W.J. McCormack Staff Writer

Growing up in Indiana our attention was more focused on the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament than any other sporting event in the world. The Super Bowl came second to March Madness. Indiana has a plethora of great traditions from the Sycamores of Indiana State to the Boilermakers of Purdue. 

This year’s bracket could feature some of Indiana’s biggest legends, or Davids, who occasionally topple the Goliaths of men’s basketball. There are upsets every year. Rarely does anyone’s only bracket make it unscathed through the hellish weeks that follow Selection Sunday. 

Kansas seems to be the team that is going to make the best run. I see them winning easily against mismatched UNLV and Louisville teams on their way to play a close game against Purdue to get into the Final Four. Kansas then defeats Butler to play Duke most likely and Coach K loses a close one and the Jayhawks cut down the nets. Kansas just seems to have more raw power and gusto, and that will be the deciding factor.

Ben Ray Staff Writer

March Madness is finally here, and it’s time for all the experts to make their picks. Since I am a sports fan, which automatically makes me an expert on any subject matter related to sports, I will share my picks with you all. Let’s start with the East Region, where I’ve got Kentucky advancing to the Final Four.

In the West Region, I have no major upsets at all, as Coach K will take his team back to the Final Four. In the Southeast Region, I’ve got Michigan State advancing to the Final Four after they knock off the BYU Jimmer’s and Pitt. The Southwest Region is much like my West Region with no major upsets, as I have Purdue advancing to the Final Four.

In the Final Four, I have Purdue beating Michigan State and Duke beating Kentucky. I predict Duke to win their second consecutive National Championship after they defeat the Boilermakers by a score of 68-59. That’s going to be a perfect bracket, ladies and gentlemen, and if not, I’m sure one of my other 20 brackets will be perfect! Enjoy the Madness!

Ben Skipworth Executive Editor

First off, I’m glad that it’s March. For me, that means it’s time to start watching college basketball.

I seriously wish I could hibernate until college football came back around. I’m going to make my call that a solid, often overlooked Duke team will win the tourney.

They’re 30-4 in the regular season, and even though it looks like the West bracket is tough, I’m putting my faith in them.

Nolan Smith is a surefire, talented leader, and he holds the Blue Devils together.

Duke was arguably the best team in the nation last year, but they never got the respect they deserved, even in the national championship game.

This time around, Duke will have a bit of bull’s-eye on their back; however, I firmly believe in their ability to run the table.

Normally, I’m not a man to take No. 1’s, but Duke is just too solid for me to underestimate this year.

JR Tidwell Sports Editor

March is here, and that means it is time for March Madness. This is probably the only thing I look forward to every month of the year.

The NCAA Tournament brings with it a nice reprieve from the unpredictable weather of March in Alabama and from the monotony of spring classes.

This year’s field is kind of weak compared to previous seasons, but I still think the fans are in for some great college basketball.

Last year I picked Butler to win the tournament because I believe in the merits of good teams from the smaller conferences.

That being said, I am picking San Diego State to win in all this year.

They have only two losses on the season and both were to conference foe BYU, another great small conference team.

They may come from the Mountain West, but do not count out the No. 2 seed to make a run for the ring.

Evan Underwood Staff Writer

When it comes to tournament play, no team has been better than UConn this year, so I expect them to roll through the NCAA tournament as well.

At the beginning of the season, this team went to the prestigious Maui Invitational Tournament were they cruised past teams such as Kentucky, Michigan State, and Washington en route to a championship.

At the end of the regular season, they won five games in five days against DePaul, Georgetown, Pitt, Syracuse and Louisville to become champions of the Big East, which is the most dominate conference this year (11 teams from the Big East made the tournament).

This team is tournament tested, and no player in the country is hotter than Kiemba Walker right now, which will be key to a successful tournament run.

Lastly, UConn’s draw seems favorable as well with their Sweet 16 opponent set to be San Diego State, which is an unproven upstart from a mid-major conference.