Friday Upset Alert

Originally Published: Mar 17, 2011 8:19 PM CDT

The end of day one finds my NCAA bracket in the trash.  My tournament is done.  Now I know what Vanderbilt and Louisville feel like.

Those Kansas fans who were worried about their team’s path to the Final Four just breathed a sigh of relief.  Either Richmond or Morehead State in the Sweet 16 for the Jayhawks?  Jayhawk nation just went Larry King and said, “Houston, hello.”

Who should be worried on Friday?  Texas?  Oakland has one of the best big men in the country in Keith Benson, but Texas has Tristan Thompson to neutralize Benson.

North Carolina?  4 times since the tournament expanded to 64 teams (and now to 68) has a #15 seed upset a #2 seed.  It’s probably not going to happen Friday, but the Tar Heels got off to some slow starts in the ACC tournament and that would give Long Island some confidence.

My upset pick for Friday is #12 seed Memphis over the #5 seed Arizona in the West Regional.  There’s a buzz around Memphis coach Josh Pastner.  He’s got charisma.  Not that Arizona’s Sean Miller doesn’t have charisma, but Pastner played and coached at Arizona and could almost make himself legendary to Wildcats fans by beating them in the NCAA’s.  He could become a bit like OSU fans feel about Bill Self.

So there you go.  Fly to Vegas and unload.  But remember I did have Vandy and Louisville in my bracket today.