March Madness The 2011 Edition…

My Bracket Breakdown, NCAA Tournament Flashbacks, and Bracket Challenge

The madness has already begun….. just ask Colorado, but don’t worry Buffaloes, you will be playing long after many of these so called "better than you teams" are back in their dorms.

This may be the most balanced tournament in years, but that doesn't mean we aren't due for some surprises, and this is how I see some of the teams....

Seedless Grapes: Pittsburgh

This will be the first #1 seed to lose in the tournament. Battle Tested – Yes. Strong Squad – Yes. Vulnerable – Yes. This squad had gone through a lot this year, but as talented as they are, inconsistency always sets in during tourney time.

Sleeper Teams: Belmont and Utah State

I like both of these squads and with the way the brackets are coming together, it wouldn’t surprise me for one of these teams to make the Sweet 16.

Here they come… There they go….: Wisconsin, St. Johns, Purdue

I feel that one of these teams are going to fold, not because they aren’t good, but simply because they had a rough experience in their conference tourney’s and now face tough match-ups with opponents that come into the tourney hot.

Strong Showing: Michigan State, Florida State, Richmond….

I feel Sparty will leave it all on the floor simply because it’s too hard to imagine an Izzo squad leaving after Day 1. Florida State doesn’t seem to get much love on the hardwood, and they will play with that chip on their shoulder, and I personally feel that Richmond will push Vandy to the buzzer and could even eek out the win.

Much Love For…. Virginia Tech.

I am speechless imagining how a 4 year senior could not taste the tourney after being so close each time. I am not going to go into the VCU, UAB debate, but this one hurts…

My Final Four: Join the “Life Is My High Bracket Challenge” on Yahoo to find out”

Click here to join the bracket challenge or email me at lifeismyhigh@gmail.com

This time of year always makes me think back to some of my favorite NCAA tournament memories, so join me as I hit the Hot Tub Time Machine once again (everyone keep their clothes on please…)

1990 UNLV vs Duke

One of if not my favorite team of all time… Duke simply wasn’t ready for these boys….

1993 California vs. Duke

Jason Kidd showcasing his talent’s on the biggest stage by “Besting” Duke 82-77…. (You like how I threw Besting in there right???)

1994 Arkansas vs. Duke

Nolan Richardson’s 40 minutes of hell combined with the performances of Scotty Thurman, Corey Beck and Corliss Williamson was too much for Duke down the stretch.

1996 Kentucky vs. UMass

The star power and talent in this game was ridiculous.

Kentucky had 3 future First Round draft picks in Antoine Walker, Tony Delk, Walter McCarty along with Derek Anderson, Jeff Sheppard, Ron Mercer, Wayne Turner, and others compiling a 32-2 record.

UMass trotted out a 35-1 record with Marcus Camby, Donta Bright, Dana Dingle, Camelo Travieso, Edgar Padilla and others

This game was an instant classic…. That’s all I can pretty much say about this.

1990 Loyola Marymount vs. Alabama

This was a hard pill to swallow… Being 11 years old at the time, I could not put death and sports together. It just didn’t seem fathomable. So needless to say, the Hank Gathers tragedy was something hard for me to understand. During the LMU tournament run, the emotionally charged squad was averaging well over 100pts per game and was matched up with Alabama (my favorite team) in the Sweet 16. Alabama held them to 62, but still fell 62-60 in the contest. LMU caught a buzzsaw in UNLV in the Elite Eight and their run abruptly ended there.