Madness has struck the people of America yet again. This madness is none other than the addictive craze of March Madness, the NCAA's final dance. The NCAA Tournament comes once a year and every college basketball fan anticipates its arrival from the first tip-off of the the first game of the season. This years number one seeds are juggernauts and truly deserve the spots they were given (I will go into detail later). Everyone in America makes multiple brackets, enters into various pools with friends or a work, and lives to see the upsets and blowouts of the tourny. This is a great time in America and is always my favorite part of the spring.
All of the number one seeds bring different aspects of the game and different strategies to the table. First, is Louisville. The Cards have a lot going for them right now coming off of a Big East Championship, but they also have the hardest road, in my opinion. With teams like Wake Forest, Kansas, and WVU in their division, Louisville is going to have to fight for their lives. With players like Earl Clark and Samardo Samuels, the Cards shouldn't have too much to much to worry about, but its enough. Louisville had an exceptional season with a great record (28-5), with big wins over Pitt (my team) and Villanova, and a Big East Championship. Cards fans will be breathing a heavy sigh of relief (or disgust) after games with Kansas, Wake, or WVU. They have an extremely challenging road ahead, but I think they will rise to the occation.
Second, is number one in the Western Bracket, UCONN. The Huskies, much like Louisville, are coming off a spectacular season with a record of 27-4. They had two huge losses to DeJuan Blair's Pitt Panthers but also important wins over Louisville and Villanova. They obviously lost some depth with the loss of Jerome Dyson, but the outstanding play of Hasheem Thabeet, coming off a co Big East Player of the Year Award, they didn't have much problem. They lost two important games to Pitt but retained a top 5 status for much of the season and earned their number one seed.
Third, the juggernaut of the Eastern Bracket, the Pittsburgh Panthers. The Panthers are coming off a season filled with upsets, heart-breaking losses, and two trips to number one. Pitt obtained a record of 28-4 and two big wins over UCONN. They did suffer a tough loss to Louisville and an equally as tough loss to Villanova. The towering figure of DeJuan Blair kept teams at bay, though. He is a monster with 12 rebounds a game and Levance Fields is the best floor general in college hoops. Along with Sam Young, averaging around 19 points a game, the Panthers have a legitimate chance at winning the National Title. They have a tough road with teams like Duke, FSU, and Villanova, but if they "show up" to every game and Blair can stay out of foul trouble, then they will be okay.
UNC claimed number one spot in the South yet again. They have the power to go all the way and with Tyler "Psycho T" Hansbrough leading the way, there is no reason for anything less than a Final Four berth. They too have a tough road with teams like Oklahoma and Syracuse. If Hansbrough and partner in crime Ty Lawson play their best every game, then there is nothing this talented UNC team can't do. They have the fight of a champion and are going to prove they are the ACC's powerhouse.
Get your brackets ready everyone because this is gonna be a tourny for the ages.
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