All of the HOOP-la, and all of the dancing around the bucket is over (pardon the puns). It's time to get serious about college basketball.

No matter who you are, where you come from, or what your favorite sport is, NCAA basketball takes center stage this week as the NCAA Tournament takes center stage... and make no mistake about it, unless you're in denial, we would all admit that NCAA basketball's post season is second only to the Superbowl as far as excitement and fair play (NCAA football's post season is disqualified since the best two teams nationally rarely actually get to play for the Championship).

So how did the committee do? Do you think that having three Big East teams as number one seed is accurate? How about SEVEN Big Ten teams getting into the dance? Six Pac 10 Teams? What about UCLA and ASU both getting SIX Seeds and UW getting a #4?

I, for one, think that they got it just about right. I have said all along that the Pac 10 SHOULD get in six, although I thought that USC would get eliminated. The only real issue I take is with a Wisconsin, from the Big Ten, getting it.

So, with my humble opinion being in agreement, how do I see things shaking out? I will be taking a brief look at the regions starting with the Sweet 16, Elite Eight, and Final Four predictions, culminating with my pick for the 2009 National Champion.

So let's get to it.

No surprises here. I thought seriously, about taking an upset of Maryland over Memphis in the second round, but when you look closely at Maryland, they have success against teams that run up and down the court. They struggle mightily, however, against teams that play defense (as can be referenced by them losing to Duke three times). Memphis is one of the better defensive teams in the nation this season.

Upset to watch for? Marquette over Missouri. Missouri is a bit up and down and playing a Big East team in the second round that is battle tested? I went for Missouri but this will not be a cake walk.

My surprise pick for the Sweet 16 over here is Arizona. Conventional logic would have me taking the #4 seeded Demon Deacons from Wake Forest, but since I have them as an upset loss to Cleveland State in the first round, I obviously cannot have them in the Sweet 16.

Upset to watch for? West Virginia over Kansas. The defending National Champions from Kansas are certainly capable for another Final Four run, but they are rather young and could fall out early if they aren't playing at their best.

I know what you're thinking... UCLA over Villanova, homer pick? But here's my rationale. UCLA has done extremely well all year long against small teams. The only teams they lose to are ones with size and interior defensive ability. This is not Villanova. Nova is small and relies on winning the turnover battle. Unfortunately, UCLA turns it over less than Nova does.

Upset to watch for? Texas over Duke. since Duke has been at full strength, they have only had one achilles heel... They are still fall victim to great guard play. Texas has DJ Augustin. This game is going to be a barn burner, but as a general rule, Duke NEVER loses before the Sweet 16.

No big surprises here, however, these games will be considerably closer than many people think, Butler will be tight with north Carolina, Arizona State will hang with Syracuse, and Gonzaga could go down to either Western Kentucky or Illinois (I have Western Kentucky upsetting Illinois). Still, at the end of the day, I went with the favorites to make it out of the first weekend.

Upset to watch for? Arizona State over Syracuse. Syracuse is a solid team, but I think they are a bit over rated. This game is a pick 'em and I almost went with ASU in the upset. Pendergraph and Hardin will take this game away from Syracuse if they get the opportunity, but at the end of the day, I went with Syracuse because of their 2-3 zone.

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Ok, so with my Sweet 16 in place, let me quickly state how I see things progress from there...

Washington will be game in the rematch from four years ago, but at the end of the day, this isn't UW's year... never year is.

Missouri (3) over Memphis (2)

The first of the top eight seeds to go down, I think that Memphis, who has had a decidedly weak schedule will go down against a Missouri team that can beat anyone when they are on their game.

I've been on the Louisville band-wagon all season. These guys have size, speed, defense, and offense. Their going to prove to be too tough for Buddinger, Wise, Hill and company in the end.

Michigan State is another team I have been in love with for much of the season. they play great interior defense, as well as on the perimeter, which should be enough to take down the defending National Champions in a close on.

Pitt is simply going to be too strong defensively for Xavier and should move on with the interior play of De Juan Blair.

UCLA's Final Four run will end at three. Duke is playing at the top of the game right now, and UCLA, who is going to be loaded again next season is just a bit too young to make a serious run this year.

Sorry Zag fans, as it turns out, Gonzaga does well against balanced teams but struggles against really good defensive teams and really good offensive teams. They will hang with North Carolina but at the end of the day, North Carolina and Tyler Hansborough will prove to be a bit too much for the Zags.

Oklahoma runs everything though one person, so if you can shut him down and force someone else to beat you, you win right? True, but nobody can shut him down. Oklahoma moves on.

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Missouri (3) over Connecticut (1)

The thing that makes UConn so tough is their size. When teams can compete with them on the glass and their size matches up, they win. Missouri has all of these ingredients.

Louisville (1) over Michigan State (2)

Both of these teams have risen to the challenge all season long, but this Louisville teams is the only one that can match up with Michigan State defensively and on the glass.

Pittsburgh is possibly the most talented and balanced team in the nation. Duke is solid offensively and can play defense, but they don't have the size or strength to overtake Pittsburgh, in my opinion.

To me, it's pretty obvious that watching Tyler Hansborough match up with Blake Griffin is the match up of the year. Unfortunately Hansborough is bringing a knife to a gun fight. Sorry Heel's fans, but Hansborough isn't in Griffin's league.

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Louisville over Missouri

Louisville has been one of the two teams that I didn't want to fall in love with but proved themselves to me over the course of the season. They have size, speed, and talent and at the end of the day, the fairy tale run for this talented and deep Missouri team will come to an end.

The OTHER team I didn't want to fall in love with but couldn't help it was Oklahoma, or more to the point Blake Griffin. This sophomore is the most powerful college player I have seen in twenty years, and if he is healthy, Oklahoma doesn't lose. I see the Sooners riding on the back of Griffin all the way to the championship game.

This game is simple to analyze. Louisville has a shut down defense and is one of the best in the nation at blocking shots. They pit that up against the Power of Blake Griffin. You can count on Louisville pounding on Griffin throughout the game, using their size and physical nature to try and limit the double-double machine from killing them.

To add tot he challenges that fact Oklahoma is the fact that Louisville can pound on Griffin and put him on the line all day long. Griffin is only a 59% free throw shooter so it's unlikely that he can cause too much damage from the line. Still, the challenge that faces Louisville, is that Oklahoma is not a one man show. When Griffin is playing, he commands so much attention that it allows freshman guard Willie Warren to go off. Warren is the best freshman point guard scorer in that nation and unless you can double him when he goes into the lane, you're not likely to win, and with Griffin in the paint to handle the glass and the put backs, I just don't think that this is a good match up for Louisville.

DM14's pick for the 2009 National Champion?

Happy hunting! See ya when football season is starting up :)

DM14