Nearing NCAA Final Four Time, Very Few Upsets This Year

And the Coaching Carousel is Spinning

Of the 8 NCAA teams remaining in the quest for college basketball's National Championship, 6 or 7 have won the Big Prize before. In fact, UCLA, North Carolina and Kansas have won several and Florida won their first National Championship just last year. Georgetown was dominant in the 80's, Ohio State has a storied history in their own right and Memphis and Oregon are no slouches.

All four #1 seeds could advance to the Final Four for the first time since seeding began and the other four members of the Elite Eight consist of three #2 seeds and a single #3.

There have been very few upsets this year, with Cinderella in such dire straights she might have to appear on Dancing With The Stars after the current Heather Mills crew is done.

Butler over Maryland and Winthrop over Notre Dame are the only real upsets and Butler was a #5 seed to the Terps #4, so it's hard to call that a big upset and insiders knew Winthrop could play. Most weren't too surprised by their defeat of the Fighting Irish. It's been a big year for playing it close to the vest in your office pool. I thought it would be, but had no idea the higher seeds would win practically every game.

My pick of North Carolina to win the Trophy is still possible, but nothing would surprise me at this point, as any of the 8 teams are capable of going to the Final Four and winning it.

As far as the Coaching Carousel goes, there is no explanation for Tubby Smith leaving Kentucky for Minnesota except that he was beating the posse out of town, so to speak. My wife is from the Bluegrass State and we have visited several times. The dissatisfaction among the Kentucky faithful has been growing for a few years with Tubby Smith being dubbed "10 loss Tubby" for losing 10 or more games 5 times during his tenure.