The No. 1 seeds -- North Carolina, UCLA, Memphis and Kansas -- seem like good bets to reach San Antonio, but they all have stiff matchups along the way.
That's just the tip of a long, sharp sword. And get this: Any craziness in the college basketball season is magnified by a million in the NCAA Tournament, which means we better buckle up and strap the helmet on tightly. Fill out your brackets with caution, and do so knowing they might be in the bottom of your trash can within a week. But if you need 10 teams that might have a shot at six straight wins and a nice new plaque on April 2, here's a good guess:
";
spt_bkc_10Win08[i++] = new Array("","Memphis","Guard Derrick Rose is averaging 13.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists a game for the Tigers this season. ","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo_StoryLevel/071121/071121_derrick-rose-vmed-1p.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Nick Laham", "Getty Images", "358", "210", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_bkc_10Win08[i-1].body = "
Laugh at the Tigers' conference schedule. They'll laugh with you. But remember Memphis has played USC, Oklahoma, Connecticut, Georgetown, Arizona, Gonzaga and Tennessee — and went 6-1 against them. Chris Douglas-Roberts and Derrick Rose will combine to take Memphis a long way, though the South region isn't easy.";
spt_bkc_10Win08[i++] = new Array("","North Carolina","North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough earned player-of-the-year honors this season by averaging 23.1 points and 10.3 rebounds.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo_StoryLevel/071227/071227-tyler-hansbrough-vmed-7p.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Sara D. Davis", "AP", "298", "183", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_bkc_10Win08[i-1].body = "
The Tar Heels can always count on a heart-filled effort out of All-American Tyler Hansbrough, and coupled with the supporting cast, it may make them upset-proof. Case in point: North Carolina went 14-2 in a strong Atlantic Coast Conference and won both the regular-season and tournament titles. Never count out a team with the national player of the year and a hall-of-fame coach.
";
spt_bkc_10Win08[i++] = new Array("","Kansas","Guard Mario Chalmers scored a season-high 30 points in the Big 12 tournament final and is averaging 11.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/070303/070303_kansasmario_vmed_1130a.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Jamie Squire", "Getty Images", "291", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_bkc_10Win08[i-1].body = "
Inconsistent intensity could doom them, but the Jayhawks are incredibly deep, incredibly balanced and incredibly good. If the Jayhawks find the passion that led them past Texas in the Big 12 tournament, a lot could go right for them in the next three weeks. On top of that, the Midwest region isn't nearly as tough as the others. The Jayhawks haven't entered the tournament looking this good since the 2002 Final Four team.
";
spt_bkc_10Win08[i++] = new Array("","Texas","Texas guard D.J. Augustin leads a talented team with 19.8 points and 5.6 assists per game.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/ArtAndPhoto-Fronts/SPORTS/080225/g-080225-spt-texaskst-8p.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Orlin Wagner", "AP", "358", "240", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_bkc_10Win08[i-1].body = "
Even with Kevin Durant, the Longhorns were just a little too young last year. But even without Durant, this year's team has all the tools: an All-America point guard (D.J. Augustin), a sharpshooting guard (A.J. Abrams), a bruiser (Damion James) and a jack-of-all-trades big man (Connor Atchley). Plus, they're not so young anymore. If Texas gets to the Final Four, it will do so playing close to home in Little Rock, Ark., Houston and San Antonio.
";
spt_bkc_10Win08[i++] = new Array("","UCLA ","All-American freshman Kevin Love may be the key to UCLA winning a championship this season.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Jervay%2C%20John/Big%20Man%20Photos/080307-Kevin-Love.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Lisa Blumenfeld", "Getty Images", "358", "259", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_bkc_10Win08[i-1].body = "
An easy pony to pick. The Bruins have most of their personnel back from last year's Final Four team, plus All-American freshman Kevin Love. With supporting weapons like Darren Collison, Josh Shipp, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Russell Westbrook and Lorenzo Mata-Real, there's not much to nit-pick about with this loaded squad. Pick them with confidence. Most of them have danced this dance before.
";
spt_bkc_10Win08[i++] = new Array("","Louisville","Despite the Cardinals' loss to Pitt in the Big East tournament, coach Rick Pitino has Louisville rolling at the right time.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Slideshows/_production/ss-080305-BBcoaches/ss-080305-BBcoaches-Pitino.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Jonathan Daniel", "Getty Images", "283", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_bkc_10Win08[i-1].body = "
Don't let the Big East tournament loss to Pittsburgh fool you. A hot Pitt team took out everybody, and it doesn't deter from Louisville's fantastic regular-season finish. This team still is clicking at the right time, with talented players and an experienced coach leading them. The Cardinals are by far the best No. 3 seed and have the best shot at taking out one of the top two seeds above them.
";
spt_bkc_10Win08[i++] = new Array("","Kansas State","The Wildcats' tourney hopes ride with Michael Beasley, who is averaging 26.5 points and 12.4 rebounds.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo_StoryLevel/080307/080307-beasley-vmed-1p.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Jamie Squire", "Getty Images file", "297", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_bkc_10Win08[i-1].body = "
Here's your pick if you're the ultimate — and perhaps unstable — risk-taker. Think 1988 Kansas with Danny Manning. Like the Miracles of 20 years ago, Kansas State features the country's best player and enters the tournament with 11 losses and low expectations. If the Wildcats' mortal players figure out that Greek God Michael Beasley needs to take 30 shots — that's 3-0 — every game, Kansas State will have a chance. Not a great one, but it's not impossible.";
spt_bkc_10Win08[i++] = new Array("","Pittsburgh ","Forward Sam Young, with 18.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, leads a balanced attack.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/060309/060309_bigeast_hmed10p.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Bill Kostroun", "Reuters", "273", "341", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_bkc_10Win08[i-1].body = "
Running through the gauntlet the Panthers survived at the Big East tournament makes them legitimate. A balanced scoring attack led by forward Sam Young has six players averaging more than eight points per game. Six guys who can score, a good mixture in age and as hot as a pistol. Memphis could have a Sweet 16 battle on its hands. Winner goes far.
";
spt_bkc_10Win08[i++] = new Array("","Tennessee","Tennessee's Chris Lofton leads a high-octane Vols team with 16.1 points per game.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/ArtAndPhoto-Fronts/SPORTS/080302/g-080302-spt-tennessee-12p.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Wade Payne", "AP", "336", "278", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_bkc_10Win08[i-1].body = "
The Vols have to be considered a strong candidate because they have spent all year playing big in big-time situations. Wins over West Virginia, Xavier and Gonzaga, as well as the big one over Memphis, shows this team can beat anyone, anytime, anywhere. Tennessee likely would've been a No. 1 seed had it made it to the SEC tournament final. As it is, the Vols have a difficult road in the same bracket as North Carolina and Louisville.
";
spt_bkc_10Win08[i++] = new Array("","Duke","Coach Mike Krzyzewski and his Blue Devils have stumbled of late, but Duke is always a threat to find its stride and make a tournament run.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/070311/070311_krzyzewski_vlg_6p.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Ellen Ozier", "Reuters file", "358", "269", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_bkc_10Win08[i-1].body = "
For the Blue Devils' standards, they have kinda-sorta flown under the radar lately with North Carolina's success and a lack of true star power that defined past teams. OK, so they still got a ton of hype. And it's deserved to a point — going 27-5 with a good inside-outside game. Blue-chip recruits makes Duke dangerous. And of course, they always are in March.";
spt_bkc_10Win08[i++] = new Array("spt_080316_NCAA_mens_winner","VOTE: Who will win?","","","","", "lv2", "", "", "", "right", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
// END editorial data