The Beautiful Game: The Sweet 16 Is Looking A Bit Sour......But Not For The Wrong Reasons

With the first two rounds of the men's NCAA basketball tournament complete the quarter finals is set to begin. But what has the tournament brought to the table so far?

Image: Chris Kramer (pictured right) has kept the Purdue Boilermakers in the tournament with some key plays in both rounds.

It's already being called the most unpredictable tournament in NCAA history and with 16 teams left not many people know what to make of the outcome.

Biggest Shocks Of The Tournament-

(14) Ohio Bobcats 97 - 83 Georgetown Hoyas (3)

Both teams had the momentum running into the tourney but nobody expected this outcome. Greg Monroe and co were destroyed by the two guards of Ohio in Armon Bassett & D.J Cooper (both pictured) who were flawless all evening. The lowest seeded team however couldn't live up to the hype and two nights ago were put out by Tennesse.

(10) Saint Mary's CA 75 - 68 Villanova Wildcats (2)

Nova learnt from their mistakes in the first round after a unsatisfactory performance against Robert Morris but Saint Mary's defensivley in the first half were impressive and made some important shots outside the area in the second. They now take on the formidable Baylor in the last 16.

(9) Northen Iowa 69 - 67 Kansas (1)

Last but not least is the biggest shock of the tournament. The outright number one seed Kansas were deservedly beaten by the ninth seed of Northen Iowa. 60% of Americans voted for Kansas to win the tournament but Ali Farokhnamesh had other plans with four 3 pointers and a game winning shot to send his team into the sweet sixteen. Offensively Kansas lacked that creative spark with both Cole Aldrich & Sheron Collins being innafective in the paint.

Image: The Syracuse Orange have been in fine form of late

So who will be crowned National champs of 2010? Well Kentucky are now the bookies favourite with dominant performances over East Tennesse and Wake Forrest but teams like Syracuse, Duke and Kansas State all have a chance. Michigan States chances have decreased dramatically after the revelation from Tom Izzo about Kalin Lucas's torn achilles tendon.

Final Four Prediction:-

Game 1- Ohio State (2) vs Kentucky (1)

Game 2- Syracuse (1) vs Duke (1)

One thing that I have learnt over the past week is that college ball is extremely unpredictable. Due to the fact that these are just kids the pace and tempo of the game is incredible but the tactics of the game are lacking. Seeding in this tournament really doesn't make much different because you really don't know what team will turn up on the night.

Key Players Who Can Take Their Team To The National Championship:

Wesley Johnson - Syracuse Orange