The first game of NCAA basketball tournament is already underway and I’m well engrossed in the Madness! So I’m making my bracket picks and analysis short and sweet this time around!

But don’t worry, as the rounds go on, there will be more about team colors, mascots and of course, the hot players in the tourney!

Here are my picks for the South Regional Bracket:

1 Duke vs 16 Arkansas Pine-Bluff –

My Pick: Duke

Because one of my favorite people in the whole wide world would never forgive me if I didn’t pick the Blue Devils!

8 California vs 9 Louisville –

My Pick: Louisville

Despite some of his personal drama, ya gotta love Rick Pitino! And it’s the only college basketball team that my dad actually knows… only because Pitino used to coach the Boston Celtics and dad hearts the C’s.

5 Texas A & M vs 12 Utah St –

My Pick: Um……

4 Purdue vs 13 Siena –

My Pick: Siena

Gives me great joy to pick Siena over Purdue because I do not like the Boilermakers. Again, goes back to the days when UMass actually made the tourney and I learned to hate Purdue. And I grew up like 2 minutes from Siena’s campus. In fact, I have a Doremus Bennerman basketball card from when he was on the Saints a very very long time ago!

5 Notre Dame vs 12 Old Dominion –

My Pick: Notre Dame

I know I’ll get backlash for saying this but I really like Notre Dame! Maybe it’s because of Rudy. I don’t know.

3 Baylor vs 14 Sam Houston –

My Pick: Baylor

Because Sam Houston is the dumbest name of a school that I have ever heard. Not that Baylor is all that cool sounding either but still… Would be so much better if it was Sam Adams.

7 Richmond vs 10 St Mary’s –

My Pick: Richmond

*Shrug* Honestly? Because 7 is better than 10. This is another “I don’t give a crap” about either pick that will probably be a great game to watch!

2 Villanova vs 15 Robert Morris –

I stand corrected. Robert Morris is a dumber name than Sam Houston. Wouldn’t it be cool if it was Zach Morris??? Oh! Right, my pick: VILLANOVA!

Remember how I said one of my fave people in the world loves Duke? Well, another one loves ‘Nova. And some of you may remember this from last year, but those two people happen to be BFFs and it caused quite a stir last year when the two teams played each other. And I would love a rematch this year!

About the author: Jennifer Taglione is the owner of this fabulous website Stiletto Sports. Despite writing well over 500 posts, she still maintains that she is not a sports writer! She is however a huge fan of Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald, Mark Sanchez, the Celtics, and totally kicks butt on March Madness brackets! Connect with her by following her on Twitter @StilettoSportsJ and subscribing to her weekly newsletter. For more info check out the About the Editor page!

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