Regardless, Nick and I will do our best in predicting the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft. We chose not to predict trades, as that would significantly complicate things. I wouldn’t be surprised if this year’s first round set a record for trades made. It seems as though every team in the top ten wants to trade back and stockpile picks. So what we have done is make our predictions in regards to where players will go as the draft order stands now. Following this, we have added which teams may be looking to trade up and down, plus what these teams may be looking for. Let’s get into it.

1) Kansas City Chiefs

Mike: Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan

Nick: Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan

2) Jacksonville Jaguars

Mike: Dion Jordan, DE/OLB, Oregon (Picked at 5 in trade)

Nick: Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M

3) Oakland Raiders

Mike: Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida

Nick: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah

4) Philadelphia Eagles

Mike: Lane Johnson, OT, Texas A&M

Nick: Lane Johnson, OT, Texas A&M

5) Detroit Lions

Mike: Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M (Picked at 2 in trade)

Nick: Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU

6) Cleveland Browns

Mike: Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU

Nick: Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama

7) Arizona Cardinals

Mike: Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina

Nick: Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama

8) Buffalo Bills

Mike: Ryan Nassib, QB, Syracuse (Picked later after Bills trade back)

Nick: Dion Jordan, DE/OLB, Oregon

9) New York Jets

Mike: Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia

Nick: Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia

10) Tennessee Titans

Mike: Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama

Nick: Shariff Floyd, DT, Florida

11) San Diego Chargers

Mike: Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama

Nick: Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina

12) Miami Dolphins

Mike: Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame

Nick: D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama

13) New York Jets

Mike: Barkevious Mingo, DE/OLB, LSU

Nick: Barkevious Mingo, OLB/DE, LSU

14) Carolina Panthers

Mike: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah

Nick: Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri

15) New Orleans Saints

Mike: Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia

Nick: Kenny Vaccaro, SS, Texas

16) St. Louis Rams

Mike: Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas

Nick: Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee

17) Pittsburgh Steelers

Mike: Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee

Nick: Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia

18) Dallas Cowboys

Mike: Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri

Nick: Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina

19) New York Giants

Mike: D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama

Nick: Alec Ogletree, ILB, Georgia

20) Chicago Bears

Mike: Manti Te’o, ILB, Notre Dame

Nick: Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame

21) Cincinnati Bengals

Mike: Eric Reid, FS, LSU

Nick: Matt Elam, S, Florida

22) St. Louis Rams

Mike: Alec Ogletree, ILB, Georgia

Nick: Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama

23) Minnesota Vikings

Mike: Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina

Nick: Manti Te’o, ILB, Notre Dame

24) Indianapolis Colts

Mike: Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State

Nick: Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State

25) Minnesota Vikings

Mike: Keenan Allen, WR, California

Nick: Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington

26) Green Bay Packers

Mike: John Cyprien, S, Florida International

Nick: Eric Reid, FS, LSU

27) Houston Texans

Mike: Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee

Nick: Robert Woods, WR, USC

28) Denver Broncos

Mike: Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State

Nick: Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State

29) New England Patriots

Mike: D.J. Hayden, CB, Houston

Nick: Datone Jones, DE, UCLA

30) Atlanta Falcons

Mike: Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington

Nick: Jamar Taylor, CB, Boise State

31) San Francisco 49ers

Mike: Matt Elam, S, Florida

Nick: John Cyprien, FS, Florida International

32) Baltimore Ravens

Mike: Arthur Brown, ILB, Kansas State

Nick: Kevin Minter, ILB, LSU

Mike’s Trade Predictions:

• Jaguars trying to trade down. If they trade with the Lions, Detroit gets the number two pick and take whichever of Fisher/Joeckel that the Chiefs don’t take. This way, Jags can take Dion Jordan or Ezekiel Ansah at the number 5 spot. Chargers also another potential trade partner.
• Another Lions scenario if Jags stay put: Raiders look to move down, end up trading with the Lions. Detroit then takes an offensive tackle, which will presumably be Lane Johnson. If Jaguars choose to go with Dion Jordan over Joeckel, the Lions get Joeckel.
• Bills leaked that WR Tavon Austin is number one on their big board, just one of many smokescreens today. To me this means they want to trade back. Maybe the Jets take the bait and trade up, giving the Bills their 13th pick where they could reach for Ryan Nassib. This would also give the Jets back-to-back picks at 8 and 9, where they are likely to go offense/defense.
• Rams could also make a reasonable trade and move up to 8 where they could get Austin, filling a big need.
• Browns also look to trade down. Titans trade up to take Dee Milliner. Browns can then get Barkevious Mingo at 10.
• Falcons try to trade up to get TE Tyler Eifert, but only at a reasonable cost.
• Vikings trade up in order to get an ILB, specifically Manti Te’o or Alec Ogletree. More likely Te’o if they make a move.

Nick’s Trade Predictions:

• Chargers trade up to Raiders position to take best LT available
• Dolphins trade up to Browns pick and take Dee Milliner
• Rams trade out of 22^nd pick with Baltimore, Ravens target Te’o
• Vikings trade out of 25^th pick with Bills, Buffalo then takes Ryan Nassib
• Patriots trade out of 1^st round to stock pile draft picks (Belichickian tradition)

Send us your thoughts on what will happen in tonight’s draft @SportsRP

This being said, sports is also an escape. An escape from the reality of the world we live in. Sports played a role in the recovery process in the days and weeks following 9/11, and they will continue to do so now. It is a reminder that life goes on, and that our country is unified and will not live in fear. In the days following the Boston Marathon bombings, we could see this in sports. The Yankees, along with other MLB and NBA teams, paying homage to Boston with the playing of “Sweet Caroline” during games on Tuesday and Wednesday. The touching national anthems at the Bruins and Red Sox games sung by the crowd. These are just two small acts of kindness that go a long way in restoring hope for our country and its people.

I understand that this site is devoted to writing about sports, but I felt it necessary to jot down some thoughts about these recent events. So with that being said, let’s talk about the upcoming NBA Playoffs. It’s certainly been an interesting year in the Association. With the regular season wrapping up Wednesday night, let’s examine the first round matchups. I will be predicting the outcome of each series, accompanied by some thoughts. Let’s start with the Eastern Conference.

Eastern Conference

(1) Miami Heat vs. (8) Milwaukee Bucks

I won’t even try to argue my case here. The Heat are playing some of the best basketball I’ve seen in my lifetime. The scary part is that they’ve been resting starters for weeks now, and they’ve only lost one game in doing so (since 3/31). Everyone knows about LeBron, Wade and Bosh, so I’ll spare you the word count. The Bucks have a lot of talent, especially young talent. Obviously its backcourt of Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings is one of the best in the league. I did not think two scoring guards could coexist, but they have found a relatively successful recipe. John Henson has seen minutes late in the season and has been absolutely fantastic, posting some tremendous stat lines (17/25/7, 14/15, 28/16) just in the past week. Larry Sanders has been banged up but the potential Comeback Player of the Year provides a post presence that the Bucks should utilize against the Heat’s lack of post players. That being said, this series shouldn’t be in doubt whatsoever. I was tempted to give the Bucks a game in Milwaukee, but I’ve since changed my mind.

Prediction: Heat in 4

(2) New York Knicks vs. (7) Boston Celtics

This is an interesting series. The Knicks won the regular season series 3-1 and have gone 16-2 to close out the season. The Celtics, meanwhile, have not played so great to end the season, but have also been resting guys like Pierce and Garnett. Jeff Green has been a revelation this year as he has seen increased minutes and worked his way into the starting rotation. Rondo’s absence. This postseason could be Green’s time to show some consistency and truly become a Beantown favorite.

The Knicks have the league’s leading scorer in Melo, plus potential Sixth Man of the Year in J.R. Smith, who has never seen a shot he didn’t like. Mike Woodson does a good job in spreading out minutes and keeping guys fresh. Any team with the likes of Smith, Chris Copeland, Steve Novak and Amar’e Stoudemire coming off the bench is in good shape. The scene at game three in Boston is sure to be spectacular, and I can’t see the Celts losing that one. Boston also has more postseason experience, plus Doc Rivers at the helm. That said, I think the series comes down to the wire, but the Knicks prevail in seven.

Prediction: Knicks in 7

(3) Indiana Pacers vs. (6) Atlanta Hawks

Forgive me for keeping this one brief. The Pacers are extremely underrated and overlooked. At midseason, I was absolutely convinced they could and would be challenging the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. However, things change. Indiana has slowed down and Miami has gotten historically hot since then.

On the other hand, at no point this season have I been sold on the Hawks. Al Horford and Josh Smith keep Atlanta competitive, but I don’t think they can consistently beat Indiana in a series format. Paul George creates a unique advantage as a 6’10” shooting guard. The main difference will be rebounding, as Indiana was number one in the NBA during the regular season, while Atlanta was below-average.

