I can?t be like Andy and just start picking games without first hesitating to slap Arizona?s A.D. Jim Livengood. As chairman of this year?s tournament selection committee, he might have overseen the worst tournament bracket ever? I?m not exaggerating. And if you happen to catch Livengood on television or radio trying to explain himself and the committee?s rationale, flip the dial, because he?s obviously lacking a backbone and is offering absolutely no rational answers.

And how could he? I can?t even pick my Final Four yet, because the brackets might have to be corrected. BYU can?t play on Sundays—-it?s against their religion. I?m not joking, you can have multiple wives in Utah—-but no collegiate hoops on Sunday—go figure. Yet if they win their first two games (Connecticut and Stanford/San Diego) they would feed in to the South regionals played on Friday and Sunday. If this happens the committee would swap them with their Sweet 16 counterpart in the Midwest (Wisconsin/Weber State/Dayton/Tulsa). I can only imagine the mayhem and controversy that move would create for bracket pools throughout the nation should the Mormons get hot. The committee?s also starting to realize that they probably should have put Kentucky in either the South or the East, namely because the Wildcats were clearly one of the top two teams in the nation, and deserved to be placed in their natural geographic region. Nevermind that they shouldn?t be on the same side of the bracket as the other top-rated team, Arizona?

And if we really are allowing do-overs, here?s a couple more. The Big 12 conference deserved two #1 seeds. But doesn?t it make sense that those seeds would go to the team that won the conference, and the other to the conference tourney champion? That would have been Oklahoma and Kansas, but Texas got Kansas? spot. Not only that, but they got gently placed in the South region where the regional finals are conveniently played in San Antonio. Nevermind that Texas lost in the head-to-head match-up with the Jayhawks. And what becomes of Kansas? They get shipped out West to compete in the toughest, deepest region and potential dates with Duke (Sweet 16) and Arizona (Elite 8).

Florida also received preferential, yet undeserved treatment by the committee. After dropping each of their last three games they not only get a #2 seed, they get to play their first two games in their Tampa backyard. Take them immediately to the Sweet 16, before dropping them to either Maryland or Xavier. The other home-court advantage you should pay attention to is Syracuse in the East—-their regional final is played in Albany, New York.

A few more things before you pick up that pencil:

Bracket Busters– Pick these second round games wisely, otherwise you could blow up an entire region. In the South, either Maryland or Xavier is capable of easily taking care of #2 Florida (note: Dickie V has Florida in the FF). While the Oklahoma Sooners are plenty tough and experienced on the perimeter, they could have problems with the winner of Mississippi State/Louisville in the East. In the Midwest I like both Missouri and Marquette?s chances against Big East tourney champ Pitt—but only one will get the opportunity. Finally, in the loaded West, assuming Duke can get past Colorado State and Creighton (neither are gimmes!), their Sweet 16 match-up with the Jayhawks could be the game of the tournament.

By the numbers– Since 1985, the 9 seeds have a 6 game edge over the 8?s, and 5?s and 6?s make it to the second round just under 70% of the time. Last year three 12?s upset the 5?s.

Keep an eye on– Many sports fans don?t have the luxury to stay up late watching the conclusions of west coast games during the season. Three of these teams you may have noticed didn?t perform all that well in their conference tourneys, but for good reason. Cal played with a depleted backcourt in their loss to USC. Brian Weathers sat out the entire second half to rest a sore Achilles? tendon and 6th man A.J. Diggs was unavailable after spraining his left ankle in the Pac-10 tourney opener. Gonzaga sat top rebounder Corey Violette with a sprained ankle in their loss to San Diego, and Utah was without their team leading rebounder Britton Johnson during their butt-kicking at the hands of UNLV. He is still recuperating from mononucleosis and an enlarged spleen—–hate it when that happens.

Well on their way– Just a week ago I was predicting a couple of hiccups for the Kentucky Wildcats, but they proved me wrong by going through the SEC regular season and conference tournament unblemished. They were rewarded with the tournament?s weakest region (Dayton?s a 4?!?!?!?), and Bourbon Street might as well get ready for Ashley Judd.

ajudd5 (18k image)

Screwed– No, not Boston College or Seton Hall as both had RPI?s in the 40?s. Four Big East teams was plenty this year. I?m talking Arizona, Illinois, Duke and Kansas. A week ago you could have ran this out as a trendy, yet very realistic Final Four prediction. Instead they?re all left to battle it out in Anaheim for one single FF slot. Advantage ? Arizona.

My Final Four (subject to change)-Syracuse (the Albany Advantage), Texas (Safe in San Antonio), Kentucky (On a Midwest Mission) and in the West—–hmmmm, well, I dunno?. So many good teams, what the hell, I?ll go with Duke.

But seriously, while I wouldn?t be surprised if the Blue Devils got upset by Colorado State (who basically gets a home game in Salt Lake City—-they?ve played on that floor already this season) or to Creighton behind an All-American performance by Kyle Korver, I would be surprised to see Kansas? perimeter successfully defend a three-guard lineup featuring a confident Duhon, and sizzling Daniel Ewing and J.J. Redick. And if they can get by Kansas???? Seriously though, I?ve got Kentucky and Texas playing for the title—-and you?d have to give the nod to the Wildcats. Ugh?

Let’s just hope CBS doesn’t ruin One Shining Moment for a second straight year with unnecessary special effects, and let’s hope G.W. opts to sit back and enjoy the Longhorn’s tourney run and worry about Iraq in April…