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March Madness is upon us and we are here to provide a little help for your office pool. We’ve collected the hoop junkies here at the station and provided some of our thoughts and picks for each region.
MIDWEST:
Brian Koziol: Louisville, Saint Louis, Michigan State, Duke
Sal Capaccio: Louisville, Okla. State, Michigan State, Duke
Pat Malacaro: Louisville, Saint Louis, Michigan State, Duke
Dan Cave: Louisville, Okla. State, Michigan State, Duke
Koziol: “I really had Louisville as my team to pick to win the tournament before conference tournament action started, now it looks like they are the favorite, which makes picking them a little less enjoyable. Winning teams, come tournament time, usually have great guard play. The Cardinals have the best backcourt in the country with Peyton Siva and Russ Smith. They were both excellent at the Big East tournament. Defensively their press with caused havoc for virtually everyone in the conference, they have a great chance to win it all this year.”
Malacaro: “I have a feeling that this will be the most predictable of all of the regions. Louisville showed that after a lull in the middle of their season, they are back on track to be the team to beat in the Field of 68. I also put some stock in the fact that the Billikens are playing for their late coach Rick Majerus, and would not be surprised if they advanced past the Cardinals.”
WEST:
Brian Koziol: Gonzaga, Wisconsin, Belmont, Ohio State
Sal Capaccio: Pittsburgh, Wisconsin, New Mexico, Ohio State
Pat Malacaro: Gonzaga, Wisconsin, New Mexico, Notre Dame
Dan Cave: Gonzaga, Wisconsin, Arizona, Ohio State
Capaccio: “I haven't been a big believer in Gonzaga all year, so I'm putting my money where my mouth is and going Big East by taking the Pitt Panthers to beat them. I'm also a big fan of Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan. He gets the most out of his kids every year and always has a chance to make a deep run.”
Malacaro: “If there were one team I am "rooting" for this postseason, it is the 'Zags. The amount of backhanded compliments and dismissal by many in the media is wrong. The truth is, while teams like Kansas lost to TCU (11-21, 2-16) in conference play, Gonzaga won all of their West Coast Conference games. Not only that, Mark Few's team swept the WCC postseason tourney as well. I am giving the 'Zags their due, and expect to see them deep into the tourney.”
EAST:
Brian Koziol: Indiana, Syracuse, Butler, Miami
Sal Capaccio: Indiana, Syracuse, Bucknell, Miami
Pat Malacaro: Indiana, Syracuse, Marquette, Illinois
Dan Cave: Indiana, Syracuse, Butler, Miami
Koziol: “Syracuse can win this bracket or lose in the opening round and I wouldn’t be surprised either way. I have seen two different teams from the Orange this year. The good one could end up in the Final 4, the bad one could lose to Montana. If James Southerland can get his looks and someone else can provide secondary scoring, they have the athleticism to beat anyone. It will be tough to get to Atlanta with Indiana and Miami in the way. Butler is down this year but Brad Stevens will have his team ready and I see them at least advancing to the Sweet 16.
Cave: “A popular sentiment heading into the tournament seems to be, "If ever a top seed were to lose to a 16 seed, THIS would be the year." No offense to either LIU Brooklyn or JMU, but it won't be Indiana. The Hoosiers will join Syracuse (revitalized after their Big East tourney run), the always fun Butler led by Brad Stevens, and...Miami. The Hurricanes also play basketball? Isn't that something.
SOUTH:
Brian Koziol: N. Carolina, VCU, Florida, Georgetown
Sal Capaccio: Kansas, S. Dakota St, Florida, Georgetown
Pat Malacaro: Kansas, Michigan, UCLA, Georgetown
Dan Cave: Kansas, San Diego St, Florida, Georgetown
Capaccio: “This region has at least three of the best players in the whole country. Otto Porter of Georgetown; Trey Burke of Michigan; Nate Wolters of South Dakota State. That's not even mentioning some of the great talent Florida has. I love Wolters experience which is why I took South Dakota State in the upsets.”
Cave: “Every Sweet 16 needs a party crasher, so why not SD State? Steve Fisher has coached the Aztecs forever (well, since 1999...that's nothing in Lindy Ruff years) and (get ready for this) USED to be the head coach at Michigan during the Fab Five run. The potential storyline of Fisher's plucky Aztecs knocking off the big, bad Wolverines seems made for the tournament. That's why it'll happen, of course.”
