It's that time of the year again. When sitting on your couch and watching college basketball from sun-up to sun-down is completely acceptable. Tournament time is upon us, so bust out the brackets and try to pick some upsets. My pick to win it all is Illinois (close call over N.C.). They will be playing with purpose as their head coach's mother recently passed away. My sleeper pick is Pittsburgh. They play tough, Big East ball and have talent at every position. My super-sleeper is Ohio U. The Bobcats earned their first tournament appearance since '94, and will look to make the most of this rare opportunity.
Here's some interesting players to keep your eyes on as the tournament develops:
Patrick Sparks, Kentucky - A bluegrass baller who is quick to pull the trigger. If he is beyond half court he is in range. If the other Wildcat atheletes can give him open looks at the basket, he can quickly fill up a scoreboard.
Drew Lavender, Oklahoma - Standing only 5'6'', he utilizes quickness and great court vision. A former McDonald's All-American from Brookhaven, Lavender distributes the ball well and can be deadly from the perimeter.
Andrew Bogut, Utah - This 6'10" Aussie may be the most dominant player in college basketball. He averages a double-double and should be a legitimate force in the NBA next year. Look for Bogut to carry his team to at least the sweet sixteen.
Jawad Williams, North Carolina - A graduate of Lakewood St. Ed's, he can score pass and rebound. Starting for team packed with talent, look for Williams and the Tarheels to make a strong push for the finals.
J.J. Redick, Duke - Probably the most hated player in college basketball. His shooting touch and cocky attitude have earned him many enemies. But the Blue Devils are stacked as usual, and J.J.'s shooting, 143 of 150 from the line this year, is simply redickulous.
Do you think Redick has surpassed Christian Laitner as the most Hated Duke player in History? Is there a top five of most hated Duke players? I've only seen highlights of that Bogut dude from Utah and he seems raw. kinda like a kareemabdul-ja-bauer in his heyday. Drew Lavender is sweet, he really make's their team go. And you gotta love/hate Illinois Backcourt... they play like they grew up together, and Dee Brown has got to be one of the fastest players in the game. Too bad I'll be at work with no tv for the opening rounds.
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