Final Four Observations and Predictions

America's most thrilling sporting event is heading into its stretch run. Duke, West Virginia, Butler, and Michigan State are all vying for a chance to cut down the nets in Indy. Here are my musings and prognostications:

---The Final Four is set, and Indianapolis will be rocking on Saturday night, thanks to Butler's stunning wins over Syracuse and Kansas State.

---The run to the Final Four by the hometown Butler Bulldogs serves as a reminder of the beauty of the NCAA Tournament. While I definitely prefer the NBA to the college game (let the hate mail begin!), there is no denying the fact that March Madness is extraordinarily compelling television, a true gift for sports fans everywhere.

---Butler may be thought of as a Cinderella, but this team is capable of winning the championship. Led by a superb coach in Brad Stevens, whose boyish, High School Musical-looks are startling, and by sharpshooter Gordon Hayward, the Bulldogs are a major threat to upset Michigan State on Saturday night. Go Bulldogs!

---However, beating a Tom Izzo-coached team in the Final Four is a monumental task. Izzo is, for my money, the best coach in college basketball. Even better than Coach K. Even better than Roy Williams. Izzo has had astonishing success in the NCAA Tourney over the years, and that is a testament to his unparalleled leadership and intelligence. There is no one better.

---This 2010 Michigan State Spartan team may be the team to beat. Yes, they will again be without their star Kalin Lucas, but guys like Durrell Summers, Raymar Morgan, and Korie Lucious have done a nice job of picking up the slack in Lucas' absence. My heart is with Butler, but something tells me Sparty will be back in the title game.

---And then there is Duke and West Virginia. I have been accused of being a Duke hater over the years, and I plead guilty to that charge. However, there is no denying the fact that Coach K's Blue Devils are an outstanding team. Led by Kyle Singler, Jon Scheyer, Nolan Smith, and Brian Zoubek, this Duke team is the best Duke team in a long time, and that's saying something.

---But call me biased, close-minded, whatever: I like West Virginia to win this game. Some would say the Mountaineers got lucky with the 3-ball against Kentucky, and that's just how Coach Bob Huggins likes it. Huggins' team has been flying under the radar all year long, and with Duke favored to win, West Virginia will feed off the fuel of their skeptics on Saturday night. If point guard Darryl Bryant is healthy, look for the Mountaineers to advance to the title game.

---If Michigan State and West Virginia do end up duking it out for the national championship, I would give the slight edge to Tom Izzo's team. Though they may not look like the best team on paper, the Spartans under Izzo always seem to get it done.

---My predictions: Michigan State over Butler; West Virginia over Duke; MSU over WVA

---My hopes: Butler, Butler, Butler, and anybody but Duke.

An Instant Classic in Salt Lake City

The basketball fans in Salt Lake City are used to a display of excellence on the hardwood. Home of the Utah Jazz, Salt Lake has been home to some incredible professional hoops action over the years. However, this Utah metropolis has never really been associated with basketball at the collegiate level. After Thursday night's insanely exciting double-overtime affair between Xavier and Kansas State, that has changed.

The Xavier-Kansas State showdown had a lot to live up to after Syracuse and Butler put on a thrilling show earlier in the evening at EnergySolutions Arena. That game, won by Cinderella Butler, was a reminder of why madness is associated with the NCAA Tournament. It was absolutely stunning to watch the amazing comeback by Butler, and the astonishing collapse of the Orange. That game would be a tough act to follow. Little did we know that it was only the warmup act. Xavier and Kansas State proceeded to deliver a wildly entertaining, double-overtime affair, won by Frank Martin's gritty K-State team.

The Wildcats' 101-96 victory made for a magical viewing experience for sports fans across the globe. It had all the makings of an instant classic: euphoric triumph for one team, devastating heartbreak for the other. It was a seemingly impossible test of endurance that featured undeniable greatness from a player on the losing team (Jordan Crawford). And the fact that the game featured the orgasmic awesomeness of the great Gus Johnson, calling the game for CBS alongside the terrific Len Elmore, made it all the more sweet.

I prefer the pro game to the college game, but Thursday night's classic served as a reminder of why March Madness is the most exciting event in all of sports. It was yet another chapter in a tournament that has already been filled with unforgettable stories and images. What a night.

My March Madness Bracket

Yesterday was Selection Sunday, one of the greatest sports days of the year. The 2010 NCAA Tournament kicks off on Thursday, and with no further ado, here is my bracket. Let the madness begin!

