Courtesy of scooter1727 from Webshots.com

The dominance in college basketball surely belongs to the east this year.  If you don’t believe me, check out the Elite 8 teams for yourself:

Big East Conference:  Louisville, Connecticut, Pittsburgh and Villanova

I guess you can say the seeding was correct as the top three seeds in the tournament are still alive and are expected make it to the Final Four.  However, there’s more to this eastern dominance:

Big Ten:  Michigan State

ACC:  North Carolina

Both these teams are traditional basketball powers and they both reside in the east.

Big 12:  Missouri, Oklahoma

Luckily, the Midwest has some representation in the Elite 8, but that’s as far west you go.  Gone completely off the map are the UCLAs and USCs.  The teams that made it to the Sweet 16 were actually Arizona (normally thought of as a powerhouse, but were not expected to make it this year) and Gonzaga (from the WCC).  Is the committee conspiring against the West?

My bet is the WAC, MWC and the Pac-10 was not strong this year.  UCLA was on and off.  USC barely made the tournament by virtue of the Pac-10 crown.  Washington lost a close one to underrated Purdue.  San Diego State didn’t even make it in.  Utah lost to a surprising Arizona team.  All in all, the phrase “Go West young man!” did not come to fruition this year.  Instead, the winds of change blew east and the powers that be (NCAA committee) got it right.  One of the few times I give the governing establishment some credit, but they really couldn’t get this wrong because in basketball, unlike college football, we have a tournament.

Now whose going to the Final Four?

Louisville:  has too much offensive power to be diverted off-track by a Michigan State team that could barely contain streaky runs by Kansas in the last game.  It is like defending a bullet with a piece of cardboard paper.

Missouri:  shocker?  Yes, if you look at the point production by Connecticut in the tournament so far (103, 92, 72), there seems to be a downward trend.  Missouri on the other hand is looking up (78, 83, 102).  Add to that Connecticut’s distraction, and you can clearly see why this upset is reasonable.  They messed up my dream of a Memphis championship, thus I must give them some credit.

Villanova:  In their only meeting this past year, Villanova defeated Pittsburgh.  I suspect this to continue coupled with Villanova peaking at the right time.  Jay Wright has them thinking right.

Oklahoma:  Though my heart goes to the state I was born (North Carolina), my head’s sensible nature nudges me toward the beast in the middle, Blake Griffin.  Additionally, we need some “Western” representation, even though it is not the true West.  The Sooners will soon mark their entrance into basketball elite for yours to come with this win.

Midwest Region:

Both Louisville and Arizona have the fire power to light the night sky with displays of offensive fireworks.  However, something tells me that Louisville will be able to dominate this game because of the scare they got from Siena.  Arizona’s path surprisingly has been much easier then Louisville’s, but that will hurt them in the end.

If defense wins championships then my bet is on Michigan State running the show and slowing the offensive machine that is, Kansas.  This younger, retooled Bill Self squad will not be able to hang with Tom Izzo’s defensive tactics.

West Region:

Connecticut is shooting the lights out!  Therefore I do not believe a Purdue team that has had to grind out close wins can brace for a Connecticut team on a swerve.

My bet is on Memphis over Missouri.  Why?  They are hell-bent on getting back onto the national final after losing to Kansas in last year’s championship game.  No offense to Missouri, but you have to bring your AAA game if you truly want to win this one.

East Region:

Xavier is generally a perennial contender year after year, but those credentials will not thwart Pittsburgh.  Jamie Dixon will have them playing solid defense that leads to baskets on the offense.

Though I have Duke over Villanova in this game, the hardwood gods insist on painting a different story.  Jay Wright has somehow sparked a fire under his team and they are playing at a “monster” level of energy.  Duke has been shaky this season and as a result, I think the buck stops here for them.  I’m changing my pick.

South Region:

North Carolina is too powerful for Gonzaga.  I commend Mark Few for his ability to get consistent play from such a small school in the Pacific Northwest, but a team from the WCC cannot take on the almighty ACC.  It is like Goliath x2 versus David -1.  Miracles can happen, but I doubt it in this case.

Syracuse has been on shooting opponents up from downtown since the Big East Tournament.  Jim Boeheim has ignited a firestorm under his team’s collective arses and they have responded.  With that said however, the beast that is Blake Griffin shall not be stopped.  I have Oklahoma making it all the way to the championship final.