Pick Kansas, but not too far

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By Jesse Newell

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

OK, no more procrastinating. It’s time to take on that NCAA bracket.

Ready? All right, so am I.

Here are a few simple steps that will lead you to your office pool title.

First off, pick Kansas into the Final Four.

OK, so I told you not to do this last year.

Things are different this year.

The Jayhawks are deep enough, talented enough, and this year don’t have a huge roadblock in their way like they did last year with UCLA (in California).

KU came out smelling like roses in the Midwest region. Georgetown is a bit overrated, and the Jayhawks match up well against them. I still like Wisconsin to make the Regional Final, but I think KU can “out-athlete” (thanks for the new term, Brandon Schneider) the Badgers in that matchup.

Oh, and you heard it here first: The Jayhawks will go down to the wire with talented 16-seed Portland State in the first round.

Don’t freak out. KU still will be San Antonio-bound.

Having said that ...

Don’t pick KU as your National Champion.

This will be the toughest step for most of you, but I’ll continue to say it every year.

About eight out of 10 people in your pool will pick with their hearts and have KU going all the way. That’s fine. Let them donate money to the pot.

Think about it. Even if KU was the odds-on favorite, it still would have to win six straight games. That’s tough.

If you have the Jayhawks losing to, say, Tennessee in the Final Four, one of two things will happen: One, KU does lose, and while all but two people throw away their brackets, you’re in the chase for the whole enchilada; or two, KU goes on to the National Championship, and your bracket doesn’t matter anymore because you’re so happy that KU has made the final game.

It’s a win-win. I like my options either way.

Pick mostly No. 1 seeds in the Final Four.

There are years to pick tons of upsets. This isn’t one of them.

The field is top heavy. Put at least two No. 1 seeds (and probably three) in the Final Four.

Don’t fall into the ACC trap.

Surely in the last week you’ve heard “Duke” Vitale or Billy P-ACC-er discuss how great North Carolina, Duke and Clemson are. Don’t listen to them.

Clemson is overrated as a No. 5 seed and will face a good Villanova team. I like an upset here.

Carolina is good, but not spectacular. Tennessee should be able to knock the Heels off in the Elite Eight, if UNC does not lose sooner.

As for Duke, just don’t put them into the Final Four. That would be silly, especially because the team has no inside game at all.

Before we go, here are some teams I love ...

Memphis — Gets a bad rap for playing in a weak conference. Still, I believe the Tigers are the most talented team in the country. Memphis shouldn’t have any problem beating Texas, even if it is in Houston.

Wisconsin — Got a No. 3 seed, yet is ranked No. 5 in the country in the final poll. The Badgers also play a tough defensive style that is hard to go against in the NCAAs.

Xavier — If anyone is going to take out UCLA in the West, this is the team. Could be a surprise in the Final Four.

West Virginia — Bob Huggins-coached team has great chance to make Sweet 16.

And some I hate ...

Pittsburgh — Another case of a team that is overrated because of too much ESPN love.

Oklahoma — Tough first-round matchup against St. Joseph’s for an inconsistent Sooners team.

Indiana — Team has not played well without coach Kelvin Sampson.

All right, now go out there and win your pool.

Copy my answers now, then brag to your friends about how smart you are later.

I promise I won’t tell a soul.