East Bracket: How I Picked 'Em and Why

#1 UNC vs. #16 Mount St. Mary's: Automatic.

#8 Indiana vs. #9 Arkansas: The Hoosiers defense was the reason that they'd played so well--unmotivated teams play awful defense (see your Sonics). Not every team is good enough to beat an unmotivated Indiana, but Arkansas is.

#5 Notre Dame vs. #12 George Mason: George Mason had their cinderella run. Also, Notre Dame lost last year in the first round. Law of averages, the Irish win.

#3 Wazzu vs. #14 Winthrop: I like the Cougars and want them to do well.

#6 Oklahoma vs. #11 Saint Joe's: St. Joe's is a bad defensive team. I don't like that.

#3 Louisville vs. #14 Boise St.: Boise St. likes to run, but the chances of them doing that well against a team as athletic and disciplined as Louisville are negligible.

#7 Butler vs. #10 South Alabama: Butler relies on the three too much, and South Alabama is good at defending it. Also, Butler plays a slowdown style, but I don't think S. Bama's two senior guards will be thrown off by it. This goes down to the wire, I think.

#2 Tennessee vs. #15 American: See my P-I column from Tuesday. I can't root against American.

Overview: Ok, I have a #10 facing a #15 in the second round...I may as well just throw that half of the bracket out the window, I'll get no points.