10 Best Tennis Rackets

Best Tennis Rackets in 2023

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Teams to Pick and Teams to Avoid When Filling Out Your Bracket

It's almost that time of year again when the country will be filling in those brackets. Here are the teams I'm going to pick and teams I'm going to avoid once March Madness arrives.

Not to mention filling out those pesky brackets.

As always, fans across the country will be filling out their brackets in just a few weeks. Ironically, many fans haven't been paying very close attention to college basketball up until now. With the NFL Playoffs and the Super Bowl going on, college basketball often takes a back seat. Fear not if you are one of those individuals. I am here to deliver some early advice when it comes to Bracketology (thanks to ESPN for the term). Here is a list of the teams I'm scribbling down to go far and the teams I'm avoiding like the plague when I'm doing my brackets.

Pick 'em: Florida
Perhaps you remember this team from last year. The defending champs have quietly been the best team in the nation again this year. Their biggest win of the year was a 26 point annihilation of Ohio State back in December. Most college basketball fans will remember Joakim Noah, Florida's dominant big man. However, the leading scorer on the Gators is guard Taurean Green, one of the most underrated players in the country.

Avoid: Ohio State
Everybody's sexy preseason pick to win the whole thing has not impressed me this season. The Buckeyes have played four top 25 teams this season. They won only one of those games. State has benefited from playing in the Big Ten, a conference with only two really good teams (OSU and Wisconsin). Besides, do you honestly think that Greg Oden cares about a national championship?

Pick 'em: UCLA
Every year I hop onto the UCLA bandwagon and every year they bring on the death of my bracket. I'm doing it again this time around. The Pac-10 may very well be the best conference in all of basketball and I have little doubt that the conference will send one team to the Final Four. Guard Aaron Afflalo is the sparkplug for this offense. If he catches fire during the tourney, watch out. Cautiously pick this team to go far. May my bracket forgive me.

Avoid: Pittsburgh
Maybe I am biased here. I am a proud graduate of THE Pennsylvania State University and thus hate Pitt with the fire of a thousand hells. I do believe that a lot of people plan on riding this team in their brackets for at least the semis. Don't be so sure yet. Pitt has looked very shaky at time throughout the year. The Panthers are 0-2 versus ranked opponents, and playing in the Big East in the 2020-2020 season does not mean what it usually does. The conference is not full of great teams this year. Pitt is a definite bracket buster.

Pick 'em: Boston College
The two scariest letters found on my bracket this year will be "B.C." The Eagles could either win the whole thing or be ousted on day two. They're cocky, arrogant, and often play down to their competition. I just can't pick against the quadruple threat of Jared Dudley, Tyrese Rice, Sean Marshall, and Sean Williams. Their record may not jump out at you, but remember that the Eagles do play in the ACC. If you're looking for a non-top ten team to go far when touching up your bracket, pick the Eagles. I will with a shaky hand.

Avoid: Memphis
Memphis is the Conference USA version of UCLA for me. I write in Memphis to go far in my bracket. They break my heart. A vicious cycle that I'm breaking this year. The Tigers haven't played a real opponent since a December 20 loss to Arizona. They lack a player that can dominant a game when playing against a stacked defense, a component necessary come tournament time. My bracket will have Memphis being booted out in the third round.

Pick 'em: Texas
Remember what I said about having one dominant player? Freshman Kevin Durant may be the best player in the country. Guards A.J. Abrams and D.J. Augustin aren't too shabby either. They have played well against ranked teams all season long, including victories over LSU and a thrashing of Oklahoma State. If you're looking for a "safe-sleeper" for your bracket look no further.

Avoid: Alabama
The Crimson Tide may not even be ranked by March. Bama has looked just downright ugly at times this season. They often appear to lack fundamentals and I find myself wondering just how these kids are staying in college. Their inability to win on the road is the final nail in their coffin. My bracket says a first or second round exit for the Tide.

Pick 'em: North Carolina
A Final Four team for sure in my bracket. The Tar Heels may be a young squad but they are improving with every game. Roy Williams will be having his team playing at peak level in a month. Forwards Tyler Hansbrough and Brandan Wright are a dynamic combination taking apart opponents. N.C. has dismantled nearly everybody in their way this season. Without a doubt they are something to consider when filling in the "National Champion" portion of your bracket.

Avoid: Kentucky
I have a feeling my bracket may suffer for this decision. The trio of Randolph Morris, Joe Crawford, and Ramel Bradley and nothing to sneeze at. The Wildcats are just another team with a glossy record based on an easy schedule. They have failed to defeat a ranked team this season (0-3) and have looked too uneasy throughout the year. I'll pick them to win a few, but don't expect them to shake up your bracket too much.

Pick 'em: Wisconsin
Normally I shy away from picking any team to make it to the Final Four before the official brackets come out. I just can't help myself this year. The Badgers are a veteran team that is physical and plays good defense. They've beaten Marquette, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, and Indiana thus far. Forward Alando Tucker is a stud and definitely one of those difference makers I've talked about. I'm going out on a limb and you heard it here first, folks. I'm picking Wisconsin to go all the way in my bracket.

One of the most important things to remember when filling out your bracket is too look at how a team is doing entering the tournament. If one of my early picks mentioned above is slumping in the last week of the season, I may have to reconsider. The tournament is all about momentum. If a team doesn't have it, it may mean an early exit. Hopefully the advice I've given will prove prosperous, both to your bracket and your wallet.