Listen, some kids get drunk and go to Cabo over spring break. For me? Hell no, it’s champ week. So not a ton of detail here, I feel good about this first top-four seed bracketology. I love Duke’s resume a lot more than I thought I would. I didn’t like Gonzaga’s resume as much as I did in December. I really dislike Wisconsin’s resume, especially after a loss to Nebraska, it’s pretty rough in a weak Big-10. Kansas is strong, probably the one team I regret not giving a one seed to but Baylor has the better resume and meets my eye test. Gonzaga could do a lot for going 1 overall if they win the WCC, but this year, that is not a given.
Bracketology and Notes
Teams
1
Gonzaga: W-Texas, UCLA, TTU, SF, Saint Mary’s, BYU L-SM(r) Duke, Alabama
Arizona: W Michigan, Illinois, Wyoming, UCLA, USC2 L- Tenn, CO
Baylor: W- MSU, Villanova, ISU, Texas, Kansas, L- KU, TTU2
Auburn: W-LSU, Alabama, Kentucky L- Uconn, Arkansas, Tenn
Kentucky: W- LSU, Tenn, KU, Alabama L- Duke, Arkansas, Tenn, Duke
2
Kansas: W- MSU, ISU, TTU, Texas, Baylor L- Texas, Baylor, TTu
Duke: W-UK, Gonzaga, L-UNC, FSU, OSU, Mia
Villanova: W- Tennessee, Xavier2, Uconn, Providence2 L-Purdue, UCLA, Baylor, Uconn
Purdue: W- Villanova, UNC, Iowa, Illinois, Ohio State, Michigan L-Wisc2, MSU, Michigan,
Tennessee: W- UNC, Arizona, Kentucky, Arkansas, Auburn L-Arkansas, Texas, Alabama, Kentucky,LSU, Villanova
Providence: Wisco, TTU, Uconn, Seton Hall L-Nova2, Marquette
3
Arkansas: W-LSU, Auburn, Tennessee, UK L-Tenn, Bama, TAM, Vandy
Wisconsin: W- Houston, Purdue L-Nebraska, Rutgers, MSU, Illinois
UCLA
Texas Tech
Final
1
Arizona
Gonzaga
Baylor
Kentucky
2
Auburn
Duke
Tennessee
Villanova
3
Providence
Arkansas
Texas Tech
UCLA
4
Wisconsin
Houston
UConn
Texas
Other Notes
Avs keep rolling and that’s nice. A puzzling result against Arizona doesn’t feel like anything to be worried about. Winning the President’s Trophy? That is another matter. This is the dumb Eric stat of the week, teams that win the President’s Trophy, rarely win the Stanley Cup. They won it last year, a second-round exit. As I have said since October, the only thing that matter for the Avs, is May, that’s when this matters. Hey, the rides been fun though and I am certainly enjoying myself.
The Utah Jazz: A sleepwalking, faux contender wandering slowly toward the ocean of May. This team isn’t going anywhere, contenders don’t get smoked by the starless Pelicans by nearly 30. It doesn’t take OT to beat the Rockets for title hopefuls. Donovan Mitchell being the entirety of the offense is all fine and good in the regular season, but man, that is not going to work out for you in the playoffs when he’s facing double team help the defense every night.
In broader NHL news: Teams I am in love with, Rangers, Hurricanes, and a suddenly semi frisky New Jersey Devils teams. Let me just tell you, I love me some Jack Hughes, they won’t be in the playoffs but they’re a tough out in March and April and a group you don’t want to see on your schedule down the stretch. Igor Shersterkin, a name my Dad, a more casual hockey fan than me, doesn’t know. Well guess what Dad, you need to know this guys name, he’s the Rangers goaltender and the reason they’re a contender.
NBA: I am just fully in on Demar Derozan, he shoots three’s now and he’s the type of NBA player I fall for. That is a stone-cold, decisive, late game, K I L L E R. I like Killers man and Demar is that type of player this year. I truly cannot wait for the eastern conference playoffs.
Utah State: Anything can happen. Option A: The Aggies win two straight and keep it competitive against CSU in the semi-finals. Option B: The Aggies go on another magical March run, win it all and go dancing as a double-digit seed as a bid stealer. Option C: Lose in the first round to Air Force in embarrassing fashion. Literally not one of these results would surprise me. It is going to be a wild ride.