By Catherine Laroche

My favorite time of the year is finally here, and I must say it feels really good to be a Cardinal fan right now. The Cards are on a hot streak as they recently were honored as Big East regular season and tournament Champions, the No. 1 overall seed and a No. 1 ranking in the last regular season polls.
Just hours after the 2009 NCAA DI men’s basketball bracket was announced I, like every other passionate college basketball fan, began filling out my picks to advance throughout the field of 65.
For those whom may be curious as to what teams the Sports Editor of The Cardinal would pick to meet up in Detroit on April 6, here it is…
It’s only right to start in the Midwest. Now, I’m not one of those Louisville fans who picks the Cardinals to win it all every year. But I truly believe this is Louisville’s year to make dreams come true.  However, I’m not saying the Cards will have an easy route to the final four.  The Midwest is filled with tough teams and, in my opinion, the hardest region. The Cards could see a potential match-up against a Wake Forest team that beat No. 3 North Carolina early in the season and a Michigan State team that defeated Ohio State by double digits to win the Big Ten Championship. Let’s not forget about the Jayhawks of Kansas who finished at the top of the Big 12 conference. We can’t leave out West Virginia, whom the Cards barely beat both times during the regular season. The Cardinals definitely have rocky road ahead, but I think they have enough traction to make it passed the obstacles ahead.
Now, let us move on to the West Regional. As much as I hate to say it, I picked Memphis to advance to the final four from this side of the bracket. However, I think the Tigers are going to play with a chip on their shoulders after being snubbed a No. 1 seed, and they’re going to play with the same intensity that got them to the championship game in 2008. They’ll be tested by former No. 1 ranked UConn before the final four. UConn has the rugged defensive experience of the Big East and Big East Co-Player of the Year Hasheem Thabeet, but that won’t be enough to tame the Tigers.
The East is another tough region, but I see the Big East’s Pitt. making their way to the final four.  Big East Co-Player of the Year DeJuan Blair will help carry his team to the national semifinals round of the tournament. However, we should see competitive play out of ACC champion No. 2-seeded Duke, Florida State and Villanova. The Blue Devils have had problems making it past the Sweet 16, when they even make it there, the last few years, but I think they will have no problem making it to the elite , seeing how they remain in their home state for the first two rounds. After that, they will run into problems.
Last but certainly not least, we have the South Region; The Tar Heels are the third No. 1 seed, yet they have by far the easiest road to the final four. They shouldn’t have to pack too much seeing how they won’t cross the North Carolina border until the Sweet 16. However, they might have to worry about possible match-ups against a Western Kentucky team that embarrassed overall No. 1 seeded Louisville early in the year, a fierce Syracuse team that outlasted seven overtimes in the Big East tournament, and a No. 2 seeded Oklahoma that some felt should have been rewarded a No. 1 seed. Even though junior guard Ty Lawson didn’t play in the ACC tournament and is questionable for the “big dance,” I think Tyler Hansbrough will find a way to sneak into the final four again.
As for after the final four, I have the Panthers showing the Tar Heels why the Big East is much better than the ACC with a victory that will push Pittsburgh into the championship game. And of course, the Cardinals will finally show Memphis what it’s like to play some real competition when they beat the Tigers to advance to the final game of the tournament. Then it will be a Big East showdown as Louisville and Pittsburgh battle it out on the court on April 6. The Cards will return to Louisville with their first NCAA men’s basketball championship since 1986.