Prediction: Pacers in 5

 (4) Brooklyn Nets vs. (5) Chicago Bulls

This might look pretty obvious due to seeding, but this could be the best first round matchup of the entire playoffs. Obviously, the Bulls have been playing without Derrick Rose all season. Despite being cleared by doctors to return, he is not expected to. Joakim Noah’s status for game one is also in doubt. Jimmy Butler has been a fantastic surprise for the Bulls this season, and they have played extremely well under Tom Thibodeau.

Worth noting, the Nets were 1-3 against the Bulls this season. Chicago plays fantastic defense and finds enough offense to win games. Deron Williams has played very well in the second half of this season and Joe Johnson can hit clutch shots, if needed. Taj Gibson could be a x-factor in this series, especially if Noah is out more than one game. I went back and forth on this one for quite some time. I think it’s going seven regardless, but my gut was the Bulls, so I’m sticking with it.

Prediction: Bulls in 7

Western Conference

(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Houston Rockets

If you love offensive basketball, this is the series for you. Both teams love them some offense, and the pace will be magnificent. This is a series many hoped for at the beginning of this season, when Sam Presti inexplicably traded James Harden to the Rockets days before the start of the season. Many argued about who won the deal, but it certainly appears as though it has worked out for both teams thus far. Harden has provided Houston with the scorer that it so desperately needed. Surrounded by the likes of Jeremy Lin, Chandler Parsons and Omer Asik, this is a very talented and young team.

However, the Thunder are in a league of their own. You know the names of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka. But other guys like Kevin Martin, Thabo Sefalosha, Nick Collison and Kendrick Perkins play huge roles. Every guy in Oklahoma City knows his role, and that’s what makes the Thunder so effective; guys don’t try to do too much. Well, sometimes Westbrook does. But all in all, it works out. I think Harden or Parsons goes off one game and they steal a game in Houston. Other than that, this series should be all OKC. Regardless, it should be fun to watch.

Prediction: Thunder in 5

 (2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) Los Angeles Lakers

If Kobe Bryant were healthy, this series would be a lot more fun. I would still have the Spurs, but it would be close. But with Kobe out and Steve Nash ailing, the Spurs have undoubtedly been breathing a bit easier. However, they should tread lightly. Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard have teamed up and shown that they are able to each be effective without Bryant on the floor. Steve Blake has filled in nicely for Nash, as well. I feel as though the Kobe-less Lakers are out to prove that this team wasn’t all Kobe. Regardless of what happens, you can bet the media circus will continue.

The Spurs are the polar opposite. The Patriots of the NBA, if you will. They go about their business and don’t worry about off-the-court distractions. As an aging team, they have seen their share of injuries, notably with Tony Parker. But Parker and company who should be good to go. Tim Duncan has quietly had a First Team All-NBA type season at the fresh age of 36 (soon to be 37). San Antonio is like Oklahoma City in that they have guys who know their roles, along with a deep bench. The recent signing of Tracy McGrady has me extremely excited, although I know he will have minimal impact this postseason. Gregg Popovich is the best in the business and knows his team better than most coaches know theirs. I’m rolling with the Spurs in this one.

Prediction: Spurs in 5

 (3) Denver Nuggets vs. (6) Golden State Warriors

This might be the toughest series for me to predict, neck and neck with Brooklyn/Chicago. Steph Curry has been unbelievable this year, and is a threat to go off any game. The Warriors have a ton of young talent, with Curry, Harrison Barnes, Klay Thompson. David Lee has also had another great year for Golden State.

I have thought the Nuggets to be a dark horse to come out of the West all year. That took a pretty good sized hit recently, when Danilo Gallinari tore his ACL. The “star” of the team, Ty Lawson, has also been banged up lately. I’m very torn in picking this series. On one hand, I think Curry and the Warriors’ youth and talent can beat the semi-injured Nuggets. But my gut says that Lawson, Andre Iguodala, Wilson Chandler and company are too much. So I’m rolling with the Nuggets in this series, which will be a ton of fun to watch.

Prediction: Nuggets in 6

 (4) Los Angeles Clippers vs. (5) Memphis Grizzlies

It’s a pretty good indication at how strong with the Western Conference is when the Clippers are the four-seed. The Grizzlies are also tremendous and arguably the best defensive team in the NBA, with potential Defensive Player of the Year Marc Gasol. I feel like I keep saying this, but this series should also be a treat to watch. Notably the frontcourt matchup, with Gasol and Zach Randolph squaring up against Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. Ultimately the difference maker will be Chris Paul. Memphis has its own very good point guard in Mike Conley, but not many can match up with Paul. In a literal sense, I think the Grizzlies will put Tony Allen on Paul on defense, for the most part. Ultimately, I think the Clippers athleticism, specifically in the frontcourt, gets them by the Grizzlies.

Prediction: Clippers in 6

1) Kansas City Chiefs

Mike: Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M

Nick: Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M

2) Jacksonville Jaguars

Mike: Dion Jordan, OLB/DE, Oregon

Nick: Dion Jordan, OLB/DE, Oregon

3) Oakland Raiders

Mike: Shariff Floyd, DT, Florida

Nick: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah

4) Philadelphia Eagles

Mike: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah

Nick: Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan

5) Detroit Lions

Mike: Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan

Nick: Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU

6) Cleveland Browns

Mike: Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama

Nick: Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama

7) Arizona Cardinals

Mike: Lane Johnson, OT, Texas A&M

Nick: Lane Johnson, OT, Texas A&M

8) Buffalo Bills

Mike: Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia

Nick: Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia

9) New York Jets

Mike: Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU

Nick: Barkevious Mingo, OLB/DE, LSU

10) Tennessee Titans

Mike: Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama

Nick: Shariff Floyd, DT, Florida

11) San Diego Chargers

Mike: Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina

Nick: Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina

12) Miami Dolphins

Mike: D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama

Nick: Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State

13) Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Mike: Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State

Nick: Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington

14) Carolina Panthers

Mike: Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri

Nick: Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri

15) New Orleans Saints

Mike: Barkevious Mingo, OLB/DE, LSU

Nick: Kenny Vaccaro, SS, Texas

16) St. Louis Rams

Mike: Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia

Nick: Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia

17) Pittsburgh Steelers

Mike: Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia

Nick: Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee

18) Dallas Cowboys

Mike: Kenny Vaccaro, SS, Texas

Nick: D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama

19) New York Giants

Mike: Alec Ogletree, ILB, Georgia

Nick: Alec Ogletree, ILB, Georgia

20) Chicago Bears

Mike: Manti Te’o, ILB, Notre Dame

Nick: Manti Te’o, ILB, Notre Dame

21) Cincinnati Bengals

Mike: Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State

Nick: Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia

22) St. Louis Rams

Mike: Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama

Nick: Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama

23) Minnesota Vikings

Mike: Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee

Nick: Keenan Allen, WR, California

24) Indianapolis Colts

Mike: Keenan Allen, WR, California

Nick: Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State

25) Minnesota Vikings

Mike: Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington

Nick: D.J. Hayden, CB, Houston

26) Green Bay Packers

Mike: Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina

Nick: Eric Reid, FS, LSU

27) Houston Texans

Mike: Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee

Nick: Robert Woods, WR, USC

28) Denver Broncos

Mike: Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State

Nick: Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina

29) New England Patriots

Mike: Datone Jones, DE, UCLA

Nick: Matt Elam, FS, Florida

30) Atlanta Falcons

Mike: Jamar Taylor, CB, Boise State

Nick: Blidi Wreh-Wilson, UConn

31) San Francisco 49ers

Mike: Matt Elam, FS, Florida

Nick: John Cyprien, FS, Florida International

32) Baltimore Ravens

Mike: Kevin Minter, ILB, LSU

Nick: Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee

Feel free to tweet us your thoughts @SportsRP

10:40 – We’re underway again. Twenty seconds in and Blackshear hits a three. Burke obviously back in for Michigan, which is crazy to think Michigan led at halftime despite less than nine minutes from him.

10:43 – A little chippy to start here with fouls going both ways. Meanwhile, Nick continues to find new ways to procrastinate from studying for his test tomorrow morning. It might be more impressive than this game itself.

10:44 – Burke announces his return with another deep, contested three. Might have also been fouled. McGary then scores inside for what feels like the first time in awhile. Timeout: Michigan-46, Louisville-42.

10:50 – Apparently Nik Stauskas buttered his hands at halftime. Bobbles a sweet pass from McGary, but then makes a nice steal to get it back and lead to a foul.

10:53 – Nas and I having a conversation about whether Peyton Siva will be successful in the NBA. He’s a fan, I’m not. I think he can hang around the league, but won’t be special.

