Well I’ve done my half-dozen March Madness brackets, hoping to use my hoop knowledge to earn money or a big flat screen TV from several sports’ Web sites offering free bracket contests. I know I have about as much chance as I do buying a lottery ticket, but at least my selections are based on knowledge not luck.
When doing those brackets, I couldn’t bring myself to have all the Philly schools losing in the first round. In fact the only school I had losing in round one is Villanova. After seeing Clemson battle North Carolina, I had to give them props over the inconsistent Wildcats. I really think Temple has a chance against Michigan State (today at 12:30pm), and that St. Joe’s can get by Oklahoma tomorrow. In several of my brackets I have Xavier getting to the “Great 8.” They will beat Georgia, and I have them beating Purdue and West Virginia in my CBS bracket. However, I don’t have Temple or St. Joe’s making it to the Sweet 16. (Pictured is action from the Temple-St. Joe's final at Boardwalk Hall.) St. Joe’s will fall to Louisville in the second round, and Temple will go home after losing to Pittsburgh.
I have a feeling this is the year when all Four No. 1 teams will make it to the Final Four. North Carolina, Kansas, Memphis and UCLA really look too tough to be toppled.
Let the Madness Begin.