Dave G's Dugout

Breaking News: Red Sox Leave Curt Schilling in Japan

    Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling remained in Japan this week after the team returned to the United States. According to club sources, the organization had little reason to want Schilling back with the team - or in Massachusetts at all. "The guy can't pitch anymore," the source said this morning. "Without that arm, he's just a conservative Republican in Boston."

    Schilling's demeanor is said to have changed significantly since incurring his shoulder injury this offseason. He is said to have been seen wandering around the Common with a full length beard, drinking milk out of a carton. "He's been soaking his sock in red dye every morning," teammate David Ortiz said today. "He tells people on the street that it's blood, like he's trying to go back to 2004. It's like, dude, move on." Red Sox management also expressed disdain for Schilling's outspoken tendencies as of late. "He talks more than he pitches," general manager Theo Epstein told Dave G's Dugout. "You see, Manny plays great but he can't put together a sentence. Curt won't shut up but he can't throw a pitch!"

    Epstein and owner John Henry decided the best course of action in dealing with the maligned pitcher was to simply leave him in Asia. "I hear you can blog from anywhere," Henry said. "Let him rehab out there, where we don't have to listen to him. If Tom Selleck can make it in Japan, Curt can too."

    Manny Ramirez denied any knowledge of a player named Curt Schilling. 
 

It's Madness Baby!

The Sweet Sixteen starts tomorrow and all will be right with the world again. March Madness is my favorite time of the year, hands down, but the breaks between the games are downright painful. Watching two rounds of games and then having to wait a week for the Sweet 16 is like cooking a turkey in October and having to wait until Thanksgiving to eat it. The madness returns tomorrow, though, with some of the best matchups of the dance. Xavier will battle West Virginia, Louisville will take on Tennessee, and Duke fans all across the country will sit in bars and drink and wonder how Andy Dufresne ever got the best of them. All will be right with the world, indeed.

I've won 75% of the games in each round so far and have all my Elite 8 teams still in the tournament. I'm worried about a few of them - Memphis and Tennessee scare the bejesus out of me - but overall I think I'm in good shape. By the way, Stephen Curry, if you are reading this, I would gladly trade my success in these pools to see Davidson win a championship. I didn't have them getting past Georgetown, but I love this team. Curry is just as unbelievable as I said he was last week. That's right. I called it.

Let's see what else I got right...and what I got horribly wrong: 

My best moments:

1. Davidson vs. Gonzaga: "Stephen Curry is arguably the greatest scorer in the NCAA and tomorrow everyone will have a chance to see why." I love this kid. He reminds me a lot of Juan Dixon, but with a better shot and a less talented team. By the way, Davidson is a much more well-rounded team than I or anyone else gave them credit for - they can play with, and beat, anyone. That being said, I still like Wisconsin in the Sweet 16 here.

2. West Virginia vs. Duke: "Joe Alexander has been phenomenal down the stretch and has proven to be one of the Big East's best scorers. He brings an inside threat against a small Duke team that lacks anyone who can effectively defend him...Alexander has to step up huge here, but if he does, West Virginia can pull this off. What it comes down to most, though, is that Duke is not the team they once were. When they last won the tournament, they had Battier and Boozer on the inside. Since, they've become more guard-driven and have relied exclusively on outside shooting from undersized players. The problem is that when you're entire game is centered around deep threats, you're defenseless on the day when the shots don't fall. This very phenomenon has killed Duke in its last few tournaments and will plague the Blue Devils this week as well." Joe Alexander earned himself a draft spot this year and Coach K needs to seriously reconsider his recent recruitment efforts. You need an inside game if you're going to face Big East teams. It's that simple.

3. Western Kentucky vs. Drake: "This will be the best game featuring two teams you've never heard of that you will ever see." Amazing game featuring the single best play of the tournament. It didn't end with the result I wanted or expected, but you can't be mad watching an incredible game like that.

My worst moments:

1. Drake vs. Connecticut: "The Bulldogs' are one of the best shooting teams in this tournament and they'll down the Huskies to face UCLA in the Sweet 16." Drake is still a great team and were on the wrong side of a miracle play. If that ball clanged the rim, they would have advanced all the way to the Sweet 16. Tough break for them. Also, Connecticut's star player tore his ACL. I stand by my picks here. Neither was a bad call.

