Today marks the beginning of 4 consecutive days of wall to wall basketball. Truthfully, I'm not as big a basketball fan as I was back in the 90s and early 2000s but, I still have plenty of time for the NCAA Tournament.

I love it. I don't know if it's the craziness of the fans, the spectacle of last second buzzer beaters or the gambling. More truth, it's probably the gambling.

I've been filling out a bracket for as long as I can remember. Growing up on the north side of Chicago, I learned at a young age you cheer for your neighborhood teams. That means, I am a Cubs, Bears, Bulls, Hawks, Northwestern football and DePaul basketball fan. Now that you know that, the first bracket I filled out in 1986 I picked DePaul to win the National Championship. DePaul didn't cut down the nets that year, and much like the Blue Demons, I myself haven't tasted bracket championship glory since. So take my advice with a grain of salt.

If you are wondering who to pick in the NCAA Tournament, pick with your gut. Don't listen to prognosticators, select teams you want to see win. Illinois doesn't have a team in the tournament (again). Indiana doesn't either. UW is in, but let's be real, as a Rockford citizen, I would love to see Wichita St. and Auburn high school grad, Fred Vanvleet win the National Championship.

That being said, I'm picking Kansas. I was living in Kansas City the last time KU won the National Championship and made many trips to Lawrence (KU's campus) during my time in K.C. Lawrence is a wonderful, granola-y earthy town and also the birthplace of basketball. KU is my fall back every year DePaul isn't in the tournament. Since DePaul is never in the tournament, I choose KU. If you are making your picks, and all else fails, GO KU. Good luck with your bracket and have fun these next 4 days, I know I will.

Townsquare Media
Townsquare Media
loading...

More From 97 ZOK