The highly anticipated release of the 2009 Brackets have been released for over 3 hours now.  Thus giving all the analysts plenty of time to debate who should have gotten in, and who has the easiest route.  After Radford’s fate was chosen, i didn’t stay to listen to the analyst talk.  I would be hearing it for days till the first game was played anyway.  So I wanted to discuss who I thought had the best chance for the final 4, and who has the hardest.

Easiest Schedule

1. UCONN- UCONN has probably the 2nd easiest bracket not by much over Pitt.  Other than memphis I do not see any teams upsetting the huskies as they run toward a final 4 berth.   Memphis, Missouri, Washington, and Purdue are the top 5 teams in the bracket.  They don’t scare me one bit, none of those teams have played the caliber of teams as the huskies.  Or has the talent to stay with them besides memphis.

2 b.  Pittsburgh- I believe has the 2nd easiest bracket to make it.  Sure they have duke and villanova in their bracket but leading up to a possible elite 8 match up .  But their top 5 teams are: Duke, Nova, Xavier, & FSU.  I am a Xavier fan but don’t see muskies doing anything to upset the panthers.   Duke & Nova will play each other prior to facing pitt, which will wear them down.  Look for Pitt to come out of their bracket. 

Hardest Schedule

1. Louisville-   Being the overall number one seed you thought they would have given the cardinals a break.  But thats not the case,  the cardinals top 5 teams are tough.  Next in line is Michigan St, Kansas, Wake Forest, & Utah.  I don’t see Utah getting past the 2nd round if they survive the first round.  The team I like out of this bracket is Wake Forest, I know they lost some weird games this year.  But they have a good guard play and a decent low post game to give the cardinals fit.  Teague will be able to handle the pressure of louisville.   

2. UNC- North Carolina has the 2nd toughest bracket besides louisville.  Tar Heels have Oklahoma, Syracuse, and Gonzaga.  Syracuse will be a tough   for any team, because their 2-3 zone is well run.  UNC, oklahoma rarely face the 2-3 zone, probably played it at one point during the game but for 40 min i don’t think so.  Cuse will go deep in this bracket if they keep fresh legs.   I still like tar heels to come out of this bracket, but cuse and sooners will make it tough.  It also depends on Mr. Lawson’s toe, if healthy they can go all the way.

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