It’s here. The conference tournaments are done, the seedings and pairings are set and now we just wait for the greatest three weeks in college sports! Below is a break down of each of the brackets as I see them, I won’t bother going into who didn’t get in. I think who gets in is far more important! (note to ESPN: I know you have to fill a couple of hours of TV, but spending so much time bitching about who didn’t get in over who did only diminishes the hard work of the tourney teams, let the kids enjoy it)

The East:

My Favorite: North Carolina: Yeah, big surprise. Talent wise this team has it all to win a championship. The only question is whether they can play defense. You have to love a player like Tyler Hansbrough in the tournament, he has the kind of guts and determination to lead a team to win it all. The return of Ty Lawson is also going to make this team almost unbeatable.

Team to Watch: Louisville: This is a team that has really turned it on towards the end of the season. Everybody is finally healthy and if they can get past an early match up with Tennessee this team can get to the Regional Finals.

Biggest Gripe: Butler at a 7 seed, playing in Birmingham, against Southern Alabama is a little baffling. Butler has been a top ten team for most of the year. Sure they come from a mid-major conference but they played a very tough non-conference and won their conference tourney pretty handily. This seed handicaps them and sets up a tough second game against # 2 Tennessee.

Regional Final: Louisville vs North Carolina.

Midwest

My Favorite: This is tough, I like both Kansas and Georgetown. I think Georgetown will be the team that wins this regional though. The team shot the lights out in the Big East tournament and had some good games from big man Roy Hibbert. If Hibbert stays out of foul trouble this team has everything it needs to go deep.

Team to Watch: Again another tough one. Wisconsin is as consistent as any team in the field. But for this one I like Clemson. Clemson played their way to the ACC tournament championship game with a tough nosed defensive style. They play a press that most teams don’t see and with short turnarounds teams might not be ready for it. Watch Clemson to make noise if they can continue to play with the emotion they showed in the ACC tournament.

Biggest Gripe: Wisconsin a 3 seed? The selection committee showed what they thought of the Big Ten with this (and IU as an 8 seed). Wisconsin went to Texas and beat them earlier this year, their only two losses in-conference was to Purdue twice. They dismantled Michigan and Illinois in the conference tournament as well as beating a very good Michigan State team.

Regional Final: Georgetown vs Clemson

South

My favorite: Texas: This is a very good team that took Kansas to the edge in the Big 12 tournament. They are an athletic team and has a good guard in D.J Augustin, which in the tournament, guard play is huge. I think Texas has an easier road to get to the Regional Finals than most. I also think they will match up well against Memphis who will lack size inside to compete with Texas in the Regional Finals.

Team to Watch: Pittsburgh: Pitt took their best shot at Georgetown in the Big East Tournament and came out on top to win it all. Pitt could also potentially meet Memphis in the Semi’s and would match up well, again, because Memphis doesn’t have size inside.

Biggest Gripe: I think this region is set up pretty well. If I have any gripe it’s that MSU is a 5. But overall this region has a ton of potentially good match ups and has an interesting round 1 game with Kentucky and Marquette.

Regional Final: Memphis vs Texas

West

My Favorite: UCLA: UCLA’s run to the Final Four sets up perfectly. UCLA has a huge player in Kevin Love. He is a great big man who can rebound, shoot and defend. He can also set up the offense with his long outlet passes that frees up his teammates to run out on the wings and get easy scores. Coach Ben Howland’s teams have been known for their tough D and this team is no different. If they can play the kind of defense they have played all year and score just enough points this team will be in San Antonio.

Team to Watch: A lot of people have been talking about Drake and I have to admit that I don’t know much about them. I do think UConn is a team that could get hot. They suffered early this year from suspensions and injuries. This is a team that after they beat IU, seemed to get on a roll. Coach Calhoun is a Hall of Fame coach who knows how to get his teams ready to play.

Biggest Gripe: Purdue as a six seed. This is a little biased since I am a Purdue Alum but seriously? Michigan State finished behind Purdue in the Big Ten standings and received a 5. Purdue had a streak of 11 wins at one point in the season and beat Wisconsin, eventual Big Ten champs twice!

Regional Final: UCLA vs Xavier.

{This is also posted at Nosebleedradio}