Every March, the entire country braces for a phenomenon commonly known as March Madness. Otherwise known as the NCAA Tournament, it is the pulse-pounding conclusion of the Men’s College Basketball season. It places the best 68 teams in the country against each other to determine a champion.

With March Madness comes the challenge of filling out a bracket, or trying to predict who wins every game in the tournament. This challenge has grown in popularity over the years, with different athletes and celebrities offering prizes to those with the best brackets.

This year, the tournament features a heavy favorite in an undefeated Kentucky squad that could be one of the greatest teams in NCAA history. However, to accomplish their goals, they could have to pass through perennial contenders Louisville, Duke, and Wisconsin.

As the tournament is entering the Sweet 16, there have already been a number of upsets, and there are no perfect brackets left in the world. No. 2 seeds Kansas and Virginia were upset by Wichita State and Michigan State respectively, and No. 1 seed Villanova fell to N.C. State in the Round of 32.

There is a lot of exciting basketball yet to be played, and your sports editors will take a deeper look into the bracket to determine who they think will take home the tournament crown.

Cale:

I participate in filling out a bracket for every NCAA tournament, and this year was no different. While I did not have many of the upsets, such as Witchita State over Kansas in the Round of 32, I do still have the big picture intact.

As of now, all of my Final Four teams (Kentucky, Louisville, Duke, Wisconsin) are still alive for the title. Yet, unlike many past tourneys, I do not have the same amount of intrigue in this one.

This year lacks a certain excitement to me because it is highly likely that we already know the outcome. Like many, I have the heavy favorite, Kentucky, cutting down the nets when it’s all said and done. The team is currently undefeated, sitting at 36-0, and showing no signs of weakness. Kentucky could very well have 7-8 first-round draft picks in the NBA this summer, and are said to be able to compete on the level of an NBA team.

So, how is it possible for a team like Louisville or Duke, who could each have 2-3 players taken in the first round, to compete? Simply put, it’s not possible. They could each give Kentucky a run for their money, but simply don’t have the athleticism or skill to match up.

While I have Duke meeting Kentucky in the championship game, I know that it’s a foregone conclusion. Coach John Calipari and his Kentucky Wildcats will take home the title while barely breaking a sweat.

Dave:

I agree that Kentucky is the best team on paper, and have the best chance of winning it all in most people’s opinion. However, I think that Duke is going to be a sleeper and make it to the finals opposite undefeated UK. I am predicting the Blue Devils to win just because of the hype that surrounds the undefeated Wildcats.

Several teams have a shot to make the final four, and my picks for the lineups are as follows. Upstart Xavier, who has played low-ranked teams but beat them handily, is my pick to win the western region. North Carolina will make a trip to the final four because even as underdogs against the No. 1-seed Villanova they found a way to pull out the win. Those two teams along with Duke and UK are my favorites to make the final four, and ultimately I predict a Duke victory.

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