Hits and Misses

The ones I got right (and more I got wrong) from the NCAA Tournament:

What I got Right:

• I am only going to mention the whole Duke/Belmont thing to point out that I was right about Duke losing it's NCAA Tournament edge. I don't know how this happened but I do know what is not true. I have already heard that the game has passed Coach K by. No way! If anything, I think he has done a fabulous job this year. He ran through most of the ACC season, including a road win in Chapel Hill, with no inside presence. I think teams finally caught up with that fact. Coach K can still coach but it is undeniable that Roy Williams is recruiting circles around him.



• SEC You Later! I hated to say it, but I thought the SEC would fall on it's face this year. Mississippi State's effort was a valiant one but when the dust settles, Tennessee is the only team out of six still playing. The Vols trip to Birmingham was anything but easy. They looked like a team playing on borrowed time. Now they find themselves in a region with all four top seeds remaining.



• I never bought the Pitt love. Even Bob Knight couldn't sell me on it. The other thing I never bought was Temple or Pitt over Michigan State. Tom Izzo is one of the best tournament coaches of our generation. Don't sleep on the Spartans in the dance. I'm glad I didn't.

What I got Wrong:

• Clemson. What happened to Clemson? I thought the Tigers were a cinch to advance in this tournament. I initially thought the Villanova match-up was not favorable to advancement but the national pundits told me Clemson was fine. They weren't and Nova finds themselves in the Sweet 16.



• I missed my upset picks. I liked Winthrop over Washington State. I liked Drake to the Sweet 16. I liked Davidson to the Sweet 16 but didn't have the courage to write them past Georgetown. I missed on my all-important upset picks.



• Siena over Vandy. I really thought CBS' Seth Davis got a little caught up in the Selection Sunday excitement when he called this upset. Turns out Seth had seen Siena and I had not. Turned out Seth was right and I was wrong. Again.

I only have 11 of my Sweet 16 teams still playing. I think that eliminates you from most pool action. The only good news is that I have yet to lose an Elite 8 team. Maybe hope is still alive!

I hope your bracket has fared better than mine!