re: NCAA brackets, what's your toughest decision?

Do you mind sharing that specific way?

Iowa state/gonzaga

I'm not saying we are going to a Final Four, but you can never count out a Rick Pitino coached team in March. I think we can get as far as the Elite Eight, but can also see us easily losing to UNI.

I've got UNC beating Wisky.

Give me Izzo in March all day.

I have a few difficult decisions in the Round of 64 alone...

(1) Butler v Texas - I know it's just a first round game, and I probably have either one losing to ND next, but I have no idea who to pick. Butler has a stingy defense, Texas is talented with a shitty coach, but a lot of size to cause Butler problems.

(2) Wichita State v. Indiana - WSU has the experience and a very good backcourt with Van Vleet and Baker. However, me thinks Indiana can get hot from the beyond the arc with Ferrell/Zeisloft/Blackmon and just pour it on.

(3) Wofford v. Arkansas - complete contrast of styles and I just have no idea if Wofford will be able to control the tempo. If they do, they're in it until the last shot. If they don't, they'll have trouble keeping up with Arkansas.

(4) Iowa v. Davidson - Iowa has a lot of size and experience, but can be seen as a 'mentally weak' team. Davidson has a lot of shooters and I wonder if that can make life difficult for Iowa.

(5) Buffalo v. WVU - Buffalo has two big scorers and actually led @UK and @Wisc going into halftime early in the year, so they certainly have some ability.

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Virginia vs Michigan State

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A million times, this. I think the winner of this game smokes OU, who I have precisely zero faith in (the only reason OU doesn't get more grief for being epic tourney chokers is the existence of Kansas and Georgetown). I think MSU is grossly underseeded and they were a preseason top ten, but I worry I'm just getting sucked in by a good Big Ten tourney instead of their actual quality. UVa has played poorly down the stretch, and I'm worried their all-defense all the time style is going to cost them against a well-coached Izzo team. That stuff works against 90% of teams, but not the real top-tier coaches.

I'm also torn on whether to put Utah in the Elite 8 or have them lose in the first round. I love their inside-out game and there aren't any teams in their half of the bracket who will force them to run or try to "out athlete" them, their big weakness. I think they can knock off Duke, who I'm not real high on this year (but has been gifted with the easiest draw ever). That said... Stephen F Austin can shoot you out of the tourney. Heck, so can Eastern Washington if they beat Georgetown. There's some serious landmines for Utah in those giant killers.

Also, I pretty much hate every team in Baylor's quadrant. Well, I root for Baylor, but this isn't one of Drew's better teams. They are super vulnerable, and I hear Ga. St. can play. But BYU/Xavier/Ole Miss... guh. If Baylor gets upset, that means I have to put BYU in the Sweet 16. And I'm not all that comfortable with that.

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(3) Wofford v. Arkansas - complete contrast of styles and I just have no idea if Wofford will be able to control the tempo. If they do, they're in it until the last shot. If they don't, they'll have trouble keeping up with Arkansas.

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6'5 post players aren't going to contain Portis.

Because Self's team always gets the high seeds. He is a better regular season coach for sure. But Izzo always finds himself in that 4v5 game in the second round (or some other tough game). Nobody gives Self credit for beating an 8/9 seed in the second round because it's not difficult. Self's success in the regular season gives him trouble in the tournament. Because he is basically expected to get to the Elite 8 every year.