[Originally posted to College Basketball Blog — Diaries.]

I give up.

I’ve tried to be cold and analytical about the bracket. I’ve read way too many “expert analysis” about the Tournament. Studied too many numbers.

It just isn’t working. I start building my bracket for Albuquerque, and it keeps breaking down. How can I pick against Pitt in the first or even the second round? They’re my school. By default, I have to see them in the Sweet 16. Beating Pacific. Pulling the upset over Washington, despite the trapping/pressure defense used by the Huskies that has flustered Pitt all season.

And it gets worse. I start constructing scenarios in my mind to explain how they can beat Louisville. Then Wake or Gonzaga.

I run into a brick wall with Illinois.

It’s sad, that as I poured over various draft brackets I found myself wistfully thinking of the 90s when Pitt was a non-factor and I seemed to know what I was doing in the NCAA Tournament pools.

Then it hit me: this is the biggest thing to cause me angst?

So, screw it all. I’m embracing my bias and throwing the logic out the window.