Just about two months ago I, like most other people, was imagining an Alabama-Oregon National Championship game. Auburn and Stanford, though, had other ideas. Stanford upset Oregon for the second straight year and Auburn defeated Alabama very shockingly. As crazy as college football can be at times, how many people can say honestly that when the season began they predicted an Auburn-Florida State National Championship game? I know that I didn’t…

Florida State and Auburn will be battling for this trophy come January 6th 2014 in Pasadena. By User:Nikonmadness from the English Wikipedia, via Wikimedia Commons

Florida State Seminoles: (13-0, 8-0 ACC) Beat Duke in ACC Title game

Ranked #11 to start the season, not many people saw the Seminoles jumping to the #1 ranking by year’s end. Redshirt freshman quarterback Jameis “Famous” Winston is the frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy and for good reason. He has posted 38 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and 3,820 passing yards. His explosive offense ranks 14th in passing and 27th in rushing in all of college football. Florida State’s defense also ranks first in college football only allowing 10.7 points per game. People may question the level of competition that Florida State plays being in the ACC but not only does Florida State beat their opponents, they dismantle them. Two examples are a 51-14 beat-down of #3 ranked Clemson at Memorial Stadium in Clemson and a 45-7 win against Duke in the ACC Title game. The Seminoles deserve to be in the National Championship game and they will look to break the SEC streak of seven straight National Championships.

Auburn Tigers: (12-1, 7-1 SEC) Beat Missouri in SEC Title game

After going 3-9 overall (0-8 in the SEC) last season, nobody saw Auburn coming except for maybe Auburn. Being unranked normally doesn’t bode well to make the Championship Game but the last two seasons an unranked team has made it (Notre Dame and Auburn). Coach Gus Malzahn took over the Auburn program after such a disheartening season and has rebuilt them within a year to make them title contenders once again. Led by their top-ranked rushing attack, Auburn is a force to be reckoned with offensively and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Every season there seems to be a team of “destiny” in the national title mix, and Auburn is most certainly it this season.

After an incredible Hail Mary win over Georgia to keep their title hopes alive, nobody thought Auburn could pull out another miraculous win but to the disbelief of college football fans everywhere, they did. Trailing by a touchdown late in the fourth quarter, Auburn tied the game at 28. Alabama then drove the ball down the field only to set up what would be the game winning field goal. The field goal was wide right and was improbably returned for a touchdown by returner Chris Davis to win the game and stun the college football world. They would go on to face Missouri in the SEC Title game, beating them 59-42 to secure their place in the National Championship game. Auburn now has a chance to keep the SEC dominance alive and win the school’s second National Championship in four years.

L-Man says that Assembly Hall will be the home of the defending National Champions next season. By Sean Benham from Chicago, via Wikimedia Commons

For the last few months, college basketball teams have fought and battled out every second, every possession, every drop of sweat. For those lucky enough to make the tournament, their hard work has paid-off. Its bracket time in college basketball, a very exciting time in any player, coach or fan’s life. It’s a time where people make their picks and see how they stack up against others. Even the President normally gets mixed-up in all the fun and excitement, so without further adieu, here are my predictions for the 2013 March Madness bracket, the bolded teams are the predicted winners:

Midwest Region:

1 Louisville, Big East (29-5)
16 North Carolina AT&T, MEAC (19-16)/Liberty, Big South (15-20)

8 Colorado State, MWC (25-8)
9 Missouri, SEC (23-10)

5 Oklahoma State, BIG 12 (24-8)
12 Oregon, PAC-12 (26-8)

4 Saint Louis, A-10 (27-6)
13 New Mexico State, WAC (24-10)

6 Memphis, C-USA (30-4)
11 Middle Tennessee, Sun Belt (28-5)/Saint Mary’s, WCC (27-6)

3 Michigan State, Big Ten (25-8)
14 Valparaiso, Horizon (26-7)

7 Creighton, MVC (27-7)
10 Cincinnati, Big East (22-11)

2 Duke, ACC (27-5)
15 Albany, American East (24-10)

1 Louisville

9 Missouri

5 Oklahoma State

4 Saint Louis

Sweet 16:

1 Louisville

5 Oklahoma State

                                           Elite Eight:

                                             1 Louisville

                                       2 Duke

6 Memphis                                                                                      

3 Michigan State                  

7 Creighton

2 Duke

Sweet 16:

3 Michigan State

2 Duke

West Region:

1 Gonzaga, WCC (31-2)
16 Southern University, SWAC (23-9)

8 Pittsburgh, Big East (24-8)
9 Wichita State, MVC (26-8)

5 Wisconsin, Big Ten (23-11)
12 Ole Miss, SEC (26-8)

4 Kansas State, Big 12 (27-7)
13 Boise State, MWC (21-10)/La Salle, A 10 (21-9)

6 Arizona, PAC 12 (25-7)
11 Belmont, OVC (26-6)

3 New Mexico, MWC (29-5)
14 Harvard, Ivy (19-9)

7 Notre Dame, Big East (25-9)
10 Iowa State, Big 12 (22-11)

2 Ohio State, Big Ten (26-7)
15 Iona, MAAC (20-13)

1 Gonzaga

8 Pittsburgh

12 Ole Miss

4 Kansas State

Sweet 16:

