The Midwest - 2007 Preview

Oh the Midwest. How the hell is Florida the overall number one seed and given the Midwest Region? That distinction belonged to the Ohio State. The NCAA selection committee really dropped the ball with that.

Anyhoo, don’t expect the Gators to repeat. If there is any good in the world, and I like to think there is lots of it, the good will prevent the evil – portrayed by Billy Donovan and Florida – from repeating.

The Midwest in summary:
Who’s Coming Out – Wisconsin
Who’s Out Early – Butler
Most Overrated – Notre Dame, Maryland
Most Underrated – Winthrop

The twelve-over-five upset is for sure here. Old Dominion will beat Butler. I understand Butler has had a cute year and everyone wants to jump on the mid-major bandwagon, but Old Dominion has too much offensive firepower and athleticism. The Monarchs have won eleven of their last twelve games. Make it twelve of their last thirteen. Then thirteen of their last fourteen before falling to Florida in the Sweet Sixteen.

The Arizona/Purdue match-up is intriguing, because I’m not sure either team is all that good. Purdue gets a nine seed like Michigan State, but Michigan State had several more quality wins and a stronger non-conference schedule. Arizona closed out the season strong, but their resume is not overly impressive. I like the Wildcats simply because of Lute Olsen’s experience and their overall athleticism.

Go Winthrop! I don’t like Notre Dame. Winthrop almost got a win over Tennessee in last year’s tournament. This year they will upset the Fighting Irish.

Oregon is a solid team and I’m surprised by who has emerged as the star of the Ducks. I always thought Malik Hairston would take over, but Bryce Taylor has been the man for Oregon. Detroit native, Tajuan Porter, is a good freshman point guard and the Ducks look like a Sweet Sixteen team.

Who knocks out the Ducks? Wisconsin. I hate Alando Tucker. I have argued he has syphilis (is that libel? Emily, Chris). However, the Badgers are tough. They will get past Texas A&M Corpus Christi. UNLV may hang for a half, but the Badgers will pull away late. Oregon will fall to the Badgers and then they will meet up with Florida.

Florida, the undeserving overall number one seed, has the easiest route to the Elite Eight. Maryland will beat Davidson and then lose to the Monarchs, setting up an Old Dominion/Florida match-up. The Cinderella story ends for the Monarchs by the evil Gators and their evil coach Billy Donovan.

Teddy Dupay may take the day off from work at Arby’s to come out of the stands and try to injure Alando Tucker like he did to Mateen Cleaves in the 2000 Championship game. He definitely does not have anything better to do and I think his YMCA team has the night off. I would not be too mad about Dupay doing this because Tucker is evil too, but in reality Florida does not handle teams who play solid half-court defense very well. The Badgers will keep this a low scoring game and Joakim Noah and his less annoying counterpart the Grand Ledge Michigander, Al Horford, will have to overcome foul trouble. Thus, on Wisconsin, on Wisconsin to the Final Four (read in the melody of Wisconsin’s fight song).

The Midwest is a weaker bracket. I like Old Dominion making some noise. Look out for Oregon and everyone pray Florida does not advance to Atlanta. They won’t and the Big Ten will hopefully get two teams to the Final Four again.