We here at Insights are not sure what to think right now. We -- like the players we spoke with Sunday -- have never been to Spokane, Wash. Russell Carter said his first thoughts were not of Winthrop, but of where Spokane actually is.
Spokane, home to Gonzaga, is on the eastern side of Washington, not far from the Idaho border and Coeur D'Alene, Idaho -- a place some members of the Insights family described as breathtaking. In trying to find things out about Spokane, we discovered the city's official Web site, which looks kind of bland.
As far as the bracket, Notre Dame drew a tough draw as a No. 6 seed. Winthrop, the No. 11, will be a tough out. Then potentially No. 3 Oregon and dynamic point guard Aaron Brooks in what would likely be a road game for ND or Winthrop. And then looming in the far distance is Wisconsin and Florida, but the Irish can't think about that now.
As far as surprises, we're stunned Syracuse isn't in the bracket and somewhat disappointed Drexel also missed the cut. Both had very good chances. And you have to feel bad for Akron, which was a desparation Miami (Ohio) three-pointer from going to the NCAA Tournament and now won't even get to go to the NIT. Talk about cruelty.
As for our picks, you'll see our gut reaction Final Four and champion in Monday's Journal Gazette, but we'll give a complete and more nuanced breakdown of every game throughout the week leading up to Thursday's opener.
-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette
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