I admit to being confused by the bracket put together by the committee, but they have all these principles that they try to adhere to so that the final result often is less than perfect.

For instance, if Kansas is the No. 1 overall seed, why is Ohio State the No. 2 in the Midwest Region? If this is a true S-curve, they are saying OSU is the eighth-best team behind Villanova and Kansas State. Don’t know how you could say that, given how the teams played and what they accomplished. This may have something to do with the committee wanting to avoid rematches between better teams from the same conference, but, if that is the case, somebody should explain it.
I have no clue how Temple could be a No. 5 seed with Notre Dame just one seed line behind and Baylor two seed lines ahead. The Owls won a regular season and a tournament in a conference that has three seeds at No. 7 or better. Also, Cornell is way better than a No. 12 seed. What teams from a league like the Ivy need to do is schedule hard games on the road and win. Cornell did both, yet was treated like just another nice team from the Ivy.
Whatever the complaints, the bracket is the bracket and here goes:
Kansas has been the best team all season. It has the fewest flaws. It is the most obvious pick. Sometimes, obvious is the place to be.
I was planning on picking Villanova to win a game or two until I saw the Wildcats bracket. I think it sets up perfectly for their style of play. I can see them getting back to the Final Four.
Temple has a brutal opener against Cornell. If the Owls can win, and I think it’s a big if, they can get on a roll.
Upsets. Siena over wounded Purdue in a 4-13 game. Old Dominion over Notre Dame in a 6-11. Everybody loves Baylor. Which is why I am going with Sam Houston State in a 3-14 major upset. I think San Diego State is live against Tennessee in a 6-11, but I could do without the trip to Providence. Love the fact that Murray State and Vanderbilt, which are in Tennessee, are playing in San Jose. Think Murray State can win a 4-13 game.
Rick Pitino has been waiting 18 years to get another shot at Duke. Watch out for Louisville in the second round over the Blue Devils. The Cardinals surely match up athletically. They have blown a bunch of big leads, but it tells you the talent is there.
In the end, it looks like the Big East and Big 12 will dominate. Don’t be surprised if they are the only conferences with teams in the Final Four.
EAST REGION
First Round
Kentucky over East Tennessee State
Texas over Wake Forest
Temple over Cornell
Wisconsin over Wofford
Marquette over Washington
New Mexico over Montana
Missouri over Clemson
West Virginia over Morgan State
Second Round
Kentucky over Texas
Temple over Wisconsin
Marquette over New Mexico
West Virginia over Missouri
Regional Semifinals
Kentucky over Temple West Virginia over Marquette
Regional Final
West Virginia over Kentucky
SOUTH REGION
First Round
Duke over Play-In Winner
Louisville over California
Texas A&M over Utah State
Siena over Purdue
Old Dominion over Notre Dame
Sam Houston State over Baylor
Richmond over Saint Mary’s
Villanova over Robert Morris
Second Round
Louisville over Duke
Texas A&M over Siena
Old Dominion over Sam Houston State
Villanova over Richmond
Regional Semifinals
Texas A&M over Louisville
Villanova over Old Dominion
Regional Final
Villanova over Texas A&M
MIDWEST REGION
First Round
Kansas over Lehigh
Northern Iowa over Nevada-Las Vegas
Michigan State over New Mexico State
Maryland over Houston
San Diego State over Tennessee
Georgetown over Ohio University
Oklahoma State over Georgia Tech
Ohio State over UC Santa Barbara
Second Round
Kansas over Northern Iowa
Maryland over Michigan State
Georgetown over San Diego State
Ohio State over Oklahoma State
Regional Semifinals
Kansas over Maryland
Ohio State over Georgetown
Regional Final
Kansas over Ohio State
WEST REGION
First Round
Syracuse over Vermont
Gonzaga over Florida State
Butler over Texas-El Paso
Murray State over Vanderbilt
Xavier over Minnesota
Pittsburgh over Oakland (Mich.)
Florida over Brigham Young
Kansas State over North Texas
Second Round
Syracuse over Gonzaga
Butler over Murray State
Xavier over Pittsburgh
Kansas State over Florida
Regional Semifinals
Syracuse over Butler
Kansas State over Xavier
Regional Final
Syracuse over Kansas State
FINAL FOUR
Semifinals
West Virginia over Villanova
Kansas over Syracuse
Championship
Kansas over West Virginia