10:55 – Right on cue, Siva with an unintentional “slip-n-slide” leading to an acrobatic layup. Naturally.

10:58 – McGary picks up his third and comes out of the game. Nothing to worry about yet. Good for him to get a breather, but interesting to see if Horford can hold his own.

11:00 – Russ Smith left wide open in the corner and knocks down a three. He’s a guy who can heat up really quickly, so that’s worth watching. Louisville up five.

11:01 – Burke with ANOTHER ridiculously long three, over Dieng, nonetheless. Definite lottery pick in the upcoming draft. Lillard-ish. Timeout. Louisville-54, Michigan-52.

11:06 – Hancock trips over Dieng and essentially chop blocks Morgan’s legs while he’s going up for a layup. Appeared to be his fourth foul, but it was called on Harrell instead. Major break for Louisville.

11:07 – Great play run by the Cards. Siva hands off to Hancock at the top of the key, then runs somewhat of a wheel route behind a Dieng pick, gets the pass, and is in for an easy deuce.

11:08 – Russ Smith wide open in the corner again but misses. Tonight is really not his night. But Siva is there for the steal and goes coast-to-coast to finish. Audible applause from Nas in the other room. Of course.

11:09 – Hardaway with a MONSTER dunk. Dieng thought better of being on the wrong end of a poster.

11:10 – Hancock goes to his patented pump fake three and draws another foul. He may not be the most athletic or talented player, but his basketball IQ is off the charts. Definitely an “intangibles guy.”

11:13 – Trey Burke with a naaasty finish over Blackshear. And-one. Timeout. 63-60, Louisville with a Burke free throw coming on the other end of commercials.

11:15 – “Hey, you know who we should get to represent our brand in a commercial? BOBBY KNIGHT AND DIGGER PHELPS! It’s a win-win!” –Applebee’s

11:18 – Physical scramble under the Louisville hoop. Travel by Dieng along with some wrestling. Refs letting them play right now.

11:19 – Dieng tries to draw a charge on Burke. Forgets the existence of the restriction zone underneath the hoop. Burke goes down really hard and is down for a minute. He’s up again to take his free throws. Kid is a warrior. Hits one of two. Louisville by three.

11:20 – Hancock with a lob to Siva who finishes with an exclamation point dunk. Nas shrieks. He’s just rubbing it in.

11:21 – Michigan answers with its own alley-oop: Burke to Glenn Robinson III.

11:22 – Burke stuffs a Siva dunk attempt at the rim! But it’s called a foul. Looked clean to me.

11:23 – Wowwww slow-mo replay shows that Burke got all ball. He is none too happy.

11:26 – Dieng with a really nice running hook shot. Looking very impressive on both ends and improving his draft stock. Timeout. Louisville-73, Michigan-65.

11:30 – Hardaway’s first free throw attempt literally just went in the basket before popping out. Yikes. Bad omen? Makes the second.

11:31 – LUCAS HANCOCK. Three from the corner. Gotta be the MOP if the Cards win. Burke with a beautiful finish at the other end.

11:32 – Behanan with a bunch of offensive rebounds but for nothing. Russ Smith with ANOTHER missed shot. Haven’t looked at the box score but the numbers must be putrid for him. Burke hit hard again and in pain after being fouled. Four on Dieng. Louisville lead cut to six.

11:34 – Trey Burke picks up his fourth foul, as well. Siva with a beautiful pass inside and Behanan finally finishes strong on the third try.

11:35 – Burke to the line yet again. Makes 2/2. Louisville again up by six. A TERRIBLE cross-court, pressured pass by Russ Smith over the head of Siva. That’s literally the first thing you’re taught NOT to do in elementary school ball.

11:37 – YIKES. Behanan falls for a Robinson pump fake and literally rolls over the top of him. Thankfully, looked a lot worse than it was. Robinson hits both and we have ourselves a four-point game.

11:39 – Oh my. Louisville runs clock then Siva misses a floater. LeVert comes up with the board for Michigan but lands out of bounds. Terrible break for UM.

11:41 – After waiting to foul Dieng without realizing they weren’t yet in the bonus, Michigan fouls Hancock with 29.8 seconds left. Luke makes both.

11:42 – Burke misses a three. Robinson with the rebound, back out to Burke, who finds a man down low to cut the deficit back to four. 80-76 L’Ville.

11:43 – Didn’t look like Albrecht wanted to foul Siva, but it’s called at 12.9 seconds left. Siva makes both.

11:44 – Burke air balls a three with 3.7 seconds and it’s all but over. CBS cuts to a teary-eyed and smiling Kevin Ware. Pitino is smiling and hugging his players. Lot of emotion on the Louisville sideline.

11:45 – Fittingly, Russ Smith misses the front of a one-and-one to end the game. But it doesn’t matter, the Cards are the national champs. What a game.

11:46 – Pitino is shown ducking for cover at the sound of fireworks going off in the arena. You can take the man out of Providence, but you can’t take Providence out of the man. The newest Hall of Famer becomes the first college basketball coach to win national championships at two different schools

11:48 – Welp, that’s how the season ends. Pretty cool to say I watched the national champs live. And after I watched them dominate UConn in the second half that game, I said I was going to pick them to win it all. Tonight they showed the world why. Hell of a performance by Michigan, which was the youngest team in this year’s tournament. But congrats to the Cards. Playmakers, leadership, stifling defense, and a great coach. A pretty good recipe for a championship.

9:13 – Nick is persistent with his disdain for Rick Pitino and Louisville. I think I might be the only UConn student who likes Pitino. Regardless of how you feel about him, the Hall of Famer can coach. He would become the first college coach to win it all with two different teams.

9:15 – CHRIS WEBBER SIGHTING! Good for him to show up and put this timeout debacle behind him. Plus, this may take away from the 27 Kevin Ware shots throughout the game.

9:17 – Who is Travis Tritt? Were Brad Paisley and LL Cool J too busy? Too soon?

9:19 – I’ve decided that Tritt is basically Creed with talent. Eh.

9:21 – The “How You Like Me Now” song from every movie trailer ever is played over Michigan’s montage. McGary is working the crowd already.

9:23 – As they were doing last game, each Louisville starter is going over to Kevin Ware after they’re introduced. Can’t help but feel terrible for the kid. It’s also been somewhat overlooked how much his injury has hurt the depth of the Cards, having to play a walk-on off the bench.

9:25 – Some thoughts before tip: if anyone can hang with Louisville’s press, it’s Michigan. Trey Burke and company are among the leaders in protecting the ball and preventing turnovers. If McGary gets in foul trouble, I don’t think the Wolverines stand a chance. Dieng and the other big men could have a field day. Prediction: Louisville-76, Michigan-74

9:26 – And we’re off! Louisville controls the ball first and Siva misses on a runner.

9:27 – Trey Burke shows Siva how it’s done and finishes his own runner. He then hits a deep three on the next possession. 5-0 Blue.

9:28 – Blackshear answers with his own three. The refs then miss a blatant Dieng goaltend on a Hardaway layup. Not sure how they missed it; hit the glass before he swatted it.

9:29 – Burke with a tough layup in traffic. He has all 7 of Michigan’s points, certainly looking deserving of all his awards.

9:30 – Blackshear with a two of his own. The pace of this game is absurd. Both teams are capable of playing at this style, but I think it favors Louisville.

9:31 – Russ Smith sighting. Doing what he does best and finishing in traffic. In my opinion, the best finisher in the country. Phew, commercial. I can finally rest my fingers.

9:32 – “42” commercial. I can’t wait for this movie. I’m really hoping I’m not disappointed, although it looks like it can’t not be good.

9:34 – CBS shows the Fab Five minus Webber all sitting together. Pretty awesome but sad that C-Web isn’t with them.

9:36 – The little guy, Spike Albrecht nails a three. He’s provided some fantastic minutes for Beilein off the bench this tournament. Dieng answers with an 18-footer. The kid is still raw, but I think he’s being greatly underrated by NBA scouts.

9:37 – Answer after answer. This pace is ridiculous. Albrecht from three again! Michigan takes a 17-11 lead and Blue supporters can be heard loud and clear.

9:40 – Questionable foul call on Dieng going for a loose ball at halfcourt. If he gets in foul trouble, Louisville is in trouble. ALBRECHT AGAIN FROM THREE! Held the hand up and let out some victory profanity (along with plenty of saliva) on the CBS slow-mo cam. I won’t judge you, Spike.

9:44 – Luke Hancock, ladies and gentlemen. Shows his basketball IQ with the pump fake and lean for three free ones. Followed by a Kevin Ware shot. I believe we’re up to four. Nick points out that the foul was on Burke, his second of the game with more than 11 minutes left in the first half. Uh oh…

9:45 – Burke’s absence is felt right away, as Hardaway loses the ball to Hancock. That’s a reallll problem.

