The SeedSing 2018 Men's College Basketball Tournament Preview

The field of 68 was released for the NCAA men's basketball tournament yesterday. There were some surprises, snubs and proper seeding, as always. The top 4 seeds, I feel like, they got right. Virginia, Villanova, Xavier and Kansas are all deserving. But, there were some weird snubs, and teams I felt like should have been in the tournament, just like everyone else.

As far as teams that don't belong, how on Earth are Oklahoma and Syracuse at large bids? That is insane to me. I mean, Oklahoma is in because of Trae Young. But, watching them recently, they are horrid. They have, I believe, lost 11 of their last 13, and finished the year with either 18 or 19 wins. I'm one of those people that feel, unless you win your conference tournament, that you need at least 20 wins to be an at large team. Oklahoma isn't close, and they have stunk, as I said. Trae Young will bring viewers, but a team from the same conference that was more deserving was Oklahoma State. They had 20 plus wins, they beat KU twice to Oklahoma's one win, and they are just a better overall team. Oklahoma is only there because of Young. Syracuse is an absolute horrific pick to me. They are just bad. They have not looked like a competent team all year.

Dare I say, the game looks to have passed by Jim Boeheim. While I have always liked Syracuse, there is no way they belong in the NIT, let alone the NCAA tournament. I will never, ever understand this choice. It is appalling from a basketball standpoint. I'm still in a little bit of shock that they are actually in the tournament. A few teams that I thought should have made it, I've already mentioned Oklahoma State. I also feel like Penn State and Nebraska has a little bit of a beef to be in this tournament. Penn State beat the University of Ohio State three times this year and finished at .500 in conference and had 20 plus wins. Nebraska was well over 20 wins and finished fourth overall in the Big Ten during the regular season. By their standards, they had an excellent year.

The biggest snub to me was Saint Mary's. This is a team that, I think, only lost 4 games all year. They were well over 20 wins, I think close to 30 wins. Sure, they play in a crummy conference, with Gonzaga being the only threat, but come on. They have a great record, they were ranked almost all year, and because they had one bad game in the WCC tournament, they get left out. That is so dumb to me.

Okay, got that off my chest.

For my preview today I will pick each region's winner, who they will face to make the Final Four and the championship game and the winner. Lets get to it. Lets look at the South Region first. Virginia is the number one seed here, as well as the overall number one seed. I feel like they have a fairly "easy" path to the Final Four, but they are Virginia, and they tend to choke. If they win their first game they will have a very tough time with the 8-9 winner, be it Creighton or Kansas State. But, if they get through that game the winner of Kentucky-Arizona, if they meet up, will be tough, but Virginia can beat both of them. The team I like from the South to really push Virginia is Cincinnati. They play just as tough defense, and I think they match up well. But, in the long run, I like Virginia, if they get passed the 8-9 winner, to make it to the Final Four from the South.

Next we will look at the West. Xavier is the one seed in the West. I know I picked them to go to the title game in my 3/4 season redo, but sorry to RD, I think they are the "softest" of the one seeds. They really struggle to win, but they did win enough to be a number one seed. But, the West has teams like Gonzaga, Michigan, Houston and UNC. I feel like all four of those teams could fairly easily beat Xavier. Gonzaga is on fire right now. Michigan looked like one of the best teams in the country a week ago when they won the Big Ten tournament. Houston can score, unless they play Cincy and UNC is the defending champs and just came off a throttling of Duke before getting bested by Virginia. I feel like Gonzaga will meet Michigan in the Elite Eight, and Gonzaga will find a way to score on Michigan's stout defense just enough to return to the Final Four. I love how Michigan was playing a week ago, but I think the week off will eventually be their undoing.

I feel like the East is a very tough, very solid region. Villanova is the one seed here, but I feel like they are going down in round 2 against either Alabama or Virginia Tech, personally I think it will be Alabama because Collin Sexton rules. With Villanova gone that opens the door for teams like Wichita State, Texas Tech and Purdue. Wichita State is not as good as they used to be, but they can get hot come the start of the tournament. Texas Tech has been pretty solid all year, but they have struggled as of late. The very same thing can be said about Purdue, the team I picked to win it all in my 3/4 season redo. And, even though they have struggled a little bit as of late, I like Purdue ending Alabama's Cinderella run in the Elite Eight and move on to the Final Four. Lukas Haas is too big to stop and Carsen Edwards and Vince Edwards are just begging to bust out of their slumps. I think that will happen in the tournament.

Finally we have the Midwest. KU is the one seed, but I feel the same about them as I do Xavier. They will probably make the Sweet Sixteen, but they will go no further. I'm done believing in KU come March. The Final Four representative from the Midwest will be whoever wins the Michigan State-Duke game, when that inevitably happens. I despise both teams, but I feel like Duke will find a way, ahem, ahem, the refs and free throws, to win that game. I think they will face Auburn in the Elite Eight, but they will be firing on all cylinders after beating MSU. Duke unfortunately takes the Midwest region. 

My Final Four is Virginia, Gonzaga, Purdue and Duke. Honestly, I don't really like any of these teams, except for maybe Gonzaga. They will have to face Virginia, and I think Virginia will beat them pretty handily. They will be able to shut them down and they look like a team of destiny right now. In the Duke-Purdue game, I just think Duke is way more talented. Purdue has length and experience, which I love, but Duke has athletes everywhere, and I don't think Purdue will be able to keep up. As much as I want a Big Ten team in the title, I just don't see it happening. That means we will have an all ACC final. I like Virginia to win. They have already shown that they can shut down Duke when they beat them earlier this year in Durham. Virginia plays stout defense, and they will confuse all of Duke's freshman, and I guarantee that Grayson Allen will pull some kind of bull shit trip or flagrant foul that will have the entire nation talking the next day.

So, I have Virginia winning the 2018 tournament. I'm very excited for the games to start. Lets get to it.

Ty

Ed Note: Duke will lose to Michigan State, and the path will then be clear for Kansas or Michigan State to go to the Final Four. Despite their coach, and history in the tournament, Kansas will take the Midwest with only one tough game.

The East could have a big Cinderella run, the top seeds are not scary. I could see West Virginia or Florida having a magical run, but I am going the easy route and have Villanova beating Purdue and winning the East bracket.

I agree on the West, Xavier is a questionable 1 seed. The Muskateers have not shown up in the biggest games (i.e. Villanova twice). Missouri is an unknown in this tournament, Gonzaga is rolling, North Carolina is the defending champ, and Michigan is hot and rested. In a wide open west bracket, Ty's Michigan Wolverines will win.

There are only three worthwhile teams in the East bracket. I could make a case for Virginia, Cincinnati, or Kentucky (you can never count them out). I am going with some home town pride and taking the Cincinnati Bearcats as the winners int he east. Maybe people in this town will shut up about Bob Huggins since Mick Cronin will now have a final four appearance.

The terrible game guaranteed from Kansas in the tournament will come in the final four against Villanova. The Wildcats will meet Cincinnati, after the Bearcats and the Wolverines have an epic game that could go either way. The 2018 Men's College Basketball championship will go to my hometown Cincinnati Bearcats, and the Queen City will finally have a champion to be proud of. 

Before you take my word, remember that I picked the Bengals in the Super Bowl two years ago. You have been warned.

RD

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