NCAA TOURNEY INSIGHT

***SMOOTH TALKS NCAA TOURNEY - TODAY SMOOTH RELEASES WHO HE BELIEVES ARE THIS YEAR'S EARLY EXITS AND ALSO WHO HE BELIEVES ARE THE BEST CINDARELLA PROSPECTS!! DO NOT COMPLETE YOUR BRACKETS UNTIL YOU SEE WHAT HE HAS TO SAY!! WEBCAST - HERE

IN ADDITION TO MY TOURNEY WEBCAST I WANTED TO ADDRESS SOME OTHER MATCHUPS, ETC IN THIS BLOG.

THESE ARE JUST PRELIMINARY THOUGHTS AND SOME OF MY PERSONAL BRACKET PLAYS BUT NOT OFFICIAL A-T-S PICKS!!

PLAY-IN GAME:
ALABAMA STATE VS. MOREHEAD STATE
Comment: I am taking Morehead State to advance, well, because who doesn't like More-Head?


EAST FIRST ROUND:
(8) OKLAHOMA STATE VS. (9) TENNESSEE
Comment: I am not totally sold on Tennessee this year. I like Okie State's consistency during the season. Tennessee only beat 2 teams with top 50 RPI rankings in 8 tries this year. Okie State moves on!

(4) XAVIER VS. (13) PORTLAND STATE
Comment: I don't see the X-men a real threat to anyone beyond this opening round. I am somewhat surprised by their 4th seed and really expected them to be a 5 or 6. maybe the Committee knows something I don't. X-Men move on but don't expect them to go much further.

(6) UCLA VS. (11) VCU
Comment: There seems to be a lot of early public love for UCLA but I am not sure why. This team is average at-best. VCU stepped up in competition 3 times this year and lost to Oklahoma, Nevada, and Vanderbilt by an average of 5 pts/gm. VCU is 3-1 versus teams with an RPI ranking of 50-75. I like VCU to advance.


SOUTH:
(8) LSU VS. (9) BUTLER
Comment: I expect this to be one of the more exciting 8-9 matchups. Butler has a history rich with upsets and have been known to frustrate some of the better teams. Well lucky for them they are playing an LSU team that really is on the same level. These two teams are very evenly matched and I expect it to stay close throughout. Butler is 5-0 this year against teams whose RPI ranks 76-100. I like Butler to advance.

(7) CLEMSON VS. (10) MICHIGAN
Comment: I like the guard play of Clemson and don't think Michigan has the offensive weapons to counter Clemson's aggressive style of defense. I like Clemson to advance.


MIDWEST
(8) OHIO STATE VS. (9) SIENA
Comment: These two teams are as evenly macthed as their seeds indicate. Siena took Oklahoma State, Pitt, and Kansas down to the wire despite losing all 3. I feel strongly that those 3 teams are better than Ohio State. State is just 2-6 this year against teams whose RPI ranks in top 25. I like Siena to advance.

(7) BOSTON COLLEGE VS. (10) USC
Comment: I like the balance of USC at both ends of the floor. BC has shown they can step up in big games. BC relies on 2nd chance points coming from the offensive boards but they will find them to be at a premium against a USC team that does a terrific job on the defensive glass. I like USC to advance.


WEST
(8) BYU VS. (9) TEXAS A&M
Comment: Like Papa John's says "better players, better team". I like Texas A&M to advance.

(7) CALIFORNIA VS. (10) MARYLAND
Comment: I am sure maryland will get a lot of looks as possible upset candidate but I will pass. Cal is extremely talented and happens to be 6-0 against teams whose RPI ranking is 50-100. I like Cal to advance!


More to come............