So when does this silly thing begin by the way? I thought I just sucked because my percentages were 0...but ya'll apparently are equal with me...so either we all suck or...well it's not started yet.

(Forgive me...I know ZIPPO about basketball...this is basketball right?)

I am not too swift technically, but here are my picks. Remember, my original pool pick was Memphis in the final four and they lost the first day so here goes:

ELITE EIGHT

Oklahoma, Syracuse, Texas, Maryland, Kentucky, Pitt,Arizona, Duke

FINAL FOUR

Oklahoma, Maryland, Kentucky, Arizona

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

OKLAHOMA 84

Kentucky 78

Please accept my entries I am dying to win a t-shirt.

Assuming that my picture is still working, there's not much guessing who I picked to win out.

GO BIG BLUE

R.G., as much as it pains me, I also picked Kentucky. Being a Razorback fan, it really hurts to cheer for Kentucky. However, seeing how my team didn't even win 10 games this year, the whole basketball season has been painful.

Good luck, and I will cheer for Kentucky, another SEC team. I have to wait a couple more years before the Hogs can give the Wildcats a good game again.

Thanks Lewis!

I know Arkansas struggled this year, but you have a GREAT young coach. I think a lot of Stan Heath, he will build a team that will be very good and he will sustain that success. I also think of Arkansas as an "upper echelon" coaching job, so I can't imagine there being many (if any) schools that could pry Heath away; there aren't many schools that would be a step up. (Of course, if Tubby retires... )

Yeah, R.G. you took one of coaches before and look what happened. Stay away from Stan Heath! He's going to be great coach for us. Thanks for the compliment, it has been a rough couple of years.

I couldn't get through my firewall, but I gotta go KU.

Of course, Kentucky's legendary "Baron" (that would be Adolph Rupp for those of you not into basketball lore) was born and raised in my hometown, so the Wildcats hold a special place for me too.

Rock-Chalk-Jayhawk

I rarely get to have a sports conversation, but I do have this little cocktail party line for basketball that is probably appropriate to insert in this forum (who'd a thunk it would ever happen! )

(at five foot tall it's hard to look knowledgeable about basketball...but I attempt it before I say....) "You know, ever since Fred Brown perfected the 3 point shot basketball has gone to heck in a hand basket for the viewers. Professional basketball especially! It's become nothing but rat ball! I sometimes have to whip my head back and forth so often I'd think I was watching a tennis match if the ball weren't so big! (pretending horror) At least in the college games there is some defense and team play. The pros do nothing but run from one end of the court to another, with one key player tossing in the 3 pointer shot after shot after shot. (sad look) I miss the good old days before Downtown Freddy Brown....

(I then offer to get drinks before anyone argues with me or wants more in depth information)

NCAA nut, Congrats. on the game over Pitts.
Exciting game to watch. Good luck Saturday

AAAAAAAAGGGGHHHHHH!!!!! Well, I'm out. NC boys really let me down this year - cannot BELIEVE Duke is out this early. SIGH.

ExGovtBabe,

I want to state that I mean the following comment in fun and the spirit of competition (I'm not trying to be mean):

As a UK fan, I cannot be sad when dUKe loses. And, yes, this does go back to '92 when a guy that should have been ejected from the game for stomping Aminu Timberlake ruined the greatest game in NCAA history and ended the UK broadcasting career of the late, great Cawood Ledford.

In fairness, any school with dUKe's academic standards that can field a consistently good team deserves respect.

UK did win, but there is great concern about the ankle of our senior leader, Keith Bogans.

It'll never happen with Oklahoma's star hampered with a groin pull. (Of course, stranger things have happened.)

My Elite 8: Kentucky, Pittsburg (they're out), Arizona, Kansas, Texas, Maryland (I did not pick them in the Elite 8 in my field of 64), Oklahoma, Syracuse (I did not pick them either in my field of 64).

My Final 4: Kentucky, Arizona, Texas, Syracuse (I really think OU's top scorer Hollis Price's groin pull is going to "pull" Oklahoma down-not to mention second leading scorer Eri's broken hand. The two of them scored a total of 8 points against Cal. Syracuse is no Cal (assuming they beat Auburn).)

My Championship: Kentucky and Texas

My Champion: Texas (had to go with my heart this year because it just might happen)

DID YOU ALL SEE MY BOYS WIN!!!!!! GO MARQUETTE!!!! I hit my head on the ceiling jumping on my couch and with the cold that I have right now, it didn't feel to good, but who cares? MY BOYS WON!!!

Great job UK, they played a great game and showed why they can win it all! Sorry to the Duke fans, but Kansas has a bit of my heart...that and Heinrich's ears!

Another tip Dawnie--don't show them you Sweet 16 bracket. You are at 30%--who did you pick? You may win the last place prize.

No, *I'll* win the last prize, most likely. SIGH. UConn is my only hope, go Huskies!

Posted the Anon. congrats. to NCAA nut last night after the game. (I gotta get registered and quit posting anonymouslly)
I've gotta go with TEXAS and ARIZONA as my favorites. But, I don't think Texas has what it will take tonight.

I live in the state of hysteria formerly known as Connecticut. I can't stand UCONN and anything about them. I am disappointed someone from Texas would be cheering for UUCONN. GO LONGHORNS!!!!!!!!

I lived in Conn for 8 years. I like the Lady Huskies better than the boys, but I don't care for most of the TX teams. ESP. A&M.

Actually mostly I like the Carolina teams. But they are breaking my heart this year.

AAAGH! In their own backyard playing a number 5 seeded team, you don't think the Horns can win? I will be terribly disappointed if they do not go to the final 4.

The brackets:

The East: The Horns will not face a 2, 3 or even 4 seed to get there. The ESPN/USA Today poll has Texas #5, Maryland #17, Connecticut #24, (Michigan State only received 2 votes). The RPI has Texas #4, Maryland #37, Michigan State #31, and Connecticut #28. By the numbers, the Horns have easiest route left to the Final 4. I could not ask for anything better.

In the South, #1 seed Kentucky has to face a #3 seed, Marquette, to get to the Final 4.

In the West, #1 seed Arizona has to face #2 seed Kansas.

In the Midwest, Oklahoma (playing with their two top players injured) has to face a #12 seed Butler (ho-hum) and then play either a #10 (Auburn) or #3 seed (Syracuse). This definitely looks like the next easiest route for a #1 seed to the Final 4--except watch out for the key injuries to OU. I don't think their freshman can score 22 points a game like he did against Cal.

Then again, the best way to pick the tournament is to not think this hard.

And GO LADY HORNS, too!!!

Texas just has a way of not being able to finish some teams off, I would like to see them go all the way. OH yea, by the way, I am from Texas!! The state, not the school.
As for the Lady Horns, Stacy Stevens from East Texas is AWESOME!! Wait until next year and watch what they do. They will be tough to beat.
I have a friend who went to Texas Univ., he is in San Antonio for the game tonight.

All I can say for Texas v. Conn. is whew!!!