9:47 – Another turnover! That’s two in two possessions since Burke’s exit. Luckily for Michigan, Dieng thought that if he waited long enough to dribble again, it was legal. It don’t work that way, big fella.

9:48 – SPIKE! Followed by a McGary swat and a Stauskas three. Holy momentum. 25-17 Michigan.

9:50 – Spike taking it to the rim with major cohunes. And sure, Harrell blocked him about as hard as physically possible, but not before a foul was called. Makes one of two. Has 12 of UM’s 26.

9:51 – Dieng with a nice dish to Behanan for the dunk. That’s definitely one of Dieng’s best assets as a prospect; one of the best passing big men in the country.

9:53 – Just stepped on Twitter for a second and saw several people mentioning that Michigan just had five true freshmen on the court…at the same time. With the Fab Five in the stands. That’s awesome.

9:55 – Is there anything McGary can’t do? Steps back and knocks down a Duncan-esque bank shot. The kid could go first round if he leaves after this game. However, he’ll go lottery if he stays another year, which he should, in my opinion.

9:57 – McGary was just mauled, then traveled as a result, but neither was called. John Cahill, ladies and gentlemen. Always worth the price of admission.

9:58 – Spike Albrecht hits another three. He is absolutely unconscious. A freshman!

9:59 – An accidental Hancock kick is apparently a foul according to Cahill. Yikes. I really hope this game doesn’t come down to the refs.

10:00 – There have literally been three kicked balls in the past 30 seconds and none have been called…what? How does that happen?

10:02 – Spike. Freaking. Albrecht. A blow-by layup to add to his 17 points. And more importantly, hope for little, white point guards everywhere. 33-21 Michigan. Russ Smith just went to the bench, too. Mind you, this is all without the nation’s best player on the floor. Panic time for the Cards. Timeout on the floor.

10:07 – Play 10 seconds, then another timeout. A theme of this tournament. Hooray, commercials! Although it is better than the same three commercials they were showing on every break earlier in the tourney. I’m looking at you, Lowe’s, Bud Light and Southwest Airlines.

10:10 – I like Tim Hardaway, Jr. more and more every time I watch him play. Just went the length of the floor past the whole Louisville defense and finished at the rim. Plays really good defense, too. Very good young player.

10:12 – My man Hancock for three. Fun fact I shared on Twitter the other day: we were classmates at George Mason (for a very short period of time) and Hancock denied my request to become roommates. He then fittingly is called for his second foul.

10:13 – The Hancock show continues as he hits another three. AND ANOTHER ONE. The deficit is cut to four; 36-32 Michigan.

10:14 – Commercial (YAY), so this is a good time to share Pat Forde’s terrific article about Hancock and his ailing father. And get the tissues ready.

10:15 – McGary with a missed shot. I honestly forgot he was still in the game.

10:16 – HANCOCK FOR THREE. Doing his best Spike Albrecht impression! 16 points, 4-4 from three. Then a steal and a ridiculous lob from Siva to Harrell and Louisville takes a 37-36 lead. Wow. What a game.

10:18 – A late foul with 2.5 seconds left gives Michigan two free throw attempts, both of which they make. This is followed by a halfcourt chuck by Siva that almost goes down. And that’s the half, with Michigan up 38-37. I think it’s time to ice my fingers. Catch you on the other side of the half.

(1) Louisville vs. (12) Oregon – Friday, 3/29, 7:15 p.m.

This is a matchup that many had, as Pac-12 tournament champ Oregon was easily the most underseeded team in the field. It’s impressive what the Ducks have been able to do thus far, handling 5-seed Oklahoma State and 4-seed St. Louis with ease. However, Louisville has also advanced handily, defeating its opponents by an average of 28.5 points. The defensive pressure it puts on its opponents is absurd and quite frankly, I can’t say I’ve seen anything like it. Their offense is also spectacular, and Russ Smith has shown the country his scoring ability, posting games of 23 and 27 points. Smith also added eight steals in the Cards’ opening game against North Carolina A&T, further demonstrating his versatility. Louisville is really deep, which creates a significant advantage in how active they are on both ends of the floor.

Oregon has plenty of playmakers themselves. Led by E.J. Singler, yes, one of those Singlers, the Ducks are skilled everywhere. Despite having a mostly guard-oriented/undersized team, Oregon gets it done on the glass. Arsalan Kazemi is the first Iranian to play Division-I basketball and despite being 6’7”, he’s been dominating the boards. Kazemi averaged 9.9 rebounds per game this season and has a ridiculous total of 33 rebounds in Oregon’s two tournament games so far. Point guard Dominic Artis has yet to gain any level of consistency since returning from a stress fracture in his foot and went 0-7 from the field in the Ducks’ last game against St. Louis.

In no way do I think Oregon gets dominated and rolls over in this game. The Ducks will have to rely on Artis and Johnathan Lloyd to handle Louisville’s pressure, which is no easy task. Freshman Dameyean Dotson has been on fire in Oregon’s first two games, pouring in 17 and 23 points while shooting 8-15 from beyond the arc. Although Louisville’s guard play is its strength, I think its big men end up being the difference. Oregon lacks size inside and guys like Gorgui Dieng and Montrezl Harrell can exploit this.

Prediction: Louisville 76 Oregon 67

(2) Duke vs. (3) Michigan State – Friday, 3/29, 9:45 p.m.

This matchup may turn out to be the best game of this round. Izzo versus Krzyzewski will not disappoint, as they are two of the greatest coaches of all-time. Coach K holds a 7-2 record against the Spartans, but Izzo was victorious the last time these two met in the tournament, knocking the Blue Devils out of the Sweet 16 in 2005. The Spartans have rolled so far this tournament, defeating its opponents (Valparaiso and Memphis) by an average of 16.5 points, and last game without much help from arguably its best player and leader (Keith Appling). Appling left Sparty’s last game against Memphis when he re-injured his right shoulder. He says he’ll be good to go, but it is certainly worth watching. Derrick Nix has been a beast down low and his matchup against Duke big man Mason Plumlee will be crucial for either team. Freshman Gary Harris has also played very well so far for the Spartans.

However, the key matchup will be Adreian Payne versus Ryan Kelly. These two “stretch-fours” are two of the most dynamic players in the tournament. The 6’10” Payne and 6’11” Kelly are big men who can do damage from the outside. The fact that they will match-up against each other essentially neutralizes the advantage each team usually gets going up against other teams. Regardless, this is a highly-anticipated matchup. While Kelly has gone 3-13 with a total of 9 points in Duke’s two games so far, Payne has gone 9-19 scoring 21 combined. The latter was also a big difference-maker against Memphis, notably after Appling went down.

This game holds some fantastic matchups; Payne versus Kelly, Nix versus Plumlee, and each team’s guards going up against each other. Seth Curry has been a monster for Duke so far, dropping a combined 43 points. Rasheed Sulaimon was also key in the Dukies’ last game against Creighton. The freshman poured in 21 points, going 3-5 from beyond the arc and 8-10 from the charity stripe, which will be important against Michigan State. Neither team is very deep, but each has the playmakers to win it all. Rebounding will play a big factor, as Duke does not do it very well and I think Nix should essentially cancel out Plumlee on the glass. Ultimately, it will come down to the health of Appling and whether Sparty’s guards can stop Duke’s from getting hot from outside. If they can do this, and Payne can neutralize Kelly, while Nix handles Plumlee down low, I think Michigan State slows down the game enough and advances to the Elite Eight.

Prediction: Michigan State 67 Duke 64

West Region:

(2) Ohio State vs. (6) Arizona – Thursday, 3/28, 7:47 p.m.

Ohio State barely escaped last round behind the clutch shooting of Aaron Craft and perhaps a favorable charge call. Regardless, the Buckeyes haven’t lost a game since mid-February. Deshaun Thomas has continued to be one of the most consistent scorers in the country, shooting 16-26 from the field and 5-8 from three, scoring 46 points in their two games. Craft is not much of a scorer, despite dropping 18 last round against Ohio State. What Craft is limited in with scoring ability, he makes up for in other aspects of his game. He is hands-down the best perimeter defender in the country and extremely unselfish as the leader of the Buckeyes. Sam Thompson also does more than dunk, as he scored 20 points against Iona, going 8-8 from the line. Shannon Scott has also been very good alongside Craft in creating tremendous defensive pressure and distributing the ball among his teammates.

