This short blog isn’t really for you, although I want to be on record at least.  This is for me too.  This is me in the final stages of Bracket staring talking myself through my final picks.

Note:  I always pick ONE bracket, with another one being identical and UVA biased.  It is a little different this year, as UVA is the overall #1 seed.  So, I will keep this simple.  My NON UVA bracket is below (unbiased).  It is the bracket where I am sticking with my preseason picks.  In the UVA biased one, I just have the identical bracket with UVA winning of course (I just have UVA beating Zona and winning it all with everything else exactly the same).  With the Hunter injury, I think this one MIGHT be more accurate anyway.

Just general and QUICK notes (I am heading to Dave Chappelle tonight in Denver, so need to be quick):

-In the South, I like mostly chalk except for my Zona-UVA problem.  I think Wright State beats Tennessee in the first round.  I think Hunter’s (UVA’s NBA prospect) absence is a big problem facing Arizona’s (or Kentucky’s) athleticism, and the Evil Empire Arizona advances.  Cincy advances until then only because I think the bottom part of the bracket is weak.  I like Miami to take advantage of Tennessee’s absence to win a few games.  And if you don’t know who Ayton is at this point…you will.  $100k or not.

-In the West, I am not buying into this sudden Michigan love.  Gonzaga is big and deep.  We will have a two day DAUM joke time as South Dakota State beats Ohio State, and then loses to Gonzaga, and give me a brief Michael Porter show as Missouri beats Xavier in the second round.  Zags fans will be out for the Sweet Sixteen game as it is in Cali.  North Carolina doesn’t have the size it usually has and is too inconsistent.

-In the East, WVU vs. Wichita State is an EPIC second round matchup.  Villanova plays all games within 5 hours from home.  St. Bonnies beat Florida as UF can’t survive if they shoot bad, which I believe they will.  Nova will advance.  Tough region.  If Wichita State played in any other region, I might have them advancing.  If Purdue or WVU were in any other region, I might have them advancing.  But, they are not.   I really, really want to go Purdue as I love their half of the region, but in the end I went with Nova because of WHERE the Elite Eight game is (Boston).  Nova fans will be there in force, and they are a solid, solid team.

-In the Midwest, KU is not deep enough to win the region.  I would have Duke advance, but I have said Michigan State from the beginning, and am sticking with that pick.  New Mexico State is my sleeper and I have them in the Sweet Sixteen.  They play in their part of the country, and are a defensively SOLID team.  And I don’t trust Auburn and Clemson to save my life.  Michigan State also plays in Detroit its two first games, and the Nebraska Sweet Sixteen game doesn’t provide Duke any advantage.  And I don’t think Duke can win this thing without a pure PG of note.

My bracket:

And how fun is my end game?  Scandal school vs. scandal school.  Everyone likes nice stories.  March Madness doesn’t care.  The less hated Evil Empire wins this year.

But, in the end, I am a UVA grad and don’t care about winning these bracket things this year if they win it all.  Wahoowa.  Go biased bracket 1A!  Good luck.  Peace.