BRACKET RACKET
The NCAA tournament isn't just about breakout stars and bracket-busters (college basketball's version of last-lap crashes), but it's also about community. From 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, when Michigan State and Valparaiso tip off in Auburn Hills, Mich., until the April 8 final in Atlanta, more than 100 million people will tune in to the stunning twists and turns of what amounts to a three-week soap opera. And that's not counting the women's tournament, which may have more familiar protagonists (see Baylor, UConn, Notre Dame and Stanford) but is just as capable of yielding the unexpected.
On Sunday, when the men's field was announced, there was much talk of parity. But when SI senior writer Kelli Anderson sat down to fill in her brackets, her choice of the champion was obvious. To see which four teams you can expect to be at the Georgia Dome, as well as the rest of her picks,
MIDWEST
1 LOUISVILLE
16 N.C. A&T/LIBERTY
LOUISVILLE
Montrezl Harrell is still too hot for any No. 16 seed to handle.
8 COLORADO STATE
9 MISSOURI
COLO. STATE
Senior-stocked Rams win this battle of the boards.
5 OKLAHOMA STATE
12 OREGON
OKLA. STATE
Ducks' first Big Dance since 2008 is just a quick spin.
4 SAINT LOUIS
13 NEW MEXICO STATE
SAINT LOUIS
Aggies have superior size, but Billikens are just superior.
6 MEMPHIS
11 M. TENN./ST. MARY'S
MEMPHIS
Perfect in C-USA play, Tigers finally get—and pass—a test.
3 MICHIGAN STATE
14 VALPARAISO
MICH. STATE
Unless Bryce Drew suits up, Crusaders' journey ends here.
7 CREIGHTON
10 CINCINNATI
CREIGHTON
Jays boast the nation's most efficient half-court offense.
2 DUKE
15 ALBANY
DUKE
These Great Danes don't like to run, which doesn't bode well.
LOUISVILLE
The 'Ville's Gorgui Dieng contains Colton Iverson in this battle of the bigs.
SAINT LOUIS
Cowboys struggle to score against Billikens' physical half-court D.
MICH. STATE
Spartans coach Tom Izzo has made 10 of the last 15 Sweet 16s; add one more.
DUKE
Devils guard Seth Curry outguns Doug McDermott in old-fashioned shootout.
LOUISVILLE
The spirit of former coach Rick Majerus is not enough to carry Saint Louis past the Cardinals' swarming 22 press.
MICHIGAN STATE
Blue Devils' offense is better on paper, but their defense gets shredded by 6'9" Derrick Nix and point guard Keith Appling.
LOUISVILLE
It's time to get Russdiculous—in the best possible way. The 6'1" guard slashes and shoots his team to a second consecutive Final Four.
WEST
1 GONZAGA
16 SOUTHERN
GONZAGA
Jags were 4--26 two years ago; just making it here is a win.
8 PITT
9 WICHITA STATE
PITT
Despite free throw woes, Panthers survive low-scoring grind.
5 WISCONSIN
12 MISSISSIPPI
WISCONSIN
Ole Miss guard Marshall Henderson has nothing more to say.
4 KANSAS STATE
13 BOISE ST./LA SALLE
KANSAS STATE
Former Illinois coach Bruce Weber gets first NCAA win with 'Cats.
6 ARIZONA
11 BELMONT
BELMONT
A top three-point shooter— Ian Clark—wins it for Bruins.
3 NEW MEXICO
14 HARVARD
NEW MEXICO
Crimson's first NCAA victory will have to wait another year.
7 NOTRE DAME
10 IOWA STATE
NOTRE DAME
Cyclones get distracted by Irish's Shamrock Shake look.
2 OHIO STATE
15 IONA
OHIO STATE
Gaels point guard MoMo Jones shines, but only briefly.
GONZAGA
Kelly Olynyk trumps Steven Adams in battle of 7-foot foreigners.
WISCONSIN
How does a Badger beat a Wildcat? With the nation's No. 3 ranked D.
NEW MEXICO
Belmont has no answer for Lobos' attack inside or outside.
SOUTH
15 FLA. GULF COAST
2 GEORGETOWN
GEORGETOWN
Eagles' first NCAA trip is almost over before it starts.
