Guest feature: Let the madness begin

By Matt Smith

This weekend is my favorite weekend of the year, but it won't be because spring will have finally arrived. It's the arrival of the three best weeks of college basketball, the NCAA Men's College Basketball Tournament.

And I, like many of you, am asking that most important question: How does my bracket look? Well, if you're struggling with that question, here is some advice to help you win your bracket challenge.

1. Seeding is not as important as you think. If your team has made "The Big Dance," don't be upset if they are a 4 seed instead of a 3. Or if your team's a 10 and you think they should be an 8, don't worry. It's about the match up. If your team matches up well against their opponent, your team has a chance. It was only four years ago that 12 seed George Mason University made it to the Final Four, so fear not (unless you're a 16 seed ... then you've got no shot).

2. Loyalty is overrated. When the Indiana Hoosiers (my team) were perennial dancers, I used to pick them to win at least three games every year. Was that a huge mistake, or what? Being loyal to your team often distorts reality. In 2009, IU had freshman sensation Eric Gordon. I was sure he could lead them to the Elite Eight. They lost in the first round, and my bracket was toast.

After spending four years in Lansing, Mich., I also root for Michigan State. But I have them out in the second round this year. Make sure you can step back and see your team for who they really are.

3. It's a "two-game tournament." Yes, I know it takes six wins to cut down the nets in Indianapolis, but remember that all your team has to do is win two games in three days, three times. If a team is a high seed, you must have confidence that they will not overlook lesser teams. If a team is entering the tournament with a mid-level seed, like 6 seed Notre Dame, do you believe that the momentum of an opening round win can vault them to a win over 3 seed Baylor and advance to the Sweet Sixteen?

When I fill out my bracket, I try to pick each region separately. If I pick all first round games, then second, and so forth, I lose sight of what game is next for each team. Winning six games in a row is a tough feat, but don't put the cart before the horse. You must focus on getting out of this weekend with at least 14 of 16 correct.

4. Love your enemies. Being an Indiana Hoosier fan has allowed me to enjoy some great success in this tournament, even if those successes are now distant memories. If there are two things a Hoosier fan doesn't care for, it's the Purdue Boilermakers and the Kentucky Wildcats. I used to find ways to knock out Purdue or UK in my brackets. In the past, if Kentucky were a 2 seed, I'd convince myself that the 15 seed could beat them. Not a smart strategy. Even if you despise a certain team, don't knock them out because you don't like them. Chances are they're better than your team anyway.

5. If all else fails, pick according to the team colors and mascots. If you've read through all of this and you're thinking to yourself, "This is just way too much work," keep it simple. The Demon Deacons might be evil, but are no match for a Longhorn. And Big Red is not going to let an Owl get in his way. And Georgia Tech against Oklahoma State is a tough one, but I think OSU's orange is much stronger than Tech's yellow.

There you have it, my tried and true way of picking a spotless bracket. I've yet to fill mine out, but I can tell you that my pick for the 2010 NCAA National Champion is ... the Kentucky Wildcats. If you want to see how good (or bad) the rest of my picks are, I'm posting my bracket at intramurals.olivet.edu. Let the madness begin!

Matt Smith is the director of campus recreation at Olivet.