Edwin MacPhisto

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I HATELOVEHATELOVEHATELOVE THIS SHOW

If Kim dies the show's over. Jack would go kill everyone he could and take special care to get himself killed in the process.

The only thing I can say to possibly convince you is that these things never play out like you normally would expect. Tennessee has been slumping; Tennessee is one of the weakest 2-seeds ever. For that very reason, they'll get to the sweet 16. I've got all the 4s advancing as of now. Last year I picked way too many upsets; I got about half right, but I'm cutting back this year. I'm taking NC State over Cal, SDSU over Indiana...I'd say I have most of my upsets set up for the second round, though really, I have a feeling most people will be taking Wichita over Tennessee. I'm also very, very tempted to take South Alabama to the Sweet 16, because I know that UF and OU both have to choke miserably, and that'd take care of that.

Utah State's all right. I probably would have put Missouri State and Hofstra over both of them.

I forgot about being a hot dog vendor! That was awesome. Thanks for that.

You guys are more than welcome to use Edwin if you want. I think the last thing I did (look at how great my memory is!) was come back at Genesis V for the Landon/Grand Slam/Edwin vs. King/Raynor/Flesher 6-man tag, which was definitely a "SPECIAL WRESTLEMANIA APPEARANCE!" type thing, and came after the whole Kibagami grudge match story. I kind of like having the character completely done and drydocked, but if you want a face commentator, he's all yours. Though I wonder how many people who are around now would really be jazzed by King/Edwin on commentary. I also agree with WC, in that no one should really be too beholden to anything more than the most basic traits of a character (Edwin's British! Axis was the IC champ! King's a smarmy heel!) for their commentary purposes. The match is the thing. Still, you're welcome to use Edwin if you want that character there, and feel free to embarrass him at every turn if so necessary.

On mid-majors not hacking it in the big conferences: that's not really true. College basketball isn't like college football; a mid-major team with one or two great players or with a unique coaching scheme (40 minutes of hell at UAB, for example) can be competitive in every game they play. Additionally, if any of these mid-major teams were in the Pac 10, Big 12, Big East, ACC, SEC, and Big Ten, they'd have the wider recruiting base and reputation that benefits all those teams. This also isn't like college football in that there are 3 times as many teams in division I. You simply can't exile that vast a percentage of teams to the no-tourney graveyard. And Leena's right. Would this tournament really be more fun with FSU, Michigan, and Colorado in as 11 seeds? No argument from me about the boneheaded Air Force and Utah State picks, but the rest are fine.

Winthrop was clearly the best reaction, running up to the camera and posing, leaping around all "bring it, Bruce Pearl!" That alone makes me wants to pick the 15/2 upset.

UCLA just got a great draw, and has been coming on strong. Out of the highly-seeded teams (4 and up) I think they got the best. UNC is close behind, but they may hit one of the best mid-majors and have to get past UConn to boot. UCLA is the pick for Oakland. I have them beating Pitt in the final. Sorry Memphis; you join Duke in the Sweet 16 graveyard. Provisionally, I like LSU, even though I think they're far from the best team overall in Atlanta. I think they'll be the ones to take out Duke with that massive front-court, though J.J. could get hot and torch them. I'm liking Texas for the Elite 8, but I can't trust these guys to win 6 games in a row. LSU will be in great position if they get there. I just like the way their run shapes out, though I'm wary of them losing early like they did to UAB last year. I agree that Zona could be a tough draw for 'Nova, but I think 'Nova is basically a better version of 'Zona. I have them going all the way, and they're actually my favorite right now to win in Indy. Over Georgetown to get there, I'll say. UConn and UNC in D.C. Nothing else in there interests me that much. The ACC mark in me wants UNC, but UConn is deep, and has shown the fewest moments of weakness out of anyone in the tourney. Losing to Syracuse isn't the end of the line for them. Everyone's vulnerable, but they seem to be the least vulnerable. I will change all of this tomorrow, five times I'm sure.

In my current layout I don't have any, but I'm looking very hard at NC State and San Diego State. Texas looks susceptible, even though I think they could also cruise to the Final Four if they get the right breaks.

I think Duke has an absolutely brutal route. If they get through GW, LSU/Cuse, and then WVU/Texas, I'll be amazed. I can't decide if I think they're the best team in the country, or one off game from Redick away from exiting in the Sweet 16 again. I don't know what to do with Big 10 teams. I never do. Illinois was pretty obvious last year, but how good are Ohio State and Iowa? Oh brackets, you slay me. On Gonzaga: I think Morrison will be able to beat Xavier. I do not think they stand a chance if they get to UCLA.

Oh man, amazingly terrible rap song on ESPN about March Madness, that actually references "bracketology" and "fillin' in yo' bracket." Repeatedly. Hahahaha. That ESPN, always with a finger on the pulse of six years ago.

The idiotic thing about Nantz and Packer ragging on the little conferences: who the hell from the major conferences are they gonna put in? Outside of Cincy, I can't think of any real snubs, and even that should have just been a trade with Seton Hall. Love those awkward silences, and Nantz cutting off Littlepage like an absolute dick. Unfortunately, the committee did just as much badness to the mid-majors by picking Air Force instead of Hofstra or Missouri State.

I reiterate, that bracket looks fantastic for UNC. I would take them out of there in a heartbeat. OU got pretty lucky. I thought they'd draw an MVC team, but instead they get UW-Milwaukee, who aren't as good as when they had the 12 seed last year.

Bubble teams that miss: Cincy, FSU, Michigan, Hofstra, Missouri State, Creighton. Ouch. I can't believe Seton Hall got in over Cincy.

Thanks Bored. I'll be making vast use of that. Oh shit, G'Town/Northern Iowa. This bracket is rough.

Wow, yeah. UNC has got a smooth path to the eight. And Phoenix, looks kinda sad for Hofstra, with Utah State and Air Force getting in...

AIR FORCE??? Bigger shock than Utah State!

Hahaha. Pitt totally hating on their 5th seed...deservingly so, I think.

Don't worry, guys. NC State is probably going to hammer Cal heavily.

And Wilmington is a 9. I had them pegged for no better than, like, a 12 or 13. Wild. GO PENN QUAKERS

I always forget how much I hate the selection show. So lame.

Seconded.

And the Cardinals just signed Edgerrin James to a 4-year deal, per ESPNEWS. Cha-ching.

Memphis, though Ohio State is probably the top #2. The Big Ten has lost some of its luster in the past two or three weeks, as a lot of its supposedly great teams have been playing decidely average ball. Bubble predictions: George Mason makes it, Hofstra doesn't. Four from the MVC, with Creighton and Missouri State getting left out. I have the niggling feeling that FSU is going to sneak in. And it will be hilarious if South Carolina wins the SEC.