Full disclosure here: I picked Belmont to upset Arizona in the first second round. Year after year I pick Belmont to pull off an upset, and year after year they fail me. The same goes for picking against Butler. I think I’ve finally learned my lesson. Arizona blew out both Belmont and Harvard, and has had one of the easier paths to the Sweet 16. The Wildcats are led by Xavier transfer guard Mark Lyons, who has scored a combined 50 points in the two games so far. Arizona loves to run and put up points, while Ohio State will try to slow the game down, in typical Big Ten fashion. I think Craft will be able to slow Lyons, but Arizona’s bigs, like Kaleb Tarczewski and Solomon Hill could create a significant advantage on the boards. Ultimately, I think the Buckeyes spread the floor and defend well enough to advance to the Elite Eight.

Prediction: Ohio State 76 Arizona 72

(9) Wichita State vs. (13) La Salle – Thursday, 3/28, 10:17 p.m.

This is the matchup that no one had; the Shockers and the Explorers. Both teams have certainly impressed so far. Wichita State knocked off 1-seed Gonzaga, while La Salle has won three games, more than any other in this tournament. La Salle is very tough to match up against, as it often plays four guards at a time. Ramon Galloway hit the shot that knocked Marshall Henderson and Ole Miss out of the tournament and has been great so far. Jerrell Wright has also been assigned a lot of responsibility as the team’s only true big man, and has also played very well.

Wichita State has also played tremendously, notably last weekend when they knocked off Gonzaga. Not known for being a great shooting team, the Shockers shot a ridiculous 14-28 from three. That can certainly not be duplicated, but was incredibly impressive. Carl Hall is a fantastic story, coming back from a heart condition which he was told would not allow him to play basketball ever again. The return of Ron Baker has also been huge for this team, as he is very skilled in finding his teammates and shooting from the outside. When the Shockers have Baker, it creates a whole new dynamic.

This is a tough call. Either way, there will be a Cinderella in the Elite Eight. I think Wichita State is the better team. They have been all year and they knocked off a 1-seed last weekend. However, I think the four guard dynamic creates a mismatch for any team. This team has played great and I think they keep moving on in a tight one.

Prediction: La Salle 64 Wichita State 62

South Region:

(1) Kansas vs. (4) Michigan – Friday, 3/29, 7:37 p.m.

This game should be very entertaining. These are two of the most athletic teams in the entire country. Michigan may be the most impressive team in the tournament so far. The Wolverines took care of business against Nate Wolters and South Dakota State, then followed with an impressive drubbing of VCU. Many, such as myself, expected its game against VCU to be close, but it was anything but that. Trey Burke took a nasty fall in their first game, but luckily for Michigan it wasn’t anything serious. Burke was limited against VCU’s ball pressure, but still played a great game. I’ve been extremely impressed by Tim Hardaway, Jr. on both sides of the ball. Hardaway has been extremely efficient in the two games, going a combined 13-24 while scoring 35 points. Freshman Glenn Robinson III has also played well and is key for the team. Nik Stauskas is another impact freshman, however he has not been on in this tournament so far. If he figures it out again from deep, that’s even another weapon for the Wolverines. But the key figure will be big man Mitch McGary, who dominated VCU with 21 points and 14 boards. This will be especially crucial going up against Kansas’s Jeff Withey.

Overall, Kansas has been mostly underwhelming in this tournament. The Jayhawks almost lost to 16-seed Western Kentucky, then trailed North Carolina by nine at halftime last round. The aforementioned Withey has been a beast thus far, swatting 12 shots in the two games and recording 16 points and 16 rebounds against UNC, not to mention countless altered shots. Forward Kevin Young (Zero from Holes) and guard Travis Releford were also key in this game. Remarkably, the Jayhawks have advanced without much help from freshman phenom Ben McLemore. However, Kansas will certainly need his help if they want to keep moving on.

This should be a very good game with contrasting styles. Michigan centers on its guards and swingmen, with McGary as its “new” weapon down low. Meanwhile, Kansas has relied on McLemore, but also pounded the ball inside to Withey and Young. I think the difference in this matchup will be the Trey Burke/Elijah Johnson dynamic. Burke is a potential Naismith Award winner and Big Ten Player of the Year, while Johnson is also very good but turnover prone. I think Burke and the length of Hardaway and Robinson will get the Wolverines by the Jayhawks.

Prediction: Michigan 76 Kansas 71

(3) Florida vs. (15) Florida Gulf Coast - Friday, 3/29, 9:57 p.m.

There is no game of this bunch that I look more forward to than this one. If you haven’t seen FGCU, or “Dunk City” as they’ve come to be known, you’re missing out. Brett Comer is the unsung hero on this team, finding his teammates with no-look lobs and perfect passes. Senior Sherwood Brown can shoot from outside and finish at the rim, and is the Easgles’ best overall player. Big men Chase Fieler, Eric McKnight and Eddie Murray bring the excitement, as they can catch lobs anywhere near the rim and finish with power. Bernard Thompson has also been sensational, while Christophe Varidel provides energy and nice stroke from deep.

Florida is a whole new animal to what the Eagles have seen so far in this tournament. Georgetown is great, but relies too much on Otto Porter. San Diego State is also a very good team, but nothing compared to the Gators. Erik Murphy, much like Duke’s Kelly and Michigan State’s Payne, is a big man who can stretch the floor and excel at shooting from deep. Mike Rosario is also a terrific shooter who has to be accounted for at all times. Patric Young is a physical big who can dominate the paint when he wants to.

Aside from Gators fans, everyone in the country will be pulling for FGCU. It’s a great story that everyone hopes can continue. However, I think Florida is too strong and too skilled. As much as I’ll be rooting for the Eagles, I think this is the game their luck runs out. Regardless, they have made history this tournament.

Prediction: Florida 79 Florida Gulf Coast 66

East Region:

(2) Miami vs. (3) Marquette – Thursday, 3/28, 7:15 p.m.

Much like Ohio State, Miami ran into trouble last game and benefited from a botched call. Thankfully for the Hurricanes, they have Shane Larkin, who hit a clutch stepback three at the end to seal the win. The big news this week is that big man Reggie Coleman did not make the trip to D.C. with the team. This is a big hit, but the ‘Canes hope he will be ready in case they make the Final Four. Kenny Kadji and notorious photobomber Julian Gamble will have to shoulder the load in his absence.

You could argue that Marquette has gotten lucky as they’ve snuck their way through to the Sweet 16. However, you could also argue that they have been clutch. Led by guard Vander Blue and center Chris Otule, this team knows how to win games down the stretch. Blue is a lot of fun to watch and very skilled at creating his own shots. Davante Gardner, who has never committed a foul in his life (according to him), is also a big body down low and essentially automatic from the free throw line.

Johnson is a big loss for the Hurricanes. However, Miami has the tools to compensate for his absence with big men and its guards. Shane Larkin will dictate the pace of this game, which I think Miami ultimately wins rather handily.

Prediction: Miami 71 Marquette 60

(1) Indiana vs. (4) Syracuse – Thursday, 3/28, 9:45 p.m.

The Hoosiers barely snuck by Khalif Wyatt and Temple last week, thanks to a late dagger by Victor Oladipo. The game was incredibly sloppy, but a win is a win. Indiana may not always be pretty, but they get the job done. They are incredibly efficient in their scoring and are third in the country in points per game (80.0). Oladipo and Cody Zeller are two top ten picks in the coming NBA Draft. Although one of Zeller’s best skills can be flopping, he is very skilled down low and possesses a good amount of post moves for a young player. Oladipo has unfairly earned comparisons to Michael Jordan, but is an incredible player. He is a stout defender and in my eyes trails only Aaron Craft in terms of perimeter defensive prowess. Oladipo can shoot, create his own shot, and finish with authority at the rim. He plays much bigger than his 6’5” frame, as he averages 6.4 rebounds per game.

Syracuse routed Montana (sans leading scorer) to open the tournament, then took out California in its home state. Although they let the Bears hang around, the Orange ultimately finished them off. Jim Boeheim undoubtedly saw how effective Temple’s stifling man-to-man defense was on Indiana last weekend. However, don’t expect him to change from ‘Cuse’s patented 2-3 zone. The Hoosiers will have to focus on keeping Michael Carter-Williams out of the lane, as that is where he does most of his damage, whether it is through finishing layups or kicking out to guys like James Southerland behind the arc. They must contest Southerland at all times, as he is a major threat from the perimeter. I would also argue that Syracuse’s best player is neither of these, but C.J. Fair, who is extremely versatile. That’s not to say he is a better NBA prospect, just more important to this team right now.

This game will come down to how Indiana is able to attack the 2-3 zone. I believe that the Hoosiers are perfectly tuned to beat ‘Cuse. If Oladipo is able to flash to the middle of the zone, forcing defenders to crash, he will be able to kick out to superb shooters Jordan Hulls and Christian Watford, or look for Zeller hiding behind the zone running the baseline. I’ll give ‘Cuse a chance in this one, and I think it will be a good game, but Indiana is too good.

