Get Your Brackets Ready, The Madness Is Here!

It's that time of year again! The NCAA Basketball tournament is upon us, time for many of us to break out a little cash and enter your office pool and fill out those brackets. I myself am a big sports fan, but I don't follow college basketball regularlly. Once the brackets are out though, my eyes are glued to the TV.  Personally, I don't think you really need to be an expert and know everything about every team. I usually just pick with my gut and do pretty well. I came in 2nd place in a pool a couple years ago usuing that technique. Of course I did the same last year but there were so many upsets last year, that everybody's bracket was messed up by the time it got to the sweet 16.

Another reason I will be very interested in this years tourney is the fact that 3 local boys will be taking part. First off, the guy that everyone is talking about Glens Falls Native Jimmer Fredette of BYU. The kid is an absolute beast! No matter what BYU does, Jimmer has a very bright future ahead of him! We also have Albany Native Talor Battle of Penn State. I am a huge Penn State fan to begin with, and having a local guy on the team makes me root for em even more! Finally we have Schenectady native Mark Lyons from Xavier. I'm embarrassed to say I didn't know about him until recently, so I will definitely check in when he and Xavier play. If you are interested in watching the Capital reigon natives play here are the times and channels:

Jimmer Fredette and (3) BYU vs. (14) Wofford, Thursday, 7:15 p.m., CBS-6

Talor Battle and (10) Penn State vs. (7) Temple, Thursday, 2:10 p.m., TNT

Mark Lyons and (6) Xavier vs. (11) Marquette, Friday, 7:27 p.m., TruTV

It is a shame that neither of our local colleges, Siena and UAlbany made th big dance this year. Let's hope they turn things around and make a return very soon!

So who are you're picks for the Final Four this year? Whoever you have, the best of luck to all of you on your brackets, here's hoping a few dollars roll your way for picking correctly, and of course the best of luck to our hometown boys!