I’ve done this every year since I’ve been at Barstool and we roll on in 2025.
I’ll be looking at each region the next two days to get everyone ready for the NCAA Tournament.
Not the First Four, the real field of 64.
South Region
Storylines
1.
I’ve heard it mentioned, but we’re all caught up in the WVU/UNC storyline.
If Louisville beats Creighton, they’ll get Auburn in Rupp Arena.
That’s a road game.
If you’re going to be an 8 seed for Louisville, this is the ideal situation.
Weirdly Auburn did this as an 8 seed a few years ago and played Houston in Birmingham.
It makes no sense when this happens, but here we are.
Their draw is pretty nice.
You got a banged up Iowa State team as your 3 seed.
People are talking about Auburn and UNC way more than mentioning Tom Izzo winning 4 games in a row.
Just the perfect spot for an Izzo run.
Speaking of Iowa State’s injuries -One of the smartest things done was what Iowa State did.
They didn’t announce that Keshon Gilbert would miss the NCAA Tournament until after the Selection show.
Can’t be penalized in that situation, especially after we heard Bubba Cunningham bring up player availability.
But now I have no idea what to think of Iowa State.
Gilbert was so important to them.
Michigan massive underseeded -You want proof that the committee stops working around dinner time on Friday?
Michigan isn’t a 5 seed.
They should have been at least a 4.
Now they are the popular 12/5 upset pick because people love UCSD.
They lost 4 in a row, they beat the hell out of Auburn.
They have a star in Wade Taylor, but they can’t shoot.
They kick everyone’s ass rebounding, but does that work in March?
If you get good shooting Taylor, this is the team that can beat Auburn.
But if you get 4-for-18 Wade Taylor and no consistent offense, Yale is begging for an upset.
We’re trying to avoid the obvious ones like Cooper Flagg, Johni Broome, etc.
Danny Wolf (Michigan)
Danny Wolf fucking rules.
The 7-footer who transferred from Yale is arguably the most unique player in the country.
He should be an All-American.
He’s one of the best scorers in the country.
He can get to the rim.
Not an elite shooter but without Gilbert he needs to take on more of a scoring role.
We even know Baker-Mazara and Denver Jones and some other guys on Auburn.
But Pettiford is the guy who can really change how they look.
Freshman is an elite scorer, has no fear but was ice cold in the SEC Tournament.
He’s the elite NBA talent that they needed.
He brings in a different look than Fears and Holloman and Akins.
He’s the guy they can give the ball too and create something.
Yeah, Auburn is awesome.
Auburn hasn’t looked right in a couple weeks.
I won’t ever take a - to make a Final Four in this sort of setting.
Again, banged up Iowa State team and a decent draw to get to the second weekend.
Yeah, it’s not going crazy here, but 5/1 is 5/1.
I also think this is going to be a chalky tournament.
