First Round
#1 Virginia vs. #16 Gardner-Webb: THIS IS NOT REMOTELY AN EXCITING OK? MOVE ON LET’S JUST NOT TALK ABOUT IT. WHAT COULD GO WRONG? Select: Virginia
#8 Ole Miss vs. #9 Oklahoma: [long pause] Umm, Ole Miss? Pick: Ole Miss
#5 Wisconsin vs. #12 Oregon: I refuse to pick a Pac-12 group, and Oregon’s greatest win of the season was against Syracuse on a neutral court. Their defense is good, but the offense is not. That will not be enough to do it against Wisconsin. Select: Wisconsin
#4 Kansas State vs. #13 UC Irvine: This is the bad combo of a sexy double-digit seed meeting a Power 5 college with injuries. The Anteaters beat up on the Big West Conference, winning both the regular season and conference championship titles. K-State will not have Barry Brown, meaning they’ll need to make up for his scoring and match direction somewhere. Oh, and UC Irvine has a dude. MAX HAZZARD!!! Select: UC Irvine
#6 Villanova vs. #11 Saint Mary’s: The Wildcats are nowhere near the team they were last year after they won the championship, but they can still take threes fairly well and should not have any issues with St. Mary’s. It’ll be close, however. Select: Villanova
#3 Purdue vs. #14 Old Dominion: LET’S GET CRAZY. Old Dominion over Purdue after Carsen Edwards includes a quiet afternoon, while BJ Stith and Ahmad Caver move OFF. Pick: Old Dominion
#7 Cincinnati vs. #10 Iowa: This really is actually the yelling coach sport as Fran McCaffrey and Mick Cronin are known for their. . .fiery characters on the sidelines. Iowa has been leaking every kind of fluid down the stretch and are limping to the tournament. Cincinnati takes it in a bodily, gritty game. Pick: Cincinnati
#2 Tennessee vs. #15 Colgate: Colgate has about as much chance here as a real tube of toothpaste. The Volunteers are large, physical, and Tennessee moves on easily. Pick: Tennessee
Second Round
#1 Virginia vs. #9 Ole Miss: The Cavaliers are too much on both offense and defense since they’re the only team in the country from the top-5 in equally on KenPom. Pick: Virginia
#5 Wisconsin vs. #13 UC Irvine: Wisconsin’s exterior shooting goes cold and UC Irvine’s run from the postseason persists. Am I only picking this because literally nobody wishes to see Virginia-Wisconsin from the Sweet 16? Maybe. Select: UC Irvine
#12 Old Dominion vs. #6 Villanova: Cinderella’s ball is cut brief. Nova shoots ODU from the gym. Select: Villanova
#7 Cincinnati vs. #1 Tennessee: CINCY VS TENNY IN COLUMBUS. Ok, fine, I won’t call them”Tenny” again. This one is a brutal battle, but Tennessee squeaks one out late as a result of a large play from Jordan Bone. Pick: Tennessee
Sweet Sixteen
#1 Virginia vs. #13 UC Irvine: The Cavaliers have building confidence as they cruise into the Elite Eight. De’Andre Hunter, Ty Jerome, and Kyle Guy are a lot to the Anteaters, moving them one win away in the promise land. Pick: Virginia
#6 Villanova vs. #2 Tennessee: The other game that I desperately want to see. Finesse vs. braun. Villanova slows down things and gets warm from out as Paschall has a big day at the paint. Pick: Villanova
Elite Eight
#1 Virginia vs. #6 Villanova: Villanova is worn out after a tough game with Tennesee and can not figure out the Pack Line shield. It is going to be close through the first half, but the Hoos pull away down the stretch. Select: Virginia
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