Bob Haynie: Let's Pick Some March Madness Winners... Or Maybe Not
Since I'm still riding high from my 2011 prediction that Joe Flacco would lead the Baltimore Ravens to the Super Bowl title within three years, I figured I would do everyone a solid and let you know what teams I think will make the Final Four in Atlanta.
Unfortunately, the Maryland Terrapins will not be part of the NCAA Tournament fun. They will try to do some damage in the NIT.
Mark my words, the Terps will be in the tournament next season. I guarantee that.
Anyway, back to the task at hand.
This has been an entertaining season of men's college hoops. We have seen teams ascend to the number one ranking just to be bounced in their very next game.
When the 2012-13 campaign started, the Indiana Hoosiers were the top-ranked team in the polls. As the regular season ends, the Gonzaga Bulldogs are, well, the top dogs.
In between, we saw many others hold that lofty ranking.
Now is the time were your play on the court--not the polls--decides who is best.
Louisville, Gonzaga, Kansas and Indiana are the No. 1 seeds. Only one of them will make it to Atlanta.
Louisville, the top overall seed, is in the Midwest region and they will make it to the second weekend. It is there were No. 5 Oklahoma State will take them out. The Cowboys themselves will lose in the regional final to Michigan State.
In the West, Gonzaga will be the hunted. And they will be shocked by Wichita State (their nickname is the Shockers) in the second round. The squad that I really like in this region is New Mexico. I'm taking the No. 3 Lobos to win out there.
Kansas is No. 1 in the South. But I have the Jayhawks losing in the Sweet 16 to Michigan. As a matter of fact, I believe the Wolverines will win this region.
Finally, in the East, Indiana will live up to their seed and advance to Atlanta.
So, we have Michigan State, New Mexico, Michigan and Indiana in the Final Four.
In the end, it will be the Hoosiers cutting down the nets. Indiana coach Tom Crean will feel the same joy that his brother-in-law John Harbaugh experienced when his Ravens won the Super Bowl in February.
Then again, who knows what in the hell will happen.
Fill out your bracket and have some fun. As usual, expect the unexpected during the NCAA Tournament.
