Bring it

Not that you asked, but I'll give you my early observations:

Gonzaga lost five games all year, all of them to other tournament teams. That's got to mean something. Worth more, I think, is who Syracuse beat: Memphis, Kansas and Connecticut. I have the Orange going deep because that 2-3 zone freaks people out. So does Wisconsin's style, but not enough to get past anyone this year. 

A lot of pick-'ems in the first round this year: Ohio State vs. Sienna. West Virginia vs. Dayton. Boston College vs. USC. How can you possibly pick these games? That's just in the Midwest. 

I like a couple of teams that seem to be jelling. Missouri. Michigan. Syracuse and Washington both won 8 out of their last 10. 

Who's deflating? Oklahoma, surely. North Carolina's stock is down as long as Ty Lawson's toe hurts (though I still like them to make the Final Four). Some say Purdue is surging, but they seem to me to be limping.

It's the best field in years, but when the dust settles on March 29 I think Cindarella will be long gone and we'll be looking at four teams that have all the pieces: Seniors, steady guard play, bruisers inside and defensive intensity. Special-situation smarts also count for a lot, as evidenced by Memphis's crack-up in last year's final. 

It says here the Final Four will come from this group of six: Louisville, Michigan State, Connecticut, Pitt, Villanova and North Carolina.

What do you say?

It's time for the Saint John's Hoops Al McGuire Memorial Final Four contest!

You know how it works: Send me the names of the four teams YOU pick to be in the Final Four this year, specifying which team you pick to win it all and which you pick as the runner-up. (Several people miss this crucial detail every year and are disqualified.)

After the champion's been crowned, I will score everyone's picks as follows: 1 point for each team you correctly place in the Final Four, 2 points for naming the runner-up, and 3 points for naming the champion. The winner will receive a North Dakota State University sweatshirt, in honor of the Bison making it in their first year of eligibility. The winner's team will also be spotted 4 points in a game to 11 in our first post-tournament game at St. John's. (A non-player winner will receive a prize of approximately equal value, whatever that would be.) In the event of a tie, the winner will be chosen by a random draw. All recipients of this e-mail are eligible to enter.

But there's more! Specify a fifth team, seeded 9 or lower, as your darkhorse pick. If that team makes it into the Final Four, you will win $64 and a six-pack of Summit Pale Ale. (Yes, I've had to write that check.) Doggone it, if there's a better NCAA tournament contest, I've never heard of it!

All entries must be received in my inbox by tip-off of the first game on Thursday, March 19.

After you submit your entry, please let me know if you will or will not be playing hoops this weekend. Note we are playing at Mounds Park Academy this week. Directions to come, but we tip off at 8:00 a.m., as usual.