March 23, 2005
The Sweet 16 - Expected Surprises
There's a reason they call it March Madness, and this year it's as applicable as ever. With 7, 10, and 12 seeds in the Sweet 16, you know there's plenty of busted brackets. Mine is still nominally alive -- but I need my alma mater N.C. State to continue its surprising run and take out Wisconsin to stay in contention in my pool. And you know what? I think they've got a pretty good shot.
It was a gutty play at the end of the Connecticut game by their star senior Julius Hodge that got them this far, and if they can continue to play mentally tough and shoot well from the outside, they could make the Final 4. Playing in the ACC has toughened them up more than most people realize, and I think it will carry them at least one more round.
GO WOLFPACK!