Best three weeks of the year
The initial pair of First Four games kicked off the NCAA Tournament Tuesday night, affectionately known as March Madness, and it will take over the sports world for the next three weeks.
The bracket was announced Sunday with three Atlantic Coast Conference teams earning the top three No. 1 seeds.
East Region
Duke, fresh off of an impressive showing in the ACC tournament, is the top seed in the region and the top overall seed in the tournament. The odds-on favorite to cut down the nets, the Blue Devils still aren’t healthy as junior center Marquis Bolden is recovering from a knee injury.
When the team is healthy, it lost once all year, to Gonzaga, in the Maui Invitational.
Michigan State is second, LSU third and Virginia Tech fourth.
A potential ACC rematch in the Sweet 16 between Duke and Virginia Tech could give the Blue Devils their first chance at revenging a loss earlier in the year.
LSU is the questionable team as it has the talent to make the Final Four, but has been mired in drama in recent weeks.
The Spartans will reach the Elite 8 where Tom Izzo will once again lose to Mike Krzyzewski as Coach K leads Duke to the Final Four for the 13th time under his watch.
South Region
Virginia is the top seed and Tennessee will be its biggest challenger.
A year ago, Virginia became the first men’s No. 1 seed to lose to a 16-seed when the Cavaliers fell to the University of Maryland-Baltimore County.
A repeat will not happen this year though as the Cavaliers are primed for a deep run.
If the Volunteers get past Cincinnati in the second round, I see them downing Virginia to make it to the Final Four.
Midwest Region
North Carolina is the top seed in the region and it could have a tough match-up in the Sweet 16 against Auburn if the Tigers can survive a second round game against a vulnerable Kansas team.
This is the toughest region in the tournament with Kentucky on the other side, but look for the Tar Heels to eek out a win over the Wildcats and earn a berth in the Final Four.
With UNC, Kentucky and Kansas, this region is almost royalty when looking at the history of the sport as the squads are three of the true blue bloods of college basketball.
West Region
Gonzaga is the top seed, but it will have a tough road ahead.
It could have a Sweet 16 showdown with an underrated Florida State team, and the Zags will have to get by one of two stingy defensive teams, Michigan or Texas Tech, to get to the Final Four.
Look for Gonzaga to make it back to the Final Four for the second time in three seasons.
Final Four
Knowing several Duke and UNC fans who live in the Route 15/501 region near Durham and Chapel Hill, if both teams make it to the Final Four, there will be a massive uneasiness in the Tobacco State.
While the sports world clamors to see a UNC and Duke championship game, those closest to the programs do not want to see it happen as the losing program would not be able to overcome the defeat.
Fans will miss out on the potential championship game between the two though, as Gonzaga will down Zion Williamson and the Blue Devils in the semifinals while the Tar Heels will defeat Tennessee.
In a rematch of the championship game two years ago, déjà vu will strike as the Tar Heels will cut down the nets for the seventh time.
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