The second round of the NCAA Tourney commences this afternoon, and while there have been some upsets on paper, I would contend we have yet to have a true stunner.  Liberty, especially the WAY they came back to win, was surprising, but the rest of the seed-line upsets?  None eliminated a true national title contender.  UC Irvine is the highest seed remaining, but a 30-win team clipping K-State without their best player was almost predictable. Marquette getting Ja-Ruled?  Also, not that surprising.

So will today be the day we get some real upsets?  Are any of the top seed vulnerable?  Can Florida’s young, aggressive defense stifle an already-offensively challenged Michigan squad?  Can upstart Wofford shoot their way past mighty Kentucky? Can Baylor or Minnesota derail Gonzaga or Michigan State?

It’s a packed day of awesome action, but let’s be real – you are tuning in to see Ja Morant and Murray State, right?  The power of March to make stars…

TODAY’S FREE PICKS:

#4 Kansas Jayhawks vs. #5 Auburn Tigers -2

I’m sticking with Kansas.  They treated me well in my Thursday Premium Pick, and I saw a lot of things to like about the progression of Bill Self’s squad.  Dedric Lawson was awesome as expected, but the young supporting cast appears to be gaining some confidence down the stretch.  Meanwhile, Auburn is lucky to be alive after their near-disastrous final few minutes against New Mexico State. I’ve contended all year that Auburn lacked poise and good decision making in close games, and it almost bit them Thursday.

They won’t be able to get away with as many mistakes against a solid and undervalued Kansas team.  It is easy to focus so much on what Kansas lost (Azubuike, Vick) that we tend to ignore what they still HAVE – a bunch of highly-recruited top-tier talent.

Kansas went 8-3 down the stretch very quietly.  Auburn entered the tournament with a little more flash after making a surprise run to win the SEC Tournament, but I am still not convinced Thursday’s very shaky performance wasn’t a harbinger of trouble to come.

I’ll take the two points and the Jayhawks to advance.

MY PICK:  KANSAS KAYHAWKS -2

#7 Wofford Terriers vs #2 Kentucky Wildcats -5

I want to be wrong on this pick.  I really, really do.  Like anyone who isn’t a specific Kentucky fan, Wofford is the lovable underdog and a really great story.  They have a little guard who became the leading three-point maker in the history of college basketball and a bunch of hair-trigger marksman ready to fire from anywhere inside 28 feet.

Wofford has great offensive efficiency, metrics, etc.  BUT THEY HAVEN’T PLAYED KENTUCKY.  The analogy I’ve used for friends is that we can all knock down shots in the driveway.  Try doing it with a 6’9’’ outstretched hand in your face.  Different animal altogether.

I think this has potential to be a good game, but I also think Wofford will find their shot windows much smaller, the speed of the closeouts much quicker, and the physical superiority of the Kentucky squad to lead to a few free buckets here and there; a few extra rebounds, a few live-ball turnovers – just a few little physical plays here and there that turn a close game into a ten-point loss.

Give me Big Blue eating the five, though I don’t enjoy picking against the lovable underdog, it is the sensible wager today.

MY PICK: KENTUCKY WILDCATS -5