Guest Article: Bracketology

Guest Article by Chris: I thought I’d offer a little insight into my decision process concerning the NCAA basketball tourney.

Rule 1: Don’t pick UConn (or insert your favorite team) to win. Just because, I’ve followed the Huskies all year long means that a) I’ve seen all of their losses and b) know all of their weakness. Now, that I know they are vulnerable to a team with a lot of slashing cutting players (Villanova) and they have trouble scoring at times (Syracuse), I can’t imagine them winning it all. Probably overanalysis. Also, if they win it all, who cares about the bracket?

Rule 2: Don’t pick Duke. Why give yourself a reason to root for them?

Rule 3: Don’t pick bad Big East teams. Yes, Syracuse and Seton Hall that’s you. Just because you beat some people in the Big East tourney, doesn’t mean you won’t get upset in the first round. Go whine somewhere else Jim Boeheim.

Rule 4: Stay away from teams that start with a “K”. Kentucky and Kansas, shudder. Who wants them to win?(I certainly don’t)

Rule 5: Gonzaga will do well enough to get in the Sweet 16, but probably not past that. Why? What has changed in that last four years that makes Gonzaga a Final Four team? Beating small conference opponents in overtime? A “Larry Bird” with a dirty mustache?

Rule 6: Go with teams that have some relation to Bobby Knight. (I know this goes against Rule 2). The guy might be a jerk, but he knows how to win. I know Texas Tech isn’t in it this year, but I’d always pick them to win an upset in the first round. Go with Iowa (Steve Alford), Duke (Coach K), and Indiana (a stretch at this point)

Rule 7. Pick a 12 seed over a 5 seed. Last 5 or 6 years at least 1 12 seed was one each year.

Rule 8. Pick at least one ACC and one Big Ten team to go to the Final Four. This probably has no basis in fact, but it seems there is always one team from each of these conferences every year in the last four.

Rule 9. While following Rule 8, don’t pick Michigan State. Seriously, they are very overrated. Go with any team, just not Michigan State. I think this has something to do with the fact that I got fed up with their coach and their group of guys like Mateen Cleaves a few years ago. Didn’t they have a nickname, like the “Flintstones” b/c they were from Flint, Michigan?

Rule 10. Go against bad hair. Too bad Gene Keady retired and that guy Snyder quit.