2. "Clemson is a Sweet 16 team this year...It's not exactly the most scientific analysis but it's brutal, frank and true." Except that it's false.

3. "Notre Dame is a strong team, both inside and outside the paint. They're quick enough to run all over Washington State and they're strong enough to beat Wazzu at their own half court game. Look for a good matchup between the Irish's Kyle McAlarney and Wash St's Derrick Low. In the end, K-Mac will prove too fast for Wazzu's defense and Harangody will foil the Cougars' inside game. Rudy Ruettiger might get to run in and foul some people if Notre Dame wraps this one up early." I really enjoyed watching ND play this year but I had this one wrong. Wash St. demolished the Irish and denied us of the Hansbrough-Harangody matchup I was dying to see.

Well, I'm still pretty satisfied with how my picks turned out. Let's see if I can say the same this time next week.

How did your picks go? Leave a comment to talk about the tourney.

Breaking News: Tom Emanski Supplied Steroids to Fred McGriff

     Baseball video mogul Tom Emanski was arrested this morning after the FBI discovered that he had for years been supplying performance enhancing drugs to former all star Fred McGriff. McGriff, a longtime spokesman for Emanski's company, received the substances in exchange for his appearance in Emanski's television ads. Little League Baseball declined to comment on the arrest, but sources inside the commissioner's office tell us that they long found it curious that a television commercial could run for decades despite no record of anyone having ever bought the video.

     Congress will soon take time out of its busy schedule to investigate the drug use of the players on Emanski's back-to-back-to-back AAU championship teams. "It is about time that we get to the bottom of this," said Rep. Henry Waxman, chairman of the Committee on Government Reform. "We were always skeptical of his 'building block' approach to the game." The investigation and upcoming hearings will put an end to the continuous, seventeen-year run of Emanski's commercials, all designed to teach children the value of a fluid swing, the elements of a sound defense, and the on-field benefits of throwing a ball long distances into a metal barrel.

Breaking News: Greg Oden Actually Stephen Curry's Father

A startling development in the coverage of the NCAA tournament transpired today when Dave G's Dugout discovered that Davidson sensation Stephen Curry is actually the son of former #1 NBA draft pick Greg Oden. Oden, 42, has for years been posing as a teenage basketball phenom despite humored questions from the press regarding his older appearance. Curry, 13, has posed for the last two years as a college-aged student to gain admission and then playing time at Davidson College. His recent emergence onto the national scene sparked the investigation that led his family's secret to be uncovered. Details to follow...

Final Four Analysis

Kansas over UNC: North Carolina's fantastic season will come to an end here. The Tar Heels have a number of players who are capable of leading a team to a title, but each of them will meet their match on the Kansas Jayhawks roster. Tyler Hansbrough, a charitable 6-9, is UNC's only reliable inside threat. That spells trouble for the Heels since Kansas has two 6-9 forwards in Darnell Jackson and Darrell Arthur  and a duo of near-seven-footers (Sasha Kaun and Cole Aldrich) who will keep Hansbrough off the boards and minimize his impact in this game.

So...If UNC is going to win this game, they'll have to win it outside. More trouble. Ty Lawson, Marcus Ginyard, and Wayne Ellington make up one of the NCAA's best backcourts, but Kansas will overpower them with Mario Chalmers, Sherron Collins and the beast that is Brandon Rush. Chalmers and Collins are the only two players on Kansas who don't have a significant size advantage over their UNC counterparts, but they are two of the best defensive players in the tournament and will execute Kansas's game brilliantly. The Jayhawks will stifle Hansbrough on the inside, play Lawson and company tight on the outside and Bill Self will watch with joy as Jackson and Rush run all over an undersized and overmatched Carolina squad.

UCLA over Memphis: It comes down to depth. Memphis has probably the best starting lineup in this tournament, but UCLA has one of the best overall teams. While Derrick Rose, Joey Dorsey, Chris Douglas-Roberts, and Robert Dozier can play with anyone, the Tigers' talent drops off significantly after that. UCLA, on the other hand, will come at the Tigers from all angles...and keep on coming. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, if healthy, will cancel out Dozier in the front court and Lorenzo Mata-Real will get some quality minutes under the basket. Darren Collison and Rose match up well at the point, with Rose getting the obvious advantage there. But Rose can't contain both Collison and Richard Westbrook, two great guards with tremendous scoring ability and Douglas-Roberts will be busy trying to stop swingman Josh Shipp. Collison, Westbrook, and Shipp will eventually break down Rose and Douglas-Roberts and Memphis doesn't have the depth to replace tired starters with able bench players. Dorsey's inside play will push Kevin Love, but Love is great at adapting his game to beat any kind of post player he faces and is smart enough and powerful enough to lead UCLA to the next level. UCLA will simply outlast Memphis's talent.