1 Gonzaga

12 Ole Miss

                                     Elite Eight: 

                                       1 Gonzaga

                                             2 Ohio State  

6 Arizona

14 Harvard

7 Notre Dame

2 Ohio State

Sweet 16:

6 Arizona

2 Ohio State

South Region:

1 Kansas, Big 12 (29-5)
16 Western Kentucky, Sun Belt (20-15)

8 North Carolina, ACC (24-10)
9 Villanova, Big East (20-13)

5 VCU, A 10 (26-8)
12 Akron, MAC (26-6)

4 Michigan, Big Ten (26-7)
13 South Dakota State, Summit (25-9)

6 UCLA, PAC 12 (25-9)
11 Minnesota, Big Ten (20-12)

3 Florida, SEC (26-7)
14 North Western State, Southland (23-8)

7 San Diego State, MWC (22-10)
10 Oklahoma, Big 12 (20-11)

2 Georgetown, Big East (25-6)
15 Florida Gulf Coast, A Sun (24-10)

1 Kansas

8 North Carolina                                          

4 Michigan

5 VCU

Sweet 16:

1 Kansas

4 Michigan

                                                 Elite Eight: 

                                                  1 Kansas

                                                         2 Georgetown

11 Minnesota

3 Florida

2 Georgetown

7 San Diego State

Sweet 16:

2 Georgetown

3 Florida

East Region:

1 Indiana, Big Ten (27-6)
16 LIU Brooklyn, NEC (20-13)/James Madison, CAA (20-14)

8 NC State, ACC (24-10)
9 Temple, A 10 (23-9)

5 UNLV, MWC (25-9)
12 California, Pac 12 (20-11)

4 Syracuse, Big East (26-9)
13 Montana, Big Sky (25-6)

6 Butler, A 10 (26-8)
11 Bucknell, Patriot (28-5)

3 Marquette, Big East (23-8)
14 Davidson, Southern (26-7)

7 Illinois, Big Ten (22-12)
10 Colorado, PAC 12 (21-11)

2 Miami, ACC (27-6)
15 Pacific, Big West (22-12)

1 Indiana

8 NC State            

4 Syracuse

12 California

Sweet 16:

1 Indiana

4 Syracuse

                                                     Elite Eight:

                                                      1 Indiana

                                                      2 Miami

6 Butler                                                                   

3 Marquette

2 Miami

10 Colorado

Sweet 16:

2 Miami

6 Butler

Final Four:

1 Kansas

1 Indiana    

                                                            Championship Game:

                                                             1 Indiana

                                                             2 Duke

2 Duke

2 Ohio State

National Champion: Indiana Hoosiers

What has been spit out the other side? Only the greatest sum of seeds to reach the Final Four. Ever. Before this year, the highest total sum of overall seeds to reach the Final Four was 22 (2000). This season the total is a miraculous and unprecedented 26.

The highest seed remaining in this year’s Final Four are the star-fueled Connecticut Huskies. Kemba Walker is unquestionably the one name still residing that singularly holds the most on his shoulders. His average of 26.8 points, 6.8 assists and only 2.5 turnovers per game in the tournament have been beyond instrumental in Connecticut advancing to its fourth Final Four since 1999 and its third in the past eight seasons.

The Huskies face off against the Kentucky Wildcats in one of the two national semi-final contests. These two teams have a combined total seed of seven. This would conventionally be somewhat of a laughable and unpredicted national semi-final in any other year.

The other semi-final then couldn’t have a total seed of more than three or four right? Try 19. Nineteen.

Considering this, the Connecticut versus Kentucky battle matches the two new favorites to win it all, and could very well be the de-facto national final. Then again, the unpredictable has been the outstanding theme in this year’s tournament, which will make what will be the ‘David versus Goliath’ national final all that much more intriguing.

Last year’s Cinderella, the Butler Bulldogs, return to the now charted waters of the Final Four, yet still are sporting an unlikely 8-seed. They are ironically matched up against this year’s Cinderella, the 11th-seeded VCU Rams.

The only other two occasions an 11th-seeded team reached the Final Four were in 2006, when George Mason University pulled off the feat, and in 1986 when the LSU Tigers achieved the improbable. The fact that this 11-seed anomaly has now occurred twice in the past five years, when it has only happened once before in past decades, speaks to the overall parody being seen in today’s college game.

When asked before their game versus Kansas on Sunday, VCU coach Shaka Smart remarked, “It’s kind of like the movie ‘Dumb and Dumber,”’ setting up a popular line from the gap-toothed dunce played by Jim Carrey. “‘So you’re saying we’ve got a chance?”’

The two most recent 11th-seeded schools to reach the Final Four both hail from the unheralded Colonial Athletic Association. And just as George Mason toppled championship favorite Connecticut to reach the Final Four in 2006, VCU knocked off the last 1-seed standing this season, Kansas.