There they are. Let us know if you agree or disagree:
@BrianWGR, @SalSports, @PatWGR, @DanCaveWGR
Enjoy the madness.
MIDWEST:
Brian Koziol: Louisville, Saint Louis, Michigan State, Duke
Sal Capaccio: Louisville, Okla. State, Michigan State, Duke
Pat Malacaro: Louisville, Saint Louis, Michigan State, Duke
Dan Cave: Louisville, Okla. State, Michigan State, Duke
Koziol: “I really had Louisville as my team to pick to win the tournament before conference tournament action started, now it looks like they are the favorite, which makes picking them a little less enjoyable. Winning teams, come tournament time, usually have great guard play. The Cardinals have the best backcourt in the country with Peyton Siva and Russ Smith. They were both excellent at the Big East tournament. Defensively their press with caused havoc for virtually everyone in the conference, they have a great chance to win it all this year.”
Malacaro: “I have a feeling that this will be the most predictable of all of the regions. Louisville showed that after a lull in the middle of their season, they are back on track to be the team to beat in the Field of 68. I also put some stock in the fact that the Billikens are playing for their late coach Rick Majerus, and would not be surprised if they advanced past the Cardinals.”
WEST:
Brian Koziol: Gonzaga, Wisconsin, Belmont, Ohio State
Sal Capaccio: Pittsburgh, Wisconsin, New Mexico, Ohio State
Pat Malacaro: Gonzaga, Wisconsin, New Mexico, Notre Dame
Dan Cave: Gonzaga, Wisconsin, Arizona, Ohio State
Capaccio: “I haven't been a big believer in Gonzaga all year, so I'm putting my money where my mouth is and going Big East by taking the Pitt Panthers to beat them. I'm also a big fan of Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan. He gets the most out of his kids every year and always has a chance to make a deep run.”
Malacaro: “If there were one team I am "rooting" for this postseason, it is the 'Zags. The amount of backhanded compliments and dismissal by many in the media is wrong. The truth is, while teams like Kansas lost to TCU (11-21, 2-16) in conference play, Gonzaga won all of their West Coast Conference games. Not only that, Mark Few's team swept the WCC postseason tourney as well. I am giving the 'Zags their due, and expect to see them deep into the tourney.”
EAST:
Brian Koziol: Indiana, Syracuse, Butler, Miami
Sal Capaccio: Indiana, Syracuse, Bucknell, Miami
Pat Malacaro: Indiana, Syracuse, Marquette, Illinois
Dan Cave: Indiana, Syracuse, Butler, Miami
Koziol: “Syracuse can win this bracket or lose in the opening round and I wouldn’t be surprised either way. I have seen two different teams from the Orange this year. The good one could end up in the Final 4, the bad one could lose to Montana. If James Southerland can get his looks and someone else can provide secondary scoring, they have the athleticism to beat anyone. It will be tough to get to Atlanta with Indiana and Miami in the way. Butler is down this year but Brad Stevens will have his team ready and I see them at least advancing to the Sweet 16.
Cave: “A popular sentiment heading into the tournament seems to be, "If ever a top seed were to lose to a 16 seed, THIS would be the year." No offense to either LIU Brooklyn or JMU, but it won't be Indiana. The Hoosiers will join Syracuse (revitalized after their Big East tourney run), the always fun Butler led by Brad Stevens, and...Miami. The Hurricanes also play basketball? Isn't that something.
SOUTH:
Brian Koziol: N. Carolina, VCU, Florida, Georgetown
Sal Capaccio: Kansas, S. Dakota St, Florida, Georgetown
Pat Malacaro: Kansas, Michigan, UCLA, Georgetown
Dan Cave: Kansas, San Diego St, Florida, Georgetown
Capaccio: “This region has at least three of the best players in the whole country. Otto Porter of Georgetown; Trey Burke of Michigan; Nate Wolters of South Dakota State. That's not even mentioning some of the great talent Florida has. I love Wolters experience which is why I took South Dakota State in the upsets.”
Cave: “Every Sweet 16 needs a party crasher, so why not SD State? Steve Fisher has coached the Aztecs forever (well, since 1999...that's nothing in Lindy Ruff years) and (get ready for this) USED to be the head coach at Michigan during the Fab Five run. The potential storyline of Fisher's plucky Aztecs knocking off the big, bad Wolverines seems made for the tournament. That's why it'll happen, of course.”
There they are. Let us know if you agree or disagree:
@BrianWGR, @SalSports, @PatWGR, @DanCaveWGR
Enjoy the madness.