As a huge college basketball fan, the Wednesday night before the NCAA Tournament truly kicks off is literally like Christmas Eve. The blood is flowing, the adrenaline is rushing and hoops fans everywhere just can not wait to park their rears on the couch for the next 96 hours of exhilarating drama, suspense and pure entertainment.Part of what makes the NCAA Tournament so special is the camaraderie built through bracket pools and competitions Everyone has skin in the game, even if their team was not lucky enough to make the "Big Dance" and nobody truly knows what to expect during the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament. Anything can happen.
We won't be posting our entire brackets here in this space of cyber-land, you get enough of that from other well-capitalized hype machines. Instead, take the next 60 to 90 seconds to familiarize yourself with our upset picks and Final Four predictions.
Upset Picks:
No. 13 La Salle (22-9) over No. 4 Kansas State (27-7)
Since the geniuses over at the NCAA decided to expand the field to 68 teams and have virtual play-in games for "bubble teams" that receiver at-large bids, one of these teams playing in this extra game always makes some noise every year.
A couple of years ago it was VCU, who made a run all the way to the Final Four. I am not saying that La Salle, who just dispatched Boise State in its play-in game, can make that sort of a run, but they can beat Kansas State.
Even though Kansas State is playing a virtual home game with the game at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, look for La Salle to come in with the momentum and upset the Wildcats in a high-paced shocker
No. 11 Bucknell (28-5) over No. 6 Butler (26-8)
Butler is always going to be a NCAA Tournament sweetheart after making it to the Final Four in two consecutive season. America fell in love with the Bulldogs and head coach Brad Stevens.
But Bucknell has been a spoiler before, just ask Kansas Jayhawks fans, and this Bucknell team may be the best yet.
Senior center Mike Muscala is an absolute beast, averaging 19 points and 11.2 rebounds per game for the Bison, who have won 12 of their last 13. Look for Bucknell to pull off the mini upset.
No. 13 Montana (25-6) over No. 4 Syracuse (26-9)
Sure, Jim Boeheim's Syracuse team is coming off an appearance in the Big East championship, but Syracuse has hardly played great basketball down the stretch, losing five of its last nine games. Not only has Syracuse not been playing well, but now the Orangemen have an NCAA investigation weighing over their heads as an unnecessary distraction.
The Syracuse zone is always tough to play against, unless of course you can shoot the lights out of the ball from long range, which Montana can. Montana has hit 38.5 percent of its three-point attempts on the year, which is 19th best in the country. Look for Montana to pull off the monumental upset in what will likely be Boeheim's swan song.
Final Four predictions:
Midwest Region: No. 1 Louisville Cardinals (29-5)
Rick Pitino's bunch has been playing some outstanding basketball down the stretch and look to be as tough as anybody. Pitino's mix-and-match zone defense will cause teams that are unprepared fits and the improved offensive game of Gorgui Dieng will make the Cardinals a very tough out in the most difficult region of this year's tournament. The Big East tournament champs will make it to the Final Four
West Region: No. 5 Wisconsin Badgers (23-11)
Bo Ryan can flat out coach and his Badgers can grind it out against the best of them. The first round matchup is a bit scary as Ole Miss is coming off their SEC Tournament championship, but the Badgers should prevail. There likely will be a third game between Wisconsin and Ohio State in this region and look for Wisconsin to finally get by the Buckeyes to advance to the Final Four.
East Region: No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers (27-6)
While Louisville is the No. 1 overall seed, Indiana is the overall most talented team in the field. The Big 10 regular season champs are athletic and well coached and have a favorable path to the Final Four.
South Region: No. 2 Georgetown Hoyas (25-6)
Georgetown has won 13 of its last 15 games in the ultra-difficult Big East conference and the Hoyas are as tough and as physical as any team in the country. Sophomore forward Otto Porter is good enough to put this team on his back and once again, thanks to an easy path, look for Georgetown to make it back to the Final Four.
Corey Rudd is the owner and founder of StlSportsMinute.com (@StlSportsMinute) and hosts The Cruddy Show (@CruddyShow), a St. Louis sports talk show, every Tuesday and Friday night at 9:30 pm CT. You can also follow Rudd on Twitter (@CoreyRudd).
