NCAA Tournament: Jordan Spritzer's bracket
I find that every year the brackets become harder and harder to predict. I find this year to be particularly difficult because many of the teams I like have been drawn against each other while the teams I don’t like seem to have easier paths to Dallas. The first of the teams I don’t like is Kansas. Obviously, Kansas will miss Joel Embiid, but the Jayhawks should cruise through the opening weekend of the tournament. I’ve picked New Mexico to take on Kansas in the round of 32, but the Lobos don’t have a quality win that gives me any belief they can pull off the upset. New Mexico lost to Kansas by 17 points already this year on a neutral court, and the Lobos have also lost to fellow tournament teams UMass, New Mexico State and San Diego State. Kansas should make it to the regional finals after beating Syracuse, who is in a similar situation. Syracuse’s best basketball is behind it but I think the Orange can squeak by Western Michigan and Ohio State. Syracuse’s 2-3 zone will do enough to disrupt a poor shooting Buckeyes team, but will lose to Kansas in the elite 8. Top-seeded Florida will have difficult matchups at the top of the bracket, but Pittsburgh and UCLA are just too inconsistent to have an extended March run. There’s something to be said about Florida’s long winning streak and guard play is always important in March. Scottie Wilbekin has been phenomenal for the Gators thus far and will lead them to another Final Four. In the East, I like Michigan State to advance to the Final Four, defeating Iowa State in the regional final. St.
