, no one expected to witness history. After all, UConn and Syracuse had already secured their place in the NCAA tournament, so there was no need for either team to play with an increased sense of urgency. Or so we thought. Nearly four hours after the opening tip, after six grueling overtime periods, an instant classic was born, a wild, back-and-forth affair that will be forever entrenched in the minds of sports fans everywhere. Syracuse and UConn didn't merely play a basketball game on Thursday night in New York City, they played one of the most flabbergasting, awe-inspiring, mesmerizing games I have ever seen.



For those readers who did not see the game, it may seem like I am an emotionally drunk prisoner of the moment. But allow me to list the reasons why the game was so spectacular.



Reason Number One: Jonny Flynn. By the sixth overtime, most players looked like they were about to collapse from exhaustion. Not Jonny Flynn. The star sophomore guard played a whopping sixty-seven minutes, but he never stopped energetically slashing down the lane. Flynn put up 34 points and 11 assists, and his remarkable toughness was the difference in the game.



Reason Number Two: The electric atmosphere. The majority of the 19,000 fans in attendance at Madison Square Garden probably had to get up early and go to work on Friday, but I think their bosses would understand if they took a sick day. The beautiful thing about last night's crowd is that at 1:15 in the morning there were still no empty seats in sight. Everybody remained standing for each of the six overtimes, well aware that they were witnessing something truly special.

Reason Number Three: The Effort. As I mentioned before, with each passing minute, the athletes on the floor looked like they had just gotten out of Navy Seals training. They were winded and just ready to go home. Even Jim Calhoun and Jim Boeheim were ready to call it quits. However, not one player let this overwhelming exhaustion prevent him from exerting 100 percent effort. Until the final buzzer sounded, players continued to dive on the floor for loose balls, box out for rebounds, and hustle back on the defense.

Eventually, a winner emerged, as Syracuse won 127-117.

Bottom line: The game was awesome to watch. If the NCAA tournament games are half as entertaining as this one, then we are in store for one hell of a tournament.

(Less than seventeen hours after their incredible victory, Syracuse played yet another overtime game against West Virginia. They won again. Syracuse plays tomorrow night against Louisville for the Big East tournament championship. The Orangemen plan on waking up approximately fifteen minutes before tip-off.)

Random Observations on the Wonderful World of Sports

In the words of the great San Francisco Chronicle sports columnist Scott Ostler, here are my deep thoughts, cheap shots, and bon mots:

---With all due respect to Glen Davis, are you sure the nickname Big Baby doesn't belong to Shaq?

---Don't get me wrong: I absolutely love the Big Diesel. I love his game, his hilarious antics, and his larger-than-life personality. However, to call his response to Stan Van Gundy's comments an overreaction would be a monstrous understatement. Van Gundy's comments were indeed accurate----O'Neal did flop----but they were also harmless. Yet the Diesel responded as if his former coach issued a death threat. Take a deep breath and relax Shaq, you have bigger things to worry about, like trying to get the struggling Suns into the playoffs.

---Eleven straight W's for the Utah Jazz. My Utah wins the West prediction is looking better by the day.

---King James is the best player in the NBA, but he is disappointingly mediocre at the free throw line, as evidenced by his lousy performance at the stripe during the Cavs recent loss at Boston. James' game is otherwise spectacular, but he needs to improve at the line, or teams are just going to start hacking him as he drives into the lane.

---Here come the Rockets. They are once again without Tracy McGrady, but a Ron Artest-Yao Ming duo might be able to carry the Rockets past the first round. For a franchise that has been doomed in the first round in recent years, that's saying something.

---March Madness is around the corner, and championship week is underway in college basketball. You gotta love championship week. For mid-majors like Chattanooga, Niagara, and Siena, this is their moment in the spotlight.

---It's also a big week for two power-conference schools, Florida and Providence. Billy Donovan's Gators need a win in the SEC tourney if they are to secure a place in the Big Dance. Same goes for Providence. Keno Davis' Friars may have beaten Pittsburgh, but they need to play well this week at Madison Square Garden to get an NCAA invite.

---While the sports world continues to vigorously debate the NBA potential of Tyler Hansbrough, why don't we take a step back and recognize his remarkable accomplishments at the college level. Whether or not the North Carolina star thrives in the NBA is yet to be seen, but Hansbrough has already solidified his place as one of the greatest collegiate athletes of all-time.

---Attention to all who continue to drink the Dodger Kool-Aid. The San Francisco Giants have the best pitching staff in baseball, and we lead all teams this Spring Training in home runs. Just something to think about. Go Giants!