Elite Eight Analysis

EAST

UNC over Tennessee: Hansbrough will lead an all out assault on Tennessee's front court and Ty Lawson will end Lofton's impressive college career. The Volunteers can run with anyone, but they won't be able to stop Lawson, Ginyard, Ellington and rest of Roy Williams' boys. Tennessee was able to beat Memphis because Memphis couldn't shoot free throws when it mattered. UNC shoots free throws, field goals, threes, and Duke fans and should win this game to advance to the Final Four.

MIDWEST

Kansas over Wisconsin: As good as Wisconsin has been, the Badgers have no answer for the juggernaut that is the Kansas Jayhawks. Butch will fail to stop the two centers in the paint and Chalmers and Collins will contain Flowers on the outside. This will be the last of Kansas's easy games, but the Jayhawks should roll over the Badgers to win the Midwest Region.

SOUTH

Memphis over Texas: Texas has more depth, but Memphis has more talent. This will be one of the best games in the tournament as Derrick Rose and DJ Augustin battle for a spot in the Final Four. Rose gives Memphis a slight advantage at the point and Dozier and Dorsey should score easily against Texas's frontcourt. Chris Douglas-Roberts provides a great size advantage for Memphis at the 2. The wild card here on both ends of the floor will be Connor Atchley. If he can use his size to split Memphis' front court and dominate the boards, Texas will have a great advantage in this game. And if Memphis fails to make free throws as they did against Tennessee, Texas might advance. But if this game is won and lost on talent and on the game-winning abilities of the best players on the floor, the Memphis Tigers will edge out the Longhorns and advance to the Final Four.

WEST

UCLA over Xavier: Xavier is the second most complete team in the Western Region. They can beat you from anywhere on the floor. Their problem is that UCLA is the most complete team in the West and there is absolutely nothing Xavier can do about it. Everything that Xavier is good at, UCLA is better. Darren Collison will school Drew Lavender at point. Kevin Love will own the inside and Richard Westbrook will raise his draft stock going into the final weekend. UCLA is San Antonio-bound and destined for its third straight Final Four appearance.

Sweet Sixteen Analysis

EAST

UNC over Notre Dame: The Irish's two biggest weapons, Luke Harangody and Kyle McAlarney, will be overmatched in this one by Tyler Hansbrough and Ty Lawson. I'm actually really excited to see how much Harangody can do against Psycho T. Big Luke's game has really evolved this year and this final game will be a great way to measure his true standing as a premier big man in the NCAA. Notre Dame won't win but if Harangody can play well against Hansbrough, the Irish will go out on a great note and will be very encouraged for the 2008-09 campaign.

Tennessee over Louisville: This will be a fantastic game, but ultimately Tennessee will win. Louisville is damn near unstoppable inside, with tremendous size and ability under the boards, but Tennesee can play with them on the inside and beat them on the outside. Chris Lofton has established himself as one of the best outside shooters in the game and Louisville's guards simply will not be able to keep up. An x-factor in this game will be the excitement and leadership that Coach Bruce Pearl brings to the table. With his orange body paint and orange blazer, Pearl has brought Tennessee to the upper echelon of college basketball programs. They'll be pumped and ready for this contest and I expect them to reach the Elite Eight.

MIDWEST

Kansas over Clemson: How will Kansas beat Clemson? Will Mario Chalmers run the floor like the general he has proven to be, setting up shots and forcing turnovers like no one else in the NCAA? Will Brandon Rush remain the dominant force in a star studded lineup? Will Darnell Jackson and Darell Arthur anchor the front court? Will Sasha Kaun and Cole Aldrich stifle Clemsons' big men? Will Sheron Collins break ankles on the perimeter? The answer to all these questions is yes. Kansas is the most complete team in this tournament and Clemson will be no match for everything the Jayhawks can bring.

