Bradley’s Bracket Fiasco: UGA to surprise, Buckeyes to win
Don't think UGA could beat North Carolina? Let's note that Georgia Tech did. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
The 24th annual edition of Bradley’s Bracket Fiasco — yes, next year will mark our silver anniversary; time flies, huh? — begins with words to commit to memory: The RPI matters. Georgia not only made the NCAA tournament field but made it with room to spare, whereas Alabama, which beat the Bulldogs twice in seven days, wasn’t invited.
But enough about that. We here have a time-honored function, and that’s to pick a Final Four. Here’s mine: Ohio State, Duke, Purdue and Florida.
Regarding Georgia: As a No. 10 seed, the Bulldogs not only avoided having to play a game in Dayton just to get into the big bracket, but they find themselves in a position to do damage. Washington is a nice team — it has a great guard in Isaiah Thomas and some size underneath — but Georgia has good perimeter players and some big guys, too. (And Washington has to travel across country, which never helps. Although Friday’s game will begin at roughly 9:45 p.m. EDT.) Georgia should win Friday in Charlotte, and I see it …
Here I pause for effect.
Upsetting North Carolina in Round 2.
I know, I know. The Tar Heels flew past Duke to finish first in the ACC, and Georgia has spent the past two months losing to most everyone of consequence. But on talent such a game would be no mismatch, and the SEC East was much tougher than the ACC as a whole. I’ve waited a long time for the Bulldogs to play to their gifts, and now we’re down to last chances. Either Georgia makes some noise in Charlotte or it returns to Athens wondering what might have been.
That said, do I see the Bulldogs making a 1983-type Final Four surge? Uh, no. The Bulldogs don’t shoot well enough to unlock the Syracuse zone, and the East is also home to the nation’s best team (Ohio State) and its most improved (Kentucky). A Buckeyes-Wildcats Sweet 16 matchup would be tantamount to an Elite Eight game most years, and I think Ohio State wins it.
Duke is seeded No. 1 in the West, a geographical note that will matter only the second weekend since the Blue Devils likewise start in Charlotte. The only threat I see to Duke in this region is … well, nobody. San Diego State? No. Texas? No way. And UConn, the No. 3 seed, will do as other Big East champs have done — prove in the NCAA that the effort expended in winning a conference tournament wasn’t worth it.
I’m picking against Kansas in the Southwest for a scientific reason: I’m tired of picking Kansas and being wrong. The Jayhawks should reach the regional final, but I’m saying what-the-heck and going with Purdue to emerge here. Matt Painter: Good coach. JaJuan Johnson and E’Twaun Moore: Good players. And don’t the Boilermakers, who are entering yet another Big Dance without Robbie Hummel, deserve a break?
I view Pitt, which is seeded No. 1 in the Southeast, as the Kansas of the East: It’s a team that looks great up until the point where it wrecks your bracket. Florida lost the SEC tournament final to Kentucky, but the Gators got both a better seeding and a softer regional than the Wildcats. Florida has great guards, a nice big man in Vernon Macklin and a coach who knows the way. Make it four Final Fours for Billy Donovan as a coach. (And one, a while back, as a Providence shooter.)
More upsets? So many folks will take Belmont over Wisconsin that it will be no surprise when it happens. Also look for Old Dominion to take down Butler, last year’s takedown artist, and don’t be shocked when the Wofford Terriers take out BYU and Jimmer Fredette. And don’t be totally shocked if Morehead State gives Louisville a rough ride in Round 1. I’m too chicken to pick the Eagles over the Cardinals, but maybe you’re not.
As for the Final Four semis: Ohio State over Duke, Florida over Purdue. Those teams played for the title in 2007 in our fair city, the Gators winning. Not this time. Buckeyes as your 2011 national champions.
Those are my picks. I beseech you to submit yours by clicking here. (You must enter Bradley’s Bracket Fiasco online. We no longer accept mail entries.) Our winner will reap the customary Final Four sweatshirt, plus a 32GB iPad with WiFi and 3G capability; our second- and third-place finishers will receive a 32GB iPod Touch. And, by entering the Fiasco, you’ll automatically be eligible to win a $1 million prize in the national UPICKEM bracket competition.
And that’s it. The best three weeks on the sporting calendar are upon us. Please click the link. Please enter the Fiasco. Please join me as we make the descent into Madness.
By Mark Bradley
For a look at my completed (and completely crazy) bracket, click here.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
321 comments Add your comment
5150 UOAD
March 13th, 2011
9:25 pm
DawginLex you alway bring Inelegance to the blogs RIGHT? Passion? Yes. Joining in the Idiot debate? Always right in the mix too. I am not saying I AIN”T GUILTY TOO. HAHAHA.
Vince
March 13th, 2011
9:28 pm
You’re a freaking nut! They won’t even show up against Washington. Upset NC? BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH, BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAA………
Long Island Dawg
March 13th, 2011
9:29 pm
Cant wait to see Georgia play UNC in Charlotte.
