The hardest region of them all and Tennessee is right smack in the middle of it. As Ghost pointed out, the Vols got HOSED by the selection committee and will have to go through some pretty tough teams to make it to the Final Four. It is what it is though, and if we’re going to win it all, we’re going to have to beat some good teams. Lets see if Vols can do it.

East Region

#1 UNC defeats #16 Play-in Winner- Its already over.

Everybody- UNC

#9 Arkansas defeats #8 Indiana- Indiana is one of those teams that can beat anyone, or get beat by anyone. They are really talented with super freshman Eric Gordon leading the way, and Big Ten Player of the Year D.J. White. Arkansas is not too bad athletically themselves with Sonny Weems and Patrick Beverly. However, as good as Arkansas played against Tennessee, they played equally as bad against Georgia in the SEC Tournament’s final game. What this will come down to is the ability of Eric Gordon to make shots from the outside, and take over the game. I would say that could be a possibility if Gordon didn’t have to wear a shirt under his jersey to cover up his man-boobs. Not exactly a superstar move. Arkansas, by the hair on Steven Hill’s chin.

I will forever hate you Steven Hill.

#5 Notre Dame defeats #12 George Mason- I’ve already picked my twelve seed upset, and there isn’t really anything that tells me this George Mason team can follow the route of their predecessors. Notre Dame relies on the three point shot, but they also have a good inside game this year with Luke Harangody. Irish advance.

#4 Washington State defeats #13 Winthrop- This isn’t the same Winthrop team that upset the Irish last year in the tournament.

#11 St. Joes upsets #6 Oklahoma- Oklahoma is by far the most talented team in this matchup, but they’re not healthy to say the least. Their best player Blake Griffin, is coming off knee surgery, which may cause him to play at less than a hundred percent. The only other rebounder on the team, Longar Longar (his parents must have really liked the name Longar), is playing on a broken leg. St. Joes on the other hand has the older brother of Nick Calathes, Pat, playing down low. He’s a great scorer from all over the court, and can rebound pretty well at 6′10. If Oklahoma is less than a hundred percent, and St. Joes hits some shots outside, they should pull the upset.

#3 Louisville downs #14 Boise State- This isn’t football. I doubt the Statue of Liberty would work with a basketball. Louisville big.

#2 Tennessee annihilates #15 American- This is American’s first tournament appearance in the history of the program, so they’re probably just happy to be here. Tough draw guys. Maybe next year.

#7 Butler fends off #10 South Alabama- The best seven seed in the history of the tournament didn’t get any favors from the selection committee. South Alabama isn’t exactly a walk over, and if it wouldn’t have been for the mighty Blue Raiders knocking them out of their conference tourney they would have been seeded a couple spots higher. USA is lead by the very talented Demetric Bennett, who can drive the paint and has NBA range on his three point shot. However, Butler’s guards aren’t too bad themselves, and may have the best frontcourt of any team I’ve seen this year. They only lost three games all season, and that included some pretty tough teams early on. I like the Bulldogs.

Round 2

#1 North Carolina defeats #9 Arkansas- This one could be close, but I think everyone expects North Carolina to at least make the sweet sixteen with their talent and experience.

#5 Notre Dame defeats #4 Washington State- Basically I picked Washington State to advance to the Sweet Sixteen last year and they got beat by Vandy, but thats not the only reason I’m picking the Irish. For one, the Cougars’ best player has a ponytail (Joakim Noah sucks). Second, they can’t stop Harangody. Third, Notre Dame can shoot the three, and Washington State can’t.

#3 Louisville defeats #11 St. Joes- St. Joes just doesn’t have the athletes to hang with Louisville.

#2 Tennessee scrapes by #7 Butler- The first of many bad draws for the Vols starts with the Butler. The Bulldogs were a top ten team for the most of year with only three losses, and beat Tennessee last year with the same team. However, as we all know this isn’t the same team they beat last season with the addition of Tyler Smith and J.P. Prince. Butler is kind of like that 06-07 Vols team in that they can knock down the three’s, and are led by two outstanding guards, Graves and Green. On the other hand, they can’t rebound particularly well, and lack an inside presence. Thanks to the play of Tyler Smith, Wayne Chism, Duke Crews, and Brian Williams the Vols have vastly improved in the paint this season. The Bulldogs have also not been challenged in quite some time. Their schedule was very weak, and even more so toward the end of the season. Tennessee on the other hand, had the toughest schedule in the country, which should have them prepared for the tournament. I like the Vols in a tough one.

Round 3

#5 Notre Dame upsets #1 North Carolina- Maybe I’ve been listening to Digger Phelps too much, but I like the Irish to pull the big-time upset over the heavily favored Tar Heels. North Carolina is athletic and deep, but if they have a weakness its most definitely shooting. Most of the time when their best shooter, Wayne Ellington, goes cold, they can just get it down to Hansbrough and let the refs do the rest of the work, but they won’t be able to do that against the Irish because of big, Luke Harangody and Rob Kurz. Tyler Hansbrough is a great player, but so is Harangody, and if the Irish can knock down some threes, like they normally do, they could knock off North Carolina.

#2 Tennessee defeats #3 Louisville- If this game happens, it definitely won’t lack excitement. Both of these teams like to run the ball up and down the court and tire out their opponents. Louisville is deep like the Vols, and possibly the biggest scoring threat Sophomore Edgar Sosa comes off the bench. Tennessee will also have to deal with big man, David Padgett, who sparked the Cardinals to a late season surge when he came back to the team from injury midseason. I like the Vols in this game only because of the intangibles. Lofton, Jujuan, and Tyler won’t let us lose this early in the tournament.

Round 4

#2 Tennessee downs #5 Notre Dame- At this point I’m just picking with my heart. Go Vols.