Wisconsin over Georgetown: Roy Hibbert is not the real thing. He's huge, yeah, but that only goes so far. Hibbert has a habit of shutting down in big situations (he scored zero points against Villanova in the Big East Tournament) and is a wild card to say the least. When he's on, he can score with the best of them, but when he's off, he's useless. Inconsistency kills teams in this tournament and while Georgetown is a good all-around team, I have a hard time picking a squad whose offensive centerpiece recently turned in a goose egg. Wisconsin has no stars, but they have a phenomenal overall team. The Badgers are very sound defensively and Michael Flowers and Joe Krabbenhoft are capable of containing Jessie Sapp and Patrick Ewing, respectively. Brian Butch will give Hibbert a fight and Marcus Landry matches up pretty well with Ewing on the offensive end. Much like Bruce Pearl with Tennessee, Bo Ryan has taken this Wisconsin squad to the next level. I expect him to get them ready and get the most out of his boys in this Sweet 16 matchup. This will be a hard-fought game but Georgetown will miss Jeff Green in this tournament and fall to a scrappy, determined Wisconsin team.

SOUTH

Memphis over Michigan State: Memphis is supposed to be the weakest number one seed. They're supposed to stink at shooting free throws and have trouble in the depth department. Maybe. But Calipari's starters are the best in the NCAA and it's going to take a lot to force these guys from the dance. Derrick Rose will easily handle Michigan State's biggest weapon in Neitzel and Memphis will win this game by a comfortable margin.

Texas over Stanford: Connor Atchley will have his hands full of Lopez twins in the front court, so DJ Augustin and JA Abrams will have to step up huge in the backcourt. Shouldn't be a problem. This will be a tough game and especially a tough first half, but once Texas gets into a rhythm, Augustin will own the perimeter and win this game on the outside.

WEST

UCLA over Drake: The magic will stop here for the Bulldogs as Ben Howland's Bruins will roll over Drake. UCLA will have an answer for everything Drake tries and Darren Collison and Richard Westbrook will show Houston, Young and Emmenecker how to play with the big boys. Kevin Love will put up huge numbers on the inside and Shipp will Mbah a Moute will take Cox and Korver to town. This game will actually have some pretty solid matchups, but UCLA should have no problem taking down the kids from Iowa.

Xavier over West Virginia: If Joe Alexander takes WVU this far, he'll meet his match against Josh Duncan and Xavier. West Virginia has one great player and a number of good role players, but Xavier has six kids averaging double-digits and should easily dismantle the Mountaineers' defense, offense, and confidence.

Second Round Analysis

EAST

UNC over Indiana: Indiana has the talent to give UNC a run here, but ultimately the Tar Heels are too complete a team to roll over that easily. I've watched Tyler Hansbrough play dozens of games over the last three years and he is one of the toughest, most determined players I've ever seen. He is the heart and soul of the Tar Heels as well as being their key player in the front court. I would be interested to see how he plays against E.J. White and how Ty Lawson and Eric Gordon match up if they're assigned to each other. But even if Indiana can put its lockerroom issues aside, UNC is too good a team, too complete a team, and too tough a team to lose in the second round. Dan Dakich's career at Indiana will likely end here.

Notre Dame over Washington State: Notre Dame is a strong team, both inside and outside the paint. They're quick enough to run all over Washington State and they're strong enough to beat Wazzu at their own half court game. Look for a good matchup between the Irish's Kyle McAlarney and Wash St's Derrick Low. In the end, K-Mac will prove too fast for Wazzu's defense and Harangody will foil the Cougars' inside game. Rudy Ruettiger might get to run in and foul some people if Notre Dame wraps this one up early.

Louisville over Oklahoma: Louisville is a big, strong team that will prove to physical for a beat up Sooners squad. Pitino will head to another Sweet 16.

Tennessee over Butler: I thought twice about making this call because Butler can flat out play but I had to go with Tennessee here. There will undoubtedly be a shootout between Chris Lofton and A.J. Graves but Tennessee has the better overall team to compliment the shooting game. I'm going with Bruce Pearl's boys in this one.

MIDWEST

Kansas over Kent State: Kansas has perhaps the best overall team with the most talent, depth, experience, and range of any school in the tournament. If Kansas is beatable at all in this tournament, it is not by Kent State.

Clemson over Vanderbilt: Clemson is a Sweet 16 team this year and Vanderbilt is not. It's not exactly the most scientific analysis but it's brutal, frank and true.

