Today I'm focusing on my NCAA picks.

The chances of the Gators repeating are good but it hasn't been done since '91-'92 so I'm not doing much trash talking yet. We do have the best team but the best team doesn't always win the tournament.

Remember Villanova? They played Georgetown three times in the regular season and the Big East tournament. Patrick Ewing danced all over them. Then they played again for the NCAA Championship. Villanova shot something like 80% from the field and won the title. Ewing couldn't get a rebound and launch the fast break because there weren't any rebounds.

Anyway, the Gators do have a tiny Achilles Heel. We aren't that deep on the bench so if we get into foul trouble late in the game and somebody like Green or Noah have to sit...it might not be pretty.

My Final Four is the Gators vs. Kansas with Ohio State vs. Washington State. I know... but you have to figure an upset someplace so I figure the Tarheels will bite it either against Washington State or Texas. Durant from Texas is good but he's only one guy. Danny Manning did it for Kansas back in '88 (?) but nobody else could [Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlin, Dwayne Wade] and I don't think Durant will be able to do it either.

I've got Ohio State in the championship game but they might not get past Memphis in the Elite 8. Calipari's a good coach and his teams do well in the tournement. Ohio State is very young and when every single foul shot is a life or death thing they will probably choke. Gators already beat Ohio State once this year [86-60] so I'd rather see Memphis. Oden's a 7-footer and really good so that's why I've given the edge to Ohio State. He can't do anything with Noah cause Noah's too fast and Horford's too quick. All our big's can put the ball on the floor and we've got three good 3-point shooters. Besides we've got the same starting 5 that won the title last year and Hodge [guard] who redshirted so there's no reason we can't do it again.

Football and basketball national champions in the same year...never been done but we have a great shot at doing it. Oh yeah....Tennessee gets by Long Beach State before choking against Virginia. Even if they got past Virginia they would then get Ohio State and that would be painful even for me to watch.

Lights Out,

Mike