NCAA Bracket 2012: Kentucky Remains an Unbeatable Force Ahead of Sweet 16

Upsets and upheavals abounded in the first weekend of March Madness. Through all the lovely turmoil, the Kentucky Wildcats came away as the best team in the nation and still the one to beat. 

This is the time of year when having a lower seed win feels so good. Of course, it may hurt in the bracket department, but seeing a perennial monster like Duke fall to Lehigh was a wondrous thing that will never happen again. 

This is what makes the NCAA tournament so great and why Kentucky as the odds-on favorite is like a death knell to their chances. 

Being the best team in the nation hardly makes a title a foregone conclusion. Yet, after one weekend of play, I am still confident in Kentucky taking this tournament and giving John Calipari a title. 

There is no easy road during March Madness. Duke was ousted by a porous defense, and North Carolina must now contend with a plague of injuries. 

Somehow, Kentucky is getting stronger. 

You only have to look at the last victory and one that propelled them into the Sweet 16 to see how deep this team is and where they are headed in the next couple of weeks. 

Freshman guard Marquis Teague ignited for a career-high 24 points and also chimed in with seven assists. That is hardly the offensive output they rely on and would be another weapon for teams to contend with from the outside. 

In the paint, the Wildcats continue to dominate and have several answers that trump whatever any team will throw at them. 

Anthony Davis had 15 points and 12 rebounds against Iowa State and will be looking to set the record straight in a rematch against the Indiana Hoosier this week. 

Kentucky is a much different team since their loss to Indiana which took the Hoosiers shooting 60 percent from three-point land and a remarkable shot from Christian Watford to take the most memorable game of the regular season. 

Kentucky is deep and hungry and will roll through Indiana with the full complement of their superstars. They have too many players that can surge at any given moment and continue to give teams fits down low. 

Head coach John Calipari talked about his team's mentality headed into the deeper rounds. Via USA Today. 

"

That's about as good as we can play. I have a good team. My job now is to let them look at all this and be happy, but not satisfied.

"

While calling his team "good" is the understatement of the tournament, I have to agree with his labeling of this team as hungry. 

Kentucky continues to prove they are not about to rest on their talent alone. They put Iowa State away when they needed to and are pounding teams with aggressive play. 

Upsets can come from anywhere, but these young men are not about to let this perfect opportunity slip away. Kentucky is still the team to beat. 

Full bracket and updated scores at CBS' official website. 

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