Since Thursday afternoon, area bars have been overflowing with customers caught up in the maelstrom of March Madness. While most of those interviewed believe that Coach K’s Blue Devils will go all the way from Arizona to Xavier (and one Current staffer has $10 riding on it), there’s a fan for every team. And unlike the NBA, where exorbitant salaries have sullied the fan base, when it comes to college hoops, allegiances – and emotions – run high. Needless to say, the Current didn’t have a problem finding folks to go on record with their picks.Here’s a sampling of what just some of you think will happen in the coming weeks:
"I work too much to follow it. But my wife is into basketball. She went to Tennessee." – Scott McLoeghlin, a Jersey City resident enjoying the early rounds at Liberty Bar
"I’m in many pools. I graduated from UC, so I’m pretty excited about that. But I’ve got to say your winners are either Kansas or Duke. I’m looking for Kansas." – Adam Veenhuis, a Jersey City Heights resident who is originally from Texas
"Duke’s going all the way. They have the powerhouse and they have the easiest bracket. They’ll make it to the big show. Duke all the way, BABY!!! Write ‘baby’ in capital letters with three exclamation points, Dick Vitale-style." – Russell, a Hoboken resident who’s in three pools
"I like Kansas this year. They have the big body." – Anthony, who graduated from Brooklyn College, a long way from Dorothy’s home state
"I have to go with Duke – although I don’t want them to win. For sentimental reasons, I’d like to see Maryland win, although I actually went to Bowling Green. But I like Maryland’s coach and I like a lot of their players." – Billy, a Hoboken resident who was enjoying the games at the Black Bear bar on Washington Street in Hoboken
"My team is out, because I went to Rutgers. If I had to go with a team, I would have to say Xavier, which is my dad’s team. You’ve got to stick with your family." – Jennifer, of Hoboken, who was found in Texas, Arizona
"I’m going for Xavier too. But Maryland or Cincinnati are the best teams in America." – Mark, Jennifer’s fiancé
"Maryland! They’ve got a good senior guard, they’re four deep in the baseline, and they been through it last year so they have the experience." – Michael "Moonie" Ryan of Jersey City
"Arizona Wild Cats all the way, baby. That’s the only team I really know about, but I follow it religiously." – Clarissa, who only recently relocated to Hoboken from Tucson, Arizona.
"She picks the teams by which coaches and players she thinks are cute." – Aaron, Clarissa’s roommate who also picked Arizona as the tournament’s winner.
"I like Duke. Because I like Dunleavy." – Pat Kelly, the owner of Kelly’s on Washington Street.
"I like Kansas because I went to college in Kansas." – Fred Rubin, a Kelly’s customer.