Things we learned on Sunday:
- North Carolina is the nation's best team. There is no doubt after the way they dismantled Arkansas on Sunday. The Razorbacks are a decent team that would have given every other team in this tournament problems. How do I know that? Well that's simple, let's us look at some of the other best teams in the tournament. UCLA had problems with Texas A&M, a mediocre Aggies squad that is on the same level as Arkansas. Memphis had problems with Mississippi State, the only team that finished ahead of Arkansas in the SEC West but was not consistently better than Arkansas. Kansas? Well so far they look invicinble as well. I can't say anything bad about the Jayhawks.
- Wow UCLA has an easy road. I believe I harped on this last night as well. If West Virgnia knocks off Xavier then the highest seed they will have played on their way to the Final Four will be a 7 seed. That means a 16, 9, 12, and 7 to get to the Final Four. Meanwhile North Carolina is taking on 16, 9, 4, 2/3 on their way. Even if Xavier knocks off WVU their road will not be anything close to the Tar Heels. Washington State is clearly the best 4 seed in this bracket and Louisville and Tennessee are clearly the top 2 and 3 seeds in this tournament as well. North Carolina has a tough tough road to a national title. A potential game against Kansas in the FInal Four and then whoever makes the title game. Is it too much for them to overcome? By the way my national title game pick was North Carolina-UCLA.
- Stephen Curry is the best player in the tournament (or at least the hottest right now). I was not one of the millions of people who ignored Davidson's fantastic season all year. Stephen Curry is amazing. I already knew that. I already knew Davidson was one of the nation's best 16 teams. How about the coaching for the Wildcats? Knowing that they weren't going to be challenged at all in their conference (they were undefeated in regular season and conference tournament play) they went out and played some of the nation's toughest teams to begin the season. How did it pay off? Being ready for tough games against Gonzaga and Georgetown in a four day span and knocking them both off. Now they get Wisconsin, and don't be surprised if Davidson is playing in a regional final next week.
- Villanova makes me second guess myself. I had the Wildcats in my Sweet 16 before watching Clemson's ACC Tournament highlights a few more times and deciding that the Wildcats were just way too inconsistent for my liking. Nova didn't do anything too impressive to make the Sweet 16 (let's be honest Clemson was overrated and Siena was just red hot against Vanderbilt) but they did earn it by beating two teams that clearly were good enough to play in this tournament and win a few games. Now they get Kansas. If they can knock off the Jayhawks then Scottie Reynolds will have to do something extraordinary. I don't see it happening.
- This tournament is going to get crazier. I expect Kansas and UCLA to reach the Elite Eight but Memphis and North Carolina will have trouble.
Ranking the Sweet 16
1. North Carolina
2. Kansas
3. UCLA
4. Memphis
5. Tennessee
6. Texas
7. Louisville
8. Washington State
9. Stanford
10. Wisconsin
11. Davidson
12. Michigan State
13. West Virginia
14. Xavier
15. Villanova
16. Western Kentucky
My Title Odds:
UCLA (3/1)
North Carolina (5/1)
Kansas (5/1)
Memphis (7/1)
Tennessee (9/1)
Texas (9/1)
Louisville (9/1)
Stanford (12/1)
Wisconsin (12/1)
Michigan State (15/1)
Washington State (15/1)
West Virginia (20/1)
Xavier (20/1)
Davidson (30/1)
Villanova (50/1)
Western Kentucky (80/1)
1) This year's crop of mid major teams is not very good. Winthrop, George Mason, Kent State and others all fell easily. The only competitive lower seeds were Kansas State (they won), Kentucky, and Georgia; all teams from major conferences.