At this point, you've been inundated with March Madness analysis.
ESPNU aired a dance party featuring a disc jockey Monday night. If you're not a fan of college basketball, it's tough to escape the Madness.
But, this is the best time of the sports year. There's nothing like the first four days of the NCAA tournament. I've broken down NCAA tournament brackets since I was 4 years old.
Yeah, I was that kid.
This column's purpose is to give some advice to those who don't watch college basketball every single day.
Fill out your bracket with the help of a kid who does.
I grew up idolizing the Kentucky Wildcats in first grade, when they cut down the nets in 1996. My two uncles graduated from Lexington. I'm still going to rip on them because I think Kentucky has issues to be addressed.
Kentucky is the most talented team but also the most inconsistent. If you've watched John Wall and his fellow freshmen play the last couple games, you've seen some freshmen mistakes.
The Wildcats will run into trouble when they are defended well by a team that can match their athleticism. DeMarcus Cousins is a menace in the post, and Texas is not disciplined enough on defense to stop the Wildcat backcourt.
Still, the Wildcat underclassmen have turned ball over under pressure. They were 0.1 seconds away from losing to Mississippi State in the SEC title game.
John Calipari must stop his players from committing those costly mistakes. I picked them to lose to West Virginia in the Elite Eight. Sorry, Uncle Mike.
Kansas is the consensus favorite to win it all. The Jayhawks have an experienced point guard in Sherron Collins and an experienced center in Cole Aldrich. They've got the talent in freshman Xavier Henry and sophomores Marcus and Markieff Morris.
A mixture of talent and experience is the recipe for a championship team. Last season, North Carolina was anchored by upperclassmen with NBA talent -- Tyler Hansborough, Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington and Marcus Ginyard. It was clear the Tar Heels were the best team.
That's why you can't discount Syracuse, Duke or West Virginia. Each team has players who can handle the pressure. Say what you want about Jon Scheyer, but he doesn't choke. He, Da'Sean Butler and Andy Rautins all perform when the lights are on.
The potential loss of Syracuse's senior center Arinze Onuaku would cripple the Orange. Wesley Johnson is a great player, but I'm not convinced he can carry the offensive and defensive load in the post. The 'Cuse are lucky they have the easiest path to the Final Four. Vanderbilt and Kansas State will present challenges, but Syracuse looks like a safe bet to advance to Indianapolis.
My sleeper pick is Texas A&M. The Aggies are dangerous. Every game Texas A&M lost was to an NCAA tournament team. In the last two months, the Aggies have lost to Kansas and Baylor. The Aggies have tough games in the first two rounds, but don't be surprised if they beat Duke and make the Elite Eight.
When the first game tips at 12:20 p.m. Thursday, if you're as enthusiastic as I am, you'll follow the action religiously. In high school, I would sneak out of class to check the scores on Thursday and Friday. I'm sure a lot of you did the same.
I won't endorse cutting class, but enjoy the next couple days. It's the greatest time of the year to be a sports fan.
