[Cactus Jack]

It would just be nice to be playing in the Sweet 16. I’ve sorta forgotten what it’s like.

The level of defense that the remaining teams were playing today was on a different planet than what Kentucky can do.

Three of the four projected #1 seeds lost today. I still think North Carolina is the final #1, but Iowa State's blow out against Houston could make it a bit interesting. I'm cooling off on Houston due to the injuries and was never high on Purdue to begin with.

I don't think UConn accomplishes the rare repeat, but right now, they're the best team. Their game with Marquette (who was without one of their better players that will be back for the tournament) was close in the first half but was over by about the 7:00 mark in the 2nd half. The Huskies have a certain type that they'll be vulnerable to (see Pitino's game plan against them that held Clingan to 6 points and 5 rebounds or Marquette putting him in ball screens and letting the screener pop while he sat back in drop coverage). They aren't made to play from behind but they're so damned big and defend and rebound so well that it'll take a lot to get them in that situation. Off the top of my head, I don't have a team that jumps to mind as far as "they'd really give UConn trouble". Whoever takes them down might need some luck-- for example: someone who isn't necessarily at the top of the scouting report has a career game or the team's leading scorer exploding for over 35 points because they go unconscious shooting and can't miss.

Probably going to pick Auburn to go deep in my bracket (unless someone is injured tomorrow). Same for Iowa State. Tennessee might make a run to the Elite Eight or Final Four in spite of Rick Barnes being terrible because someone has to do it. I'll probably be much higher on Baylor than others.

Will need to do more research on some of the far West teams like Utah State, St. Mary's, Colorado State, or even BYU and will probably pick the best of that bunch to have a decent run. With the Mountain West getting so many bids and other schools in those areas getting in, someone practically has to end up close to home in Spokane, Omaha, or Salt Lake City. For the later of those, the elevation will be something to keep an eye on as well.

Could see Nebraska pulling off an upset or two because they play a style that you don't see very often and it'd have to be hard to prepare for, especially if you get them on a day and a half's notice. You don't see many teams who are setting screens for their 5 man to take threes out on the perimeter. They are the only power conference team to never win an NCAA Tournament game, but that probably ends this season.

Wisconsin and Florida Atlantic have been ranked extremely high at different points in the season and are now trending in different directions. Don't know exactly what to make of either of them other than that they could be dangerous.

Going to try to start looking at teams that no one has heard of that are capable of pulling off upsets tomorrow: Grand Canyon and James Madison will probably be the first two that I take a hard look at.