Agree, I realize that technically this is the third round but I, like many people, believe the Four Four doesn’t count as a round.

First Round LOCKS(?) Recap

The First Round indeed lived up to the MADNESS. Here are a few “awards:”

Biggest Upset:

Mercer over Duke – Has to be, especially when Lehigh got to be back on TV. #LehighBeatDuke

CLUTCH Play:

SF Austin over VCU – This play saved me and Matty D each a point and Sweet Sixteen team

Best Game:

Dayton over Ohio State – What a game, it knocked off 81.2% of brackets from being perfect (CBS Sports)

BONUS! C’MON MAN!

This Kansas State walk-on dunked during warm-ups, which is a big no-no. Such a no-no that it’s a technical foul and Kentucky got to shoot two before the game even started. Even though I think it’s a dumb rule, C’MON MAN! Kentucky won this game 56-49

Results:

Matty-D wins round one 24-8 compared to my 21-11 (eh huh huh huh). Round Two win different.
JSB leads THE THUNDERBLOG group on Yahoo! with 24 points

Second Round LOCKS

Unless otherwise noted, these are the teams Matty-D and I both originally picked for the Sweet Sixteen

South Regional

#1 Florida Gators vs. #9 Pittsburgh Panthers
Saturday at 12:15 on CBS

As much as I’d love to see Pitt pull this one out and get a great ACC over SEC win, Matty-D and I both are going with Florida.

#4 UCLA Bruins vs. #12 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks
Sunday at 7:10 on TBS

As I alluded to above, Matty-D and I love the winning streak, we’re both going with Stephen F. Austin.

#3 Syracuse Orangemen vs. #11 Dayton Flyers
Saturday at 7:10 on TBS

Dayton played extremely well against Ohio State, a team a lot of people thought could beat Syracuse. It’ll be tough for them to repeat that performance, we both had Syracuse from the get-go.

#2 Kansas Jayhawks vs. #10 Stanford Cardinal
Sunday at 12:15 on CBS

I originally had New Mexico going to the Sweet Sixteen but now I’m hopping on the Kansas train with Matty D. Wiggins will take control

West Regional

#1 Arizona Wildcats vs. #8 Gonzaga Bulldogs
Sunday at 9:40 on TBS

The ‘Zags pulled out a big win over OK State but Arizona will get them a much tougher game. We’re both going with Arizona, Matty-D originally had OK State here.

#4 San Diego State Aztecs vs. #12 North Dakota State Bison
Saturday at 6:10 on TNT

San Diego State, easily

#3 Creighton Blue Jays vs. #6 Baylor Bears
Sunday at 7:45 on TruTV

Dougie McBuckets dominated yesterday. Creighton will roll tomorrow.

#2 Wisconsin Badgers vs. #7 Oregon Ducks
Saturday at 7:45 on CBS

Oregon will give Wisconsin a much larger challenge than American, but Wisconsin will win this one.

Midwest Regional

#1 Wichita State Shockers vs. #8 Kentucky Wildcats
Sunday at 2:45 on CBS

A lot of people will tell you Kentucky will pull this upset because they were the preseason #1 and they convincingly beat Louisville and they play in the SEC and blah blah blah. Well, they’re wrong. The Shockers are for real.

#4 Louisville Cardinals vs. #5 Saint Louis Bilikens
Saturday at 2:45 on CBS

St. Louis barley got by NC State. Louisville is probably the best four seed in the history of the NCAA Tournament. It’s pretty obvious why we both are going with Louisville

#11 Tennessee Volunteers vs. #14 Mercer Bears
Sunday at 6:10 on TNT

Matty D’s going with Tennessee but I’m all in on the Bears. Mercer believes if they beaten Florida Gulf Coast in the A-Sun Championship last year that they would have gone to the Sweet Sixteen. Tomorrow, they’ll live up to that belief. We both originally had Duke in this spot.

#2 Michigan Wolverines vs. #7 Texas Longhorns
Saturday at 5:15 on CBS

“GO WOLVERINES!!!” – The Knowledge and The Truth

East Regional

#1 Virginia Cavaliers vs. #8 Memphis Tigers
Sunday at 8:40 on TNT

Pablo S. Torre was wrong about Coastal Carolina, but the Chanticleers capitalized on the mistakes of Virginia in the first half last night. UVA shook off the cobwebs in the second half and will be able to carry that momentum into this one. Matty-D and I both have the Virginia moving on.

#4 Michigan State Spartans vs. #12 Harvard Crimson
Saturday at 8:40 on TNT

Harvard did a great job shooting against Cincinnati, especially from three-point range. Sparty’s defense is much better and tougher, as per the Izzo way. We both have Michigan State.

#3 Iowa State Cyclones vs. #6 North Carolina Tar Heels
Sunday at 5:15 on CBS

As Matty D said in the first round: “Iowa State will make noise.” We both are going with the Cyclones.

#2 Villanova Wildcats vs. #7 Connecticut Huskies
Saturday at 9:40 on TBS

As much I’d love to pick UConn to beat Villanova (I had St. Joe’s winning here), Villanova is too much for the Huskies. It’ll be an extremely matchup between Old Big East opponents, but we both have the Wildcats winning.

The Cinderella is the only competing pick between Matty-D and myself, GO BEARS!