The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

March Madness is finally here. Time for people to spend way to many hours evaluating each game in each region, as they fill out way too many brackets. Looking for potential sleeper teams to see who has the chance to make a cinderella run is only half the fun. Sitting on the couch or in your favorite sports bar watching game after game, either cheering because your team won or crying because the team you had going to the elite 8 got knocked out in the first round. This is the roller coaster we like to call the NCAA Mens Basketball tourney. "It's the most wonderful time of the year", indeed it is.

A few questions, and my answers.

Who will be in the final four?
Answer: Kansas, West Virginia, Kansas St., Duke: as of right now, this my prediction for the final four.

Potential Sleepers in each Region?
Answer: west=Butler...midwest=Tennessee...east=Temple...south=Notre Dame
these are teams that I believe can make a legitimate run in the tournament. They may not be your cinderella teams like George Mason a few years ago, but they can definitely spoil some brackets.

Cinderella Teams?
Answer: Siena from the south region is one of my cinderella picks. Their first round game is against a Purdue team that was playing way better during the middle season than at the end, not to mention their best player is out with a torn ACL. Siena is a team with senior leadership, which has proven to be a key aspect in small schools success in the tournament. I can see Siena making a run on their side of the bracket.
Another cinderella team in my opinion is Minnesota. Inconsistent during the season, but loaded with talent. They also made an unexpected run at the Big 10 title but came up short in the championship against Ohio St. If Minnesota can get passed Xavier, they have a chance to make some noise in the BIG DANCE.

National Champion?
Answer: Kansas Jayhawks. I picked the Jayhawks to win the tournament mid way through the season, and I'm sticking with it. Even though they are the overall #1 seed in the tourney, they may have the toughest road to the final four with teams like Ohio St.(2), Georgetown(3), Maryland(4), and even Michigan St. with the 5 seed. Despite this, I believe Kansas will roll into Indianapolis this year and cut down the nets.