2012 NCAA Tournament Projections

East Regional - Boston

Greensboro
1 Duke vs. 16 Weber St./Mississippi Valley St.
8 Notre Dame vs. 9 Arkansas

Portland
5 Texas vs. 12 VCU
4 Wisconsin vs. 13 Utah St.

Nashville
6 Xavier vs. 11 Illinois
3 Florida vs. 14 North Texas

Columbus
7 Texas A&M vs. 10 Creighton
2 Louisville vs. 15 Boston U

East Regional - Round of 32

Greensboro
1 Duke vs. 8 Notre Dame

Portland
4 Wisconsin vs. 5 Texas

Nashville
3 Florida vs. 6 Xavier

Columbus
2 Louisville vs. 10 Creighton

East Regional - Sweet 16

1 Duke vs. 4 Wisconsin
2 Louisville vs. 6 Xavier

East Regional - Elite 8

2 Louisville vs. 4 Wisconsin

South Regional - Atlanta

Greensboro
1 North Carolina vs. McNeese St./Tennessee St.
8 West Virginia vs. 9 Temple

Portland
5 Marquette vs. 12 Cal
4 Gonzaga vs. 13 Iona

Nashville
6 Missouri vs. 11 Miami
3 Pittsburgh vs. 14 Kent St.

Louisville
7 Purdue vs. 10 New Mexico
2 Vanderbilt vs. 15 Oral Roberts

South Regional - Round of 32

Greensboro
1 North Carolina vs. 9 Temple

Portland
5 Marquette vs. 13 Iona

Nashville
3 Pittsburgh vs. 6 Missouri

Louisville
2 Vanderbilt vs. 7 Purdue

South Regional - Sweet 16

1 North Carolina vs. 5 Marquette
2 Vanderbilt vs. 6 Missouri

South Regional - Elite 8

1 North Carolina vs. 2 Vanderbilt

Midwest Regional - St. Louis

Louisville
1 Kentucky vs. 16 UNC-Asheville
8 Cincinnati vs. 9 Butler

Albuquerque
5 Michigan vs. 12 George Mason/Marshall
4 Baylor vs. 13 Harvard

Omaha
6 Arizona vs. 11 Drexel
3 Michigan St. vs. 14 Davidson

Columbus
7 Alabama vs. 10 UNLV
2 UConn vs. 15 Bucknell

Midwest Regional - Round of 32

Louisville
1 Kentucky vs. 8 Cincinnati

Albuquerque
4 Baylor vs. 5 Michigan

Omaha
3 Michigan St. vs. 11 Drexel

Columbus
2 UConn vs. 10 UNLV

Midwest Regional - Sweet 16

1 Kentucky vs. 4 Baylor
2 UConn vs. 3 Michigan St.

Midwest Regional - Elite 8

1 Kentucky vs. 3 Michigan St.

West Regional - Phoenix

Pittsburgh
1 Ohio St. vs. 16 Hampton
8 Florida St. vs. 9 St. John's

Albuquerque
5 UCLA vs. 12 San Diego St./BYU
4 Villanova vs. 13 Belmont

Omaha
6 Memphis vs. 11 Virginia
3 Kansas vs. 14 Long Beach St.

Pittsburgh
7 Washington vs. 10 St. Mary's
2 Syracuse vs. 15 Long Island

West Regional - Round of 32

Pittsburgh
1 Ohio St. vs. 8 Florida St.

Albuquerque
5 UCLA vs. 13 Belmont

Omaha
3 Kansas vs. 6 Memphis

Pittsburgh
2 Syracuse vs. 7 Washington

West Regional - Sweet 16

1 Ohio St. vs. 13 Belmont
2 Syracuse vs. 6 Memphis

West Regional - Elite 8

1 Ohio St. vs. 6 Memphis

2012 Final Four - New Orleans

1 North Carolina vs. 1 Ohio St.
1 Kentucky vs. 2 Louisville

2012 National Championship - New Orleans

1 Kentucky vs. 1 Ohio St.

The Ohio State Buckeyes are my pick to win the National Championship. They were fortunate that Jared Sullinger returned for his Sophomore season and he will team up with William Buford and Aaron Craft to form a terrific trio. North Carolina is loaded, but I'm not sure that they have a bona fide leader. Kentucky has their annual McDonald's All-American team but they will lack leadership as well. That is why I'm giving the nod to the Buckeyes to help some of the faithful in Columbus forget about the football season.