The selections are made, the play-ins are completed, the field is set, the brackets are filled out. This is what we have been waiting for all year. That exciting day-long marathon of basketball through Thursday and Friday, where productivity drops across the country. And no, I’m not referring to tax season. We’re talking March Madness of course!

This year’s tournament has an interesting feel to it. Looking at the bracket, you will probably have that feeling that it will be a very chalk (favorites) friendly bracket. There aren’t many juicy Cinderellas to sink your teeth into and buckle up for the fun ride. That being said, this tournament will still have its share of early mid-seed shakedowns. If you’re questioning your sanity as you bring either three or four #1 seeds into your Final Four: don’t worry, you aren’t going to be alone.

In this article I will give a snapshot preview of every opening round (no those play-ins do not count for me) along with my personal predictions. If you’re looking for some help for the entire bracket, be sure to keep an eye out for my full bracket breakdown which I will keep a little bit shorter winded but run from the first round all the way through the championship game.

Now, before you go and ask yourself why you should be listening to my picks to begin with, let me give you my track record with some tournaments. For the sake of writing for the site I like to break my tournaments down two ways. I do a round by round break down, but I will also give my entire bracket breakdown to provides some aid to those wanting some further insight the whole way through in another article. I finished with a 46-21 record in 2014 doing my round by round breakdown. I also successfully predicted the Florida Gulf Coast upset and run the year before among a handful of upsets each year. I have won six tournament pick ‘em pools with over 100 participants. I also started taking wagers and running a tournament pick ‘em when I was in the 6th grade. So I think you get the picture that I have been involved in the tournament for quite a bit of my life. If you have any spread specific questions about the first round of games, please be sure to shoot ‘em in the comments and I will be happy to provide my take.

2015 NCAA Tournament Record: 2-2

For your ease here are some links to jump to the other regions of the tournament:

East | West | South

Midwest Regional

#1 Kentucky Wildcats vs #16 Hampton Pirates

If you’d like to read a little bit more about the David in this fight, feel free to check out my play-in games article. I usually like to make sure I say a little something about each team out of the respect for each fan base, but the fact of the matter is a 16 seed has never beaten a 1 seed, and it’s not going to happen here. John Calipari’s dream team is undefeated and they are not going to see their first loss here. Enjoy the time on a national stage getting to play a once in a lifetime roster, but don’t be getting your hopes up for the Pirates. They ran circles around the Jaspers in a game that resembled a little league game more so than a tournament game at times, but the road ends here.

Hampton: you are my heroes for busting out the Major League bench celebration though. Even if you get slaughtered on Thursday, we’ll always remember that. At least for a few weeks.

Tyler’s Pick: Kentucky Wildcats

#2 Kansas Jayhawks vs #15 New Mexico State Aggies

A lot of people who have read my articles for the past few seasons will likely be returning to find that juicy upset. But as much as I’d like to call a 15 over 2 this year, I just don’t see it happening. Especially not here. Kansas might not be coming into the tournament with the prowess it usually seems to, but they’re not going to be getting walked over by anybody either. They enter the tournament with a record of 26-8, but considering how tough the Big 12 played out this year, that is absolutely okay. Many experts had Kansas with this year’s toughest schedule. A lot of people wondered how Bill Self would survive having lost both Joel Embiid and Andrew Wiggins, and the Jayhawks came back with a pretty decent answer.

They won the Big 12 regular season yet again despite not being in the running for much of the year as that top team, but ultimately lost to Iowa State in the conference tournament. Their style of game has certainly changed slightly, but as always the Jayhawks play solid basketball on all ends of the court. With two quality players to keep an eye on in Perry Ellis and Frank Mason, it’s almost as if things never change. Kansas is young as they always seem to be, but is playing with the idea of getting some revenge on Kentucky in the back of their minds. Sometimes teams who look too far forward get surprised in the present.

New Mexico State enters the tournament by way of winning the Western Athletic Conference. If it were not for the autobid this team would be lucky to have sniffed out the NIT. With a weak schedule and no strong wins, it’s hard to imagine this team -who got beat by Wichita State 71-54 in November- will stand anything near a chance against the Jayhawks. With four seniors who get more than 20 minutes a game, the one advantage the Aggies have will be experience. But even that can only do so much.

Tyler’s Pick: Kansas Jayhawks

#3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs #14 Northeastern Huskies

Living in Boston and with a number of friends who attended Northeastern that could very likely read this, I should probably tread very carefully through this next preview. But hey, I gotta be honest here. The Huskies get to dance for the first time since the year I was born (1991) due to their Colonial Athletic Conference win. The unfortunate thing is they get drawn into a game with one of, if not the best, offensive teams in the country.

