[thoughts]

Get it, it's my bracketed thoughts.

It's Selection Sunday, Baaaaaaaabieeeeeeeee (yes, I hate Dickie V like everyone else, Dickie V hatred is a tired cliche, but he makes it impossible not to live that cliche)

Limbs I'm going to go out on.

No team worse than a 5 seed will make the Elite Eight.

No team worse than a 13 seed will win in the first round.

No team worse than a 10 seed will win in the second round.

The champ will be a 1 or 2 seed.

(The eight 1 and 2 seeds are that much better than every other team, one or two of them might stumble, but the final will feature two, two seeds at worst)

West Coast will reprazent!!

Lower seeded west coast teams that will accomplish the upset will be Pacific over BC and SDSU over Indiana. The only west coast team that will be upset (and it's not really an upset) will be NC State over Cal.

UCLA will make the Elite Eight, and maybe even go all the way, they can play some scary defense and have the length and athleticism to shut down hot shooters (which they'll face in the sweet sixteen facing Gonzaga in the 2-3 matchup), plus they won't be leaving California until they head to Indianapolis, that's a big help.

Memphis will fall to Pittsburgh, Pitt will be the lowest seeded team in the Elite Eight, every other matchup will be a 1-2 match up.

There's a real chance that Texas could pull off the NCAA Football and Basketball Championships in the same calendar year (plus their baseball team isn't too bad, also).

My Elite Eight on up predictions

Texas over Duke; UCLA over Pitt; UConn over Tenn; Villanova over OhioSt

Final Four

UCLA over Texas; UConn over Villanova

Championship

UCLA over UConn

(I may be letting hometown boosterism get in the way of my judgement, but UCLA did earn themselves a two seed and a favorable bracket up to the sweet 16 (should Gonzaga avoid a second round upset they'll be a tough opponent), after that it's up to them to prove they can do it. Also, Ben Howland is a damn fine coach, and it could be interesting to see him coach against Pitt in the Elite Eight)