Prediction: Indiana 78 Syracuse 71

Full disclosure here; I completed these write-ups prior to Selection Sunday’s unveiling of this year’s bracket. My intention was to post this before the revealing, however I became too transfixed on the Ohio State/Wisconsin and VCU/St. Louis games going on. When in Rome. So since the bracket is out, I wrote some blurbs about these teams’ potential paths following what I had previously written. The fact that I kept the same teams here made me feel even more confident upon seeing the bracket that I still believe one of these teams will be the one who ultimately cuts down the nets in Atlanta. Let’s take a look (in no particular order).

Indiana Hoosiers

Indiana has been a popular pick since before this season started, and reasonably so. I have let my affinity for Victor Oladipo be known. He gets credit for his offensive game, but it’s his defense that shines. Cody Zeller also gets it done on both sides of the ball, and each will likely be drafted in the top 10 should they declare for the 2013 NBA Draft, as they are expected to do. Aside from these two stars, seniors Christian Watford and Jordan Hulls provide much experience, along with the ability to light it up from three. Will Sheehey and freshman Yogi Ferrell fill out the rest of IU’s main pieces. Although its depth concerns me, the Hoosiers are as good a team as any and its combination of perimeter prowess, solid post game, and stifling defense make it a favorite in this year’s Big Dance. The Hoosiers’ potential second round (you know what I mean) matchup could be interesting, as NC State has as much pure talent as almost any team in the country. Although they greatly underachieved this year (last year’s UConn, if you will), they have the players to be able to pull a big upset. However, I don’t think it happens. I think Oladipo and Zeller are smart enough players in knowing how to attack Syracuse’s 2-3 zone in order to beat the Orange. Then, I think Miami will be a very tough matchup. But the Hurricanes can be inconsistent, as hot as they have been recently. Indiana was the best team in the country throughout most of this season, and I think we will see that talent shine through again.

Louisville Cardinals

Louisville’s dominant Big East Championship game performance against Syracuse Saturday night cemented a number one seed in the NCAA Tournament. Whether it will be the number one overall seed remains to be seen. The Cards play some of the best defense I have ever seen. I saw them against UConn earlier this year and was amazed. UConn led at the half, then Louisville came out playing inspired, full court, high-pressure defense and pulled away. Peyton Siva and Russ Smith make up the best backcourt in the country. Each makes the defense so effectively with their pressure up front, and they are also explosive offensively. Both excel at penetrating the lane and can spot up from outside, as well. Gorgui Dieng is a great post player and a tremendous passer for someone his size. Freshman Montrezl Harrell had an incredible game against Syracuse, and it will be interesting to see if he continues to emerge during the tournament. It’s also important not to sleep on swingman Luke Hancock, who can shoot and has improved his defense tremendous since his days at George Mason. If Siva and company can stay out of foul trouble, Louisville could certainly win it all, despite its “Region of Doom.” St. Louis could give the Cards trouble, should they meet, due to the Billikens’ ability to slow the game down and handle defensive pressure with ease. But as much as I wanted to pick the upset, I just couldn’t do it. Louisville is too good, both offensively and defensively. Conference tournament runs can be important to a team’s confidence going into the NCAA Tournament, and the Cards were flat out dominant. With this stacked team, it’s easy to see why most experts are all on the Louisville bandwagon.

Kansas Jayhawks

I feel like every year people talk about the Jayhawks as a team who could win it all, but they always fall short. However, they have never had Ben McLemore before. The freshman could very well be the first overall pick in this June’s NBA Draft. If you don’t know his story, read this. He also may have given us the GIF of the year so far. McLemore is coming off performances of five and 10 points in his last two games, yet Kansas still won both handily. For a team so reliant on its freshman star, it’s promising to see them being able to win games against good teams without him being at his best. Jeff Withey anchors the middle of the defense, averaging a ridiculous 3.8 blocks per game while providing a nice post presence on offense. Travis Releford and Elijah Johnson have also had good years and will be key to a nice run. Another key may be the play of freshman Perry Ellis, who has come on in the past two games with great performances. The main concern is that the Jayhawks’ star player is a freshman, but hey, that worked out pretty well for Syracuse in ’03, didn’t it? (It’s a good comparison, okay?) I’m torn with Kansas; they blow teams out and completely dominate the Big 12 tournament, but they can be very erratic. Elijah Johnson and company are prone to complete turnover debacles, which would make it vulnerable to a team like VCU if it could advance past Michigan. Ultimately, I think Michigan takes care of the Rams and Kansas dodges a bullet. McLemore, Withey and Releford are a great corps of talent, and Johnson shows flashes of brilliance. I worry about their consistency, but there’s no doubt the Jayhawks possess the talent to cut down the nets in ATL.

Duke Blue Devils

Coming off a dominant ACC Tournament appearance…wait. Coming off a dominant 2012 NCAA tournament appearance…hold on. Despite its first round loss as a two-seed last year, Duke could run the table this season. The Blue Devils are a different team with Ryan Kelly, and only have one loss this year with him in the lineup. While Kelly stretches the floor as a big man who can shoot it from deep, Mason Plumlee takes care of the interior. Seth Curry, Quinn Cook and freshman Rasheed Sulaimon also spread the floor as shooters, which is clearly something Duke doesn’t lack. The thing I worry about with the Dukies is if they run into a dominant post team. However, what the Blue Devils lack down low, they make up for it with its guard play. Duke is also in the feared Midwest region and has a chip on its shoulder from last year’s upset loss of epic proportions. Kelly is the difference-maker for this team. Although I do think Michigan State matches up well, Duke could explode at any given moment and go on a serious run. Louisville’s pressure will be a very serious obstacle but don’t sleep on Coach K and the Dukies.

Miami Hurricanes

Jim Larranaga has done an unbelievable job with this Miami team that was picked preseason to finish fifth in the ACC. Sophomore Shane Larkin has been remarkable this season and it’s easy to tell that he’s the floor general of this team. He can do it all and is a threat to score from anywhere on the floor, yet he is still a pass-first point guard. The average age of a Hurricanes player is more than 21 years old, which is pretty astounding. For example, big man Kenny Kadji is older than Kevin Durant. Seriously, look it up. Age and experience could help in the NCAA Tournament, although it is overrated. Reggie Johnson is a huge body to pair with Kadji down low, although the latter tends to pop his 6’11” frame out to the perimeter a little too much, at times. Trey McKinney Jones is a legitimate threat on the outside that teams have to account for, along with Larkin. Miami’s x-factor, however, might be swingman Durand Scott, who is coming off a 32-point ACC semifinal performance against NC State on Saturday. People may question Miami’s players’ tournament experience, but it certainly can’t do that with its coach, which can’t be overlooked. I think Miami has a cakewalk to the Elite Eight. Marquette is significantly overseeded, in my opinion, and any combination of Butler/Bucknell/Colorado isn’t intimidating at all. Indiana will be a test, but the ‘Canes are on a roll and could take it all.

Georgetown Hoyas

The simple explanation here is that the Hoyas have Otto Porter. I could stop here and it would be enough, but I won’t. Porter can do it all and is incredibly long. He can score seemingly at will and does a tremendous job attacking zones. Despite having key forward and then-second leading scorer Greg Whittington be ruled academically ineligible earlier in the season, Georgetown has played tremendously down the stretch. Junior Markel Starks provides much experience from the point guard position and freshman D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera has played very well and had flashes of brilliance this year. Although the Hoyas will likely have to play Florida and Kansas/Michigan to get there, Porter and their defense give Georgetown a legit shot at winning it all.

Michigan State Spartans

Tom Izzo always has his teams ready come March. Keith Appling is one of the best point guards in the country and a great leader for the Spartans. Gary Harris is a stud freshman who can hit almost anything on the floor. Adreian Payne is a big man who can step out and hit shots, while senior Derrick Nix is an even bigger man who controls the post. Branden Dawson rounds out this group as an extremely athletic swingman. I think Sparty could go all the way. They have the talent and more importantly, they have Izzo, who can win with just about any team. Michigan State has taken great strides throughout the year and although they slipped a little towards the end of the season, they don’t have one bad loss. Although they are in the toughest region in the tournament, they have what it takes to beat Duke. They have a shot at Louisville, as well, but this region is completely up for grabs.

Ohio State Buckeyes

I’ll admit, I wasn’t originally sold on this one. But there are few hotter teams in the entire country than the Buckeyes. Coming off a Big Ten Tournament championship, the team led by junior guard Aaron Craft’s stifling perimeter defense has the tools for a run. Leading scorer Deshaun Thomas is a versatile swingman who can pull a big defender out to the perimeter and shoot over him or drive past him. Sam Thompson is the best dunker in all of college basketball and will dunk over anyone or anything in his path. This team is loaded with juniors and sophomores, and does not rely on freshmen. Again, I do think tournament experience is overrated (see, UConn 2011-12). But to completely overlook it would be silly. Craft has become a great leader and has always been a premier defensive talent, but has greatly improved his offensive game this year. Ohio State and New Mexico is a matchup I greatly anticipate and hope we get to see. Gonzaga would essentially be a matchup nightmare, but I have the Zags losing to Pittsburgh, although they could also lose to Wisconsin. If Ohio State takes care of its own business and gets a little lucky, their defense and experience could take them all the way this season.

