Don't let Madness "upsets" upset you

The NCAA's Championship Week has been must see TV, delivering several nail biters...and even more upsets. In the last two days alone, 8 of the top 25 (#3 Villanova, #10 Kansas, #11 Syracuse, #13 Cincinnati, #15 North Carolina, #18 Memphis, #19 St. Louis, and #25 SMU) were all bounced out of their conference tournaments by lower seeds. #7 Duke, #8 Michigan, and #24 Ohio State should have all lost yesterday as well, but managed to survive by the skin of their collective teeth.

For the casual fan...with rankings in hand, channel surfing the various games and observing all these upsets...I know it must be maddening.

No pun intended.

After all, your office pool tournament bracket is due by Wednesday...and you had every intention on playing it safe (advancing the higher seeds throughout your tournament bracket...selecting very few upsets along the way). Now you're all confused, and wondering if you should blow up that strategy.....

Don't.

If you are tempted to bounce one of the above mentioned teams out of the first round of this year's national tournament, based on what you saw the last few days, hold your horses. There are factors involved in what you just witnessed.

For one, desperation, and a lack thereof. All of the teams in the top 25 came into their conference tournament knowing they were in the field of 68. Most already knew that a conference tourney championship could not catapult them to a number 1 seed. On the other end, they are facing a team that is either on the bubble...needing a quality win to increase their chances, or a completely desperate team that needs to win the whole thing to make it in.

That in itself can lead to a disparity in effort, leading to some of the upsets you've been witnessing. Most of those ranked teams, right or wrong, are looking forward to Selection Sunday, their destination, and their opening round opponent.

Now...Villanova and Michigan still have everything to play for, so they have no excuse for their performance.

What does all of this mean to your bracket casual fan? It means that, of course, there will be upsets every year, but you should be fine using your "play it safe" strategy. The next time the above mentioned schools suit up, it will be for a shot at a national title...so match ups should trump any thought of that team's conference tournament results.

But don't be so quick to jump to Sunday young grasshopper. Championship week has been outstanding so far, and the dust is starting to settle...leaving us with Big Boy match ups leading into the Selection Show. Do yourself a favor, and check out a game or two.

Oh, and good luck with your bracket!    follow @plcolter