If there was any doubt about the Irish’s chances this March, they silenced them in the ACC tournament. Focusing on ball movement and spreading the scoring, the Irish cut through Miami, Duke, and North Carolina to win their first ACC Championship. They move the ball, run up the score, and most importantly, truly capitalize on their scoring chances. You don’t often see power conference teams with four players who average over 10 points per game, but that’s exactly what the Irish have going for them. Jerian Grant, Pat Connaughton, Demetrius Jackson, and Zach Auguste are the four heads of the hydra that fuel this hard to stop offense.

The only hope the Huskies have going for them is hoping they can somehow find a way to slow the scoring and force the Irish to play a slow defensive game. Notre Dame is giving up 65.6 points per game, and are most vulnerable in the paint where they lack a true rim protector. Northeastern doesn’t appear to have the key to exploiting that weakness though.

Tyler’s Pick: Notre Dame Fighting Irish

#4 Maryland Terrapins vs #13 Valparaiso Crusaders

Few teams have the NCAA Tournament prestige of Valpo, but in a season where they were largely uncontested, come into this year as a true wild card. With a strength of schedule ranking well high into the 100s, it is hard to imagine they get their first test of the season and prevail. The one positive they have going for them is being a more defensive minded team. But again that whole quality of competition makes that come with some fine print.

For the fans of shot blockers, Vashil Fernandez will be who you want to keep an eye on. The 6’10 senior is averaging 2.9 blocks a contest. But I worry about his stamina in a game where Maryland will look to move the ball.

Meanwhile Maryland comes off what was a very successful first year in the Big Ten. With only one poor conference loss, and losing in the conference tournament semi-finals, the last check mark the Terrapins have for this season would be to avoid a short-lived tournament.

Maryland should make a run to the Sweet 16 and will likely be the first tournament test for Kentucky.

Tyler’s Pick: Maryland Terrapins

#5 West Virginia Mountaineers vs #12 Buffalo Bulls

Joe Lunardi and others will tell you to take Buffalo in this game without any second considerations. But don’t be so quick to lock this game up as your 5/12 upset of the tournament. The biggest driving factor behind many saying West Virginia is a single seed waiting to fall is merely because of an injury to senior guard Juwan Staten, who missed the entire Big 12 tournament. All sides expect him to be back in time for the tournament, and getting a Friday draw only helps the Mountaineers. There is always the concern of integrating a player who missed even a couple of games, but the fact of the matter is if West Virginia doesn’t want an early NCAA Tournament exit again, they will need to relinquish any doubts and let Staten run their offense again.

If West Virginia is without Staten the idea of the upset becomes much more likely. The Bulls are ball hawks, and every player seems to play with the sole purpose of taking possessions away from their opponents. While their Mid-American schedule won’t wow many, they had two solid games against top quality opponents this season. They played Kentucky early in the season for one good half before getting buried. They also hung with Wisconsin for the majority of a game played in Madison, neither easy feats.

Both of these teams are much more efficient offensively than defensively, but the Bulls will have the clear advantage. They play very small and luckily West Virginia does too. If Staten is out, this game is an absolute win for the Bulls, but with Staten this game becomes so much harder to pick. I’m really hesitant to ever play the “popular” upset picks, but people might be on to something here. Or maybe not.

Tyler’s Pick: West Virginia Mountaineers

#6 Butler Bulldogs vs #11 Texas Longhorns

It’s been an interesting transition for the Butler Bulldogs in the post Brad Stevens era, but they have yet to fade into obscurity and remain a big threat come March. They were predicted underdogs in what many expected to be a very good Big East, yet they fought tooth and nail through a quality schedule and picked up enough quality wins to find themselves dancing yet again. The music never gets old for these underdogs who are still trying to find the holy grail.

Looking at Texas, you will likely under-credit them for actually being a decent team. The Big 12 was absolutely bonkers with talent. Their only big wins on the season were a win over Iowa back in November and an OT thriller over Baylor at the beginning of the month. But don’t let a tough conference schedule cause you to quickly write them off.

Texas is very active with on-ball defense. They get their hands involved in anything they can. They will also have the clear advantage in both paints with the vastly more physical Myles Turner. Look for Turner to disrupt Butler in the paint on defense, and bruise and bang down low on the other end.

Butler needs Alex Barlow to remain aggressive, as he’s averaged 2.2 steals a game, but avoid drawing early fouls that could also send a guy who’s averaging 2.6 APG and 9.2 PPG to the bench any earlier than needed.