Wisconsin over USC: This should be a great game and really either team can win. USC is an explosive, well-rounded squad led of course by Mr. Mayo, but this is the Year of the Badger and Bo's Boys aren't going home quite yet. The Badgers are a tough defensive team that can shut down Mayo and limit USC's front-court press. I worry about Wisconsin's ability to handle USC's speed, but overall I see Wisconsin proving that it's more than a good team in a bad conference and handing the Trojans an early ticket home.

Georgetown over Davidson: Davidson is a sleeper pick, but they're not well-rounded enough to beat Georgetown. The Hoyas are the best team in the NCAA in field goal defense, which spells trouble for Stephen Curry. If they shut him down, Davidson will be powerless to stop them. And hell, even if they don't shut him down, they can beat Davidson in so many other ways. I have lost all faith in Roy Hibbert, but the Hoyas still have an arsenal of weapons to throw at teams. Patrick Ewing Jr is proving to be an outstanding young talent and Jessie Sapp will make everyone remember what he accomplished last year in March. GTown will make the Sweet 16.

SOUTH

Memphis over Mississippi State: Memphis's starters have the most talent of any lineup in this tournament and will simply be too much for Miss State. Free throw troubles won't matter here since the score won't even be close.

Michigan State over Pitt: Bobby Knight and my dad both have Pitt going all the way. I disagree. They're a great team, undoubtedly, but Michigan State can handle them inside and dominate them outside. Most of all though, one great week does not make a great team. A lot of schools look fantastic coming out of conference tournaments but at the end of the day, I stand behind the comment I made in the previous post regarding Georgia: You can't recreate magic.

Stanford over Marquette: Two totally different styles will be at work here, but the Golden Eagles are no match for Stanford's front court and will fall like a...tree.

Texas over Miami: Texas is one of the very best teams in this tournament. There are so many ways they can beat you and so many players who can rise up if necessary. D.J. Augustin is obviously the centerpiece of a fantastic offense and Connor Atchley is finally showing that he can be one of college basketball's great big men. Miami is a solid squad but they're not big enough to hold a significant advantage over Texas' diminuitive backcourt and they're just not nearly as good a team as the Longhorns.

WEST

UCLA over Texas A&M: DeAndre Jordan will be the first real test for Kevin Love's back injury and this matchup should provide some answers to those skeptical of Love's ability in this tournament. Otherwise, UCLA will roll over the Aggies. UCLA, along with Kansas, is one of the most complete teams in college basketball right now. Kevin Love is a big, brilliant center who can run the floor from the paint and he is only the centerpiece of a team that seems fated to reach the Final Four and beyond.

Drake over Connecticut: This might be a tough sell, but Drake is a legitimate sleeper this year. Connecticut has a good squad and a great defensive center in Hasheem Thabeet, but Drake, though undersized, plays the brand of guard-driven, team basketball that makes upsets possible. The Bulldogs' backcourt of Leonard Houston, Josh Young, and soon-to-be-legend Adam Emmenecker will circumvent Connecticut's imposing interior defense and forwards Klayton Korver and Jonathan Cox bring hot shooting to the front court. The Bulldogs' are one of the best shooting teams in this tournament and they'll down the Huskies to face UCLA in the Sweet 16.

Xavier over Baylor: The Musketeers are one of the best all-around teams in college basketball today. Great defense, great shooting, and a powerful inside game will lead Xavier to an easy win over Baylor.

West Virginia over Duke: Wow, I sure saved the biggest upset for the end here, didn't I? West Virginia is not a safe bet by any means. They could lose to Arizona. They could lose to Duke. But I think they'll beat both. Joe Alexander has been phenomenal down the stretch and has proven to be one of the Big East's best scorers. He brings an inside threat against a small Duke team that lacks anyone who can effectively defend him. Zoubek will be busy trying to contain Jamie Smalligan and no other good Duke player has the size or ability to contain him. Alexander has to step up huge here, but if he does, West Virginia can pull this off. What it comes down to most, though, is that Duke is not the team they once were. When they last won the tournament, they had Battier and Boozer on the inside. Since, they've become more guard-driven and have relied exclusively on outside shooting from undersized players. The problem is that when you're entire game is centered around deep threats, you're defenseless on the day when the shots don't fall. This very phenomenon has killed Duke in its last few tournaments and will plague the Blue Devils this week as well.

