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Every year there are tons of upsets in the NCAA Basketball Tournament and people find that their brackets are completely busted only a day or two into the Tournament. Many people are aware of this trend and try to pick upsets, but you usually have to be real lucky. It does no good if the 14th seeded team you picked to be at the 3rd seeded team loses while another 14 seed beats a 3 seed. One upset that has never happened before is a 16 seed beating a 1 seed. There have been scares, including Princeton losing to #1 Georgetown 50-49 and last year when Albany gave #1 UConn a run for their money, but so far no winners. You never know though, maybe this is the year it happens.

The one matchup that is always interesting to watch in the first round is the 12 seed-5 seed matchup. It seems like every year a 12 seed knocks off a 5 seed. These are usually good matchups to watch out for. Also, 11 seeds have had success in the tournament before as well. Last year, George Mason became the second 11 seed to rise to the Final Four, the first being LSU in 1986. George Mason did wonders for the mid major conference teams, proving that every team in the tournament has a chance. They really leveled the playing field and made it so that this year a lot fo those mid major conference teams will be coming in with more confidence. Because of this, we could be in for a wild tournament.

So which mid majors have a chance to make it to the Sweet 16 and beyond this year. Southern Illinois lost in the championship of the Missouri Valley Conference, but they have been ranked much of the year, at points as high as 11. I think that they could prove problems, especially if they see their seed drop because of their loss. Creighton, the team that beat them in the MVC final is also a dangerous team and has been to the Sweet 16 in recent years. Butler is another mid major school that lost in their conference tournament but has been ranked in the top 25 most of the year. I look for them to surprise some people in the Tournament.

The school I am really eager to see in the tournament is Winthrop. They are a perennial Tournament team, having won the Big South 7 of 9 years. They also gave Tennessee a scare in the first round last season. This year they are Big South champs once again and finished the season at 27-4. Their only losses were to UNC in Charlotte, at Wisconsin in overtime, at Maryland, and at Texas A&M. All 4 of those teams are solid tournament teams and 2 (UNC and Wisconsin) could end up being #1 seeds. I think Winthrop is poised to make a big run.

It's never easy to predict any of these games, there is just no way to know. That's what makes the Tournament so exciting, the fact that one bad game and your favorite team could be done in an instant. I know I will be watching Sunday night's selection show to see who ends up where and what matchups are upcoming. I will make my picks starting Monday, and hopefully my brackets won't be too busted right away.

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