Jabesblog NCAA Picks

I hesitate to post my picks after such an abismal showing last year, despite pegging Duke as the tournament champion.  That would be no fun though, so here is one man's vision as to how the "Big Dance" might orchestrate itself...

East Regional - 2nd Round
(1) Ohio State over (16) Texas-San Antonio
(9) Villanova over (8) George Mason
(5) West Virginia over (12) Clemson  (this one is tough due to efficiency, but Clemson is the master of bloated efficiency, and the short turn-around makes it even tougher)
(4) Kentucky over (13) Princeton
(11) Marquette over (6) Xavier  (Higher overall efficiency)
(3) Syracuse over (14) Indiana State
(7) Washington over (10) Georgia
(2) North Carolina over (15) Long Island

West Regional - 2nd Round
(1) Duke over (16) Hampton
(8) Michigan over (9) Tennessee
(5) Arizona over (12) Memphis
(4) Texas over (13) Oakland
(6) Cincinnati over (11) Missouri
(3) Connecticut over (14) Bucknell
(7) Temple over (10) Penn State
(2) San Diego State over (15) Northern Colorado

Southwest Regional - 2nd Round
(1) Kansas over (16) Boston U.
(8) UNLV over (9) Illinois
(12) Richmond over (5) Vanderbilt (Vandy def effeciency of 73 is greater than 34)
(13) Morehead State over (4) Louisville (Lousiville off efficiency of 40 is greater than 34, Morehead State plus 5.8 in created-possession margin)
(11) VCU over (6) Georgetown (Georgetown def efficiency of 52 is greater than 34, Chris Wright injury, very little difference in either margin)
(3) Purdue over (14) St. Peter's
(7) Texas A&M over (10) Florida State
(2) Notre Dame over (15) Akron

Southeast Regional - 2nd Round
(1) Pittsburgh over (16) UNC-Asheville
(9) Old Dominion over (8) Butler
(5) Kansas State over (12) Utah State
(4) Wisconsin over (13) Belmont
(11) Gonzaga over (6) St. John's (Gonzaga higher overall efficiency)
(3) BYU over (14) Wofford
(10) Michigan State over (7) UCLA
(2) Florida over (15) UC-Santa Barbara

East Regional - 3rd Round
(1) Ohio State over (9) Villanova
(5) West Virginia over (4) Kentucky
(3) Syracuse over (11) Marquette
(7) Washington over (2) North Carolina (identical overall efficiency and created-possession margin - Washington superior in scoring margin)

West Regional - 3rd Round
(1) Duke over (8) Michigan
(4) Texas over (5) Arizona
(3) Connecicut over (6) Cincinnati
(2) San Diego State over (7) Temple

Southwest Regional - 3rd Round
(1) Kansas over (8) UNLV
(12) Richmond over (13) Morehead State
(3) Purdue over (11) VCU
(2) Notre Dame over (7) Texas A&M

Southeast Regional - 3rd Round
(1) Pittsburgh over (9) Old Dominion
(4) Wisconsin over (5) Kansas State
(11) Gonzaga over (3) BYU
(2) Florida over (10) Michigan State

Sweet Sixteen
(1) Ohio State over (5) West Virginia
(7) Washington over (3) Syracuse
(4) Texas over (1) Duke
(2) San Diego State over (3) Connecticut
(1) Kansas over (12) Richmond
(3) Purdue over (2) Notre Dame
(1) Pittsburgh over (4) Wisconsin
(2) Florida over (11) Gonzaga

Elite Eight
(1) Ohio State over (7) Washington
(4) Texas over (2) San Diego State
(3) Purdue over (1) Kansas
(1) Pittsburgh over (2) Florida

Final Four
(1) Ohio State over (4) Texas
(1) Pittsburgh over (3) Purdue

National Championship
(1) Ohio State 72  (1) Pittsburgh 64