Florida Gators

This pick is tough for me. In the end, I felt I had to include the Gators. At times this season, Florida was easily the most dominant team in the country. In fact, all 26 of the Gators’ wins this season have been by double digits. That is an astounding stat. However, they haven’t had what it takes in close games, going 0-5 in games decided by six points or less. They also lost to an array of relatively mediocre teams, despite beating half of them in their other matchup this season. The bottom line is that as hot and cold as this team is, there’s no doubt they could win it all. Regardless of whether you believe in advanced metrics and KenPom’s number one ranking of the Gators, the talent is clearly there. Erik Murphy is a tremendous “stretch four” who is 6’10” and hits almost half (45.6%) of the threes he takes. Kenny Boynton is a good metaphor for the Gators, as he is extremely inconsistent, as well. Although he only shoots 39.5% from the floor, he is Florida’s second leading scorer and they need him to get on track in order to have a chance at another national title. Patric Young is a monster down low and seems to have really turned it on his last four games. Rutgers transfer (I know) Mike Rosario is certainly a playmaker for the Gators and can hit consistently from outside. Factor in one of the best coaches in the country in Billy Donovan, one with multiple national titles, and you have the tools for success. Georgetown plays extremely good defense and will be tough to get by, but Florida plays some fantastic defense of its own. Plus, the Gators’ offense trumps the Hoyas’. Kansas or Michigan are also great teams but I favor Florida’s matchups in those games, should they happen. This team leaves me extremely confused. Ultimately, I think they will get to Atlanta. Donovan usually has his teams in top gear when the Big Dance arrives.

 Gary’s Bracket

Mike’s Bracket

Mike Wallace

All: Miami Dolphins

No surprise here. Miami has been connected to Wallace for awhile and not many teams can rival the kind of money the Dolphins can give the deep threat.

Greg Jennings

Mike/Nick: Minnesota Vikings

Gary: Cleveland Browns

The Vikings just traded its only real receiving threat and are most certainly in the market for a receiver. The Browns have a ton of cap room and are still looking for a number one receiver.

Wes Welker

All: New England Patriots

There’s no way the Pats can let Welker walk, especially if they cut Brandon Lloyd. I originally thought there was no chance Welker came back to New England. But I can’t imagine Tom Brady would have restructured his contract without some sort of stipulation that New England would re-sign his go-to guy.

Danny Amendola

Mike: Philadelphia Eagles

Nick: Baltimore Ravens

Gary: Minnesota Vikings

Interesting here that we all have Amendola going to different teams. The Eagles have shown interest in Amendola, and he would certainly be an intriguing option in the slot alongside Desean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin. The Ravens just traded Anquan Boldin to the 49ers for a pack of Bazooka bubble gum, so Baltimore makes sense. The Vikings would also be a good fit because of the reasons listed above under Jennings.

Reggie Bush

Mike/Nick: Detroit Lions

Gary: Arizona Cardinals

There is wide speculation that Bush signs with the Lions, which would be a perfect fit. The Cards would also be an ideal fit, but it will be interesting to see how much they could pay Bush. With the recent release of Beanie Wells, this would be a much improved backfield.

Ahmad Bradshaw

Mike/Nick: New York Jets

Gary: Green Bay Packers

Bradshaw’s release could be a dream come true for the Jets. Shonn Greene wasn’t exactly getting it done, but also wasn’t terrible. Both Bradshaw and the Jets could benefit greatly from this move. Green Bay has been searching for a feature back for a long time. Bradshaw would make sense if the Packers choose to fill this hole via free agency rather than the draft.

Steven Jackson

All: Atlanta Falcons

Jackson would be a perfect fit here. With the release of Michael Turner, the Falcons need a bigger back. Jackson has also said he wants to play for a contender.

Rashard Mendenhall

Mike: Denver Broncos

Nick: Arizona Cardinals

Gary: New York Jets

Mendenhall has been linked to the Broncos for weeks. He would be a very nice complementary back in Denver’s backfield. The Cardinals make a lot of sense here. Arizona needs a running back desperately. As previously mentioned, the Jets are most definitely in the market for a running back.

Dashon Goldson

Mike: Arizona Cardinals

Nick: St. Louis Rams

Gary: Cincinnati Bengals

With the recent release of Adrian Wilson, the Cards are looking for a playmaking safety and are likely to pay a premium for one. The Rams would be an interesting fit and improve an already improved defense from last year. Cincinnati has shown interest in Goldson for a little while now and would be a nice signing for Mike Zimmer and that defense.

Paul Kruger

All: Cleveland Browns

Cleveland has a lot of money to work with and has let its interest in Kruger be known. No surprise here.

Ed Reed

Mike/Gary: Baltimore Ravens

Nick: New England Patriots

I can’t see the Ravens letting Reed walk after the retirement of Ray Lewis. Baltimore’s defense could very much use Reed’s leadership and playmaking ability. The Patriots are also in the hunt for a safety and will target one either in free agency or the draft. Plus, the mutual affinity that Reed and Bill Belichick share for each other is well known.

Jake Long

Mike/Gary: Chicago Bears

Nick: St. Louis Rams

Chicago’s offensive line was atrocious last year. Jay Cutler would be the happiest man in the country if this happened. And if Jay Cutler was ever happy. St. Louis could also use some o-line help for Sam Bradford and Long is the best out there.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie

Mike: Jacksonville Jaguars

Nick: Cleveland Browns

Gary: San Francisco 49ers

Jags’ new coach Gus Bradley loves defense, especially playmaking corners. DRC certainly fits this mold. Cleveland, as you well know by now, has plenty of money to spend this offseason and are looking to bolster its secondary. The Niners are also looking for secondary help, especially after Seattle’s acquisition of Percy Harvin.

Aqib Talib

Nick/Gary: Washington Redskins

Mike: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington makes perfect sense here if the ‘Skins have cap room, as Talib’s former coach Raheem Morris is there. Not sure what I was going for here, mostly taking a shot in the dark. Talib was just shipped from here but the Bucs need a lot of help in the secondary and he is still a top corner.

Sebastian Vollmer

All: New England Patriots

Belichick and the Pats value the offensive line as much as any other team in the league. I can’t see them letting Vollmer go elsewhere, especially when he realizes the Pats are offering market value.

Cliff Avril

Mike/Nick: Indianapolis Colts

Gary: New Orleans Saints

The Colts are looking to replace longtime and newly departed defensive end Dwight Freeney and Avril would be a perfect fit. New Orleans is also seeking to improve its defensive line, thus this would be a very nice signing, as well.

Dwight Freeney

Mike/Gary: Denver Broncos

Nick: Miami Dolphins

Denver would be a really nice fit here for Freeney to be reunited with Peyton Manning. The Broncos are always looking for defensive line help. Miami has a lot of money to play with, along with a lot of needs. Freeney would be a great addition.

Andre Smith

Mike/Nick: Cincinnati Bengals

Gary: Dallas Cowboys

The Bengals would be smart to re-sign the best right tackle in football, especially at just 25 years old. Smith is looking for top dollar, but not many teams out there are willing to offer anything in the neighborhood of what Cincinnati is willing. If Dallas can fit Smith under its tight salary cap, this would be a no-brainer.

Osi Umenyiora

Mike/Gary: Atlanta Falcons

Nick: Jacksonville Jaguars

With the recent release of John Abraham, the Falcons would be smart to grab Umenyiora to fill a very important hole on its roster. The Jags have taken on a new approach with Gus Bradley. This could vastly improve a poor defense with other moves.

Adrian Wilson

Nick/Gary: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Mike: Buffalo Bills

As mentioned before, Tampa Bay desperately needs secondary help. Wilson would be a very nice addition to this defense. Buffalo is also looking for help on its defense, notably in its secondary. They did franchise tag Jairus Byrd, but he and Wilson would make one of the best safety tandems in the NFL.

Have predictions of your own? Tweet us @SportsRP

Big contracts are a significant part of Major League Baseball. Some of them have turned out great, worth every penny. Others, have blown up in the faces of the GM’s who signed them. This Top 10 is going with the latter, since those are more fun to talk about.