This is going to be a very good game, and I don’t fault anybody who takes Texas here, but I will be going with Butler.

Tyler’s Pick: Butler Bulldogs

#7 Wichita State Shockers vs #10 Indiana Hoosiers

It’s been an interesting year. Indiana coach Tom Crean is so disliked in the state right now, at his son’s high school basketball game the crowd actually chanted “Tom Crean sucks”. Still, despite many thinking they’d miss out, the Hoosiers find themselves still in attendance to the big dance. Although the second half of the season shouldn’t give the Hoosiers too much hope headed into the tournament: they were 2-9 against tournament bound teams since the flip of the calendar.

Meanwhile the Shockers, who came into last year’s tournament undefeated, will play this year with a bit of a chip on their shoulder. They eventually would lose last year to Kentucky, so naturally fate would have them seeded in the same bracket, so that perhaps they can return the favor.

The Shockers are by no means the team they were last year, they’ve regressed more than just a bit, and will have a tough stretch to even hope to meet Kentucky. Their primary five players on the court don’t feature an underclassman, a feat underrated in the one and done era of college basketball.

This will be a game pitting a quality offense versus a stout defense. Whichever side can break the other first can win. Advantage for me always goes to the better defense. They cannot let the Hoosiers get off to an early start, as their 108th ranked offense could have a tough time playing catchup. But for at least this game, the Shockers look to be the victor.

Tyler’s Pick: Wichita State Shockers

#8 Cincinnati Bearcats vs #9 Purdue Boilermakers

I imagine it’d be very hard to prep a team for a game that will likely lead to their ultimate demise. I suppose even getting the shot at knocking off Kentucky will be more than many will get to say this tournament. Like many 8/9 games tend to be in the NCAA Tournament, this game is truly a 50/50 game. Neither side stands out significantly, as neither impressed with strong out of conference schedules. I will however say I do like Purdue here.

Unfortunately for Cincinnati, the AAC keeps getting weaker with each passing season. Add on top of that scheduled games they should have won, AKA Ole Miss, and Nebraska, and you have a bit of a headache. I am a little surprised to see that both these teams are seeded where they are, but like I said before it’s an interesting bracket.

Purdue didn’t impress in their opportunities either, but I will be giving them more credit for tough close games played in a far superior Big Ten. They attack the glass as a team, which can offset even a big pair of solid rebounders similar to what Cincy features in Octavius Ellis and Gary Clark. Purdue also spreads the ball much more evenly offensively, and when you don’t wow on offense to begin with, it’s nice to know that at least the ball will be going to the hot hand, and there are a couple guys who can get it.

Tyler’s Pick: Purdue Boilermakers

East Regional

#1 Villanova Wildcats vs #16 Lafayette Leopards

Villanova comes in as the least talked about #1 seed. For a Big East team that features some decent competition, finishing 32-2 is no menial task. The Wildcats have been plagued with early round upsets in previous tournaments, but this team looks like Nova’s best chance to at least make a Final Four run. Things will start nice and easily with a game against Lafayette. There should be little surprise for the Wildcats, who typically see the Leopards during the regular season.

Tyler’s Pick: Villanova Wildcats

#2 Virginia Cavaliers vs #15 Belmont Bruins

One of my personal favorite teams in this tournament draws one of my usual upset watch teams. A year after drawing a #1 seed and a disappointing Sweet 16 exit, the Cavaliers are reloaded and looking almost as good as they did a year ago. The only negative for them is that they have a tougher road ahead it would seem. They will likely have an early chance to extract some revenge on Michigan State, as it is heavily likely the two will meet in the second (third) round of the tournament.

The nation’s best defense is a little bit banged up heading into the tournament which could pose an issue for a team who looked destined to make a deep run. Justin Anderson, who broke a finger back in February, didn’t quite impress in his two games back on the team. And while the Cavs have shown they’re capable of withstanding the barrage without a go-to scorer, not having Anderson at 100% for the tournament could be a big loss.

Belmont has been in this position before, and I usually give them the benefit of the doubt and look forward to at least a close game. They’ve yet to actually come away with a tournament win, despite six appearances since 2006 alone. I think it’s safe to say that despite their health concerns, the Cavaliers come away with this one relatively easily.