10 OKLAHOMA
7 SAN DIEGO STATE
S.D. STATE
Jamaal Franklin makes sure Aztecs avoid early upset.
14 NORTHWESTERN ST.
3 FLORIDA
FLORIDA
Demons lead the nation in scoring—but they won't score enough.
11 MINNESOTA
6 UCLA
MINNESOTA
Bruins can't advance without injured Jordan Adams.
13 SOUTH DAKOTA ST.
4 MICHIGAN
MICHIGAN
Nate Wolters makes his last stand with Jackrabbits.
12 AKRON
5 VCU
VCU
Zips don't keep calm or move on when faced with Havoc.
9 VILLANOVA
8 NORTH CAROLINA
UNC
The four-guard offense is still clicking for the Tar Heels.
16 WESTERN KY.
1 KANSAS
KANSAS
Jayhawks' star Ben McLemore is too much for Hilltoppers.
GEORGETOWN
Short bench dooms Aztecs as Hoyas reach first Sweet 16 since '07.
FLORIDA
Gators win on strength of the SEC's best three-point offense and D.
VCU
Rams lock up Michigan guard Trey Burke; teammates can't compensate.
KANSAS
Jeff Withey (3.79 blocks per game) makes Heels pay for entering the paint.
GEORGETOWN
Like their unfinished November game on the USS Bataan, this one will be close, but Hoyas' stingy D stifles Gators' long-range game.
VCU
Sloppy Jayhawks (13.7 turnovers per game) meet their biggest nightmare: Rams' 8.0 turnover margin is the nation's best.
GEORGETOWN
Two problems for VCU: Hoyas are better at imposing their defensive will and Rams have no answer for versatile forward Otto Porter (16.3 points per game).
EAST
15 PACIFIC
2 MIAMI
MIAMI
Pacific's Bob Thomason wants to retire; 'Canes allow him to.
10 COLORADO
7 ILLINOIS
COLORADO
6'7" Andre Roberson fuels talented but inconsistent Buffs.
14 DAVIDSON
3 MARQUETTE
MARQUETTE
Big East tri-champs get physical with Wildcats, avoid upset.
11 BUCKNELL
6 BUTLER
BUTLER
Bulldogs guard Rotnei Clarke delivers in his NCAA debut.
13 MONTANA
4 SYRACUSE
SYRACUSE
After losing Mathias Ward to injury, Grizzlies lose to Orange.
12 CAL
5 UNLV
UNLV
Even in San Jose, Rebels are too much for Bears to bear.
9 TEMPLE
8 N.C. STATE
TEMPLE
A-10 POY Khalif Wyatt gets one more game with Owls.
16 LIU-BKLYN/JMU
1 INDIANA
INDIANA
Hoosiers are hungry after Big Ten tournament loss.
MIAMI
The ACC's top defensive player, Durand Scott, locks down Buffaloes.
BUTLER
Golden Eagles inability to shoot threes catches up with them.
UNLV
Rebels star Anthony Bennett busts 'Cuse's 2--3 zone from the high post.
INDIANA
Cody Zeller (57.3%) and Victor Oladipo (59.9%) don't miss many shots.
MIAMI
Bulldogs can't bang with Hurricanes' trio of bigs: 6'11" Kenny Kadji, 6'10" Julian Gamble and 6'10" Reggie Johnson.
INDIANA
In the D.C. subregional, young Rebels are no match for Hoosiers, who have a deep bench to go with the country's best starting five.
MIAMI
Indiana's bid to make its first Final Four since '02 is thwarted by 'Canes, whose coach, Jim Larranaga, knows about unlikely tournament runs.
LOUISVILLE
Coach Rick Pitino (six Final Four appearances) and the Cards have been here before; Gonzaga coach Mark Few and his crew have not. An onslaught of withering full-court pressure shows that Zags still have more dues to pay.
MIAMI
Hoyas can't slow down Hurricanes or rein in speedy sophomore guard Shane Larkin (14.6 points, 4.4 assists, 2.0 steals), one of the most accomplished players in the ACC and the breakout star of the tournament.
LOUISVILLE
It's true: Defense wins championships. The Cardinals' path won't be easy, but guard Peyton Siva & Co. make it look like so much fun.
PHOTO
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