We’re gonna take a break from football as the tournament gets underway and get some March Madness thoughts out there and we’re gonna get right to it:

East

In what looks to be the toughest region of the tournament, I’m going chalk and taking the Tar Heels to come out. I thought Notre Dame would be dangerous as a #3 but as a #5 and with a UNC-ND sweet 16 showdown looming, it’ll be a bit too much for the Irish. But it’ll be a great matchup to watch Harangody and Hansborough go at down low.

The St. Joe’s Hawks can probably get past Oklahoma in the first round, but with this team who knows. They haven’t been able to close teams out all year, and until the A-10 tournament had struggled down the stretch - although they did beat Xavier twice in the last eight days.

LOVING Louisville as a sleeper in the East. The Cardinal were hotter than Rick Pitino’s white suit in February before losing to Georgetown in the last game of the season, and Pitt in OT in the Big East tournament. Louisville is completely healthy and don’t be surprised if they end up in the Final Four.

Tennessee will face off with Louisville in what should be a great game, but if Chris Lofton has an off game, it becomes really hard for TU to overcome that. Work in Pitino’s tough press and defense and I like the Cardinal to win another tough sweet 16 showdown in the East.

Midwest

Kansas should get through the first two rounds pretty easily, but could face a test against either Clemson or Vandy in the sweet 16. I like the Jayhawks to get to the Elite 8 before losing to Georgetown.

Villanova, if they shoot like they’ve shown they can, they’ll advance. But I’m gonna say they’re too young and too inconsistent to get it done this year.

Vandy is another team thats inconsistent, and so while I’m not jumping on the Siena upset bandwagon, I’m liking Clemson to knock off Vandy in the second round and also saying don’t sleep on Clemson to give Kansas a run for its money.

Here’s your upset special…and I tell you this after telling you first that yes, I picked Bucknell over Kansas a few years back. Cal -St Fullerton over Wisconsin. CSF loves to run, and the Badgers love to matchup in the half court. Completely contrasting styles and if Cal-St is able to get out and run, watch out.

OJ Mayo and his supporting cast top Michael Beasley and his lack of a supporting cast.

Georgetown survived some close calls this year, so why stop now. The Hoyas and their dominant defense come out of the Midwest and get to the Final Four. If their 3-point shooters are on, forget about it.

South

I don’t like that Memphis misses all those free throws, but I also don’t see who’s gonna beat them and I’ll go with Coach Cal to make it to the Final Four.

Look out for a hot Temple team to make a run to the Sweet 16. They’re playing great ball and if they can get past Michigan St, Pittsburgh is gonna be completely out of gas after their run in the Big East tournament. I saw a team with a shortened bench struggle down the stretch and then get hot and win the Big East tourney over four straight days (Syracuse ‘06). It was a remarkable run but they had nothin left for the NCAA tourney and lost in the first round. Pitt gets past Oral Roberts but doesn’t make it out of the first weekend.

Sleeper: If Marquette gets hot they could be dangerous, but with a second round matchup looming against Stanford and the Lopez brothers, its a matchup nightmare for the Golden Eagles. Marquette was 1-5 against Big East big men Thabeet, Harangody, Padgett, and Hibbert this season. Expect the same against Stanford.

I like the Cardinal to make it to the Elite 8 before falling to Memphis. I love Augustine for Texas (shades of Jameer Nelson) but Rick Barnes couldn’t get it done with Durant so what makes you think he’ll get it done without him. Stanford tops the Longhorns in the Sweet 16.

West

If you’re looking for a sleeper in the West look no further than Connecticut. Thabeet v Love in the Sweet 16 could be something else, and the Huskies can match up talent wise with anyone. The problem with UCONN is their youth and they can lose their composure too easily. They’ll give the Bruins a game though.

The bottom half of the West I hate. Xavier looked horrible in three games against St. Joe’s and Temple. Georgia is out of gas. Bob Huggins (West Virginia) has been to one sweet 16 in the last nine years, he always gets knocked out early. Arizona was lucky to get in. Which brings me to Duke. I hate Duke but I’ve gotta give them the best chance to meet UCLA in the Elite 8 in Phoenix. But the Bruins come out on top and march on to San Antonio.

Final Four

Three #1’s not exactly original. I like Carolina’s athleticism to top Georgetown. I think they’ll be able to get up and down the floor and force the Hoyas out of their strong half court game on both ends. And the one I keep going back and forth with - Memphis and UCLA. I’m gonna go with Memphis. Knock ‘em if you want for being in Conference USA but they played a ridiculous non-conference schedule. But I’m feeling Carolina to knock them off in the title game as Roy Williams gets to let out another good cry after winning his second championship in four seasons.