Tyler’s Pick: Virginia Cavaliers

#3 Oklahoma Sooners vs #14 Albany Great Danes

Albany provided me with one of my favorite moments of Championship Week. Peter Hooley, who had recently lost his mother to colon cancer, hit an insane buzzer beater that had me verbally unable to contain my screams while on a bike at the gym. I didn’t even care about the stares I received because the moment was just what sums up March basketball and why we all love it. From sad stories to triumphant victories, these are the moments that define seasons and careers for more than a few. That being said, Albany’s chances of an extended run here are dismal at best, although they have played high seeds quite well in their past two tournament appearances.

Oklahoma impressed in a brutal Big 12 this season, and even the games they lost they stuck around in. Led by Buddy Hield, the Sooners do a fantastic job of taking what their opponents deal them, and succeeding regardless. Capable of making a half-court tempo, or ramping it up to play an up-tempo work, the Sooners are both physical and athletic enough to win in a number of different game scenarios. You will also be hard pressed to find a team that collectively rebounds as well as the Sooners do, and that is honestly one of the bigger traits that can define a tournament run.

Tyler’s Pick: Oklahoma Sooners

#4 Louisville Cardinals vs #13 UC Irvine Anteaters

The Cardinals might not look as great coming out of their first season in the ACC, but it’s still a Rick Pitino team in March with a pretty respectable lineup. They could easily steal a few games and make an Elite 8 run, if not further. Montrell Harrell is truly a special player, and watching him impact the game from every angle of the court is something else. My biggest concern with the Cards is that they might be a little too reliant on their big four of Harrell, Rozier, Jones, and Blackshear. Their depth is non-existent, and while you should expect those four to play big minutes, they can’t play 40 minutes a game for six highly competitive games. They also seriously lack anything consistent of a three-point shooter.

Meanwhile the Anteaters seem to be gaining as a popular upset pick, although the exact reason why is beyond me. Maybe it’s all those brackets that are filled out based on names. I mean Anteaters has to be one of the 10 best nicknames/mascots you will see in the tournament. Or maybe it’s the 7’6 Mamadou Ndiaye that’s making some draw to UC Irvine. They have a bit more “depth” than the Cards, but really don’t have anybody that can be a facilitator against a top four team.

Tyler’s Pick: Louisville Cardinals

#5 Northern Iowa Panthers vs #12 Wyoming Cowboys

Alright for all my previous readers at this point you are probably asking yourself, “where are the upsets”. Well let’s move on and we’ll get to my first big upset of the tournament. Northern Iowa gets a lot of credit headed into this tournament thanks to a Missouri Valley Conference win, but also having beaten and or played the Shockers very well. But as I said earlier, the Shockers are nowhere near the team they were a season ago, and I don’t think they necessarily deserve the generous 5 seed they received.

This is going to be a defensive battle, and very well could be an ugly one. If the Cowboys’ Mountain West win is anything to show for just how stagnant their offense can be, let the final score of 45-43 do all the talking. I rarely reward a Mountain West team without any big wins, but their defense is very tempting for me.

The Panthers are dangerous because of their ability to spread the ball. They could easily have 7-8 guys who put up multiple points. They’re not exactly going to wow with the scoring but they also have a very capable defense. Although Seth Tuttle has been one of the more impressive players this season, the more you read this the more you are probably wondering how I am headed into making this as an upset pick. Many of you will probably abandon me here and take Lunardi’s Buffalo pick which was very enticing too, but stick around, and I promise you won’t be let down.

Tyler’s Pick: Wyoming Cowboys

#6 Providence Friars vs #11 Boise State/Dayton

I’m intrigued by Dayton’s chances here as I don’t see a chance Boise State comes away with the true road game win in Dayton. But I also don’t know if I see the Flyers standing up to this very good Providence team.

Sure, Dayton returns to the tournament as unlikely heroes who stormed into the Elite 8 a year ago, but they also get the unfortunate draw as a play-in team to begin with. Getting Providence does them no further favors. Led by LaDonte Henton and Kris Dunn, the Friars always seemed to stand up to quality competition. They played Villanova a few good times this season, and while they don’t have wins to show for it, they have to have felt good.

Assuming Dayton gets into this final slot, they play a relatively defensively sound game, but don’t do anything to overly wow me. They are capable of getting steals, and do a great job defending the perimeter, but I don’t know if they will have enough in them to stop a Providence team that is playing with an agenda. And forget about it if it’s the Broncos. Sorry.

Tyler’s Pick: Providence Friars

#7 Michigan State Spartans vs #10 Georgia Bulldogs

This will be yet another tough 7/10 game. This is a Georgia team that perhaps played Kentucky better than anybody this season, not only once but twice. Meanwhile the Spartans are not even close to being one of Tom Izzo’s best squads, which leaves this open as a 7/10 that will have a few reaching for Georgia.

