RIPE FOR AN UPSET: Gonzaga. The Bulldogs probably won't falter in the first round, but will face a pretty good squad in the second. Michigan State, a potential second-round opponent, is no stranger to big games. And Gonzaga hasn't played a ranked team in 2004.
COULD DO DAMAGE: Michigan State. Doesn't this team always seem to play better at tournament time? The Spartans had a losing record in early January. Now, they have 18 wins. Only two unranked squads have beaten Michigan State. Rebounding and defense win this time of year. Michigan State usually is pretty good in both.
TOUGHEST DRAW: Everybody here has a tough assignment, but particularly Gonzaga. The Bulldogs have a potential pitfall in the second round, then might have to beat Georgia Tech and Kentucky in succession to reach the program's first Final Four. Ouch.
NOT SO TOUGH: Let's go with Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets, after a menacing ACC schedule, won't be taken aback by anything they see. Georgia Tech has an easy opener and a very winnable second-round game. Gonzaga is a potential Sweet 16 matchup, but the Bulldogs haven't faced nearly the caliber of competition Georgia Tech has.
HOME COOKIN': Kentucky. Big Blue faithful won't have far to travel (Columbus, Ohio) to fill the seats in the opening rounds. After that, it's off to St. Louis, where the Wildcats could have more fans than all of the other squads combined.
SWEET 16 PICKS: Georgia Tech, Kansas, Kentucky and Gonzaga.
IF YOU DARE: Washington. The Huskies haven't played the most difficult of schedules, but it's never bad to enter the tournament having won nine of 11 with a victory over then No. 1 Stanford included. The problem is, Washington faces a tough first-round game against UAB. The real sleeper might be Utah. If the Utes can get past Boston College, they'd likely face Georgia Tech, then maybe Gonzaga. The Utes are sneaky good.
FINAL WORD: What a bracket. Kentucky is the overall No. 1 seed. Gonzaga is the school everybody seems to pull for. Georgia Tech has beaten Duke. Kansas is a regular tournament participant. Washington is one of the hottest teams in the country. This bracket has everything from star power to potential Cinderellas. The team that reaches the Final Four from here might be the team to beat in San Antonio, Texas.
