by Brandon Eiges, sports editor

From November till February, the world could really care less about the 10,000 or so college basketball games throughout the nation. But as soon as the calender strikes March, the fun starts.

When the brackets came out, I was not at all suprised about the No. 1 seeds of the tournament: Ohio State in the East, Duke in the West, Kansas in the Southwest, and Pittsburgh in the Southeast. I think the Tournament Committee nailed it right on the head.

But really Gene Smith? UAB, VCU, and Florida as a TWO SEED?!?!?! Come on now. College basketball was, as a whole, weak. Florida didn’t even win the SEC Tournament! Kentucky, who won, is a Four Seed in the HARDEST bracket in March Madness. And UAB sucks. They got killed by Clemson in the No. 11 seed play in game. VCU beat USC but nonetheless, both teams aren’t much of talents.

Enough ranting, on to the picks.

EAST

Number One overall seed, and Big 10 season and tournament champs Ohio State has the most difficult Bracket. ACC season champs No. 2 North Caroina, Big East powerhouse No. 3 Syracuse, and SEC Tournament champs No. 4 Kentucky are the top teams in the bracket. Ohio State is VERY good, like VERY VERY good. The combination of freshman sensation Jared Sullinger, veterans John Deibler, David Lighty, William Buford, and point guard Aaron Craft, SHOULD take the East but will have a difficult time making it to the Final Four.

WEST

Last year’s National Champion, the Duke Blue Devils, are once again a No. 1 seed. With returning Kyrie Irving, who missed most of the season with an injury, is back with Coach K and the rest of the Dukies. But, No. 2 seed San Diego State will have a significant advantage in the West bracket, playing not too far away in any of their games. They will almost have home-court advantage in all of their games, playing in Tuscon, AZ and Anaheim, CA (as long as they win their first four games). Also watch out for perspective player of the year Kemba Walker and the UCONN Huskies as the No. 3 seed in the West. Duke and SDSU should meet in the Elite 8 when it’s said and done, but I have the Blue Devils even with a virtual home court advantage for the Aztecs.

SOUTHWEST

The 2008 National Champion Kansas is again a No. 1 seed. Head coach Bill Self and the rest of the Rock Chalk Jayhawk Nation should breeze through their brackets with little difficulty. No. 2 Notre Dame and No. 3 Purdue should be the only competition they have, but both teams don’t have the same skill, dominance, players, and history that KU does. Josh Selby, Tyrel Reed, and twins Marcus and Markieff Morris dominate the floor whenever they’re on it, running, shooting, and taking down opponents left and right. I predict that Kansas should beat Boston University, UNLV, Louisville, and the Irish of Notre Dame en route to another Final Four apperance.

SOUTHEAST

If Kansas has an easy time in their bracket, then No. 1 seed Pittsburgh should have a walk in the park. In the easily weakest bracket in March Madness, the No. 2 seed didn’t even win their confrence tournament, the No. 3 seed’s best big-man got kicked off the team for having sex, the No. 4 seed isn’t that good, and the rest of the bracket just isn’t impressive at all. Pitt should win, but with their lack of postseason success, you never know what will happen in a throw-up bracket. BYU’s Jimmer Fredette is the best player in America. he has whatever is beyond NBA range from behind the three-point line, he get’s inside the paint, and he just straight up gets work done. But without a dominant presence in the paint, I wouldn’t be suprised if BYU gets ousted in the first couple rounds. They do have the potential to be an Elite 8 team though.

FINAL FOUR

While it almost never happens, I have all four No. 1 seeds making it to Houston’s Reliant Stadium in the Final Four: Ohio State versus Duke and Kansas versus Pitt. When it’s all said and done, Duke, last year’s champs, will fall to the Buckeyes. I just see OSU taking it right to the paint with Jared Sullinger and draining three’s from the rest of their players. They dominate the floor and outplay their opponents. They don’t have a deep bench, but who needs one when you’re winning by 20 a game?

As for KU and Pitt, the Panthers are solid. Kansas tears their opponents up. In the Big 12 championship game, Kansas made their opponents, the Texas Longhorns, look like a Wrec team. Texas’ defense is very, very good. We saw in that game that Kansas as a whole, offense and defense, is even better. With that, Kansas will defeat Pitt, setting up a Buckeye versus Jayhawk bracket.

FINALS

This game is tricky. Coach Thad Matta of Ohio State has made them into a National Powerhouse. Kansas has a tradition of winning and championships. This is no different. When it’s said and done, Kansas just isn’t a good team to match-up with the Buckeyes. Jared Sullinger is too good averaging a double-double a game. he single handedly takes over the inside game and when he has four other weapons to dish the ball to, Ohio State will win the 2011 National Championship.