Some things to remember about Georgia playing the Cats well this season, is the way they’re built was absolutely perfect to matchup with Kentucky. They were capable of drawing big men out of the paint, and shot the three well. They came up short in both attempts to dethrone Kentucky, but without a doubt looked very good in those losses.

Even taking into consideration that Tom Izzo has had better teams, this is not a Sparty roster to ignore. You have to respect the run they went on to close out the season, as they were a play away from stealing the Big Ten title from the Badgers. Regardless of this not being as good of a team as in previous tournaments, it’s a group of guys who have spent a decent while together as Izzo looks to send out a starting five of upperclassmen. Although his bench has some youth, the primary facilitators will come from his starters. Izzo is running with a smaller group of guys, but as such brings a super athletic bunch onto the court. I worry about a team with actual size and whether or not guys like Branden Dawson and Matt Costello can remain factors on the glass.

As much bravado as Georgia showed playing Kentucky this year, I still don’t think they have enough to overpower even this Sparty team.

Tyler’s Pick: Michigan State Spartans

#8 NC State Wolfpack vs #9 LSU Tigers

You gotta love 8/9 games. They’re just such a coin toss, and they typically bring us some of the best games every year. Neither of these squads comes into the tournament with a ton of momentum. LSU lost a disappointing nail-bitter to Auburn, and NC State meanwhile had an early exit to Duke in the ACC tourney.

NC State has a deep roster though, although when I say that I mainly mean they’ll probably play anywhere from 7-9 guys with a pretty evenly spread workload. That being said, the bulk of their offense is still derived from guys like Trevor Lacey and Ralston Turner.

LSU meanwhile will be running with fewer guys, likely maxing out at seven, but four of the five starters alone will carry the team. With a very young roster, the Tigers can easily take a moral victory here. They’ll have the more consistent size factor in this game, as Jarell Martin and Jordan Mickey will both be on the court for long periods of time. The two sophomore forwards combine for 19 rebounds a game. Mickey is also a big time shot blocker, but the Pack should be able to spread the floor and mitigate the amount of impact he has.

Tyler’s Pick: NC State Wolfpack

West Regional

#1 Wisconsin Badgers vs #16 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

The Badgers have likely Wooden Award winner Frank Kaminsky at the helm. The goofy, lanky senior aims to go out on top after a surprise return to Madison for one more year. If there is one team that I will honestly say that has a chance to beat Kentucky, it would be the Badgers, but their path there looks to be a tough one.

Let’s give a quick shoutout to the Chanticleers, which I have no idea what they are without Googling. There will be plenty of time to talk about the Badgers but let’s give guys like Shivaughn Wiggins, Warren Gillis, Badou Diagne, and Elijah Wilson their dues for a big season out of the Big South.

Tyler’s Pick: Wisconsin Badgers

#2 Arizona Wildcats vs #15 Texas Southern Tigers

Like I said earlier I don’t see a 15 that even stands a chance against a 2 this year. The Wildcats have one of the most intriguing and relatively young rosters in this tournament. Of course the Wildcats are by no means perfect, but they were sure close, with only losses to ASU, Oregon State, and UNLV. Not only are the Wildcats top-heavy with talent like Stanley Johnson, Brandon Ashley, and TJ McConnell, but Sean Miller also has quite a deep team. I doubt he plays as deep as he has at times this year, but the Cats definitely could run as many as 8 guys into respectable minutes.

Texas Southern appears in their second straight tournament by way of a Southwestern Athletic Conference win. Unlikely to live long enough to see Saturday, it will be a fun opportunity for some of the young guys to get to play in the tournament, and nothing wrong with those who got to play last year too. They did play the hell out of Michigan State when they met in December, and fans of good games can only hope the Tigers find that gear to make at least part of this game entertaining.

Tyler’s Pick: Arizona Wildcats

#3 Baylor Bears vs #14 Georgia State Panthers

You will see one familiar face in this game for Georgia State, even if you’ve never watched the Panthers play. Former Louisville guard Kevin Ware who infamously broke his ankle in the Final Four of the Cards’ 2013 title run, made a surprise move this offseason and transferred to Georgia State. Perhaps worried about playing time coming back from his injury, Ware was also setting out to rewrite his history as a player. Ware won’t even be the big star for the Panthers either though, as they have another couple of guards (RJ Hunter, Ryan Harrow) who really steal the show offensively.