What may be most unfathomable about VCU reaching the Final Four, is that all the pundits made the selection committee their own personal dartboard on Selection Sunday when VCU was chosen to the field of 68. They spewed ad nauseam over this injustice. For all the shots Eugene Smith, the head of the selection committee took, he must be smiling and snickering now.

Go ahead and eat your crow ‘Dukie-V’ and Jay Bilas. I’m standing table-side with a long, white napkin folded over my forearm, holding a bottle of hot sauce in front of your faces. The ‘yapping catch-phrase clown’ and the ‘smug know-it-all’ ended up with mouths full of excrement in the end, which also puts a smile on my face and leads me to snicker, as well as it should everyone else paying attention.

Shots conceived in hindsight aside, what is ultimately taken from all of this? Talent and the number of ‘recruiting stars’ only goes so far. The team concept: a belief in a system as well as an overall process, now reigns. Take notes coaches and scouts.  Why pursue the hype of the ‘one-and-done’ NBA lottery pick when you can recruit solid pieces that will grow over years in your hardwood garden.

I think it’s safe to say that standard deviation in college basketball is now being tested, which is an exciting occurrence. What has been discovered is that college basketball offers something unique from what the professional game presents. The underdog can actually win in this post-season.  Regularly. Basketball purists should revel in this current status of the amateur circuit.

Despite what unfolds from the madness, one March keynote seems to annually endure – regardless of seed or stature, champions who have earned their place will always remain and will ultimately have their shot to win it all.

In the first game of the night, the 3rd-seeded University of Connecticut Huskies took on the 2nd-seeded San Diego State Aztecs. As the lesser-seeded, and yet more experienced Huskies built an early lead into the second half, the Aztecs then came around and benefitted from having a home crowd. The present tide of the fansmanship willed them back into the game. The Aztecs had their late run, but in the end, the star-power shined too bright for San Diego State to remove themselves from its shadow.

Husky guard Kemba Walker finished the contest with 36 points – 22 of which came in the second half. Down the stretch, he was the Connecticut offense. Walker is the consummate college guard, a 6′ 1″, 180 lb flash of a scorer. All of his collegiate accolades aside, one has to believe a star like Walker has aspirations for the next level. When considering this, the first thing that comes to mind is that NBA point guards need handles, and Derrick Rose, Walker is not. They need to recognize something outside themselves, and it is imperative that they be ‘world-class’ at distributing the ball to others in optimum scoring situations. Walker may lack somewhat in this regard. He can come off screens and shoot with the best of them in the college game, but at his size and overall skill-set, he is realistically no more than a poor-man’s Jimmer Fredette.

This pro-level judgment shouldn’t be the encompassing and long-term opinion of Walker, as the skills of game management and getting everyone on your team involved can ultimately be developed at the next level. Kemba is a talent that can come into his own if given the space and patience to fit into a pro system and find his niche. Regardless of the future, Walker showed he can put a team on his back and carry them to the next playoff checkpoint. We’ll see on Saturday if the checkpoint after that can be achieved.

In the second game of the night, the “whole enchilada from La Mirada,” and the biggest single force remaining in the NCAA tournament, Arizona’s Derrick Williams, showed why he is projected as a top 5 NBA draft pick. Standing 6′ 8″ and weighing 241 pounds, he literally does everything a true forward is expected to do, and does it exceptionally well for a 19-year-old. He has the rebounding hustle of Charles Barkley in his prime. He can finish around the rim with the tip-in-dunk-skills of Blake Griffin. He can hit the 20-foot jumper consistently like David West. He can step outside the 3-point line like Dirk Nowitzki. He can take you off the dribble freakishly for his size like Michael Beasley. NBA general managers who are looking to have a high lottery draft-slot should be drooling over this kid.

On Thursday night versus Duke in the Sweet 16, Williams drained a 40-foot 3-pointer with two hands in his face and legs walking under him from Duke’s 6′ 11″ Ryan Kelly as time was expiring in the first half. This shot brought the Wildcats to within six of Duke, and I believe was essential in creating the second half avalanche Arizona put on the Blue Devils en route to victory. Williams basically carried his team in the second half, finishing with a career-high 32 points, as well as pulling down 13 rebounds. He showed off a display or rim attacking, acrobatic “and-1’s,” as well as cross-over dribbles that morphed into pull-up jumpers on the perimeter. The way this young man can finish around the rim, with either hand, while he negotiates contact, is more that just simply remarkable. He is the All-American forward that can do it all.

The end-result of all that Thursday’s excitement had to offer pits Kemba Walker’s Connecticut Huskies against Derrick Willaims’ Arizona Wildcats in the elite 8, the final game of this year’s NCAA West bracket. Williams’ high school is ten minutes away from where the game will be held. One thing is for sure, the crowd will be pro-Wildcat and pro-Pac-10. Will that be enough to spring a 5-seed upset over the 3-seed?

A Final Four bid is on the line. The star versus star match-up tips off at 4:05pm for us here on the West coast. The impending rain should more than keep you indoors and glued to the TV. You won’t want to miss it, because star-power will win the day again and it won’t disappoint.