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    Figuring out March Madness, Year 2

    March 25, 2008

    With all the talk of Elite Eights, Final Fours and bracket mania coming to men's college golf in 2009, it seems appropriate to revive something I explored last year when I was struggling with my picks for the men's NCAA basketball tournament. (Not that anyone else cares, but this year my picks are going much better in the infamous 13th annual Johnny Quest Memorial NCAA Candy Bar Poll.) With men's hoops down to 16 teams, could we predict how the rest of tournament would go based on how good their men's golf teams at these schools are?

    The premise is a little outlandish, perhaps, but is it any more preposterous than somebody picking games based on their favorite colors? Or those who simply flip a coin for each game? A year ago, this system had USC winning the men's hoops championship, not Florida, although it did successful have the Gators and UCLA get to the Final Four.

    Just to remember the ground rules: I go through this year's brackets from the Sweet 16 on, picking each of the remaining games based strictly on how schools' golf teams have done head-to-head in tournaments they've played against each other to see if this might be my new method to March Madness. In the event of ties, or the fact the teams haven't faced each other, I'll use their overall win-loss records on the season (versus all opponents), the better percentage advancing.


    __EAST REGION

    Sweet 16

    The Tar Heels tied for first at the Bank of Tennessee at The Ridge (lost a scorecard playoff for the title)but have three top-five finishes in seven starts with an overall record of 55-37-3 (.595).

    The Cougars tied for first at the Cuthbert Cup this spring (lost a scorecard playoff for the title) but have just two top-five finishes in eight starts with an overall record of 34-66-1 (.342).

    Winner: North Carolina

    The Volunteers have two wins this season (Turtle Bay, Ping/Arizona) and seven top-five finishes in nine starts with an overall record of 95-24-3 (.791).

    The Cardinals have one win (UNGC-Bridgestone) and six top-five finishes in eight starts with an overall record of 78-35-3 (.685).

    Winner: Tennessee

    __Elite 8

    North Carolina vs. Tennessee__

    The Tar Heels and Volunteers have been in the same field in two events this season (Bank of Tennessee at The Ridges, Schenkel E-Z-Go). UNC finished T-1 and 10th, respectively, while Tennessee was T-5 and fourth, leaving the two teams tied head-to-head at 1-1. Using overall winning percentages to break the tie the winner is ...

    Winner: Tennessee

    __

    MIDWEST REGION

    Sweet 16

    Kansas vs. Villanova __

    The Jayhawks have not won this season and have only one top-five finishes in nine starts with an overall record of 29-93-3 (.244).

    The Wildcats have not won this season and have only one top-five finish in nine starts with an overall record of 25-106-3 (.198).

    Winner: Kansas

    __Wisconsin vs. Davidson __

    The Badgers have not won this season but have two top-five finishes in seven starts with an overall record of 64-28-4 (.688).

    The Wildcats have not won this season and have not had a top-five finish in six starts, posting an overall record of 16-75-3 (.186).

    Winner: Wisconsin

    Elite 8

    Kansas vs. Wisconsin

    The Jayhawks and Badgers have played in one tournament together, the Prestige at PGA West in October (Kansas finished 16th; Wisconsin finished sixth).

    Winner: Wisconsin

    __

    SOUTH REGION

    Sweet 16

    The Tigers have one win (Charleston Southern Spring Invitational) and five top-five finishes with an overall record of 59-41-4 (.587).

    The Spartans have one win (Notre Dame Gridiron Classic) and three top-five finishes in six starts with an overall record of 44-27-1 (.618).

    Winner: Michigan State

    __Texas vs. Stanford __

    The Longhorns and Cardinal both played in the Olympia Fields Illini Invitational (UT: second; Stanford: fifth) and the Isleworth Invitational (Stanford: ninth; UT: T-14).

    Texas has three top-five finishes in 10 starts and an overall record of 66-52-3 (.558); Stanford has one win (UH-Hilo Invitational) and five top-fives in seven starts with an overall record of 64-17 (.790).

    Winner: Stanford

    __Elite 8

    Michigan State vs. Stanford__

    There's a little Intrigue here, with former Stanford assistant coach Sam Puryear now the head coach at MSU. Since the schools haven't played in the same event, the winning percentages determine the ...

    Winner: Stanford


    __WEST REGION

    Sweet 16

    The Bruins have three wins (Big Ten/Pac-10 Challenge, Callaway Match Play, CordeValle Collegiate) and six top-five finishes in six starts with a overall record of 56-7 (.889).

    The Hilltoppers have one win (Cobb-Ferrell Mean Green Classic) but it's their lone top-five finish. Their overall record is 40-40 (.500).

    Winner: UCLA

    Xavier vs. West Virginia

    The Musketeers have no wins and two top-five finishes with an overall record of 43-56-2 (.436).

    The Mountaineers don't have a varsity men's golf team.

    Winner: Xavier

    __Elite 8

    UCLA vs. Xavier__

    The two schools haven't played in the same event this year, so the winning percentage gives the victory to ...

    Winner: UCLA


    __FINAL FOUR

    Tennessee vs. Wisconsin__

    The Volunteers and Badgers haven't squared off this season. The Volunteers' .791 winning percentage beats the Badgers' .688.

    Winner: Tennessee

    Stanford vs. UCLA

    These Pac-10 rivals, interestingly, have played in just one common events: the CordeValle Collegiate. There, the Bruins won the team title by 11 strokes over the runner-up Cardinal.

    Winner: UCLA

    __NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP

    Tennessee vs. UCLA__

    The battle for the national title is a good one with the Volunteers and Bruins have played in three tournaments together:

    Callaway Match Play: UCLA wins; Tennessee is fifth

    Ping/Arizona Invitational: Tennessee wins; UCLA is third

    John Hayt Collegiate Invitational: UCLA is second; Tennessee is T-3

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    And there you have it â¿¿ you heard it here first â¿¿ the winner of the 2007 NCAA men's basketball tournament will be the UCLA Bruins.

    Thanks of course to their golf team.