There is a lot of concern about this Baylor team heading into this tournament, but I still believe confidently they can outlast this Panthers squad. They play relatively small by some standards, but should have no problem with size against the Panthers. 6’8 Rico Gathers is a ball-hog on the boards, and nobody Georgia State can throw at him should be able to stop him.

Tyler’s Pick: Baylor Bears

#4 North Carolina Tar Heels vs #13 Harvard Crimson

The ACC has been much more open in the past two seasons than it traditionally has been. North Carolina and Duke are still powerhouses, but the rest of the conference is beginning to catch up. That being said, Roy Williams still has a solid team on his hands, and the best part of all is that they’re young. Sure you’ll lose a few overambitious guys to the NBA, but odds are that regardless of what happens for the Heels in this tournament, they will reload and come back as one of the top seeds again next year.

The best thing about the Tar Heels, and one of the big reasons I think they can extend their tournament run, is the balance of play throughout their roster. They have multiple scorers, multiple ball-handlers, and multiple rebounders. That’s really hard to match up against.

The good thing is Harvard should not be offering much of a competition to begin this tournament. The Crimson underwhelm in a lot of areas, and where I had them as first round upsetters last year, it should be a swift exit for yet another Boston-based school.

Let me just leave you with this. Harvard lost to Virginia 76-27 earlier in the year. UNC just beat the Cavs in the ACC tourney 71-67. Look no further than that.

Tyler’s Pick: North Carolina Tar Heels

#5 Arkansas Razorbacks vs #12 Wofford Terriers

Offensively the Razorbacks look quite solid, defensively they leave a lot to be desired. But don’t get too caught up in the 5/12 drama that becomes sensationalized at the NCAA Tournament. The Razorbacks have Bobby Portis who should easily run through anything the Terriers throw his way. The size factor alone leaves Wofford massively outmatched, but the talent is really where he will show his prowess.

The Terriers did have a surprise win over NC State earlier in the year, but even the best they can throw out in Karl Cochran, Lee Skinner, and Spencer Collins will fall short. Don’t send me to the dog house, but one of us has to go, it’s me or the dog. Okay that was a little cheesy. Bear with me, we’ve been here a while.

Tyler’s Pick: Arkansas Razorbacks

#6 Xavier Musketeers vs #11 Ole Miss Rebels

In a great quote from the Hangover III “you don’t talk to madness, if you’re lucky you trap it in a trunk and kill it”. Teams without something to lose (a sometimes silly saying in sports as there are always stakes) are at times the most dangerous you will ever face. And what we witnessed on Tuesday night was truly the beginning to the madness of March. Ole Miss and BYU duked it out in a game with zero regard for possession, and smart shots. The two traded haymakers throwing up transitions threes, and deep shots early in the shot clock. But I’ll be damned if it didn’t work and give us quite an entertaining show en route.

Even before the tip-off of this play-in game, the talk was all about the winner upsetting Xavier in this game. And if Ole Miss goes on to play anything like they did on Tuesday, this game is going one of three ways: Xavier stoops down the level of madness and we have another thriller; the Musketeers refuse to play to their level, and walk away with an easy win thanks to actually running a game plan; or Xavier again doesn’t stoop down, and the madness consumes them, leaving them battered and beaten in the dark.

The Musketeers clearly aren’t impressing many sitting in the 6 seed and it’s quite intriguing to think that Ole Miss could come out and stun them. They’re streaky shooters and if Stefan Moody puts on anything near the display he put up in Dayton, the Rebels could very likely steal this game away and possibly find themselves in at least the Sweet 16.

Tyler’s Pick: Ole Miss Rebels

#7 VCU Rams vs #10 Ohio State Buckeyes

It’s amazing when you see teams who used to be the Cinderella stories of the tournament now regularly getting the higher seeds. Shaka Smart has now gotten the Rams to five straight tournaments, and it all began with that 2011 Final Four run that really put the program on the map for many. The Rams’ tiring and vaunted full court press continues to keep the team in a position to continually win games. February was a rough month for the Rams, but they closed the season out with five wins including the A10 championship.

It was an up and down season for the Buckeyes, definitely not what it could have been, but without a doubt a successful campaign for Thad Matta. Freshman D’Angelo Russell is very fun to watch, but as a team the Buckeyes have a serious turnover issue, that should only be intensified by Shaka’s full court press.