First Round Analysis

I'll be posting these predictions one round at a time, but hopefully all today or tomorrow.

FIRST ROUND:

EAST

UNC over Mount Saint Mary's: This will happen.

Indiana over Arkansas: This is one of the best first round games we'll see. Indiana is a great team having a tough season after Kelvin Sampson's midseason firing. Arkansas is coming off a tough, improbable loss to Georgia in the final game of the SEC Tournament after notching a tough, improbable win against Tennessee in their previous game. If they show up here, they can certainly beat Indiana, but I think the Hoosiers will come together to get through the first round. If these kids decide to play for Dan Dakich, Eric Gordon and E.J. White will demolish Arkansas and put up a good fight against UNC. Could go either way, but I think Indiana will win at least one game.

Notre Dame over George Mason: This is not the Mason team that made it to the Final Four two years ago and this is not the Notre Dame team that went one-and-out last year. Luke Harangody has transformed his own game and has turned Notre Dame into a legitimate threat in this tournament.

Washington State over Winthrop: Wash State plays a slow game, which might disrupt a faster team like Winthrop. I don't see either team beating either Notre Dame or George Mason.

Oklahoma over St. Joseph's: St. Joe's seems to be the pick du jour this year but I'm just not seeing it. I like Phil Martelli but I think if Oklahoma stays healthy, they'll win this one.

Louisville over Boise State: Unless Boise State's basketball team knows the Statue of Liberty play, I think Louisville is safe here.

Butler over South Alabama: Butler is egregiously underseeded here as a seven. South Alabama is very good, but Butler is a top team. The Bulldogs went 29-3 this year and return four starters from their Sweet 16 run last year. They'll advance here and then laugh at the selection committee for underestimating them. Look for A.J. Graves to put on a show.

Tennessee over American: Friend and reader Aaron Loewenberg is really pulling for his alma mater here, but I don't think American can pull this off. Sorry dude.

MIDWEST

Kansas over Portland State: Portland State's team is named the Vikings. That will have about as much of an impact on this game as anything else they can throw at the Jayhawks.

Kent State over UNLV: Kent State has won 11 of its last 12, soon to be 12 of 13.

Clemson over Villanova: Clemson is for real. Trust me. The Tigers came back from a 20-point second half deficit over Maryland to crush the Terps' tournament hopes and then ran over Boston College and Duke before losing a close game to North Carolina in the ACC Tournament. Oliver Purnell's boys are fast, strong, tough veterans and will easily take down a young Nova team here in the first round.

Vanderbilt over Siena: Everyone seems to be picking Siena to win this game but I think Vandy will stick around just long enough to face Clemson in round two. And lose. Badly.

USC over Kansas State: O.J. Mayo. Michael Beasley. Somehow I don't think this one was an accident. This game will be a showcase for two early lottery picks and might be the most entertaining game of the first round. In the end, Kansas State's front-court of Beasley and Bill Walker will meet its match in Devon Jefferson and Taj Gibson. Mayo will be the x-factor here as the Trojans will end Kansas State's impressive season.

Wisconsin over Cal State Fullerton: This is Wisconsin's year to make a run. It'll start here. I'll explain later.

Davidson over Gonzaga: Davidson lost to Maryland in the first round last year, but only barely. Stephen Curry is arguably the greatest scorer in the NCAA and tomorrow everyone will have a chance to see why.

Georgetown over UMBC: Thanks for coming, UMBC. Have a great off-season.

SOUTH

Memphis over Texas-Arlington: Really want to disagree?

Mississippi State over Oregon: Miss State and Otherbrother Hansbrough will take down the Ducks here.

Michigan State over Temple: Drew Neitzel will not let his college career end in the first round. I was disappointed when Michigan State fizzled early last year, but look for Neitzel to explode in the national spotlight here. Tom Izzo's pretty good too.

Pitt over Oral Roberts: Imagine how different OR's fortunes would be if the other Roberts brother, Anal, had founded the school. Really, though, I make it a point not to pick any school whose name sounds like a porn star.

Marquette over Kentucky: Marquette hasn't won a tournament game since Dwyane Wade led them to the Final Four by beating - wait for it - Kentucky. This year's team is the best Marquette has had since Wade left, though, and I think the Golden Eagles' strong backcourt will give them this first-round win. This should not diminish what Kentucky has accomplished this season though, making it to the tournament in the first year of the Post-Tubby Smith era. A good year for both schools.

