First Round

#1 Virginia vs. #16 Gardner-Webb: THIS Isn’t REMOTELY AN EXCITING? MOVE ON LET’S JUST NOT TALK ABOUT IT. WHAT COULD GO WRONG? Select: Virginia
#8 Ole Miss vs. #9 Oklahoma: [long pause] Umm, Ole Miss? Select: Ole Miss
#5 Wisconsin vs. #12 OregonI refuse to select a Pac-12 team, and Oregon’s best win of the season was against Syracuse on a neutral court. Their defense is great, but the offense is not. That won’t be sufficient to do it against Wisconsin. Pick: Wisconsin
#4 Kansas State vs. #13 UC Irvine: This really is the awful combo of a sexy double-digit seed meeting a Power 5 college with injuries. The Anteaters beat up on the Big West Conference, winning both the regular season and conference championship titles. K-State will not possess Barry Brown, meaning they’ll need to compensate for his scoring and game direction somewhere. Oh, also UC Irvine includes a dude. MAX HAZZARD!!! Pick: UC Irvine
#6 Villanova vs. #11 Saint Mary’s: The Wildcats are nowhere near the team they were last year when they won the tournament, but they can still shoot threes pretty well and shouldn’t have any issues with St. Mary’s. It’ll be close, however. Pick: Villanova
#3 Purdue vs. #14 Old Dominion: LET’S GET CRAZY. Old Dominion over Purdue later Carsen Edwards has a quiet day, while BJ Stith and Ahmad Caver move OFF. Pick: Old Dominion
#7 Cincinnati vs. #10 Iowa: This is the yelling coach sport as Fran McCaffrey and Mick Cronin are known for their. . .fiery characters on the sidelines. Iowa has been leaking every type of fluid down the stretch and are limping into the championship. Cincinnati takes it in a physical, gritty game. Pick: Cincinnati
#2 Tennessee vs. #15 Colgate: Colgate has as much chance here as an actual tube of toothpaste. The Volunteers are big, physical, and Tennessee moves easily. Select: Tennessee
Second Round
#1 Virginia vs. #9 Ole Miss: The Cavaliers are too much on both offense and defense since they’re the only team in the country from the top-5 in equally on KenPom. Pick: Virginia
#5 Wisconsin vs. #13 UC Irvine: Wisconsin’s outside shooting goes cold and UC Irvine’s run from the postseason continues. Am I only picking this because literally nobody wants to see Virginia-Wisconsin in the Sweet 16? Maybe. Select: UC Irvine
#12 Old Dominion vs. #6 Villanova: Cinderella’s ball is cut brief. Nova shoots ODU out of the gym. Select: Villanova
#7 Cincinnati vs. #1 Tennessee: CINCY VS TENNY IN COLUMBUS. Ok, fine, I will not call them”Tenny” again. This one is a brutal conflict, but Tennessee squeaks one out late thanks to a big play from Jordan Bone. Select: Tennessee
Sweet Sixteen
#1 Virginia vs. #13 UC Irvine: The Cavaliers have building confidence as they cruise to the Elite Eight. De’Andre Hunter, Ty Jerome, and Kyle Guy are a lot to the Anteaters, moving them one win away from the promise land. Select: Virginia
#6 Villanova vs. #2 Tennessee: The other game that I desperately wish to see. Finesse vs. braun. Villanova slows down things and gets hot from out as Paschall has a major day in the paint. Select: Villanova
Elite Eight
#1 Virginia vs. #6 Villanova: Villanova is worn out after a difficult match with Tennesee and can’t figure out the Bundle Line shield. It is going to be close through the first half, but the Hoos pull away down the stretch. Pick: Virginia

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