Huskies are one and done.
blazerdawg
March 13th, 2011
9:30 pm
IN!!! and on the way to Charlotte.
sports
March 13th, 2011
9:34 pm
IF Georgia gets past Washington, and I think they will. they’ll beat Carolina by double digits. Fox has been there before and he can flat out coach.
JSS
March 13th, 2011
9:36 pm
Put too much into that cross country travel if you like, Washington has the guards to pressure full court and trap the ball. Ware has not shown all year that he can shut down a on fire scorer like U-W’s Thomas… That is a very tough match-up for Georgia. But Fox is familiar with Romar, so we’ll see…
DunkinDon
March 13th, 2011
9:43 pm
Time out Time out…………Fox and the boys are going anyway
JDO
March 13th, 2011
9:43 pm
LOL… DELUSIONAL DOG FANS… UGA IS THE SERIOUSLY EASY CONFRENCE FOR BASKETBALL. TOO EASY.
Skeezix
March 13th, 2011
9:44 pm
Mark: Picking the Dogs to beat the Heels? That is a brave call, but I don’t think they can handle UNC’s front line. That being said, UNC is a young team with a freshman point guard with little tournament experience (which is a big reason why Duke dominated them today).
Ohio State and Kansas have the best personnel, but Duke has the best coach, so I’m gonna pick Duke to repeat. Watch out for Fla., Louisville, Conn.,
5150 UOAD
March 13th, 2011
9:44 pm
Fox has been a head coach for 7 years. He made it to the NCAAs 3 times at Nevada. He made to the 2nd round 2 times. FOX has had a cup of coffee at the NCAA TOURNEY. ROY has a Private Table with his name on a brass plaque waiting every year.
Worm
March 13th, 2011
9:48 pm
Tickets in the queen city are about 275..Having Duke and Carolina doesn’t help.
Skeezix
March 13th, 2011
9:49 pm
Other teams to watch: Ky., Pitt, UNC, and San Diego State.
GTBob
March 13th, 2011
9:49 pm
I see that Mark is going to keep picking UGA because of their on paper talent. How many times do you have to be burned Mark?
JSS
March 13th, 2011
9:55 pm
Oakland, Oakland, and Oakland! Book it!
Matt Brock
March 13th, 2011
9:55 pm
UGA does not deserve to be in over Alabama.
James
March 13th, 2011
9:55 pm
No way in hell.
kmon
March 13th, 2011
9:59 pm
Georgia is going to be one and done, so the question of a UNC upset is really a moot point. The Huskies have a pg, good size, and deadly three point shooters. Georgia has decent size and okay shooters but no guard play to match the huskies.
5150 UOAD
March 13th, 2011
10:01 pm
Sports ROY and the NCAA Tourney
CHAMPS (2 times)
Runner-up (2 times)
Final 4 (3 times)
Elite 8 (2 times)
Sweet 16 (4times)
2nd Round (7 times)
Mark Fox hasn’t learned as much about the NCAA Tourney as Roy Williams has forgoten.
CHUCK UGA
March 13th, 2011
10:03 pm
To all the UGA haters, eat it and enjoy!!! ROTFLMAO!!
The Grinch™
March 13th, 2011
10:03 pm
Matt Brock
March 13th, 2011
9:55 pm
Roll Tide roll…….to the NIT. BWAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
Your RPI was 80. Play better out of conference teams.
DawgFan
March 13th, 2011
10:09 pm
UW Huskies have a better chance of beating UNC than Georgia.
Taking UW lightly is a serious error in judgement. They shoot the 3 as well as anybody, have depth, experience and a All-American caliber PG who lead his conference in assists, top 5 in scoring. They are long and athletic. Their biggest weakness is between the ears, but if they continue feeling good and build on the run they are on, Georgia is in trouble. Looking forward to the game, enjoy it all Dawg fans, it’s great to be dancing.
ChrisN
March 13th, 2011
10:09 pm
So, North Carolina can’t handle the fourth best team in the SEC East? Bradley must have forgotten that Carolina beat SEC champion Kentucky back in December. Beat them soundly. And that was with Larry Drew II at the point. I’d like Carolina’s chances against UGA, but I think the Heels will be playing the other Dawgs on Sunday.
CHUCK UGA
March 13th, 2011
10:11 pm
Matt Brock, you know nothing. UGA deserves to be in because of the schedule they played. Bama deserves to be in DESPITE playing very weak teams in December….and losing. UGA deserves to be in period. Has nothing to do with one team you lost to. UGA Athletics deserve credit for scheduling tough competition even if we did lose close games.
Mark Bradley
March 13th, 2011
10:14 pm
I guess at least once more, GTBob.
The Grinch™
March 13th, 2011
10:17 pm
ChrisN
March 13th, 2011
10:09 pm
UNC beat Kentucky. Big whoop. I could say UGA beat GT, and GT beat UNC and make as much sense. Get a grip.
J Clay
March 13th, 2011
10:17 pm
Let’s hope we have some fans in Charlotte…Should have 3rd most of the 8, behind Carolina and Duke…Come on Dawg fans, don’t let the Big Orange send more fans than us….I’ll be coming down from Winston Salem and look forward to a good turn out and hopefully a win.
