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NCAA Tournament picks 2017: Predicting the March Madness bracket

By Cody Williams

Mar 23, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; A view of a March Madness logo on a basketball during practice the day before the semifinals of the South regional of the NCAA Tournament at KFC YUM!. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; A view of a March Madness logo on a basketball during practice the day before the semifinals of the South regional of the NCAA Tournament at KFC YUM!. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 18, 2017; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals head coach Rick Pitino talks with forward Jaylen Johnson (10) during the second half against the Virginia Tech Hokies at KFC Yum! Center. Louisville defeated Virginia Tech 94-90. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 18, 2017; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals head coach Rick Pitino talks with forward Jaylen Johnson (10) during the second half against the Virginia Tech Hokies at KFC Yum! Center. Louisville defeated Virginia Tech 94-90. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports /

Midwest Region – Sweet 16

1. Kansas vs. 5. Iowa State

Kansas and Iowa State split their two regular season meetings, both games being decided by four points or less. That’s all the indication you need to show that the Big 12 Champion Cyclones are probably the best team that the program has produced in quite some time. Even so, the Jayhawks are just so lethal with the likes of Josh Jackson, Devonte’ Graham and Frank Mason III all being capable of carrying their team. The star-power winds up being the difference here, albeit in what will likely be another close game.
The Pick: Kansas

11. Rhode Island vs. 2. Louisville

Rhode Island is another team that enters the Sweet 16 being exceptionally underrated from the jump. They have E.C. Matthews as a threat in the backcourt and Hassan Martin in the frontcourt causing opponents problems. While that may be so, though, they don’t have the overall depth and balance that Louisville can throw at them. The defense of the Cardinals is going to be a problem for most teams in March Madness and the Rams will find out first hand in this matchup.
The Pick: Louisville

South Region – Sweet 16

1. North Carolina vs. 4. Butler

On Selection Sunday, everyone marveled at the depth of the South Region and how tough of a draw it is for the No. 1-seeded Tar Heels. That comes to the forefront with this Sweet 16 matchup against Butler. However, the key in this matchup will be the defense of the Bulldogs. Butler ranked just 49th in KenPom’s Adjusted Defensive Efficiency this season. Against one of the best offensive and rebounding teams in the country in North Carolina, that’s not going to cut it. The No. 1 seed stays alive.
The Pick: North Carolina

3. UCLA vs. 2. Kentucky

Finally the UCLA Bruins get exposed for their shortcomings on the defensive end of the floor. Yes, the Bruins got the better of the Wildcats when these two teams met in the regular season on Dec. 3. However, Kentucky has improved leaps and bounds since that time while UCLA may well be the same team that they were at that point. Kentucky’s defense is going to at least slow down the Bruins offense in spurts, which UCLA won’t have a chance of doing against the Wildcats. The South Region continues to go chalk.
The Pick: Kentucky

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