Kevin Carver
Thursday, March 21, 2019 7:59 am

I hate to do so, but next week I will fill you in on our local sports. This week it's about the NCAA Tourney and Martinsville.

NCAA Tourney

Three ACC teams are in No.1's in Virginia, Duke and UNC. Virginia has a tough task again in trying to possibly beat Purdue, Villanova, Oregon, Cincy and Tennessee. I would love to see Virginia win, but I don't like the chances considering the bracket. Virginia is good enough, but I don't trust them.

Duke could have Michigan St. in the elite eight, but I am not seeing much problems for them unless they get injured or in foul trouble. Belmont, Temple, Virginia Tech, Louisville and Minnesota could be dangerous.

As for UNC, Kentucky possibly awaits them in the Elite 8. However, the likes of Auburn (in the Sweet 16), Houston, Seton Hall or Iowa St. could find themselves in Kentucky's place.

Gonzaga got the fourth No.1 seed and some would say the softest region. Nothing is soft about Texas Tech, Michigan, Nevada, Florida, Buffalo, Marquette, Murray State, Syracuse or Florida St.

Games to watch in first two rounds:

Belmont-Temple: Both teams can shoot it. Temple looks like the better team. Belmont has rebounding edge and perimeter shooting as the advantage. (And one of these beats Maryland in round two).

Louisville-Minnesota: Both have rebounded nicely from separate issues a year ago. Both can go up and down the floor, but the entertainment value is in how defensive or offensive it really gets?

Murray St.-Marquette: Two of the most dangerous teams in this tourney. Expect the scoreboard to get damaged in this one (a bunch of points to be scored).

Oregon-Wisconsin: Two completely different styles of play and only one team can win.

Players to Watch among unknowns:

Fletcher Magee (Wofford)- Possibly the best shooter in the whole tournament.

Ja Morant (Murray St)- If they clear the lane like they want, this dude could overtake a game in a hurry.

Dylan Windler (Belmont)- Has 18 double-doubles in 31 games this season alone.

Final Four

I have UNC-Cincy with Duke-Gonzaga. Duke plays UNC with the Tarheels cutting down the nets.

NASCAR

As for the Cup Series, they head to Martinsville, Virginia for the first short track race of the season. If anybody is upset driver wise, this is the chance to show your displeasure.

Kyle Busch just won his 200th NASCAR race among the top three series, which puts him in an category of his own. It doesn't stand to what Richard Petty has done, but the accomplishment is something remarkable despite the asterisk beside it.

Busch does well in the cool air in Martinsville, but he was a little off last October. He finished second last March in M-ville. Clint Bowyer is the defending champ, while Joey Logano won the fall race. Martin Truex Jr. has been extremely good here. Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski, Denny Hamlin and Aric Almirola are solid choices. Yes, even Jimmie Johnson. For some reason, I feel like with warmer weather on the way, it's Keselowski who wins.