It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

This is the Sunday we've all been waiting for; Selection Sunday. One of the most exciting days of the year. Before it, we have some very good conference championships, and Illinois and Georgia want to spoil the bubble party by taking away two more bids. Let's go through the championship games, then some thoughts on who is going to make the field.

ACC

Clemson (24-8, 10-6) vs. #1 North Carolina (31-2, 14-2): North Carolina narrowly defeated Virginia Tech behind a jump shot by the best player in college basketball with 0.8 seconds left. Now they face a team that has given them fits twice this year. Clemson took North Carolina to OT and home and then double OT at the Dean Dome, losing both times. They wanted to see the Tar Heels again more then anyone else. I think that they won't have enough for North Carolina once again, as Psycho T leads the way.

Prediction: North Carolina 71-56

Big 10

Illinois (16-10, 5-13) vs. #6 Wisconsin (28-4, 16-2): The Illini's surprise run has put bubble teams on the edge of their seats. I think they can pull the upset. Wisconsin's Trevon Hughes left the game with an ankle injury yesterday, and it's unknown if he'll be ready for this one. Look for Trent Meacham and Brian Randle to lead Illinois back to the tournament.

Prediction: Illinois 67-62

Big XII

#5 Kansas (30-3, 13-3) vs. #8 Texas (28-5, 13-3): A big game that could give Kansas a 1 seed with a win. I don't think Texas is in the picture for a 1 seed, as it's between Kansas, Tennessee, and Dook for the fourth spot (after UNC, Memphis, UCLA). I think this will be a great game, and Mario Chalmers will be the difference for the Jayhawks.

Prediction: Kansas 76-73

SEC

Georgia (16-16, 4-12) vs. Arkansas (22-10, 9-7): Can Georgia continue their miracle run into the NCAAs? They won two games in one day yesterday, beating a couple of NCAA-caliber teams in Kentucky and Mississippi State. Dennis Felton has this team motivated and ready to play. Unlike the Wisconsin Badgers, I believe Arkansas will take down the Cinderella. Darian Townes is having a great tournament and he'll play well.

Prediction: Arkansas 62-54

Southland

Texas-Arlington (20-11, 7-9) vs. Northwestern State (15-17, 9-7): The Southland was the home of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi last season, who led Wisconsin for the majority of the game in the NCAA Tournament first round last year as a 15 seed. A couple years ago, Northwestern State upset Iowa as a 14 seed. I think it will be Texas-Arlington winning this one, behind solid play by Rog'er Guignard.

Prediction: Texas-Arlington 74-65


After these games are done, we'll have Selection Sunday. I believe the one seeds will be North Carolina, Memphis, UCLA, and Kansas. As for the other side of the spectrum, the bubble, I think teams like Kentucky, Arizona, Ohio State, St. Joe's, and Illinois State will be in. The outside will include teams like Virginia Tech, Villanova, Arizona State, UMass, Dayton, and VCU.

I'll put in my thoughts on the brackets later tonight, and then I'll go bracket by bracket leading up to Thursday.