Mark Bradley
March 13th, 2011
10:18 pm
I’m not taking Washington lightly. Lorenzo Romar is a fine coach. But there really aren’t upsets in the 7-10 games. Those are almost always tight.
GTBob
March 13th, 2011
10:18 pm
UGA doesn’t deserve to be in over Alabama but they probably deserve to be in overall. They are 100x better then UAB and VCU who somehow got in so concentrating on UGA possibly being undeserving is a waste of time. Apparently the most important thing a team can do going forward is schedule tough teams and lose. It will help your RPI enough that losing won’t even matter.
J Clay
March 13th, 2011
10:20 pm
UNC is 27-1 all time in NCAA games in the state of North Carolina…
Should be fun Sunday if Dawgs can win Friday – my wife went to UGA…Never thought I’d see UGA ever play the Heels in tourney (assuming we can win a game before)
headley lamar
March 13th, 2011
10:22 pm
Apparently the most important thing a team can do going forward is schedule tough teams and lose.
Its also how you lose. Taking Notre Dame to OT looks alot better than getting blown out by them.
Mark Bradley
March 13th, 2011
10:22 pm
Yes, J Clay, but I’m old enough to recall the Sunday in 1979 when both Duke and Carolina went down in Greensboro.
J Clay
March 13th, 2011
10:22 pm
I mean, my wife went to UNC…got it backwards…
Anyway….please bring some fans from Athens/Atlanta!!!
Mark Bradley
March 13th, 2011
10:23 pm
I don’t believe the NCAA committee gives any credence to close losses, headley. I think that’s a misconception.
J Clay
March 13th, 2011
10:24 pm
MB – I know Munson was more football than basketball…but what kind of quote would he give if we beat Pac-10 champs, then beat the storied Tar Heels in North Carolina? Man that would be fun to hear
Upstate Dawg
March 13th, 2011
10:24 pm
Ticket office confirmed my order for four tickets tonight! See you in Charlotte. Goooooooooo Dawgs!
WA Matt
March 13th, 2011
10:25 pm
It won’t even be close- Washington by 25!!!
PTC DAWG
March 13th, 2011
10:25 pm
I figure anyone that GT can beat, UGA can beat.
Congrats to Coach Fox and the UGA players.
tony
March 13th, 2011
10:25 pm
The DAWGS can win a nc if they play smart fundamental basketball. Trey need to dominated the paint and Robinson need to make I.Thomas work on defense. Leslie need to stay aggressive offensively from start to finish. Believe in yourselves guys.
5150 UOAD
March 13th, 2011
10:25 pm
J Clay
You should have a happy marriage. UNC and UGA rarely play each other in Football and Basketball.
J Clay
March 13th, 2011
10:26 pm
One other question for you Mark…Do you know if tickets can be purchased for individual games? I have 6 pack for the whole weekend and heard of 2 pack tickets but wondering about single game….
Roll Tide
March 13th, 2011
10:26 pm
ba ha ha ha ha ah ha ha
Taylor
March 13th, 2011
10:26 pm
As a dawg fan of the UW variety, I am glad to see you are all over looking UW. Yeah, we slumped for 6 games… but now.
J Clay
March 13th, 2011
10:27 pm
WA Matt – Congrats on running through PAC-10. Seem to have a good team….but I iwll bet whatever we could bet over AJC chat that you don’t win by 25…You may very well win, but I would say 9 at the max…UGA has played everyone close this year and I expect Friday to be no different.
How many fans you all bringing? I am guessing under 500
aladawg
March 13th, 2011
10:27 pm
Dweezil you have got to be an Alabama fan, but hey, you can always watch the games with the Alabama players.
Mark Bradley
March 13th, 2011
10:28 pm
Washington opens as a 5 1/2 point favorite over the Bulldogs.
J Clay
March 13th, 2011
10:28 pm
Taylor – most are not over looking you, some of the delusional ones are….If you don’t know who they are, come back in 3 months and they will be the ones proclaiming that UGA will win the National Title in football (like thye have said each year for the past 3-4 years now)…
Best of luck, expect a close game
SC
March 13th, 2011
10:31 pm
I’m picking the Huskies by about 18 over the Bulldogs.
5150 UOAD
March 13th, 2011
10:31 pm
UGA fans TECH beat Carolina and in the process woke the sleeping giant. After the TECH loss UNC lost only 1 time and then today in the ACC Championship. DON”T Hold your breath on the Dawgs doing what TECH did. Hewitt has Roy Williams #. Paul does something different when playing ROY.
J Clay
March 13th, 2011
10:31 pm
Mark, maybe it will be 1979 all over again… Would be a nice Sunday to start with the Big Orange beating Duke (I’m not a fan of the Vols, but will certainly root them on versus the Dookies), then the Dawgs beating UNC…..that would be the biggest combination of upsets in single setting in a day likely ever…I know not likely but we can dream
Upstate Dawg
March 13th, 2011
10:32 pm
UGA Athletic Association confirmed my four tickets tonight…see you in Charlotte–GO DAWGS!