So we can’t let a year go by where we don’t talk about the Final Four! I’ve done it in all kinds of ways. I started off one year and just went with the entire bracket and then another time I waited until the two finalists were going to play and did a column on it, so I’m not sure what’s appropriate. I’m a little bit discouraged because I was going to wait until the third round, The Sweet Sixteen – but I’m not going to make it because the team that I picked win it all, Purdue… I don’t have to tell you anymore. I have no team left! So, we’ll just do it now. I’m going to do this after the first round. In other words, we’re at the thirty-two instead of the sixty-four. It’s Saturday. Everyone has only played one. I’ve still got a lot of games in front of me.

About the only prediction I’m going to shoot for is maybe the Final Four. Down South, I think everything’s gone pretty well. With all the upsets that are taking place you can’t say anything has gone ‘pretty well’ but I guess Alabama is in the South Region and I pick them to win the thing. I think they’ll play Baylor, to be honest with you, for the South Region. I think Baylor’s got some good basketball left in them.

You go to the East and you talk about a toss-up, it really is. I mean, you’ve got – well Farley Dickinson, Florida Atlantic – I’m not picking you guys, but I do think Duke’s probably going to come out. Maybe Kansas State will battle them for the East.

In the Midwest, this may be the best one of all. Now, keep in mind the Final Four is in Houston and so I’m taking Houston to be in the Final Four, but I’m going to take Texas to play them. Texas and Houston in the Final Four in Houston.

And then out west, I have no earthly idea. I just don’t think Kansas is good enough to make it. I’m going to take UCONN and I think Gonzaga is going to the other one. UCONN and Gonzaga.

Now, I’ve left out a whole lot of teams that have had a whole lot of good happen to them this basketball season. But, I think that may be the Final Eight. I think it may be Alabama and Baylor in the South, Duke and Kansas State in the East, Houston and Texas in the Midwest and out West, UCONN and Gonzaga.

That’s about the best that I can do as far as the National Championship Tournament and the Final Four – at least the way I see it. If my predictions don’t ring true with you, hey, join the club. Who would have thought in their wildest dreams that Florida Atlantic and Farley Dickinson would still be playing – at least as I record this they are still playing. There are a lot of good teams in there and a lot of good teams have been knocked out. That’s one of the great things about the Final Four, everybody, and I mean everybody, gets a chance.

When I was young there was UCLA and just a bunch of other teams. What did they win, like ten National Championships in a row? But now, mercy sakes, it is so wide open that it is downright entertaining. Even, EVEN, if Alabama, Baylor, Duke, Kansas State, Texas, Houston, UCONN, Gonzaga, even if none of them do what I think they’re going to do, it’s still a great tournament!

Until next time, so long everybody!

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‘Out of the Box’ with Dallas Huston is published each Monday morning at BrownwoodNews.com. Dallas was the radio voice of the Brownwood Lions and Howard Payne Yellow Jackets for more than 55 years. He currently is Pastor of Center City Baptist Church and hosts a Men’s Bible Study in Brownwood on Monday evenings. Your comments are welcome at [email protected].