Bracket time, 2006 Edition
Bracket time, 2006 Edition
Alright, I’m taking a break from my never ending work on my upcoming 2006 MLB Preview post to bring you my picks for the 2006 NCAA Tournament. Now, I know what you’re thinking: How could I possibly improve on my stellar picks from last year, when I didn’t miss a game on Day 1 of the tourney and nearly nailed the whole damned bracket if not for
Also, please feel free to sign up for my group in the ESPN.com Tournament Challenge – just search for the group named “The Big House”. One caveat – don’t copy my picks exactly; that kinda takes the suspense out of competing… Also, it’s free. So I don’t want any excuses…
Onto the picks (Wow – I haven’t gotten to say that since the Super Bowl. Feels good.)
Round one (3/16-17):
Play-In Game: Does it really matter? You’re not picking either team to beat Villanova anyway. Flip a coin. For the record, I’m taking
Duke over Southern
GW over UNC-Wilmington
LSU over
S. Illinois over
OK, the Duke & Texas picks are no-brainers. GW might actually have a challenge on their hands with UNC-W, especially if Pops Mensah Bonsu is unable to play.
The two upsets, S. Illinois & N.C. State are products of the fact that A)
Gonzaga over Xavier
UCLA over
Yeah, I know. Only one true upset – SD State over
As for all of the other games, well it’s pretty basic. I’m taking the favorite in every game, except for the #9
The game that could easily bust my bracket is Gonzaga v. Xavier. Xavier is a traditional Atlantic 10 powerhouse (which is like being the smallest kid at fat camp), and as 21-10 this season, they had a very respectable record. They might give the Zags a scare in the first round…
D.C. REGION:
UCONN over
UAB over
UNC over
I don’t know… Great Danes vs. Huskies… The ol’ mascot litmus test doesn’t really apply here…
Honestly, even though I grew up supporting BC athletics (something I had to disavow the day I decided to attend BU), how in the hell are they a #4 seed and North Carolina, with 4 fewer wins (and a loss in the ACC Tourney to BC) gets a #3. Sure, BC got the easier bracket, but if they finish the season at #7 overall in the polls, how can the seeding committee then say that there are at least 12 teams better than them? Either I’m much worse at math than I’ve always believed, or BC got hosed.
And finally, the 12/5 upset pick – Overrated Pac-10 Basketball (Washington) falls to solid,
Villanova over Play-in winner – let’s just say
G-Town over
BC will either lose in the first round or go to the Sweet 16. I really can't figure them out.
This entire bracket hinges on Allen Ray and his ability to play for Villanova. If he’s unable to return by the second weekend, I think BC advances to at least the Elite Eight.
This is by far my most boring bracket of the four, with only one “upset” - #9
Round two (3/18-19):
Duke over GW
After three years, I’m finally off the
As for the rest of them, I think
Gonzaga over
UCLA over
The first #1 to fall,
As for the rest of the bracket, I like
D.C. REGION:
UCONN over UAB
In the only “upset”, an overrated UNC team falls hard to very, very underrated
The rest of the games should go as planned – c’mon, you didn’t think I’d pick
Villanova over
BC over
Aw, this is no fun. All four top seeds advancing to the Sweet 16 in this region? Hell, this can’t be right.
Round Three (Sweet 16 – 3/23-24):
Duke over
Setting up the rematch of the then #1 Duke blow-out win over then #1
Gonzaga over UCLA
Listen, as good as UCLA’s defense has been, they just don’t have a scoring threat like Adam Morrison (or a reliable enough way to stop him). As for
D.C. REGION:
UCONN over
Continuing the run, the Spartans will find themselves looking squarely at the best team in the best conference in the country when the Elite 8 rolls around.
Villanova over BC
Again, this all hinges on Allen Ray’s medical condition. Right now, ESPN’s top two “experts” are picking BC all the way to the Final Four. Honestly, that wouldn’t surprise me. They’ve got the low post presence and the jump-shooting threat. They can play defense and have hung tough with the best teams in the country all year long (when they haven’t been beating them outright). I just think that Villanova is a better team with Ray running the floor.
Round four (Elite 8 – 3/25-26):
Duke over
Gonzaga over
UCONN over
Villanova over
The Duke Texas rematch would be the game of the year, if not for the Final Four match-up of Duke & Gonzaga.
Let me put it bluntly – the NCAA wants this game to happen. They will do everything in their power to get the JJ Redick / Adam Morrison showdown that college basketball fans have been wishing for all year long. Short of bringing in Earl Hebner from the WWE to referee all of the games involving Duke and Gonzaga leading up to the Final Four, the NCAA is going to putt out every stop to send us to this match-up.
And you know what? I’m OK with that. Because I want to see it too.
On the other side, if Villanova falls to BC, expect to see the Eagles take out the Gators in this round. But one of those two teams, BC or ‘Nova, will be representing the
Round five (Final Four – 4/1):
Duke over Gonzaga
UCONN over Villanova (or BC, and yes, I’m openly covering my ass here)
In the battle for player of the year, Redick drops 50 while Morrison hangs 45, but the rest of the Blue Devils will step up and lead Duke to the victory, and the rematch of the 2004 title game…
2006 NCAA Championship Game (4/3):
Duke (84) over UCONN (79)
Yep. I am a Duke supporter. Always have been. I will now accept hate e-mails.
Just as long as you leave me alone while I get my yearly fix of “One Shining Moment”, this year with the crowning achievement being Coach K & JJ Redick cutting down the nets.
I’ll be back in about 2 weeks, as soon as the WBC is over. Also, in a slight programming note, I’m making a small modification to the format of my MLB Preview – since I obviously know more about the Red Sox than the other 29 teams combined,
Don’t forget to join the ESPN.com Tourney Challenge group…
Lata.
posted by Big D @ 6:04 PM
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