The office pool sheets were passed out first thing Monday morning.  Of course, this is for entertainment purposes only, Governor.  I asked Ms. Granholm about her bracket in a recent interview and she asked if I had any money on it and I said a couple of bucks.  She politely reminded me that is illegal.  Those former Attorneys General -- they're such sticklers for the law.

MY FINAL FOUR

North Carolina - they don't have to leave their home state for the first two weekends and oh, bye the way, this is a team that hasn't lost a road game this season.  That's a lock.

UCLA - great team, easiest bracket.

Wisconsin - I hate Bo Ryan.  I hate the Badgers.  I've really started to hate cheese since they began dominating my Spartans.  But damn, do I respect their program.  I initially liked Kansas out of this bracket, but they'll find a way to get upset and send my boss into another fit of trying to hide his UK blanket in his office.

Texas - I think a UT-Memphis game could be classic.  Followed by another with UCLA in the nat'l semis.

MY UPSETS

13 Winthrop over 4 Washington St.

11 St. Joeseph's over 6 Oklahoma

10 Davidson over 7 Gonzaga

10 St. Mary's over 7 Miami

12 Western Kentucky over 5 Drake

10 Arizona over 7 West Virginia

MY SWEET 16 SLEEPERS

10 Davidson over 2 Georgetown

6 Purdue over 3 Xavier

6 Marquette over 3 Stanford

MY DARK HORSES

Tennessee - love them.  If they weren't playing UNC in Carolina, I'd have them in the final game.

Pittsburgh - if MSU can pull off a win against these guys, he's a god.

Clemson - they're hot... and good.

Notre Dame - too bad they also have to run into UNC.

MY SPARTANS

How they make a run:  They must use the emotional loss against Wisconsin to bring these guys together.  An 'us against the world' mentality isn't enough though, these guys have to toughen up and get the mindset of 'I will not let us lose this game.'  This means you Raymar Morgan.  We've seen you muscle around Northwestern, if you can do it in this tournament, they win 2 maybe four.  And Tom lets them play.

How they get bounced in the first round:  Neitzel gets no open looks and no one else steps up as usual.  Kalin Lucas isn't enough to carry the team when Drew can't score.  Izzo again has to micromanage and when it comes to 'fight or flight' the players choose the latter.

PREDICTION: MSU 71 Temple 66... Pitt 64 MSU 58