Bracket Racket: The Midwest Swing

While Big East champion Louisville boasts the No. 1 overall seed (and the support of Jay Mariotti), the Cardinals are up against what could arguably be the most talented region from top to bottom.

This bracket features Michigan State (Big 10 regular season champs), Kansas (defending national champions), West Virginia (has made Sweet 16 in last four tourney appearances), Wake Forest (former No. 1 team in the country) and enough gifted ballplayers to shake a stick at.

Louisville opens against Morehead State, but after that, it doesn't look like an easy road to the Final Four.

Keep your eye on: Jeff Teague, G, Wake Forest. Oh, what might have been. Teague nearly committed to Southern Illinois two years ago, but at the advice of his father, decided to hold off on signing on the dotted line. Then he dominated a camp, catching the eye of Wake Forest and the rest is history.

Teague is definitely an NBA prospect and a game-changer ... imagine how good he could have been in the Valley. Sorry, this is less about how he could be this March's Stephen Curry, and more about me dreaming of the damage a Saluki backcourt that featured Teague, Kevin Dillard and a healthy Bryan Mullins.

Must see TV: No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 9 Siena. More nostalgia from yours truly. tOSU has no business being an eight-seed in the tournament if you take into consideration the talent they've lost over the years. Unlike UNC, which somehow keeps its players from jumping into the Association, the Buckeyes have lost lottery picks such as Greg Oden and Mike Conley, Jr., from a team that is not too far removed from a Final Four appearance. Siena has been one of the mid-major darlings and is a damn talented squad despite the fact that I have no idea who is on the team or where the school is even located. 8-9 match-ups are always fun, though.

Upset Alert: Kansas. It's anybody's guess how far the defending national champions will go this year. They could easily make the Elite 8 or be knocked out by the No. 14 seed North Dakota State. Bill Self squads have been prone to upsets before (see: Bucknell, Bradley), so I wouldn't be surprised if the Jayhawks are leaving the dance early.

'Chalk' it up to: Louisville. While most of the nation drooled over Pitt and UConn's dominance of the Big Mega SuperConference, it was Rick Pitino's white-suit wearing ways that won the dad-gum title. If you believed ESPN, you woulda sworn either the Panthers or Huskies won that conference.

Sleeping giant: Michigan State. If there's one coach I try not to bet against, it's Tom Izzo. Without a doubt, Izzo is the best coach in college basketball ... with all due respect to Coach K, Jim Calhoun and even Pitino. Izzo does the most with less and somehow, some way gets great talent to play for him. I wouldn't be surprised if Sparty reaches another Final Four.