We are just 3 days from the two best days in sports (aside from any Rocket games that is), the first two days of the tournament. 16 games in 12 hours...gotta love it. Here are my picks for sleepers, disappointments, and final four: West: Sleeper: Dayton Disappointment: Texas Final Four Participant: St. John's (barring any potential suspensions of Barkley, or internal fights between Red Storm players) Mid-West: Sleeper: St. Bonaventure Disappointment: Syracuse Final Four Participant: Maryland South: Sleeper: UCONN (I know, not much of a sleeper) Disappointment: Miami (FL) Final Four Participant: UCONN East: Sleeper: Pepperdine Disappointment: Oklahoma State Final Four Participant: Temple Temple will defeat St. John's in the Final
Here is the way I see it. The final four will look like this. OKLAHOMA Vs Mich St. DUKE vs Stanford DUKE BEATS MICHIGAN ST IN CHAMPIONSHIP [This message has been edited by Francis3 (edited March 13, 2000).]
RM95, just because there might be finances involved here, a word of warning with Maryland-- Gary Williams has never taken a team to the Final Four in 25 years of college coaching. OK, to be fair, quite a few of those years were at Lafayette, but still... he's had some talent-packed Maryland teams that flamed out. I'm surprised to see Miami, FL on your list as a disappointment. The Canes have improved dramatically from the start of the season-- unlike a Syracuse or UConn, for example. They can beat Arkansas and Ohio State. I agree on Texas. I think UT will beat ISU in the first round, but I give them no chance at beating LSU in the 2nd. Anyway, my Final Four (tentatively! Brackets aren't due til Wednesday at midnight): St. John's, Iowa State, Duke, and Stanford. Real reaches there, huh... two two's and two one's.
Thanks Kagy. You know, now that I think about it, I always pick Maryland to go far...and they never do. I really should rethink my Miami as a disappointment as well. The only reason I picked them is because I believe that Arkansas will pull off the upset. The Hogs are running their "40 minutes of hell" again, and the younguns are finally playing to their potential. Duke will probably make it, but I can't bring myself to root for them, even if it is for money. That's why I will never bet "for real" outside of office pools.
Since I can't go with my heart and say Texas will ride Chris Mihm to the National Championship, I will go with my older brother's alma mater this year.... Michigan State over Temple in the title game! ------------------ Bring It!!
I'm frustrated with Texas. Even though I'm a Longhorn, I picked against them in the second round. I think they will collapse to LSU. That was before LSU's struggle versus SE Missouri but it's too late for me to change. I'd rather see a Texas vs. Arizona matchup in the Sweet 16 than a LSU vs. Arizona. I was at the UA/UT game on Dec 4th and I think UT can beat Arizona. ------------------
