As the weather starts to turn so too does the sports calendar. Gone are NFL Sundays and Playoff spots to be debated. Sure, spring training begins (if you haven’t noticed on the site) and the NHL and NBA regular seasons are in full swing, but there is one event we have built towards for months. The NCAA Basketball Tournament combines all the features of the sports landscape into one wild month of action. The excitement, and the debate, hit a boiling point Sunday night as “Selection Sunday” saw the 68-team field get filled out, putting leading “bracketologist” Joe Lunardi’s three month a year job to an end. Now I can’t lie, I haven’t exactly been watching all year long, but in the last few weeks I have worked to compile some knowledge on the teams in the field and done the proper amount (at least I hope) of research on the ones I don’t get to see. Though if we’re being honest, it doesn’t matter how much of this sport we actually watch, it doesn’t translate to any real success when it comes to filling out a bracket. So, without further ado, here is my bracket.

With the big reveal made I want to break down the tournament in different fashion than many other outlets. I’m not going game by game, though I can’t blame you for thinking I might go that route given my 30 clubs in 30 days series, but instead we will go through a few storylines or narratives and discuss with a team or two to watch. Let’s dig in!

Who’s Hot?

The Wolfpack of NC State come into the tournament red hot, having won five straight to win their way into the tournament with the ACC Title coming to Raleigh. They knocked off several conference rivals, including top seeded North Carolina, along the way and pulled off a dramatic win at the buzzer against Virginia. Their player to watch is 6-foot-9, 275-pound center DJ Burns Jr, who is surprisingly graceful for his size. They have a tough draw as an 11-seed against “Pop” Isaac’s and the Texas Tech Red Raiders, a game I think they’ll win before likely running into a potential buzz saw in Kentucky. Maybe they have some 83′ magic in them, hit it V!

Upset Special

If there is an upset special I like, its the Cowboys of McNeese State who draw Conzaga in round one. 12 versus five games are always a breeding ground for upsets and this one is no different. The Cowboys are coached by former LSU head coach Will Wade, who left the Tigers in disgrace. After a tough first season last year, they bounced back with a 30-3 record and come into this matchup as a trendy team to watch. Their veteran coach could make a real difference here as they look to pull an upset or two.

Potential Cinderella

Rick Pitino may have had no luck with the selection committee, but his son fared much better as Richard Pitino and the New Mexico Lobos are going dancing. They went 26-9 in the Mountain West and feature a trio of basketball legacies under their “nepo baby” head coach. Jamal Mashburn Jr (son of NBA star Jamal Sr.), Jaelen House (son of NBA regular Eddie House), JT Toppin (brother of current NBA player Obi Toppin) lead the Lobos into a favorable eleven versus six matchup with Clemson. While the Tigers are pesky, I think New Mexico gets it done and is primed to knock off Baylor in the next round. I think they’re dangerous in this field.

Who to Bet Against

If New Mexico is a team to bet on, I think the Tennessee Volunteers are a team to bet against. While I could have gone with Michigan State in this slot as I don’t think Tom Izzo will enjoy his usual March success this time around, I just don’t like the Vol’s and head coach Rick Barnes. As far back as his time at Texas, Barnes has underwhelmed in the tournament, and I don’t think this season is any different. They’re in a tough part of the bracket with Kansas, Creighton, and physical SEC rivals South Carolina all in their neighborhood. I have them crashing out in the Sweet 16 to the Gamecocks…at least two wins is better than one, right Rick?

Player to Watch

If there is a player to watch this tournament it is Kansas center Hunter Dickinson. Number one for the Jayhawks suffered an injury near the end of the regular season and has been unable to return to his normal workload. He’s had a huge year in Lawrence averaging 18 points and eleven rebounds per game. Bill Self’s squad goes as he goes, and if Dickinson returns for the tournament at full health as his coach is claiming he will then lookout! With Hunter likely returning I have the Jayhawks in the Final Four.

Most Electrifying Team

The team that has made me stop and watch games the most this year is the Kentucky Wildcats. Coach Cal’s group has been erratic at times, but when it clicks, the squad from Lexington is very difficult to stop. They are led by a trio of talented guards in Antonio Reeves, Reed Sheppard, and Rob Dillingham and Cal has brought the rest of the depth along with some fine work on the sideline. They should coast through their opening round tilt with Oakland, setting up what I think will be a run to the title game, a run that will take them through a vicious schedule. If the three ball falls, good luck beating them.

My National Champion

My pick to win it all this year is the North Carolina Tar Heels. Hubert Davis’s group came into this season with the goal of avenging an extremely disappointing campaign last year. Despite losing the ACC Tournament to rival NC State, they had a brilliant year going 27-7 and winning the conferences regular season crown with a pair of wins over arch nemesis Duke. They are led by the tandem of guard RJ Davis and veteran 6-foot-11 big man Armando Bacot, who starred for the Heels in their run to the Title game two years ago. It feels like they got a favorable draw in their region, as they should avoid stiff competition until the Sweet 16 and perhaps even the Elite Eight. Keep an eye on Saint Mary’s though, as the Gaels could be a real obstacle to another title coming back to Chapel Hill.

Wrap Up

That does it for this whip around the tournament. We’ll keep up with this series throughout the Madness as we are hopefully in for another memorable stretch of basketball, in what may be the last tournament of its kind. Rumored expansion of the field is looming with more “auto-bids” for the blue bloods, so let’s enjoy this one while we can. Whatever your rituals are, make sure you go enjoy them with friends, and if your team is in the field, good luck! Someone is going to get to have their One Shining Moment in just a few weeks.

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