Chris Kemp

Brad: I’ve spent all week listening, watching and researching everything (including mascots) to do with college basketball, so last night, like many, I harnessed all my knowledge into an hour session of filling out “the perfect” bracket.

After I was done I leaned back in my chair and I had to smile, I was pleased the effort I put forth, and it reflected in my brackets.

If you’re like me, as the clock winds down to tip-off, the decision of picking games becomes more and more maddening. All the picks that looked so reassuring before, now look like a coin toss. So if your second guessing your picks up and down, don’t fret. Evan and I have compiled a wealth of college basketball knowledge and are here to offer up some last minute picks.

Chicago

Evan: For the first time in a long time, I didn’t pick any upsets in the first round in this region, even though I did give a little thought to UW-Milwaukee upsetting Alabama and UAB knocking off LSU. I did give a little thought to jumping back onto the Saluki bandwagon by picking Southern Illinois against Oklahoma State in the second round, but the Big 12 tournament champs will be too much.

Brad: Chicago, where my reputation is riding on a little team called Arizona. In my opinion this region is a toss-up. One thing I do know is this, either ‘Zona, Oklahoma State, or Illinois will advance to the final four. Which of the three, I don’t know. Unlike Evan, I went with some upsets in the early rounds. First, I’m taking Nevada over Texas. Nevada has been a solid team the last couple of years and Texas hasn’t shown me anything since they lost their star forward P.J. Tucker, plus they’ve lost three out of their last five games. The other upset worth noting is UW-Milwaukee over Alabama. Yes, Alabama has a really talented team, but unfortunately for them, they’re playing a team from Wisconsin.

Albuquerque

Evan: When I first saw this bracket, I was really surprised to see Washington as a No. 1 seed, while Louisville somehow received No. 4. It is madness, indeed, considering the Cardinals won 18 of their last 19 games and the Conference USA tournament. They even finished No. 4 in both the ESPN and Associated Press polls, several spots ahead of the Huskies. It seems as though every year Gonzaga does the opposite of what I hope they do. This year, I am laying my cards out on the table for them to make a run to the Final Four and upend Louisville in the regional final. It will be interesting to see what Pacific, the only team in the entire field besides Illinois with three or fewer losses, can do.

Brad: I was also a little bit surprised seeing Washington at the No. 1 seed, but to all those naysayers out there – they deserve it! Nate Robinson, at 5’7,” and his pack of Huskies will shoot their way into an Elite Eight birth, but will be taken down by Gonzaga, because John Stockton said so.

Syracuse

Evan: While this is not the most talented field in the region, it is loaded with teams that have been traditionally successful in the tournament. North Carolina is the clear-cut favorite, but defending champion Connecticut, Kansas and SEC conference champ Florida are all present. This is the region where I feel the No. 5 seed, Villanova will fall in the first round, with New Mexico being the dragon killers. While I would love to see the Gophers and Badgers reach the Sweet 16, I just don’t see it happening when they would have to play the Tar Heels and Jayhawks in the second round.

Brad: I can’t see any other team besides North Carolina coming out of this region. There’s just too much experience and knowledge on the Tar Heels’ team. Plus, their bench is so deep they have to sit some of their non-starters in the student section. Wisconsin will prevail of course. The Minnesota-Iowa State game is toss up, but both teams stand little or no chance against Roy Williams and his Tar Heels. UConn, Kansas and those beloved beloved Badgers all have an equal chance of making it to the Elite Eight.

Austin

Evan: The only notable upset I have in this region is No. 10 Iowa over No. 7 Cincinnati in the first round. However, they will suffer a similar fate as Big Ten counterparts Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan State, by falling in the next round. I have never been a fan of Duke, but it is difficult to pick against them because they are simply that talented. However, the stellar shooting of Syracuse’s Hakim Warrick and Gerry McNamara will prove to be the Achilles’ heel of the Blue Devils, propelling the Orangemen to a showdown with Kentucky in the regional final, which the Wildcats will win.

Brad: I agree with Evan. You can’t pick against Duke in this region. It’s just too weak. Yeah, Kentucky is tough, but I just don’t see them making a lot of noise in the tournament; they won’t make it past the third round. Everybody also is talking about Syracuse. I’m not. They’re too streaky. So Syracuse will lose to Michigan State. My big surprise in this region is Utah and Andrew Bogut. The guy is a damn machine. He’s like a 7-foot point guard out there with eyes in the back of his head. I think Bogut will single-handedly carry Utah to the Elite Eight. Then Duke will kick the snot out of them.

Knickerbocker is a senior print journalism major and Hordyk is a sophomore advertising major. Both are sports editors of The Spectator.