Tyler’s Pick: VCU Rams

#8 Oregon Ducks vs #9 Oklahoma State Cowboys

I won’t lie, this Oregon team perplexes me. I like their two wins over Utah, but I don’t know if I really believe Utah to be a big contender. On the other hand, their losses to Arizona are very concerning. Although the Wildcats are a top 10 team, it’s not good to have lost to them by a combined 70 points in two games. They’re capable of putting up points in certain situations, but have little regard for defense, which really shows in their games against top-notch talent.

Meanwhile on the other end of the court, the Cowboys are way more concerned about defense. They struggled through a tough Big 12 going just 8-10 in conference play, and have to be exhausted. They’re a more experienced team who without a doubt had a much tougher path. I really wish at this point I could have seen the Cowboys play Oregon State on the road just to get a little bit more of an idea of where they stack up against the Pac-12, but I guess a neutral game is almost more telling.

I rarely like to give nods to teams who come into the tournament with records like this, but I honestly still see the Cowboys as the better team. I don’t think they’ll go far, but I think the Pac-12 faces a short-lived tournament this year.

Tyler’s Pick: Oklahoma State Cowboys

South Regional

#1 Duke Blue Devils vs #16 North Florida/Robert Morris

Freshman phenom Jahil Okafor and Duke should have zero issues running through whatever team they happen to draw after Wednesday’s games. Sure the Blue Devils have seen their tournaments end much earlier than they’d like in their last couple of appearances, but they seem to have a relatively easy path to at least the Elite 8 this year. I think they begin to run into trouble there, and don’t know if I see Coach K getting his squad into the Final Four, but they will win this game in a rout, because this team needs to make a statement here.

Tyler’s Pick: Duke Blue Devils

#2 Gonzaga Bulldogs vs #15 North Dakota Bison

Let’s not forget that just a season ago the Bison pulled off a respectable upset over the Sooners, but as much as I’d like to see it again, I just don’t believe it’ll happen. Mark my words though, if there is a 15 that takes down a 2, this will have to be the matchup. But don’t expect it to actually happen.

The Zags have fixed a lot of the issues I complain about on a yearly basis when they make the tournament as a high seed. They have size which wins them battles on the boards, and offensively speaking they are one of the best in the country. They’re still relatively weak on defense, but have made strides to address the Achilles’ heel that regularly knocked them out of tournaments. They shoot lights out from everywhere on the court, and especially burn teams with penetration and kicks. If you liked Kelly Olynyk, you will be an even bigger fan of Kentucky transfer Kyle Weiltjer.

I am holding my breath and wondering if I can actually finally trust Gonzaga to make a tournament run, but they’ll at least be playing one more game.

Tyler’s Pick: Gonzaga Bulldogs

#3 Iowa State Cyclones vs #14 UAB Blazers

In a bracket where it’s been really tough to pick outside the chalk, we come upon one of my favorites to make a surprise trip to the Final Four. Many will be quick to slide Duke all the way through this bracket, but don’t you dare sleep on Iowa State.

Led by one of my favorite players this year in Georges Niang, the Cyclones are that perfect balance of everything. They have size, outside shooting, a top-tier point guard, efficient passing, and inside scoring. The one fault that may keep the Cyclones from going deep is a weak at best defense. They won the Big 12 tournament, but did so in close shootouts the whole way. I don’t think their defensive woes are enough to cause a worry early here, but should they survive it may be something to look at. They have 5 players that average 10+ points a game, and that ability to spread the offensive attack is unbeatable.

UAB earns a lot of respect from me because they are one of those programs that are willing to schedule really tough out of conference games. They played Wisconsin, Florida, UCLA, LSU, and North Carolina, and although they didn’t fare well in any of them, they’ve seen some top talent and won’t be scared by this Iowa State team, which can be dangerous.

Tyler’s Pick: Iowa State Cyclones

#4 Georgetown Hoyas vs #13 Eastern Washington Eagles

A lot of people will want to consider putting Eastern Washington as an upset simply because the Hoyas have not survived past the third round since their Final Four run back in 2007. And while you’d be amazed at how much prior NCAA Tournament results help spot big upsets, it will not be enough of a trend for the Eagles to pull out the win. Don’t expect Georgetown to go deep, but we’re not talking about first round exits here.

Eastern Washington puts up a ton of points, and really played well through the Big Sky all year. But that doesn’t really mean a whole lot as you head into NCAA Tournament quality games. They should feel relatively blessed to have been seeded where they are, as both these teams seem to not belong to where they sit. Regardless, they won’t be around long.

Despite the Hoyas having a bit of seeding hubris working against them, they should survive this battle. I don’t think a team that is as all over the place as the Hoyas are can possibly make a serious run, but we’ve seen crazier things happen. Maybe D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera goes absolutely off the wall for a couple of games.