Stanford over Cornell: The audience will have the highest median SAT score of any of these matchups but in the end it'll be the non-Ivy League school who dominates the game. Stanford will roll over Cornell as the Lopez twins bring their show to the big dance.

Miami over Saint Mary's: Miami is a solid team and should have no problem dispatching Saint Mary's. Jack McClinton will impress you. I promise.

Texas over Austin-Peay: I was listening to the John Thompson show on the radio this week and one of his co-hosts told him they were going to have the coach of Austin-Peay on the air. "Who? Where?" Thompson asked and then mispronounced the guy's name several times. What was his name? you ask. I have no idea and after tomorrow, no one else will either.

WEST

UCLA over Mississippi Valley State: More about UCLA later, but the last time we heard about a center's back problems this much heading into the tournament, it was Emeka Okafor in 2004.

Texas A&M over BYU: DeAndre Jordan will make the difference here and then leave the Aggies for the NBA.

Drake over Western Kentucky: This will be the best game featuring two teams you've never heard of that you will ever see. Western Ky features Courtney Lee, who will be auditioning for the draft here and will hope to recover from a subpar conference tournament performance. Drake, though, has been out to prove itself all year and has been waiting to seize the opportunity to put itself on the map in March. Remember when Gonzaga first hit the scene and everyone wondered how they'd never heard of this school before? You'll think the same thing about Drake.

Connecticut over San Diego: A popular upset pick, but I'm not buying it.

Baylor over Purdue: Boiler Up? Not so fast.

Xavier over Georgia: I tend not to pick teams that go on improbable runs in conference tournaments. You can't recreate magic. Georgia has proven that they're a good team that can play, but Xavier is one of the premier teams in college basketball this season. The Bulldogs' run will end here.

West Virginia over Arizona: A huge game and definitely one of the best first round matchups. I liked WVU before seeing them dominate in the Big East tournament and now I'm convinced that they will make a run in the big dance. I like what Kevin O'Neill has accomplished in Arizona this year but the Mountaineers will send him packing today.

Duke over Belmont: Greg Paulus isn't very good, but he can win one game against a #15 seed. I think.

Dave G's NCAA Tourney Picks

I'll post my longer, more complete March Madness preview shortly (it's written - just polishing it) but I wanted to be sure to get my picks up here before the games start.

Here they are:

National Champion: Kansas

Championship Game: Kansas over UCLA

Final Four: Kansas over UNC, UCLA over Memphis

Elite Eight: UNC over Tennessee, Kansas over Wisconsin, Memphis over Texas, UCLA over Xavier

Sweet Sixteen: UNC over Notre Dame, Tennessee over Louisville, Kansas over Clemson, Wisconsin over Georgetown, Memphis over Michigan State, Texas over Stanford, UCLA over Drake, Xavier over West Virginia

Second Round: UNC over Indiana, Notre Dame over Washington State, Louisville over Oklahoma, Tennessee over Butler, Kansas over Kent State, Clemson over Vandy, Wisconsin over USC, Georgetown over Davidson, Memphis over Mississippi State, Michigan State over Pitt, Stanford over Marquette, Texas over Miami, UCLA over Texas A&M, Drake over Connecticut, Xavier over Baylor, West Virginia over Duke

First round: UNC over Mount Saint Mary's, Indiana over Arkansas, Notre Dame over George Mason, Wash State over Winthrop, Oklahoma over Saint Joe's, Louisville over Boise State, Butler over South Alabama, Tennessee over American, Kansas over Portland State, Kent State over UNLV, Clemson over Villanova, Vanderbilt over Siena, USC over Kansas State, Wisconsin over Cal State Fullerton, Davidson over Gonzaga, Georgetown over UMBC, Memphis over Texas-Arlington, Mississippi State over Oregon, Michigan State over Temple, Pitt over Oral Roberts, Marquette over Kentucky, Stanford over Cornell, Miami over Saint Mary's, Texas over Austin Peay, UCLA over Mississippi Valley State, Texas A&M over BYU, Drake over Western Kentucky, Connecticut over San Diego, Baylor over Purdue, Xavier over Georgia, West Virginia over Arizona, Duke over Belmont