Based off of ESPN’s Joe Lunardi’s final bracketology, I’m going to talk about what all of my 2020 NCAA Tournament bracket picks would’ve looked like.
Round of 64
Midwest Region (Indianapolis)
Omaha
1.Kansas over 16.Siena
It’s happened once before, but I don’t see this Kansas team losing the first weekend (or spoiler) until at least the Sweet 16. Maybe not even then. Kansas is loaded, and have the pieces to make a Final Four run.
9.Marquette over 8.Houston
Marquette has explosive guard Markus Howard. Houston doesn’t.
Sacramento
12.Liberty over 5.Auburn
While Auburn had good quadrant one wins, it was tough to see them lose the SEC lead down the stretch. Liberty has become one of if not the top mid major to pick to pull an upset so why not.
4.Wisconsin over 13.North Texas
Wisconsin would’ve played as the top seed in the Big Ten Tournament and rightfully so. They would breeze by North Texas.
Greensboro
11.East Tennessee State over 6.Iowa
Despite All-American big man Luka Garza, East Tennessee State has shown that they are of the elite in mid major college basketball. They pick up a round of sixty-four win here.
3.Duke over 14.Belmont
With Duke playing basically at home, its tough not to pick them to get out of the first weekend.
St. Louis
10.Arizona State over 7.Providence
Arizona State Head Coach Bobby Hurley is an excellent coach and I think that’s why the Sun Devils move on the Round of 32.
2.Kentucky over 15.North Dakota State
After meeting Duke in the Round of 64 a year ago, North Dakota State has no easier task in this one. Kentucky wins by twenty.
East Region (New York)
Cleveland
1.Dayton over 16.Boston University
After defeating Robert Morris in the first four, Dayton blows by them in the Round of 64.
8.Colorado over 9.Florida
Florida was some people’s pre-season number one, and there season ends surprisingly, here.
Greensboro
12.Texas over 5.Butler
After getting past fellow twelve seed Richmond, the ‘Horns pull of a shocker in Greensboro.
4.Maryland over 13.Akron
At times, Maryland played like a top seed. At times they played like a four seed. I have Maryland winning and winning big over the Zips.
Albany
11.UCLA over 6.Penn State
After defeating fellow 11.NC State, UCLA pulls off another shocker.
3.Villanova over 14.Hofstra
Villanova rolls by Hofstra.
Tampa
7.West Virginia over 10.Utah State
Despite struggling at times, West Virginia struggles to a win.
2.Florida State over 15.Northern Kentucky
This might be Leonard Hamilton’s best team at Florida State. Enough said.
West Region (Los Angeles)
Spokane
1.Gonzaga over 16.NC Central
After defeating Prairie View A&M in the first four, Gonzaga defeats NC Central in a snoozefest.
8.LSU over 9.Oklahoma
Despite struggles, LSU’s offense is electric, and that should get them to a win over the Sooners.
Spokane
5.Michigan over 12.Yale
A potential upset pick here, Michigan would not lose this first round game.
13.New Mexico State over 4.Oregon
This is the only upset pick I would make, that I wouldn’t be confident about. But you always have to pick one that you’re unsure about.
Albany
6.BYU over 11.Indiana
Two teams that could score in bunches. BYU scores more.
3.Seton Hall over 14.Eastern Washington
Led by All American Myles Powell, Seton Hall rolls past EWU.
Sacramento
10.Texas Tech over 7.Arizona
In a 50/50 game, Chris Beard’s team is always my pick to win it.
2.San Diego State over 15.UC-Irvine
San Diego State might’ve slowed down to end the season but that might have been a blessing in disguise.
South Region (Houston)
Omaha
1.Baylor over 16.Winthrop
Baylor rolls over Winthrop, dominating the rebounding battle and the game.
8.Saint Mary’s over 9.Rutgers
If Saint Mary’s can beat Gonzaga, I think they can beat Rutgers too.
Tampa
5.Ohio State over 12.Stephen F. Austin
Ohio State is a team that is on and off and on and off, but they are extremely talented. They become the second five seed in my bracket to move to the Round of 32.
4.Louisville over 13.Vermont
Louisville struggled like Ohio State at some points this season, but a win over Vermont seems inevitable here.
Cleveland
6.Virginia over 11.Cincinnati
Virginia has Tony Bennett coaching them, Cincinnati does not.
3.Michigan State over 14.Bradley
Michigan State wins setting up a fun match up between two future hall of fame coaches.
St. Louis
10.USC over 7.Illinois
Onyeka Okongwu and Isaiah Mobley dominate the paint for USC en route to an NCAA Tournament victory.
2.Creighton over 15.Little Rock
I didn’t watch much of Creighton this season but they’re at least winning this game.
