Don’t be surprised if MLS players young and old are cranking their necks away from the Fox Soccer Channel and in the direction of the hardwood this week.
And who could blame them? The NCAA men’s basketball tournament tips off on Thursday, and like everyone else, MLSers have their brackets and their favorites. Especially when their alma mater might have something to say in the outcome.
MLSsoccer.com spoke with six players around the league about their picks—and their school pride.
Calen Carr, Chicago Fire
The Fire forward and California alum is playing it safe with his pick for national champion (Syracuse) and his Final Four (Syracuse, Kentucky, Kansas, Villanova), but he can’t let go of his school ties. He has 8th-seeded California topping Louisville in the first round and then top-seeded Duke before falling to Purdue in the Sweet 16.
“I haven’t seen anyone picking Cal in the first game, and no one’s giving the Pac-10 any credit,” Carr says. “But we have some guards who can hit the 3. I’m telling you, if we get hot, we can do it.”
Raushawn McKenzie, Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake’s newest offseason pick-up wastes no time with his pick: Kentucky. The Michigan State alum has John Calipari and the Wildcats taking the title from a Final Four field that includes safe bets Kansas and Syracuse and his sleeper pick, Baylor. As for his alma mater, he says Sparty and the boys will bow out in the Sweet 16.
“If I had to put money down on a winner, my choice is Kentucky,” McKenzie says. “You can't stop the tandem of Wall and Cousins!”
Darrius Barnes, New England Revolution
The days of Duke’s suffering at the NCAA tournament might be over, if the Revs defender gets his way. This former Blue Devil has his alma mater in the Final Four with Kansas, Kansas State and Big East champ West Virginia. But Duke won’t win it, he claims. Kansas will take home a second crown in three years.
“I'm predicting a final four appearance and maybe further for Duke,” Barnes says. “They’re definitely due for a deep run in the tourney considering our history of success compared to our recent struggles in the NCAA tourney the past four years.”
P.S. Barnes isn’t sleeping on the mighty-mites either: He has Ivy League champs Cornell making a deep run.
A.J. DeLaGarza, Los Angeles Galaxy
The last team the Galaxy midfielder and Maryland grad will root for is Duke. His title choice is—no surprise—Maryland, surviving a Final Four of Syracuse, Kentucky and upset specialists Louisville, who he expects to stun Duke in the second round. ACC rivalries, evidently, die hard.
“Maryland has great leadership in their three seniors and have young players who make a difference in a game,” DeLaGarza said. “If they can stay consistent, they could surprise some teams.”
Matt Besler, Kansas City Wizards
Would a kid from Kansas ever dare sing anything but “Rock Chalk Jayhawk” in March? The Wizards defender is a Notre Dame grad but has the overall top seed Jayhawks winning it all, besting a Final Four group of Kansas State, Duke and West Virginia. He also sees the Fighting Irish doing some damage.
“I see the Irish making a run to the Elite 8,” Besler says. “Gody [Luke Harangody] is a beast, and with the way Notre Dame finished the regular season, I think they're going to make a deep run."
Lyle Adams, D.C. United
United’s young defender has college roots which run deep back to Wake Forest, but he’s not blinded by school spirit. He’s sticking with Kansas in the end, with Kentucky, Villanova and upset specialist Gonzaga in the Final Four. Adams is all about the underdogs faring well—New Mexico, Minnesota and Oakland lead the way.
“Wake’s going to put up a good effort, but they’re going to fall to Kentucky,” Adams admits. “And I can’t hate Duke like everyone else, because my sister’s going there next fall. The Duke soccer team is a different story. But I have no ill-will toward their basketball program.”
