Filling out an NCAA Tournament bracket has always been more about off-the-wall guesses than wise statistical-based selections. This season flipping a coin could prove as accurate as doing intense research. It’s been the most inconsistent college basketball season in recent memory and absolutely no team has secured my confidence. None can be singled out as a favorite. None have proven invincible. When the traditional playing of “One Shining Moment” concludes the tournament on April 8, perhaps the most unpredictable champion in tournament history will be crowned. There are probably 16 teams capable of winning it all. Saint Louis is one. Mizzou is not. The Midwest Regional is a far better draw for SLU than Missouri. The Tigers face a severe mental obstacle if they can make it past Colorado State in the opening round, meeting the only No. 1 seed they played during the regular season. Louisville is one of two teams which humiliated Mizzou this season, overwhelming the Tigers by 23 points in late November. Some fans have forgiven MU for its dismal letdown against eventual SEC Tournament champion Ole Miss. Many Tiger faithful will be supporting Wisconsin during round one merely in hopes of seeing Marshall Henderson’s gaping mouth muted by the Badgers. Others will watch the Tigers with cautious optimism, recalling the agony of what happened a year ago against Norfolk State. Regardless, Mizzou doesn’t give its fans much reason to be excited, with just one notable win over a presently ranked team during the regular season. Far more disturbing have been the Tigers’ unexplainable losses. Coincidentally, Louisville and Missouri possess two of the most valuable, yet least clutch players in the game in Phil Pressey and Russ Smith. Both have proven detrimental down the stretch in important contests. While I’m not convinced Louisville is the overall No. 1 seed, they will be heavily favored over the Tigers in what is essentially a home game for the Cardinals. Louisville will then go on to lose to SLU, who will capture the nation’s hearts by gaining inspiration from its late coach, in the Sweet Sixteen. The defensive-driven Billikens have won 15 out of the last 16, having twice beaten Butler and VCU. Duke will emerge from the most formidable region, winning in the same venue at which it claimed its last title in 2010 against Butler. Gonzaga, which has quietly assumed the No. 1 ranking for the past three weeks, won’t make it to Atlanta either. The Dawgs will fall to a dangerous Wisconsin team that is hot off a Big 10 Tournament run. Ohio State's Aaron Craft has unfinished business from a year ago. Bad news for him is the Buckeyes will again lose in the semis after winning a quarterfinal rematch against Wisconsin. Kansas, thankfully, will also not advance to the Final Four. They will fall in the third round to the team which will ultimately lose to surprising Georgetown, which all Missourians should be supporting for the sake of local-ism. Sikeston native and former Scott County Central standout Otto Porter is the Hoyas’ top talent after a breakout season earned him Big East Player of the Year honors. Georgetown will eventually lose to Indiana, the only No. 1 seed reaching Atlanta. The Hoosiers will win it all, despite a shaky regular season that saw them fall twice to Wisconsin. Remember this, though. Indiana and Gonzaga are the only teams among all No. 1 and 2 seeds to not lose consecutive games this season. The Hoosiers survived a far more rigorous conference, defeating five teams that are currently ranked. Gonzaga’s has zero wins over programs that are currently ranked. Indiana and Gonzaga were the only No. 1 and No. 2 seeded teams not to be blown out at least once this season. Again, the Dawgs level of competition paled in comparison to the Hoosiers. Indiana’s biggest stumbling block may be its sometimes lackluster desire to win, as exhibited in the Big 10 Tournament. It has the talent. It certainly has the Mojo on its side with a head coach whose brother-in-laws were dueling it out in the Super Bowl seven weeks ago. By April 8, Gonzaga will have been exposed. America will know what a Billiken is. It will have chanted Ot-to, Ot-to, in celebration for an aspiring Missouri celebrity. And Cody Zeller and Victor Oladipo will be cutting down the nets in Atlanta. I stand beside none of these projections. The only promise I can make you is that I’ll be soaking up every moment along the way and watching eagerly from my Georgia Dome seat in two weeks. Let the madness begin.

Record Sports Editor Derrick Forsythe weighs in on the NCAA Tournament.