SWEET 16 Rankings.....BRUTUS and ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK...#1 and #2.....who falls in after these 2 shoe-ins to ROCKET CITY.

The BLUEDUDE is right on with this one........even if you have no idea what is going on or going to happen in the NCAA Tourney this week...the BLUEDUDE will enlighten you on what to look for so one is not blind and oblivious watching the games THURSDAY and FRIDAY.

I am going to rank the last 16 teams left in the TOURNEY.......or as wee put it......the SWEET 16......from 1 -16.....and the BLUEDUDE will give you the reasons for the Rankings.

Starting from the TOP:

1. OHIO STATE-#1 Seed overall-Big 10 Champs: Scouting them earlier you thought it was inside with SULLINGER then outside with a bevy of shooters. Now after watching them dismantle a good George Mason Team from jump street now what. They look about as locked in as an F14 on a MIG in a furious Fire Fight. The Reasons they will cut down the nest in HOUSTON:

* Sullinger can't be stopped one on one you must double him
* When you Double....Lighty, Diebler, and Buford will knock down 3's all night
* And great guard play....anyone know the freshman PG'S name......I guess we will by Tourney's end

2. KANSAS-#2 Seed overall-BIG 12 Champs: I was thinking the the ILLINI could pose a few problems with their BIGS Davis, Tisdale, and Leonard......but i didn't take one thing in account......the JAYHAWKS BIGS are NBA Futures and the ILLINI Bigs are GRADUATE Assistants...yeah I said it and born and raised in ILLINOIS. SELF and Crew are well-oiled with a nice balance in the Back-court as well led by TAYLOR and Morningstar. These Guys have been well-tested and only them playing bad stand in their way.

* MORRIS TWINS have to be contained they are to transformers running amok all over opposition
* Morningstar and TAYLOR are as solid as 1-2 punch in the back-court as any in the nation.

3. DUKE-#3 overall #1 seed-ACC Conference Tourney Champs-The scare came early from the MAIZE & BLUE and the BLUE DEVILS came out on top. One thing the DUKIES need to do is use their inside game to throttle their perimeter game. CURRY and NOLAN SMITH are playing at a high level but it would be a lot easier if the inside presence was there.

* Nolan Smith is the engine and to cut off the car you have to take the engine. SMITH is the KEY
* SINGLER has to show up for DUKE to go
* The PLUMLEE'S have to maintain their energy in the front court for DUKE to have BALANCE

4. UCONN-#1 overall #3 seed- BIG EAST Tourney Champs-Not just KEMBA WALKER like you thought...they have other weapons and the HUSKIES and CALHOUN have been locked in since the Big EAST Tourney. They have mixed a good defensive game plan and KEMBA'S offensive Prowess and it's a good mix.

* WALKER needs to keep motor running
* LAMB has to continue to come up BIG for the HUSKIES at the Small Forward
* Keep Rebounding Margin in the plus

5. UNC -#3 overall #2 Seed-ACC Season Champs-Freshman PG Kendall MARSHALL has been a god send as he sent Larry Drew II packing and the 'HEELS haven't looked back. The Other Freshman Harrison BARNES has came into what everyone thought he would be....maybe the best Pro Prospect in the College Game today. Marquette will not be easy and the 'HEELS need to contain their guards and get the GOLDEN EAGLES in Transition.

* BARNES and MARSHALL lead the 'HEELS if they go so do the 'HEELS
* ZELLER and HENSON play BIG and if they keep playing BIG UNC will go to HOUSTON
* They need to find a consistent 3pt threat STRICKLAND, BARNES, and McDonald

6. SDSU- #1 overall #2 seed-WAC Champion- STEVE FISHER is running this show and the AZTECS are ready to take the next step behind their star sophomore Kahwi LEONARD from Riverside CA. They finally beat BYU on the 3rd meeting and they are experienced enough to go to the Final 4.

* Slow the AZTECS Down and if you don't you will get an L
* As LEONARD goes so do the AZTECS
* AZTECS need to shoot from the ARC Better

7. FLORIDA-#3 overall #2 seed- 2nd best team in the SC behind KENTUCKY- WALKER the little engine that could from BROOKLYN is the KEY. he willed the GATORS to victory vs the BRUINS of UCLA. Billy D is one of the best game preparers in the business....and the GATORS will be ready for BYU and FREDETTE.

* Chandler PARSONS is the key for them as a key facilitator on the offensive end
* Kenny BOYNTON must get over his injuries and get back to hitting big shots and being a force off the bounce
* PARSONS, MACKLIN, and TYUS must play BIG on the front line

8. BYU-#4 0verall #3 seed-WAC Runner-up-Everyone knows about JIMMER FREDETTE and still no one seems to be able to stop the MARK PRICE CLONE. The GATORS and BILLY D will have a unique game plan for the COUGARS but they are not just a one-trick pony. The Loss of DAVIES was also suppose to derail them and have not.

* A Veteran Group led by FREDETTE
* Excellent Glue GUYS and coached very well
* A blue-collar work ethic that gets them all the hustle plays


9. KENTUCKY-#2 Overall #4 seed-SEC Tourney Champs- PG KNIGHT came up BIG vs Mountaineers and HUGGY BEAR let Coach CAL off the Hook. The WILDCATS need to get a consistent stroke from the ARC in MILLER, LAMB, KNIGHT, and even JONES. The 'CATS need to keep rebounding and defending the goal well.

* HARRELSON has been a monster down-low for the 'CATS if he continues to do so.....LOOKOUT
* PG KNIGHT must play well for UK to have any shot from here on out
* Where is All-SEC Performer Terrence JONES? he needs to start showing up ASAP

10. WISCONSIN-#3 Overall #4 seed-2nd best team in BIG TEN- Bo RYAN is one hecka of a coach and the BADGERS keep winning with their grind it out style like no other. Led by All-Big TEN Performer Jordan Taylor the Badgers are very discipline in their approach and their attention to RYAN'S plans are evident and to beat them you must cross the t's and dot the i's.

* Taylor is the key and you must be able contain him
* The BIGS are the same guy Blue-Collar and Hustle......Keep them off the glass offensively and defensively
* RYAN will be ready and playing against them......will you be

11.ARIZONA-#1 overall #5 seed- PAC-10 Champs- Derrick Williams Mr. PAC 10 PLAYER of the YEAR came up BIG and now going back to Southern CAL where he is from and he is a problem back to the basket, off the bounce, and face-up. The CATS also can shoot it from deep and they keep you off-balance under Coach Sean Miller's balanced attack.

* WILLIAMS must be the fascilitator offensively
* Shooters have to knock down shots when shots present themselves
* Rebounding.....the 'CATS must keep a PLUS in Rebounding

12. BUTLER- Can they keep grinding it out vs WISCONSIN next........OUCH......A painful game to watch final score 13-11

13. FLORIDA STATE- DANGEROUS Team.....and VCU Next.....beat DUKE and lost to UNC at BUZZER......'NOLES for real

14. MARQUETTE- D J O is lethal,,,,and add the rest of their back-court.....the Golden Eagles will be a problem from here on out

15. VCU- Coach Shaka Smart.....and the RAMS are taking no prisoners.....will be ready for anything...will you?

16. RICHMOND - A-10 PLAYAS......the SPIDERS on defense will put arachnophobia all over you...and then A-10 Player of the Year Kevin Anderson