Picking the South Region
North Carolina goes to the Final Four, plus some media luminary-watching at the Wachovia Center.
I think the Owls can do a pretty good job of containing the Orange's guards, but Boeheim - for all that people criticize him - is smart enough to know when to pound it inside.
2. Oklahoma over 7. Clemson in Kansas City, Mo.
The tallest regular player on the Tigers' roster is 6-9 forward Raymond Sykes. You tell me how they'll contain Blake Griffin.
Regional Semifinals in Memphis, Tenn.
1. North Carolina over 4. Gonzaga
Another game where it would be great to see the mid-major team triumph, but as with Butler the Tar Heels will win. Gonzaga could make a real game of this, but I'd feel better about their chances if they had beaten Connecticut back in December instead of losing in overtime. Or if they'd beaten Memphis at home last month. The Bulldogs played a good non-conference schedule but their best wins by Pomeroy were against Oklahoma State and Maryland.
2. Oklahoma over 3. Syracuse
Another game on which I could go either way. I'm taking the Sooners because of Griffin, but I could come to regret that very quickly if he gets in foul trouble. I also think this could be where the Orange finally run out of gas. So I take the Sooners.
Regional Final in Memphis, Tenn.
1. North Carolina over 2. Oklahoma
Blake Griffin is a great player, maybe the best in the country. But he'll meet his match in Tyler Hansbrough. The Sooners' three-point defense is also somewhat middling, and their best guard is a freshman. If Hansbrough and Griffin neutralize each other, look for Ty Lawson and in particular Wayne Ellington to make the difference and send the Tar Heels to the Final Four.