---Judging by Team USA's dominant dismantling of Team Venezuela on Sunday night, Davey Johnson's club looks poised to win the World Baseball Classic. With a game that has become increasingly international, an American victory in the WBC would be especially impressive.

---A-Rod is having hip surgery, and he will be out 6-9 weeks. When asked what caused the hip injury, A-Rod responded, "Well, I knew we weren't having tic-tacs."

---Terrell Owens is a Buffalo Bill. The Bills have magnificent fans, but something tells me that playing for the Bills was not atop T.O's priority list.

---Nonetheless, this is a risk-free move that will likely benefit the Bills. Say what you want about T.O's nauseating selfishness, but the guy can still play, and he makes the Bills relevant in the AFC East.

---I'll leave with a question. What is the over/under on the number of times Dicky V shouts "Yeah, baby!" during March Madness. I'll set the over/under at 397.

Random Observations on the Wonderful World of Sports

In the words of the great San Francisco Chronicle sports columnist Scott Ostler, here are my deep thoughts, cheap shots, and bon mots:

---Manny is staying with the Dodgers. Yes, as a diehard Giants fan I would have loved to have him, but I hope that we will make Manny regret his decision to re-up with the hated blue.

---I will be attending all three Giants-Dodgers games at AT&T Park in August, and I will be loudly booing Mr. Ramirez. Go Giants!

---If the Giants can get decent offensive production to aid the spectacular pitching, then I still like our chances in the NL West.

---Meanwhile, Kurt Warner is staying in Arizona, contrary to some rumors that had Warner interested in joining my Niners. C'mon Kurt, was the intensity of Mike Singletary too intimidating?

---It has been a rough year for my Warriors, but the youth movement brings confidence for next season. I'm especially hopeful about the potential of Anthony Randolph. He is still a raw rookie prone to occasionally mind-numbing mistakes, but he is a tremendous athlete who plays with an unyielding tenacity reminiscent of Kevin Garnett and Dennis Rodman.

---If you haven't noticed already, I started this week's edition of Random Observations with my thoughts on my favorite teams. We now return to impartial musings.

---LeBron James and Dwayne Wade showed why they are the two best players in the NBA on Monday night, dueling back and forth in a game of anything you can do I can do better. However, lost amid the dazzle of the two superstars was Mo Williams' 30 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists. LeBron is the best player on the planet, but Williams is a big reason why the Cavs are serious championship contenders.

---Next challenge for Mike Brown's team: Friday night in Boston in a possible preview of this year's Eastern Conference Finals. I'll take the Celtics in a squeaker.

---While we're discussing the Eastern conference, let me give some thoughts on the Atlanta Hawks. This young team is dangerous, and the Celtics, Cavs, and Magic should not overlook them. With Josh Smith, Joe Johnson, Marvin Williams, Al Horford, Mike Bibby, and the underrated Zaza Pechulia, the Hawks will be a force to be reckoned with come playoff time.

---Can somebody answer this for me, because I'm having a tough time figuring this one out: Why isn't Tony Parker ever mentioned in the MVP discussion? Is it because too many men are jealous of his marriage to the jaw-droppingly sexy Eva Longoria?

---Then again, he's a Spur, and in the NBA, the San Antonio Spurs translate into "The Most Overlooked Team Ever".

---The Oklahoma City Thunder are the best 15-46 team in the history of the game, and I mean that as a compliment. Kevin Durant has proven why Portland made a mistake in drafting the injury-plagued Greg Oden, becoming one of the game's elite players. The Thunder also have a blossoming star in Jeff Green. They are much closer to being a winning team than most people realize.

---Oklahoma City may be a legitimate playoff contender as soon as next season if they land Blake Griffin, who is dominating the Big 12 in nearby Norman.

---It's getting close to the most wonderful time of year for a sports fan, March Madness. Selection Sunday is a little over two weeks away. If the season ended today, I believe the number one seeds would be UConn, Pittsburgh, North Carolina, and Memphis.

---Sorry Notre Dame, but with the seventeen-point loss to Villanova on Monday night, Luke Harangody and company officially killed their chances of receiving a tourney bid. That is unless they win the Big East tournament, but that's about as likely as O.J. Simpson winning the Nobel Prize.

---I'll finish by handing out my award for Sportscaster of the Month. The award goes to Doris Burke. Burke's masterful performance as an ESPN color commentator for NBA and college basketball games should pave the way for more female broadcasters to follow in her footsteps. Burke shatters the ignorant stereotype that women shouldn't be sports broadcasters. Keep us the good work, Doris.