Tyler’s Pick: Georgetown Hoyas

#5 Utah Utes vs #12 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks

It’s never a good thing when a team comes into the tournament on as much of a low as the Utes seem to be. But for a team that was ranked too high in my opinion at a few points this year, maybe this is actually what they need. Now flying in much more under the radar than if they’d even have played in the Pac-12 championship, the Utes could sneak out a couple of wins in this tournament.

The Utes are capable on offense, but really make a name for themselves on defense. They don’t do anything fancy either, no large amounts of blocked shots or steals, but just flat-out staying in front of your man, contesting shots, and rotating correctly. Sometimes the fundamentals is all you need to win. Delon Wright will impress those who haven’t watched the Utes this season, and freshman Jakob Poeltl has really made a name for himself and could become serious eye candy for NBA teams looking for versatile big men down the road.

Stephen F Austin has been here before, in fact just last year. They unseated a really good VCU team, breaking down the Rams’ tough full court press. The Lumberjacks like to run, and if you allow their offense to get rolling it can be tough to slow down. They are not quite as talented as they were a season ago, but still have a deep roster full of guys who can handle the ball and get things in motion.

This will honestly likely be the best 5/12 game of the tournament, and I can only imagine one that comes with a buzzer beater, but I am not trying to be a genie.

Tyler’s Pick: Utah Utes

#6 SMU Mustangs vs #11 UCLA Bruins

After being big snubs from the tournament a year ago, the Mustangs cruise into this year’s NCAA Tournament as a solid 6 seed. Although the AAC seems to regress more with each exit of a big program in its short lived life, the Mustangs are also not deserving of a lot of the hate they’ll get.

UCLA meanwhile is drawing a lot of hate, as many believe they weren’t deserving of the draw, let alone an 11 seed. I can’t shake it though, there is just something that’s eating away at me begging me to take UCLA. I get a tingly feeling in my bad hip, and it really hasn’t ever let me down.

The Mustangs will run a deep roster of guys onto the court, but it results in little success on the offensive end of the game. They allowed just 59.8 PPG, but in a season where the AAC really didn’t impress me I am not wowed by SMU’s resume. I’m taking the bad hip.

UCLA has a solid starting five despite not having much to show for it. As long as the Bruins don’t get into a defensive focused battle, I like their chances.

Tyler’s Pick: UCLA Bruins

#7 Iowa Hawkeyes vs #10 Davidson Wildcats

Maybe I’m drunk on nostalgia, or maybe there really is something to like here about Davidson. The Wildcats have earned that reputation of being worthy of upsets ever since their big run back in 2008 with Steph Curry. They’ve been bounced early in their two visits since in 2012 and 2013, but this highly efficient offense would give anybody a run for their money, let alone an Iowa team that appears unable to defend the perimeter.

The one thing Iowa has going for it is the easy baskets. With the clear size advantage, look for Fran McCaffery to dump the ball to Aaron White and Jarrod Uthoff and tear apart the paint. Davidson will have to change their sets to feature a little more height and take away some scoring hands most likely.

For Davidson they just need to spread the floor and shoot away. With a deep roster that shoots well, the Wildcats can cause the Hawkeyes to either go small or force their athletic big men to move out to the perimeter at times, which will add a whole new facet to the offense. With a deep roster, the Wildcats will find the hot hand and likely shoot their way to victory. I even like them going head to head against Gonzaga.

Tyler’s Picks: Davidson Wildcats

#8 San Diego State Aztecs vs #9 St. John’s Red Storm

I’m usually very harsh on SDSU and their fans (however many actually read me) probably hate me by this point. But hey guess what? I like the Aztecs for a win here. I don’t think SDSU will go far, as the winner of this game will likely face Duke in the next round, but that doesn’t knock the opportunity to get there. Maybe because they’re coming in without their usual hype, I like their chances a ton more. It also doesn’t help that they play a St. John’s team that I think stands no chance.

The Aztecs won’t be going far behind just Aqeel Quinn, JJ O’Brien, and Winston Shepard, but with an important piece to the Red Storm roster Chris Obekpa out for a suspension, it will change the way St. John’s does things, and not in positive way. It will open up the lane to get punished and it will make what would have been an interesting board battle a more likely win for the Aztecs.

Tyler’s Pick: San Diego State Aztecs

Midwest | East | West | South

So what are your thoughts on the first round? Have any upsets you wanna call out? Let’s hear ‘em in the comments. Also be sure to show your school pride! Let’s have a blast!

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