1) Duke
The best collection of talent over all and they're playing well right now, maybe the best they've looked all year. Definite contender for the title.
2) Villanova
Not sure they're actually this good but they've been so good lately, feels like a veteran team that can control a game at will. Love the coach, love the teamwork, they're still really good.
3) (All right, I'll be that guy) Kentucky
This is the best UK has played all season, hard to see where they can go because I haven't seen them be this good yet. They're a good rebounding team, generally a good FT% team, explosive offensively and from a variety of players, if they avoid dumb turnovers they'll be in every game.
4) Kansas
Not a vintage Kansas squad, but plenty talented and savvy enough to get tough wins. Good team. (Winner of Duke/Kansas wins it all?)
5) Purdue
Even with their injuries, they play their game every time out, not a lot of teams get to do that. The inside-out game looks good to me, they handle the ball well and they're monsters on the boards.
6) Loyola-Chicago
Good squad, vets, brotherly atmosphere, I think they are going to be a tough out. Virtually identical scores over Miami and Tennessee indicates they're playing how they want to play. They've got nothing to lose and they're everybody's 2nd favorite (at least) team right now. (I'm not a betting man but Loyola +2.5 feels like easy money to me)
7) Gonzaga
They just know how to win games, they play consistent ball night in, night out. They're not as good as last year but they can still get hot like everybody else.
8) West Virginia
As good as anyone in imposing their style on other teams. Sometimes it works, sometimes not, but if they shoot at a good percentage, their defense can carry them a long way.
9) Texas A&M
Pretty good team, they can mix it up and get by on some slop. If they knock down shots, they can beat anybody. Dangerous team.
10) Michigan
I watched them against Purdue in the B10 Champ and I thought Purdue was the better team for most of it; I thought Purdue going cold was why Michigan won. They're good but I don't see a Final Four team (although I did pick them in both brackets).
11) Florida State
Don't know how they beat Xavier, I just kept waiting for X to take over and they never did. Kudos to the Seminoles, they've got veteran presence, could make the difference. If they catch Gonzaga on a bad night, they can advance.
12) Texas Tech
Wasn't impressed with their W over Florida, kinda think they'll get thumped by the consistency of Purdue. These guys are probably the most like Purdue in the country, should be a good match.
13) Clemson
Haven't seen them at all this tourney, don't know anything about them. I'm just assuming they're not as good as Kansas.
I haven't seen them at all this tourney, no real feel for them. UMBC must've looked like a big ol' beach ball to them compared to UVA. Maybe they're really good, I'm just not sure, no idea how they match up to UK, if they shoot well and stay out of foul trouble, they can hang with Kentucky.
15) Nevada
I kinda think Cincy lost more than these guys won but gotta give 'em credit for getting this far. I don't see enough playmaking or scoring to go any further. (That said, they are the one team left that has no fear of Loyola-Chicago)
16) Syracuse
No idea how these guys got this far, guess I shouldn't be surprised, Boeheim has become quite a maestro with so-so teams. They've still got that D that turns the lane to sludge and an offense with just enough starpower to get buckets, maybe they fustigate Duke (but I doubt it).
In the games, I'll take (without the lines):
Kentucky over Kansas St, Loyola-Chicago over Nevada
Gonzaga over Florida State, Texas A&M over Michigan
Villanova over West Virginia, Purdue over Texas Tech
Kansas over Clemson, Duke over Syracuse
A&M/Michigan, Villanova/West Virginia, Purdue/Texas Tech are the most compelling match-ups, the games I'm most looking forward to checking out, the games where I can see an upset.
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