BRACKETOLOGY: JJ the Chef

He's the chef because he cooks. JJ Redick has been cooking all year long. Now, I am in that large majority of the US population that hates Duke. However, you have to respect what he's been able to do. I've witnessed the treatment he takes from the fans in public and people just say the worst things to him. He gets fouled just about every time he touches the ball and gets the other teams best defender every game. Yet, he still fries. Now that he's learned to put the ball on the floor, he's been able to put up numbers that are extraordinary. I just have to give JJ a hand clap.

That at-large bid for George Mason is looking pretty good right now. In a must win game on the road, in an hostile environment and against a good team, the Patriots got it done. That's more than you can say for Syracuse, Stanford, Maryland and Indiana.

On to the bracket. The Pod system creates some interesting dilemmas. Who goes where? The sites out West create the biggest problems. There's never that many good teams from the West. So you know someone is gonna get screwed in the end. This week the two screwees are Pittsburgh and Florida. Sorry guys, gotta sell tickets. Alas, a different Final Four this week: Washington vs. Minneapolis and Oakland vs. Atlanta. This is good for games through February 19.

Last Four In: Houston, Syracuse, Utah St, UNC-Wilmington
Last Four Out: Air Force, Maryland, Indiana, Bradley

Washington, DC
1.Duke16.Belmont/Southern Greensboro, NC
8.Arizona9.Creighton
5.West Virginia12.Houston Jacksonville, FL
4.George Washington13.Winthrop
6.Marquette11.Colorado Dayton, OH
3.Ohio St14.Pacific
7.Nevada10.Missouri St Greensboro, NC
2.Tennessee15.Penn
Minneapolis
1.Memphis16.Delaware St Dallas, TX
8.George Mason9.Alabama
5.Boston College12.Syracuse Auburn Hills, MI
4.Michigan St13.San Diego St
6.Washington11.Southern Illinois Salt Lake City, UT
3.Pittsburgh14.Kent St
7.Georgetown10.Kentucky Dallas, TX
2.Texas15.IUPUI
Oakland
1.UCONN16.Northern Arizona Philadelphia, PA
8.California9.Bucknell
5.Kansas12.Utah St San Diego, CA
4.Wisconsin13.Northwestern St
6.LSU11.Western Kentucky Jacksonville, FL
3.NC State14.Iona
7.Northern Iowa10.Cincinnati Dayton, OH
2.Illinois15.Fairleigh Dickinson
Atlanta
1.Villanova16.Albany Philadelphia, PA
8.Wichita St9.Michigan
5.UCLA12.UNC-Wilmington San Diego, CA
4.Florida13.Wisconsin-Milwaukee
6.North Carolina11.Arkansas Auburn Hills, MI
3.Iowa14.Murray St
7.Oklahoma10.Seton Hall Salt Lake City, UT
2.Gonzaga15.Davidson