March Madness 2011: Things to Keep in Mind When Filling Out Your Bracket

It's tourney time and as the play-in games kick off tonight, some people have already turned their brackets in, but for the rest of us, the due date is just a day away and many people will undoubtedly put off their research until the last second. This is not advice that you must accept, but I hope to give some helpful hints and provide you with some things to consider when deciding who will make it to the national championship.

Absolutely no one is safe: Now that I have seen many people attempt to fill out their bracket, I have realized exactly how wide spread this problem is. At least half of the brackets people have approached me with have Kansas and Ohio State competing for the championship.

While these two teams could be the best the tournament has to offer, it's not always the best team that wins it all. The chances of the two best teams making it all the way are slim, even in what is being proclaimed a weak field. If you are set on Ohio State and Kansas, that's fine, but consider that anything can happen in march madness.

Wisconsin is not the same team when they aren't at the Kohl Center: It seems as if Wisconsin has two different teams. The one that plays at home is dominant, but the one that plays on the road, not so much.

Their first-round matchup is a tough one, which makes them vulnerable to an early loss. I'm not saying Belmont will certainly be victorious against the Badgers, but the possibility is definitely there for a first-round upset. I wouldn't necessarily advocate penciling in Belmont (although, to be honest, I did), but if you're choosing between Pitt and Wisconsin, consider the fact that Wisconsin may not even participate in that game.

There are no home games in the tourney.

At least one No. 12 seed will upset a No. 5 seed: The only No. 5 seed that I believe is safe is Arizona (watch them lose now). Memphis has played well lately, but I think Derrick Williams will prove to be too much for them to handle down on the block, simple as that.

Richmond, Utah State and UAB/Clemson could all pull upsets. I think the strongest-looking No. 5 seed right now is K-State. While they don't have the best resume, they have played well down the stretch. On the other side is that Utah State is the best No. 12 seed. This team was ranked heading into Selection Sunday and both of these teams are solid.

Vandy is a team that played in the SEC and while they have played well, they are vulnerable, especially when you factor in Richmond's recent success.

I love the No. 12 seeds this year.

Washington and Michigan State always come to play in the tourney: I want to say first that Michigan State ruined my bracket last year and I hate them, but no one can deny they come to play in the tournament. Tom Izzo always prepares his team well and even if they don't have the most talent, they can make a run. UCLA and Florida are both solid programs, but you always have to keep MSU in the back of your mind in the tournament.

Washington is another team that can overcome their low seeding to win some games in the tournament. Their intense style of play is hard to prepare for and they are an exciting team to watch. They can spread the floor and when they get out and run, anything can happen. This is another situation where you may not want to pick Florida or UNC to be in the Final Four due to their potentially tough early round matchups.

Make sure you're aware of these teams when filling in your teams.

Gonzaga has an extremely easy road: Both teams they would matchup with in the first round have lost their big men recently. St. Johns and BYU are both good teams, but so is Gonzaga. Robert Sacre and Elias Harris are very capable scorers inside, and picking the Zags may be a way to separate yourself from the field in a big bracket pool.

If you feel strongly about Jimmer and BYU making a deep tourney run, that's fine, but keep in mind that Gonzaga has some solid bigs that could help them find their way into the Sweet 16.

Another good way to separate yourself from the field is to pick quality No. 3 to No. 5 seeds deep in the tournament: My favorite teams from this selection are Uconn, Purdue and Louisville. Uconn has one player that can do it all, which can help them make a tournament run as we saw in the Big East tournament just a short time ago. I don't think they will make it to the Final Four, but if you want a good No. 3 seed, they seem solid. It also helps that SDSU is definitely beatable.

The next solid team is Purdue: Purdue has a dominant inside-out combo of Etwaun Moore and Jajuan Johnson, who can carry them deep into the tournament. They have enough firepower and experience to make a run as a team in the second tier. They can adjust to the tempo of the game and I think they may be a good pick if you're looking for someone that can step up and take out Kansas. 

The last team comes from the same region, Louisville: If you force the Cardinals into their half court sets, they may run into trouble, but as long as they can run their up tempo offense and get quick, easy baskets, they can win big games. Losing Rakeem Buckles certainly hurts Louisville's chances, but they can survive without him. If there is anyone that can beat Kansas before the Elite Eight, it's the Cardinals. 

Make sure your National Champion won't lose in the first round: This one is for your sanity. As good as Texas may look, Oakland has a solid team with one of the most efficient offenses in the country. No one would have ever predicted Georgetown would lose last year, and Oakland is on many people's radar. When deciding who is going to win your Elite Eight games, look back to the first and second rounds and be sure to examine the risks your teams face there.

Road and neutral site records are of more importance than ever during the tournament: There are no home games in the NCAA tournament, after all. When we look at a team like the Mizzou, their up tempo offense looks exciting and they are a tempting team to take. When we look deeper, though, they have only won four games away from home this season. They struggle to win games when they aren't playing in Missouri and for that reason, I won't be taking them this year.

There are many teams that show huge discrepancies between their home and road records (I'm looking at you, Wisconsin), and you have to pay extra attention to these teams in your research. Also, it's always good to take a brief look at where each matchup is going to take place, just in case it gives one team an edge.

Experience is a big factor in the tournament: Players who have been to the tournament before and have more experience are generally more reliable than younger squads. We saw a perfect example of this last season, when a very experienced West Virginia team beat Kentucky in the Elite Eight, even though they were probably the more talented team. Make sure you do your research on which teams have the experience to make a run.

Make sure your national champion has depth: Ohio State is a great team, but the one downfall is that they lack depth. This issue has plagued Notre Dame as well. Jared Sullinger is an absolute animal down low, but what happens if he runs into foul trouble one game, or worse, sustain an injury? What's the back up plan? At this point, nobody really knows.

Ohio State can make a run, but be aware of the depth issue as you get closer to the National Championship.

Anything can happen: Don't be afraid to choose upsets, they happen at every turn and its good to get a little crazy now and again. I have Gonzaga and MSU matching up in the Sweet 16. Call me crazy, but if you want to win, you need to choose upsets and of course, you need a little luck. 

And the best team is...either Pitt or KU. Sorry, Ohio State, but overall, I believe these two teams have not only two of the best rosters, but they are deep, experienced and versatile. All of which are necessary in the NCAA tournament.

I have no problem with Ohio State, but I think, in the end, the pressure of being the No. 1 overall seed will get to them. Any team could lose at any point, but I believe Pittsburgh's great guards and monster forwards, when combined with the most favorable schedule, will help them win the National Championship.

Their defense, rebounding, depth and ability to persevere and will the conference title in what is by far the best conference has impressed me. I have fallen for Pitt this season and I think they can win.

Everyone has a different opinion and at the end of the day, you just have to trust you have done the appropriate research and let the chips fall where they may. Sorry, I don't think any of you will get every game right, but I wish you the best of luck with your predictions.