The South is probably my favorite region. On the top of the bracket you’ve got a team that’s trying to finally break through and make the Final Four. On the bottom, a team that’s been there a couple of times in recent years and seems like a steady choice. In between there’s a lot of intrigue with so many different kinds of teams. (Mich. State/Temple seems like one of the weirder matchups in the past couple of years.) Plus, you’ll have Gus Johnson calling some of the games. Let’s get hot with the South.

(33-1) Record against the field: 8-1. I want to see Calipari reach another Final Four. This team is fun to watch, too. Let’s break a myth: Memphis doesn’t play defense. Are you kidding me? They a ferocious to the ball. If anyone you know claims that the Tigers don’t play D, they’re just spitting out rhetoric they heard some national voice who hasn’t watched the Tigers play all by three games this year say. Yes, the free throws are the problem. Their second-biggest problem? How about Rose. Consider the fact that he IS a freshman and has looked shaky at points. Brilliant in others, but still shaky at times. CD-R will carry this team and hopefully Joey Dorsey can keep to himself.

(28-6) Record against the field: 13-4. The Big XII wasn’t all that great this year. Everyone’s banging on Memphis for their weak in-conference schedule, but the Longhorns didn’t really face world-beaters, either. Still, both teams have looked very good against teams in the field so what’s the point in arguing? D.J. Augustin is GREAT. I still think Texas needs A.J. Abrams and his ladylike eyebrows to play well in order to play for a national title. Texas is the under-the-radar-but-not-really-under-the-rader pick to take it all. I can’t ever get myself to take this team … because it’s a football school. Weird, right? At least with Florida there was a certain chemistry. A certain basketball identity. I never get that with Texas. Always a really nice team, but I can’t see them winning six games with Rick Barnes calling the plays.

(26-7) Record against the field: 8-6. I may like Stanford to a fault. I’ve been seduced by the Lopez twins, and that can’t be a good thing. They are good and play so well together. (Easy to believe, I know, but it’s still so true.) If you want to bang on Stanford, the criticism is easy: lack of defense on the perimeter. How good is this team from 16 feet out? Medicore. That’s fine, because they have no problem getting the ball inside. You’ll have to see a lot more out of Anthony Goods, who will most certainly need to deliver those goods if Stanford can make a regional final. I don’t see any chance for an upset against 17-wins-in-a-row Cornell.

(26-9) Record against the field: 8-6. Pittsburgh was good … then they hit the skids with some injuries and they were not so good. Suddenly, this team owns MSG (again) and picks up a 4 seed. I don’t have much to say on Pitt because you know the story: They look good for about 15 minutes in this Tournament. The Panthers haven’t gotten past a Sweet 16 in the past eight years. Can you believe that?

(25-8) Record against the field: 3-5. Michigan State could be considered the anti-Pittsburgh. Here’s a team that has definitely overachieved in recent Marchs. I remind you: MSU has scored 42 poitns in a game and they have also scored 103 in a game this season. The Temple game is getting some steam, but I don’t know if I buy that. Raymar Morgan needs to perform in that type of game. You could make the case that he’s the only pro on the floor, so in that setting he should take charge and guide MSU to a win. Beyond that, you can’t really trust Michigan State in this Tournament. No, I don’t want to hear about Izzo’s coaching. Plenty of good coaches lose early all the time.

(24-9) Record against the field: 6-8. One after another, we keep getting these teams with identity issues. Marquette needs Dominic James like Villanova needs Scottie Reynolds. There is no Dwyane Wade moment for this ‘Quette team in relation to their game with Kentucky. Some will pick Kentucky to win. That’s not a bad choice. I’ve been down on Kentucky all year, but this is a game they could win. Probably the toughest 6/11 game out there. Tough to see them advancing past Stanford if they get their first round win.

(22-10) Record against the field: 3-4. Miami as a 7? Still doesn’t seem to fit. Everyone is on Saint Mary’s’ bandwagon and I am too. You know what that means: Miami is winning this game. You aren’t taking them, are you?

(22-10) Record against the field: 3-7. Ugh. What a boring team. Mississippi State always seems to be boring. They get a matchup with an overseeded Oregon team that sets up one of the most unsexual 8/9 games in recent history from a pregame standpoint. That being said, if this thing’s close with three minutes to go, I’ll look like a fool. Mississippi State shoots the ball well from the field, but leaves you lingering with their lack of 3-point prowess and faulty free throw shooting. I’ve just exhausted all common knowledge on the Bulldogs.

(18-13) Record against the field: 5-9. As gross of an overseed as Butler is an underseed. Oregon has a few nice Pac-10 wins (which is why they’re here), but why do they scare you? This team can’t hold leads, can’t come back when they’re down and terribly misses Aaron Brooks. It’s almost comical when you consider last year’s Oregon team as a 3 and this year’s is a 9. If they get past Mississippi State, they’ll be slaughtered by Memphis.

(25-6) Record against the field: 5-5. If there’s a knock on Saint Mary’s, it’s that they’ve lost their step in recent weeks. Patty Mills is a terrific, terrific, terrific guard for the Gaels. Could he be the factor against Miami? Why not? Saint Mary’s/Texas could be the type of second round game that sneaks up on a lot of people.

(18-12) Record against the field: 5-8. The Wildcats won 12 games in the SEC … their best out-of-conference road win is against Liberty. Why do so many think this is an upset pick? Front of the jersey, of course. Kentucky is without Patterson, they don’t have a lot of depth and must rely on the good version of Joe Crawford to show up if they have any shot of taking out Marquette. Billy Gillispie has done some impressive things with his past teams in this Tournament, if he can get a win here, it’d be just as impressive.

(21-12) Record against the field: 3-4. Temple wins the A-10, but this is a classic big-play-from-small-school situation. Dionte Christmas keeps the Owls ticking. Of all of the 12 seeds, I’d be the most shocked if Temple won their first round game.

(24-8) Record against the field: 0-3. Their last Tournament win came in 1974. You’ve tricked yourself into thinking that they must’ve won a game in the past 10 years, right? Not so. Oral Roberts’ Tournament record is just 2-4 with four Dance showcases. Seems like so much more.

(22-5) Record against the field: 1-1. The Chewing Gum (err, nickname’s Big Red, k?) will be a darling, as every smartie school is in the first round. Why, though? Why are we always rooting for the smart school to win? Is it because they’re the small guy? They’re taking all the plum jobs! Maybe it’s because they’ll get the more beautiful women as well once the money comes. I still say Princeton’s win over UCLA over 12 years ago remains the last time an Ivy League team wins a Tournament game by the time this one’s over.

(24-10) Record against the field: 2-2. Austin Peay against Texas? I’m not going to waste your time because this will be over by the half.

(21-11) Record against the field: 0-0. Texas-Arlington went pretty long into the season before they got their first loss, so you know they can win some games. Win this game? Against Memphis? Let’s hope it’s bearable in the first 10 minutes.

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