DAYTON, Ohio - If you're reading this, your bracket better be finished.
Chattanooga, your hour is at hand. Cal State-Northridge, time to check out of the hotel.
Have a safe trip back to Baltimore, Morgan State.
The NCAA men's basketball tournament is going to provide many enthralling moments between today and April 6.
That's when Louisville will beat North Carolina 80-75 at Ford Field in Detroit.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it. At least until Louisville gets upset by Morehead State on Friday.
I'm fairly certain, of course, that won't happen. A No. 16 seed has never beaten a No. 1. But as for the rest of filling out a bracket, there is peril at nearly every turn.
There will be blood. A David or two will slay a Goliath or two. But I'll be darned if I know which ones.
That's why it's best to stick with the favorites most of the time. If Stephen F. Austin is going to stun Syracuse, I'm not smart enough to see it coming. So I'm going with Syracuse.
As I review my completed bracket, I find nothing more shocking in the first round than an 11 beating a 6. Temple over Arizona State.
Wait, there's another one. Utah State (11) over Marquette (6).
With no preconceived agenda, I see I've picked the state of Utah to go 3-0, including BYU over Texas A&M in an 8-9 game.
The first-round pick I've labored over the most is none other than the team whom I know the best: Tennessee.
I was originally leaning to Oklahoma State. One reason, the Cowboys are really solid at the free-throw line and Tennessee isn't. Another, this figures to be a close one and how often this year has UT delivered a game-winning basket?
But I'm coming around to the Vols. Vegas likes them and the sharpies are right more often than not.
Maybe this isn't sound logic, but if the President of the United States, the leader of the free world, is picking the Vols in his bracket, I'm with him.
Barack Obama knows some hoops. But is he merely trying to curry favor with Republican senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker?
I hope not. I hope he's taken a break from solving the various messes we're in and has had a crack team of experts analyzing the match-ups. That he's actually studied the tape and sees something that tells him Wayne Chism is set to go off.
Well, that's more homework than I've done. But at this point we interrupt the bracket revelation to say a word about the venue where the Vols meet the Cowboys on Friday.
University of Dayton Arena is rich in NCAA tournament history. Only four sites - Kansas City, Charlotte, Salt Lake City and Atlanta - have hosted more games than Dayton.
Indiana started championship runs here in 1976 and again in 1981. Villanova began its 1985 Cinderella story here.
This is the court where Austin Carr set the tournament scoring record, raining 61 Notre Dame points on Ohio in 1970.
This is the court where Adolph Rupp coached his last game, a loss to Florida State in the 1972 regional finals.
This is the court where Kentucky ruined Indiana's perfect season in the 1975 regional finals.
And this is the court where Tennessee lowered the curtain on the Jerry Green era in 2001. I can still see then-UT president J. Wade Gilley sitting across the court with a baleful expression as the Vols piddled away a first-round loss to Charlotte.
Getting back on track, I won't bog you down with all 32 of my projected first-round losers. Just know that the Vols will not be among them.
Pittsburgh, the East's No. 1 seed, probably isn't thrilled at getting a potential opponent as dangerous as Tennessee out of the 8-9 game. Still, the Panthers will advance to Boston, where they will beat Duke and earn a berth in the Final Four.
At which point, they will succumb to relentless North Carolina. The Tar Heels will have gotten there by beating Syracuse, which had outlasted Oklahoma in seven overtimes.
Louisville, meanwhile, will have prevailed down a difficult path that included Ohio State, Wake Forest and Michigan State to arrive in Detroit.
And there the Cardinals will snuff out Memphis in the semifinals, preventing a second consecutive championship game appearance by the Tigers.
The final image we will have of the 2008-09 season will be the Cardinals cutting down the nets as we listen to "One Shining Moment.''
Mike Strange may be reached at strangem@knoxnews.com or 865-342-6276.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 40
dwa7#337691 writes:
'bout right.
hoosier_vol_fan writes:
Anybody remember last year when the same North Carolina team beat the same Louisville team.
Regardless, I still got Louisville beating North Carolina this year.
woodwr#217203 writes:
What tournament results will retain Smith & Chism for next year? Can we train up a real point guard for next year?
Imagine this team with either Lofton or Smith to shoot a three or at least be fouled and go to the line late in those how many lost in the last 60 seconds games.
VAvolfanRON writes:
lmao....i quit reading it after the second paragragh!!!..jumped right to the comments...
but he is right (from what i could comprehend)...we'll have 2 good games...then......
no..no....see, people on here dont understand joking when something is writen...unless you are a fricking author
VAvolfanRON writes:
and it helps if one (me) knows proper english
govols22231 writes:
I think Negadu will be a huge factor in this tournament.
NorthwestVol writes:
Interesting insight. Any basis other than hope?
pdhuff#552644 writes:
I think if Cooter could be courtside it would make a difference.
Maybe not.
dvols writes:
no need to watch now.
bmaples writes:
I agree with the final result. The Ville is playing as well as they've played all year, and their defense can be killer when it's turned up. A few surprises -- Jennings, the OTHER freshman center, has been getting better and better over the last few games, and Sosa is having another excellent post-season. If they play like they did in the first half against the Cuse and against Nova, they will lose in the Sweet 16 (or even earlier). If they pass the ball and don't try to be every-man-for-himself, they truly can win it all.
