Sweet Sixteen - 2/16

The farther we get into the season the more people talk about bubbles and seedings and who's in and who's out. I love it because I have been doing it for a month and I don't think its ever too early to start talking about it. The Poll's don't really matter as long as you get into the tournament so why not talk about the bubble or who the number 1 seeds are.

North Carolina beat Duke this past week. That's all I have to say about that.

I am a day later then usual with this post but I am so glad I am. Tonight Pittsburgh played against Connecticut without Jerome Dyson. Dyson is out for the season with a bum knee and I honestly think it won't hurt UConn that much. I was right about tonight's game too because I believe what really hurt them was that Thabeet only scored 5 points and was in foul trouble most of the game.

The other thing that really hurt UConn was Dajuan Blair. 22 points and 23 rebounds will beat any team in the country. What a game and what a player! Jodie Meeks 54 was great and Blake Griffin just had 40 and 23 but neither of those games were against the number 1 team in the country. I am just saying...

The game that might mean the most that is coming up this week is Duke vs. Wake Forest II. This time the game is in Durham but I think if either team wants a shot at a number 1 seed they have to win this game. They may even need more help then that but if everything falls their way, the winner of this game still make get a number 1 seed.

Let's get to this week's seeds!

East (Boston)

1. Pittsburgh - Beating Connecticut gives them the closer game. Boston is closer then Indianapolis so Pitt goes to Boston. Dajuan Blair is huge and Sam Young can score with anyone.

2. Duke - The loss to Carolina was understandable and somewhat expected but losing at Boston College hurts. This team is close to falling even farther and better beat Wake at home if they want to stay here.

3. Washington - I know this is a long way to go but it's because too many Big East teams are in the top 16. This team is solid and you probably don't know much about them. Honestly, all I know is that their point guard is named Isaiah Thomas. Yea, but this one didn't harass a secretary.

4. Xavier - After the unexpected loss to Duquesne, they lost again but this time it was against Dayton. I honestly thought about putting Dayton here because they are really good too. The A-10 is at least a 2 bid conference this year which is more then I expected.

South (Memphis)

1. North Carolina - This team will NOT win the championship if they play D like they did in the first half against Duke. They WILL win the championship if they play D like they did in the second half though. It's really that simple here.

2. Michigan State - This team is so up and down I don't really know what to say. Most seasons when the Spartans do this they usually find it during the tournament. That's the Izzo factor.

3. Marquette - In my mind one loss doesn't usually hurt too badly but South Florida isn't very good. In 9 days they play UConn and can pick themselves back up from that but really South Florida hurts.

4. Villanova - I try not to put 2 teams from the same conference in the same region but its impossible when I pick 5 teams. This was the fifth team and I still think they are a very dangerous team.

Midwest (Indianapolis)

1. Connecticut - They had Boston until they lost to Pitt but I think they will take this. The Dyson loss isn't huge as long as a few role players step up a bit. This team will be fine.

2. Memphis - This team is really good! Trust me!

3. Missouri - I don't know anything about this team either except that they just keep on winning. They needed a buzzer beater to beat Kansas but they did and now we will definitely hear and learn about them somehow.

4. Illinois - This team is solid. I don't think they are where they need to be to make a big run but if they keep improving they could be dangerous.

West (Somewhere in Arizona)

1. Oklahoma - They will be number 1 a week from yesterday. They deserve but they play Kansas. Let's see if they can avoid the number 1 jinx.

2. Wake Forest - This team needs to get its act back together. They may have taken a small step back by beating Florida St pretty good. They are undefeated against ranked teams this year.

3. Louisville - This team is good but they got whooped by Notre Dame. Notre Dame isn't horrible but the score was 90-57. That's bad and deserves at least one drop.

4. Kansas - Three teams from the Big 12. That's right. UCLA lost to both Arizona teams so they don't belong right now so Kansas gets the nod.

Every game is huge these days!

Enjoy!