Round of 32
Midwest Region (Indianapolis)
Omaha
1.Kansas over 9.Marquette
A tempting upset pick, but Kansas like I said earlier has guys that can lock All-American Markus Howard up, so Kansas moves on to the second weekend.
Sacramento
4.Wisconsin over 12.Liberty
A hot Wisconsin team runs into the Liberty Flames. Wisconsin dominates this game.
Greensboro
3.Duke over 11.East Tennessee State
Both Cinderellas in the Midwest Region end here. Duke is too talented of a team and Mike Kyrzewski is too dominant as a coach.
St. Louis
2.Kentucky over 10.Arizona State
A fun game between Kentucky and Arizona State results in a Kentucky ten point win.
East Region (New York)
Cleveland
1.Dayton over 8.Colorado
Led by player of the year Obi Toppin, Dayton rolls by Colorado.
Greensboro
4.Maryland over 12.Texas
Maryland dominates Texas on the interior, setting up a Sweet 16 match up in Madison Square Garden with top seed Dayton.
Albany
11.UCLA over 3.Villanova
This is not the team that would’ve won a third national championship in five seasons for Jay Wright. UCLA moves on to the second weekend.
Tampa
2.Florida State over 7.West Virginia
Florida State rolls by a struggling West Virginia team.
West Region (Los Angeles)
Spokane
8.LSU over 1.Gonzaga
Gonzaga loses in the weekend number one to high scoring LSU.
Spokane
5.Michigan over 13.New Mexico State
Michigan’s offense would have a field day against the Aggies.
Albany
6.BYU over 3.Seton Hall
Seton Hall has fallen! Led by one of the most efficient offenses in the country, BYU rolls to the second weekend with a ten point win.
Sacramento
10.Texas Tech over 2.San Diego State
And another top three seed falls. Texas Tech moves on.
South Region (Houston)
Omaha
1.Baylor over 8.Saint Mary’s
Baylor’s defense gets them a win that maybe they shouldn’t have gotten.
Tampa
5.Ohio State over 4.Louisville
Ohio State sends Louisville packing on a buzzer-beater.
Cleveland
3.Michigan State over 6.Virginia
The best two games of the first weekend of the tournament are both here in the south region (the one above and this one). Michigan State gets a win in overtime.
St. Louis
10.USC over 2.Creighton
Again, the big men step up for USC and send them to Houston and the second weekend of the tournament.
Sweet 16
Midwest Region (Indianapolis)
Indianapolis
1.Kansas over 4.Wisconsin
Kansas wins on a late three from guard Isaiah Moss.
Indianapolis
3.Duke over 2.Kentucky
Duke wins in the best game of the weekend by just two points.
East Region (New York)
New York
4.Maryland over 1.Dayton
Led by their big man play, Maryland neutralizes All American Obi Toppin and moves to the regional final.
New York
2.Florida State over 11.UCLA
Florida State moves to the East Regional Final with a fifteen point, dominant win.
West Region (Los Angeles)
Los Angeles
5.Michigan over 8.LSU
Michigan’s high powered offense leads Michigan to the Elite 8.
Los Angeles
6.BYU over 10.Texas Tech
BYU denies Texas Tech a chance at their second straight Elite 8 let alone a second straight Final Four appearance.
South Region (Houston)
Houston
5.Ohio State over 1.Baylor
Baylor falls to Ohio State team because of the dominance rebounding the ball for Ohio State.
Houston
3.Michigan State over 10.USC
USC’s run ends at the hands of Cassius Winston and the Spartans.
Elite 8
Midwest Region (Indianapolis)
Indianapolis
1.Kansas over 3.Duke
Kansas becomes the lone one seed into the Elite 8 and the only one into the Final Four.
East Region (New York)
New York
2.Florida State over 4.Maryland
Leonard Hamilton’s team runs through Maryland to get to the Final Four.
West Region (Los Angeles)
Los Angeles
6.BYU over 5.Michigan
Two high powered offenses collide. BYU wins in a hard fought overtime game.
South Region (Houston)
Houston
3.Michigan State over 5.Ohio State
In a Big Ten match up, Michigan State rolls to the Final Four.
Final Four
Atlanta
1.Kansas over 2.Florida State
Kansas shows why they are one of the best teams in the country with a low scoring win over Florida State.
Atlanta
3.Michigan State over 6.BYU
Cassius Winston is not going out now. Winston leads the Spartans to a national championship berth.
National Championship
Atlanta
3.Michigan State over 1.Kansas
The pre-season number one team defeats the overall number one seed in an excellent farewell game by Michigan State’s Cassius Winston.
National Champion:Michigan State