I disagree about Tennessee. I continue to believe that if the right Tennessee team shows up, they can beat both OKST and Pitt. Pitt's an excellent team, but they don't play teams like UT very often -- and when they do, they sometimes lose. Every Pitt loss this season, they have outfouled the other team significantly. I think Tenn gets them in foul trouble, Blair fouls out, and the Vols win.
That's MY story and I'm sticking to it. <g>
Bruce in Louisville
www.brucemaples.com
utvolz#637682 writes:
Fellow Vols,
But this is a one and done team. Tyler can't dominate like we need him to.
peerless writes:
Very tough to read, UTfan, I agree. I guess Strange thought for a minute he was Mark Twain with the old "write like you talk" approach. Anyhow, I see the Vols beating OK State and wouldn't be surprised if they beat Pitt. As far as that goes, I believe Pitt's only real obstacle on a trip to the Final Four is their 2nd round game against UT/OK State. Either team could be a tough matchup.
Southpaw_Vol writes:
I notice he didn't mention North Dakota State upsetting Kansas AND West Virginia. Its the shocker upset(s) of the tourney (unless we can face Pitt and beat them).
I have Utah State and North Dakota state making the Sweet 16
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
SLOBBER_knocker_U writes:
I have UT losing in the 2nd round to Pitt.Eventhough I think we can beat Pitt.
The only upsets I have are Maryland beating Memphis in the 2nd round. Temple beating Arizona st.
Final Four: Wake Forest, Uconn, North Carolina, Pitt.
North Carolina beats Uconn for Title.
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
If we can get past OKState, then the next Ron Slay will show up and will make up for the North Carolina Game!
snafu14u#241639 writes:
I need to change my brackets this is almost to a T what I've got. BTW the first #1 to fall is UConn. First #2 to fall is Michigan State. Sleepers are Nova and the other Orange,Syracuse. Rooting for Portland State as a big big upset (I live in Portland). Remember this is for entertainment purposes and not an investestment.bonzaivol
jtvolsfan writes:
just a thought, instead of the POTUS agonizing over brackets/March Madness, maybe be ought to fix the economy he promised to get on track but instead has only gotten WORSE since he was sworn in! if hope was seeing the President fill out a bracket, then KEEP THE CHANGE!
CrankE writes:
I thought John Pennington was ghost writing for a minute there.
golfballs03 writes:
I wouldn't put much trust in Obama's picks if hes as good at picking basketball games as he is picking cabinet members
rockytopspottedbirgdog writes:
easy: Chattanooga knocks off UCONN and Tennessee knocks off PITT
RockyTop1 writes:
It depends on which team that shows up - if it is the one that played in the first two games at the SEC tourney then it is on to the elite 8!! If the one that played against Mississippi State we get drilled by 25 in the first game!! Flip the coin, it may be a wild ride!! GO VOLS!!
ravensearay writes:
Syracuse went 7 OT's with Conn. not OK......
bugman (Inactive) writes:
Barack Obama knows hoops. That's about the only thing he knows then. he sucks at everything else.
Madkels writes:
Now wait a minute...he's a good community organizer. Give him some credit!
Madkels writes:
Oh, I forgot...he's also good at raising money for a presidential campaign.
asleep#212036 writes:
UConn and Oklahoma.
murrayvol writes:
He hasn't been to this point govols. Why would that change. Just Curious.
murrayvol writes:
Duke and Michigan St. - but I wouldn't say "book it".
LifetimeVolFan98 writes:
I'm thinking the BYU prediction over A&M isn't going to happen - A&M up 16 in 2nd half. The kitties from west tenn could fall today - in a tussell with Cal St Northridge - down by 3
Volunatic writes:
CSU-N played a pretty good game for 35 minutes.
I used to root for Memphis, until I met too many of their fans.
Volunatic writes:
Enough politics on a sports board, already.
Your views on almost everything are well-known by every poster on these boards. Give it a rest.
VolJunkie writes:
I'm with you ...
blitzshoot writes:
Yep, like chewing on broken glass.
blitzshoot writes:
I got Duke losing the NC in the final four and the other side I have UCONN and Louisville, with UCONN blowing them out. I have UCONN beating NC in the championship game. For some reason I have Pitt tripping up against FL ST.
windy writes:
In response to all you Obama Haters, just suck it up. Give him a chance to get some things in place. I guess you bunch of idiots would lkie to have GWB back. He whipped the gop's a-- and you can't take it.
windy writes:
This link is to post about UT and not vent your political views. Go to Fox News if you want to do that.
BallBreaker1 writes:
Just give it time and all will have the hate bug. If you care to investigate some of his own people are seeing the light.LOL! Now let's go vols! Let's finish big time and show our glorious mesiah he is wrong there also. This "idiot as you call us" believes the big orange will prevail. (at least roll into the second round).
ikie????
belayvol writes:
I don't hate him. I got my 1.2 million dollar check in the mail yesterday. I am going to invest in windmills and charge a fee to tilt at them. Pretty sure i can clean up around here.
belayvol writes:
Oh and we are sucking it up, right up the ol wazoo. 2 trillion plus and counting.
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.