ROUND OF 32

Kansas
UNLV
Michigan State
Maryland
San Diego State
Georgetown
Georgia Tech
Ohio State
Syracuse
Gonzaga
Butler
Vanderbilt
Xavier
Pittsburgh
BYU
Kansas State
Kentucky
Texas
Cornell
Wisconsin
Marquette
New Mexico
Clemson
West Virginia
Duke
Cal
Utah State
Siena
Notre Dame
Baylor
St. Mary's
Villanova

SWEET 16

Kansas
Michigan State
Georgetown
Ohio State
Syracuse
Butler
Pittsburgh
Kansas State
Kentucky
Wisconsin
New Mexico
West Virginia
Duke
Siena
Baylor
Villanova

ELITE EIGHT

Kansas
Georgetown
Syracuse
Pittsburgh
Kentucky
West Virginia
Duke
Baylor

FINAL FOUR

Kansas
Syracuse
West Virginia
Baylor

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Kansas over West Virginia

Williams, Durant, Zito, and 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 Chris Paul, Steve Nash, Chauncey Billups, Jason Kidd, and Rajon Rondo, Deron Williams is the best point guard in basketball. D-Will has exhibited consistent brilliance this season for the surging Jazz, a big reason why Utah will be a tough out come playoff time.



---Speaking of the Jazz, aren't they glad they didn't trade Carlos Boozer? Without Boozer, Utah would have no legitimate big man to challenge the likes of Bynum and Nene out West come playoff time. By keeping Boozer, and pairing him with the superb Paul Millsap, Jerry Sloan's team is a smart dark horse pick to win the West.



---Last night on "Inside the NBA", E.J., Kenny, Sir Charles, and Chris Webber had a fascinating discussion about the frustrating inconsistency of the Los Angeles Lakers. Talent wise, the Lakers tower over the rest of the league. With Kobe, Gasol, Bynum, Odom, Fisher, Artest, Farmar, and Brown, the Lakers have eight players who are capable of going off for a double-double on any given night. On paper, L.A. should be even more dominant than they actually are. But they occasionally play with a careless sense of entitlement, and their laziness could very well prevent them from repeating as champs. This complacency was painfully evident in last night's loss to Dwayne Wade and the Heat.



---The NBA MVP award belongs to LeBron James. That is an undeniable fact. After King James, though, there are a handful of candidates that many consider to be runner-up in the MVP race. For me, it's not much of a debate as to who should come in number two. With all due respect to Carmelo Anthony and Kobe Bryant, the runner-up is clearly Kevin Durant. K.D. may very well be the most prolific scorer in the NBA, and he is the biggest reason why the Oklahoma City Thunder should be taken seriously come playoff time.



---Great article from Chris Ballard in this week's Sports Illustrated on the battles between Reggie Miller and the Indiana Pacers and Patrick Ewing and the New York Knicks in the 1990's. Ballard's article shows why the NBA is the best league.



---The baseball season is fast approaching, and I am giddy with excitement. I can't wait for my beloved Orange and Black to commence their regular season. But the San Francisco Giants don't have to wait until Opening Day to make some headlines. In Yesterday's Spring Training opener against the Brewers, Barry Zito drilled Prince Fielder in retaliation for Fielder's foolish home-run celebration against the Giants last year. One could argue the merit of retaliation in the game of baseball, but Zito did what he needed to do. He sent a message and protected his players. Job well done.



---You can look for my comprehensive preview of all 30 MLB teams in my season preview, coming to a computer near you in a couple of weeks.



---March Madness is right around the corner, and the parity in college hoops this year is bound to make for one of the most exciting tourneys in recent memory. It's any one's guess as to who will be cutting down the nets in Indianapolis, but as of today, my money is on Syracuse.

---With stars like Wes Johnson and Andy Rautins, Jim Boeheim's team is a good bet to make the Final Four.

---Today was the first day in NFL free agency, and several key players (Julius Peppers, Brandon Marshall) changed sceneries. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Wake me up in September. Look, I love football just as much as the next guy, and I will pay attention to the NFL Draft in April. But right now, basketball and baseball deserve the spotlight. Until September, football should remain on the down-low.

--And finally, I have succumbed to the temptations of 21st Century technology. I now have a twitter page, and you can follow me at twitter.com/tjb1121.