Jackson Free Press

Since the NCAA Tournament bracket came out at 5 p.m. Sunday, I have been studying it trying to figure out how to fill it out. I keep track of a lot of college basketball, but it is just about impossible to keep track of every team.

That is why creating a perfect NCAA bracket is so hard. You can never be sure about some teams, and you never know how college kids are going to react in this pressure-filled tournament.

The selection committee didn't do undefeated Wichita State any favors. If this were the World Cup, the Midwest Region would be the "Group of Death."

The Midwest Region has some of college basketball's most accomplished programs, including Kentucky, Michigan, Duke and defending national champion Louisville. In some years, that group could be the Final Four—but this year, they must battle it out with the Shockers for just one spot in the Final Four.

Wichita State pulled the "no respect" card after winning its conference tournament; expect the Shockers to keep that theme since they got no love from the selection committee.

Florida didn't get any favors, either, as the top overall seed and the number-one team in the South Region. The Gators got placed in the same region as VCU, Syracuse, Ohio State, UCLA and Kansas.

The South Region also has some sleepers, such as Dayton, Stanford, and an eight/nine seed matchup of Colorado and Pittsburgh. While the Gators don't have to face the gauntlet Wichita State does, they still face some potential pitfalls.

Virginia earned a number-one seed and the team's reward was being placed in the same bracket as Michigan State. Few teams in the country are playing better right now than the Spartans.

Even with Virginia and Michigan State, the East Region looks like the second weakest bracket. This region contains UConn, North Carolina and Villanova with first-round upset sleeper Harvard.

Personally, I think the West Region is the weakest. Arizona is the number one-seed, facing teams that have played up and down all season long. Oregon, Oklahoma State, Baylor, Oklahoma and Nebraska are in the West along with potential Cinderella Creighton. Gonzaga is playing the familiar role of underdog as eighth seed.

I can fill out 100 brackets (and Lord knows I will fill out a ton), but by the first weekend, my bracket will be busted beyond repair. It happens every year.