<![CDATA[Deadspin: bracket breakdown]]> http://tags.deadspin.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/deadspin.com.png <![CDATA[Deadspin: bracket breakdown]]> http://deadspin.com/tag/bracketbreakdown http://deadspin.com/tag/bracketbreakdown <![CDATA[President Clinton Will Hedge His NCAA Bets, Thank You]]> It's now been well established that President Obama likes college basketball. But did you know former President Bill Clinton likes hoops, too? It's true, and Clinton would like to share his picks with you, kinda.

Possibly because Bill Clinton's personal assistant is not a former Duke basketball star, Clinton didn't get into as much detail as Obama did with his picks. However, he did prove that the political instincts that have gotten him into and out of much trouble over the years are alive and well, despite the fact that Clinton isn't, as far as I know, running for any political office.

Clinton, college basketball fan, and Carville, political strategist, went through the lineup.

"Who have you got in the Final Four?" Carville asked Clinton.

""Louisville, Memphis, Pittsburgh and North Carolina," Clinton said. "Or Louisville [versus] Connecticut. I can't tell. Memphis may have a good enough defense, but they're skinny, so U Conn can probably match up against them and I think they'll get by."

Clinton went on to predict a Louisville-North Carolina final, with the Cardinals emerging from a tight contest as National Champions.

"Louisville was so good to us the last go 'round I kind of think Louisville will win," the former president said. "But North Carolina I still believe, you know, they sort of show up sometimes and sometimes they don't.

Seriously, Prez, you're not in office anymore. It's OK to take a stand one way or another. But then again, President Clinton's been saying wacky things for years.

Former President Clinton Weighs In On The NCAA Tournament [Not Qualified To Comment]

]]>
http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5178595&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[Bracket Breakdown: West Region]]> We wrap up our look at each region (before ceding the floor to Storming The Floor for more in-depth looks. Here's the West region. We're so glad they're calling it "Wet" again, instead of "Phoenix," though "Phoenix" is a beautiful place full of happy people and cacti.

Best Storyline: Will everyone enjoy the schadenfreude of another early Duke exit? Perhaps the two most likable teams in the tournament — Baylor and Georgia — both ended up here.

Worst Storyline: Is that team really called the Delta Devils? Really?

Everyone's Favorite Upset: More people are going to pick Georgia in this bracket than really should. Something about that Connecticut-San Diego game lingers in our loins as well.

Odd Fact: This is the fourth tournament appearance for Drake. The first three times, they made at least the Elite Eight.

Most Handsome Man: Mike Krzyzewski.

Most Skipable First Round Game: BYU-Texas A&M.

And, some predictions from around the Internets:

Dick Vitale: UCLA.
Jay Bilas: UCLA.
Bob Knight: UCLA.
Stuart Mandel: UCLA.
Dennis Dodd: UCLA.
DEADSPIN: Duke. Yes. We've predicted a Duke-UNC final. What of it?

]]>
http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=368707&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[Bracket Breakdown: Midwest Region]]> We continue our look at each region. Here's the Midwest region. We're so glad they're calling it "Midwest" again, instead of "Detroit," though "Detroit" would make us think the White Stripes are gonna be there or something.

Best Storyline: Can Bill Self finally make the Final Four? Oh, and will Davidson finally win a tournament game? Ah, and ... man, those freshmen will be fun.

Worst Storyline: How does Wisconsin keep winning when they're so painful to watch?

Everyone's Favorite Upset: Not a ton to choose from here. We get a sense that some folks like Villanova over Clemson.

Odd Fact: If Gonzaga happens to lose in this tournament, they will not, in fact, break down into tears. Unless of course they're on mushrooms, ahem.

Most Handsome Man: Bo Ryan.

Most Skipable First Round Game: UNLV-Kent State.

And, some predictions from around the Internets:

Dick Vitale: Georgetown.
Jay Bilas: Kansas.
Bob Knight: Kansas.
Stuart Mandel: Southern California.
Dennis Dodd: Kansas.
DEADSPIN: Wisconsin. Prepare for some truly boring, but ruthlessly efficient, nights in Detroit.

]]>
http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=368687&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[Bracket Breakdown: South Region]]> Later today, we'll begin rolling out our Tidbit previews of each team/first-round matchup, but to kick us off, we're looking at each region. Here's the South region. We're so glad they're calling it "South" again, instead of "Houston," because in the rest of the world, it's not pronounced "HOW-ston."

Best Storyline: Texas essentially gets two home games if they make it to the Sweet 16, but we still love the first-round Stanford-Cornell matchup. Bragging rights for Andy Bernard! Did you know that he went to Cornell?

Worst Storyline: Can Kentucky make a tournament run? We await word from Kige.

Everyone's Favorite Upset: We're tempted to go all Oral Roberts on you, but that St. Mary's over Miami game is looking tempting. There are some Temple boosters out there too.

Odd Fact: Austin Peay will always be more famous for making Dick Vitale stand on his head by beating Illinois 21 years ago.

Most Handsome Man: Drew Neitzel, but only if he grows a huge 'fro.

Most Skipable First Round Game: Mississippi State-Oregon.

And, some predictions from around the Internets:

Dick Vitale: Texas.
Jay Bilas: Memphis.
Bob Knight: Pittsburgh.
Stuart Mandel: Memphis.
Gregg Doyel: Memphis.
DEADSPIN: Texas. We'll never really believe in Texas. Bob Knight has Pittsburgh winning the whole tournament, by the way.

]]>
http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=368579&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[Bracket Breakdown: East Region]]> Later today, we'll begin rolling out our Tidbit previews of each team/first-round matchup, but to kick us off, we're gonna look at each region. Here's the East region. We're so glad they're calling it "East" again, instead of "Charlotte," though "Charlotte" is a quite lovely word.

Best Storyline: Say what you will, but we desperately want to see Oklahoma play Boise State again, in any sort of collegiate postseason capacity. What's the hoops equivalent of the Statue of Liberty play? The picket fence? Perhaps the Globetrotters have the answer.

Worst Storyline: Did the tournament committee punish Butler with such a difficult early run because they were stuck in Indianapolis when making the selections? The answer, obviously, is yes: Have you been to Indianapolis?

Everyone's Favorite Upset: George Mason is catching the attention, but we're eyeing that Washington State-Winthrop game.

Odd Fact: American University, making its first appearance ever in the NCAA Tournament, was inspired by a letter written by George Washington calling for a "national university." In the early '90s, school president Richard E. Berendzen left his position because he was making obscene phone calls. Really.

Most Handsome Man: Tyler Hansbrough. Obviously.

Most Skipable First Round Game: Oklahoma-St. Joseph's.

And, some predictions from around the Internets:

Dick Vitale: North Carolina.
Jay Bilas: North Carolina.
Bob Knight: North Carolina.
Stuart Mandel: North Carolina.
Gregg Doyel: North Carolina.
DEADSPIN: North Carolina. We were all set to make Tennessee our "surprise" Final Four pick ... but not in this bracket.

]]>
http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=368568&view=rss&microfeed=true