Let’s take a look at the worst of the worst…

#10. John Lackey – 5 years, $82.5 million – December 2009- Boston Red Sox

            At the time, Lackey was a workhorse type pitcher. He was a guy that tormented the Red Sox when he was in L.A. He was just one of those, “you know what you’re going to get” type of pitchers. In December of 2009, the Red Sox paid 82.5 million dollars, becuase….they knew what they were going to get. Personally, I don’t think a guy who wins 13 games per season with a 3.5 era is worth that kind of money, but I guess that is a separate discussion. Lackey just wasn’t the guy that Boston paid for after he signed on. In his first year in Bean town, he pitched to a 4.4 era with 14 wins, and in 2011 it was 12 wins and an abysmal 6.41 era. Lackey also did not pitch in 2012 due to injuries. He will obviously look to rebound in 2013, but unless he blows people away in his final years of his contract, this will remain one of the worst in recent memory.

#9. Vernon Wells – 7 years, $126 million – December 2006 – Toronto Blue Jays

            The market was big for outfielders in 2006. After contracts like the one to Matthews Jr., and Alfonso Soriano (coming right up), the Blue Jays locked down their guy in Vernon Wells. It would be difficult to say that they should not have made the move, because Wells truly was their guy. He was the face of the franchise, an all-star, and they didn’t want to lose him. It was a ton of money though, and in hindsight it was too much. Maybe the big time money got to his head and effected his performance? Regardless, Wells declined significantly after 2006. He occasionally came out with a pretty good season (2008,2010) but all in all Toronto must have been disappointed with their investment. The Blue Jays traded Wells to the Angels after the 2010 season and left them to pick up the remainder of his contract, which is a back loaded one. He is still getting paid the big bucks and only managed 11 HR’s and 29 RBI in half of 2012.

#8. Gary Matthews Jr. – 5 Years, $50 million – November 2006 – Los Angeles Angels

            Matthews Jr. had a phenomenal 2006 season with the Texas Rangers. He set career highs in triples (6), home runs (19), RBI (79), and batting average (.313) to go along with 10 steals, a 5.0 WAR, and one awesome catch. It was a great year, but it was really the only season he had done much of anything in the majors. That didn’t seem to bother the Angels, as they dished out a big time contract to the unproven Matthews Jr. He didn’t live up to expectations by any means. He did have 18 homers and 72 RBI in 2007, but he only hit .252, and it was only downhill from there. He played two more seasons in Los Angeles while averaging just 6 home runs and 48 RBI per season. The Angels then agreed to buy out much of the remaining contract in 2010 and sent him off to the Mets, where he did absolutely nothing.

#7. Alfonso Soriano – 8 years, $135 million – November 2006 – Chicago Cubs

            You can’t totally knock the Cubs for this one. They probably should have known 8 years was too much and that his performance would decline, but that was just the price to land him. He was a 40/40 guy the year before and was the most sought after free agent heading into the 2007 season. Don’t get me wrong, he was not a complete bust. He is just extremely overpaid, and his performance did in fact decline. He hit over 20 home runs in every season with the Cubs so far, but his stolen bases dropped tremendously, his average was usually somewhere around .260, and rarely got over 80 RBI’s. He was worth a big contract, even with the way that his numbers declined, but somewhere in the neighborhood of 5 years, $80 million might have been the max  that he was worth, certainly not 135 million dollars. 

#6.  Jason Bay – 4 years, $66 million – January 2010 – New York Mets

            The only reason that Bay is not higher on this list is because compared to some of baseballs other contracts, 4 years 66 millions isn’t a huge amount. It is however WAY too much money for a guy who did literally nothing while he was making it. The Mets paid Jason Bay to come in and hit 30 homers, and drive in 100 runs, in a time where they really needed a spark. Jason Bay forgot how to play baseball. He forgot that he was supposed to be good. So much so that the Mets are now paying him to play somewhere else. Here are some numbers for you from Bay’s forgettable (or unforgettable) 3 seasons in New York:

            Never hit above .259 (.165 in 2012)

            Never hit more than 12 home runs (6 in 2010)

            Never drove in more than 57 runs (20 in 2012)

Bay was effected by injuries, but he still played in most games. The Mets finally said enough is enough and bought out his contract just so they could cut ties. Now I’m sure he will completely revitalize his career in Seattle in 2013.

#5. Jayson Werth – 7 years, $126 million – December 2010 – Washington Nationals

            This one was always a head scratcher for me. He did have some pretty good seasons with the Phillies from 2008-2010, but he never should’ve gotten this deal. He was 31 years old, and wasn’t exactly a long time superstar. The fact that Washington agreed to sign him until he turns 39, making 18 million per season just blows my mind. Even if he maintained his statistics for a few more seasons he wouldn’t have been worth that money. He didn’t even do that though. He hit .232 and drove in 58 runs during his first season in the nation’s capital. He then missed half of 2012 due to injury. He still has some time to earn it, but for right now, this has proven to be an awful contract. He just is not Werth that kind of money (see what I did there?)

#4. Carl Crawford – 7 years, $142 million – December 2010 – Boston Red Sox

            This is another one where you can’t completely blame the Red Sox front office. Crawford was a superstar, and he was still pretty young. They couldn’t really predict how it was going to turn out. In a full 2011 season, he hit .255, 11 HR’s, 56 RBI’s, and 18 SB’s. The Red Sox essentially paid him to add .50 to that average and double the rest of those numbers. He then missed much of 2012 with injuries and the Red Sox basically said never mind, and traded him to the Dodgers. If I was running a Major League Baseball franchise, and had the funds, I would pay 20 million per season to a guy to hit .300, drive in 90 runs, score 100 runs, hit 15 home runs, and steal 50 bases. I don’t know how anybody could argue that. That is why I can’t blame the Red Sox for this move. That doesn’t change the fact however that this contract proved to be one of the worst ever and the Red Sox made a big mistake, even if it was unpredictable.

#3. Barry Zito – 7 years, $125 million – December 2006 – San Francisco Giants

            Whichever team signed Zito after 2006 was going to be so lucky. Or at least that’s what everybody thought. Even if you ignore his Cy Young winning, 23 win, 2002 season, Zito was still one of the game’s best. He was 28 years old and so many teams wanted him. The price proved to be too high for most teams though, and he landed in San Francisco. Up until 2012, Zito had a grand total of ZERO winning seasons for the Giants. He has also never had an era under 4.00 in San Fran. He put together a good season last year, but that doesn’t change the fact that this is one of the worst contracts ever. It was the highest contract any pitcher had ever received at the time. 125 million dollars to a perennial losing pitcher with an era continuously over 4. This contract was flat out awful.

#2. Mike Hampton – 8 years, $121 million – December 2000 – Colorado Rockies

            Hampton established himself as one of the game’s best pitchers in the late 90′s with Houston. He was 22-4 in 1999 with an ERA under 3. With the Mets in 2000 he won 15 games and was named MVP of the NLCS. He then hit the free agent market and Colorado was his top suitor. They made him the highest paid player in MLB history in December of 2000. Not just the highest paid pitcher, the highest paid player, ever. Hampton pitched to a 5.41 ERA in 2001, and an even worse 6.15 in 2002. You are the highest paid player in the history of baseball and you can’t even pitch like a guy who deserves a 5th spot in a major league rotation. That is just bad. The entire Rockies organization, including their fan base, had to be so incredibly angry with the way that this deal panned out. I know it is hard for a pitcher in the high altitude of Colorado, but maybe Hampton just wasn’t that good. The Rockies said goodbye to their massive investment after two seasons when they traded him to Atlanta. He showed glimpses of his former self from time to time, but he was never the same as injuries also began to take their toll. This one will go down as one of the worst of all time.

#1. Alex Rodriguez – 10 years, $275 million – December 2007 – New York Yankees

            Rodriguez was going on age 32 when he signed this deal, keeping him under contract with the Yankees until his early 40′s. Not just under contract, under contract that averages 21.5 million dollars over its final four seasons. A-rod performed just fine in the regular season for his first 3 seasons after signing his new mega deal. Although his 50 home run seasons seemed like a thing of the past he was still able to maintain 30+, and his customary 100+ runs batted in. His postseason performance was where the criticism came in, as he never seemed to be able to get it done in the clutch. He did get a World Series ring in New York, but he wasn’t exactly a tremendous force during that run. Then the steroid situation arose, and his body began to deteriorate from nagging injuries, limiting his playing time. Correlation? I won’t comment. Now even his 25+ home run seasons seem like a thing of the past. His chase for Barry Bonds’ all-time record has stalled, and the Yankees just keep dishing out the big bucks. Rodriguez was signed for WAY too much, over WAY too many seasons. 3 years from now A-rod will be a 40 year old who’s body cannot support a full season and will no longer have any power left in the tank, and the Yankees will be paying him more than 20 million dollars. As of right now, I could listen to arguments that there have been worse contracts than this one, but when it is all said and done I truly believe this contract will be looked back on and laughed at. Well, by everybody except the New York Yankees.