Cheap I know....

...but I didn't get around to writing this piece until right now when the sweet 16 is already in place. However, props to Broc for pointing out that the Big East is ( * )( * ) and was going to run a muck in the tourney. The Big East is 10-2 to this point and either one of the five teams left could hit a hot streak and find themselves in the final four. Here's how I see each match up breaking down.

Midwest -

Louisville vs. Arizona:

Everyone's immediate reaction is Louisville, but do not underestimate this Arizona team. They've made the tourney for the past 100 years and understand that each game is a one game season...loser does wind sprints.

The problem with picking this upset is easy, nothing really jumps out at you when you look at Arizona. They have an overly-lame assist-TO ratio, they don't shoot overly well from the arc, or the line, they out-rebound their competition every once in awhile, they are just a very tournament savvy team.

Louisville on the other hand is the BEST defensive team in the country, they have Rick Patino as their coach, they out-rebound their opponents 75% of the time and have four guys who can hit a three at any point in the game. Louisville's biggest weakness has been it's poor free throw shooting and its' occasional cold shooting nights.

Let's face it, Arizona has played Utah and f'ing Cleveland State. Arizona has already surpassed its expectations by getting to the sweet 16, have fun on your flight home.

LOUISVILLE

Kansas vs. Michigan St.

I'm not gonna lie, I had Kansas losing to ND State. It looked like it was going to happen with four minutes and then they came up with some huge plays to pull away and finish the first year ND State team off.

Michigan State plays in the Big Ten, who's sucked it up the entire tourney outside of Purdue so....sorry Tom Izzo, you can't play for your entire team of Flint HS grads.

KANSAS (How the F is this team still in this bracket)

WEST

UConn vs. Purdue -

This game is going to be AWESOME. Mark it down on your calendars and watch it. Thabeet, like Broc said in his post, is over-rated and a loser but also happens to be nine feet tall. He has had a BIG problem fouling out in big games and not being around in the end to win a game for his team. You don't remember which games? How about Syracuse, Pitt (one time he didn't need to foul out but was still a loser).

Smart teams will drive the lance in his direction and get him in foul trouble and play a COMPLETELY different team with him on the bench. Guess what, Purdue has no size and they are going to do their best Argentinian NBA impression and fall over every time he gets close to them.

I see Thabeet being a huge loser in this game and not being a big factor (watch him show up and embarrass the crap out of me).

UPSET CITY BABY, PURDUE

Memphass vs. Mizzou

I hate Memphis. They're over-rated 250-2 record in the C-USA makes them a sexy pick for people who know nothing about basketball. You get Dozier in foul trouble and this team has to hit 8,000 threes to win. I will take those odds any day of the week. That being said Memphis is INCREDIBLY TALENTED , for example getting 35 points in the first round from a guy who averages 3, and can run with the best of them...but I still hate them.

Mizzou is a balanced team who doesn't blow you out, but wears you down with their inside out movement and wins. They don't have any amazing players, but they play as a team, they don't turn over the ball (a ridiculous 33-10 assist/TO ratio) and have a great 3 pointer specialist named Kim who's coming off the bench for them.

MIZZOU

EAST

Pitt vs. Xavier

Pitt can, beat any team in the country, and they're a pick for A LOT of people to win this tournament. I don't think they are winning the tournament but they are sure as hell winning this game.

Pitt has two of the best big men in the country in Sam Young and DeJuan Blair as well as a senior point guard in Levance Fields. I have never seen one guy throw around athletes like Dejuan Blair, it looks like he's a 270 pound DT that decided to play basketball with a bunch midgets. I watched the end of the E. Tenn. St. game and at the end of it, they were going back and forth with them with two minutes left. Blair looked at his team in the TO, said "give me the damn ball," and threw people off of him and dunked it in their faces twice in a row. It was one of the most impressive things I've seen this year in college basketball. They are TOO talented to lose this game, sorry Xavier, you had a good run...again.

PITT

Nova vs. Duke

Duke is the only team I hate more than Memphis. Their fans are the whole reason. They walk around like they deserve a national title on a silver platter because they have coach K and blah blah blah, they are Duke. Well fuck you, Nova wins.

NOVA

SOUTH

UNC vs. Gonzaga

Me: Hey Gonzaga, how are you

Gonzaga: Doing pretty well, excited about playing UNC

Me: You're excited to play Ty Lawson?

Gonzaga: Yeah, and Tyler Hansborough

Me: Well you're an idiot

Gonzaga: Why do you say that?

Me: Did you watch the LSU game?

Gonzaga: Yeah, LSU played well

Me: Yeah until Ty Lawson, who by the way looks like he's possessed by some other-worldly demon who wants to win the tournament, decided that he was going to win the game.

Gonzaga: Oh, I didn't see that

Me: Hence you are an idiot

Gonzaga: That's a little harsh don't you think?

Me: Let me put it this way, do you think you're winning this weekend?

Gonzaga: I think we have a pretty good chance

Me: Nice PC answer you douche. Do you think W. KY or Akron are anywhere NEAR as talented as UNC?

Gonzaga: I think they all have their strengths and are all really good teams

Me: Haha, you're like a little 6 year old that doesn't understand the world yet but thinks you're going to be an astronaut. Well guess what, you're not.

UNC WINS

Syracuse vs. Oklahoma

Oklahoma has been handed a pretty easy road so far by beating Morgan St. and a Michigan squad that wasn't pumped up for their second round game. Play time is over OU, let me introduce you to Syracuse. They are from the Big East and they've beaten the number one team this year with a white guy who has more grease in his hair than the Fonz. They have a Freshman phenom point guard who has a knack for scoring .

I know everyone hear is sucking on Blake Griffin's pee pee but he's the only stud on that team. Willie Warren is a freshman who either scores 25-30 or has 10. If he doesn't show up, there is NO WAY they win this game.

CUSE

All of these match ups give some interesting Great Eight match ups. Here's what I think and one reason why I think they're advancing

Louisville vs Kansas: Louisville (Rick Patino)

Purdue vs. Mizzou: Mizzou (Seniors don't lose)

Nova vs. Pitt: Nova (I have a feeling that American woke up a beast)

UNC vs. Cuse: UNC (Ty Lawson)

Hopefully we'll get a piece from Broc here soon, he's been out with Wisdom teeth pain for about a month now. He's the expert on NCAA basketball not me, so if you just read this I successfully wasted fifteen minutes of your time...SWEET