Greetings from Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- For my money, the first week is always the best week of the NCAA tournament, not least because there are so many games being played all the time. And while that's not the case in week two (which is why we're giving you some good reading links below to pass the time between games), I'm still psyched to be in Charlotte, the most stacked regional I've covered in years.

Think about it: East No. 1 seed North Carolina is the tournament's top-overall seed and (after last week's beatdowns of Arkansas and Mount St. Mary's) the most feared team in the land.

No. 2 seed Tennessee is the tournament's best two-seed and probably had a better r�sum� for a No. 1 seed than Kansas did. (Note that I didn't say the Vols were the the more dangerous team.)

No. 3 seed Louisville has been the most underrated team in the country for the past two months -- and a defensive nightmare for opposing teams. (The Cardinals were my surprise pick to reach the Final Four before the tournament, and they still are.)

And No. 4 seed Washington State merely decimated a Notre Dame team that several pundits picked to reach San Antonio

Taken together, it's the highest-quality regional I've covered since the 2003 Anaheim Regional featured Arizona, Duke, Kansas and Notre Dame. Any four of the teams here in Charlotte could win the region (including Washington State, if they turn it into a Bennett-family redux of Wisconsin's 2000 Final Four run).

Me, I'm just tickled that my four pre-tournament Final Four picks are still alive in week two for the first time in years. Here's why I think these four teams will survive to San Antonio

UCLA The Bruins had the easiest draw when the brackets were released (Duke was a weak No. 2 seed from the start, and Xavier doesn't quite stack up to a fellow three-seed like, say, Wisconsin). But things got even easier for UCLA when Duke and UConn lost in the first week. UCLA has hardly been the nation's most impressive team in recent weeks, except in one important area: making clutch, game-winning plays down the stretch (with or without the help of the zebras). Keep a close eye on Kevin Love this week. If he continues his heroics from week one, he might just be Carmelo-izing the Bruins

KANSAS To me the only team in the Midwest Regional that can really give the Jayhawks a test is Wisconsin in the regional final. The Jayhawks just have too much firepower for Villanova or Davidson, but the Badgers should be able to stay close with their remarkable defense. Still, I think this is Bill Self's week to finally break through to the Final Four. Look out for Sherron Collins, who is really hitting his stride these days.

LOUISVILLE A lot of people undervalued Rick Pitino's outfit because it came into the tournament on a two-game losing streak. But that didn't disguise the fact that the Cardinals' ridiculous defense (half-court and full-court), David Padgett's resurgence and Pitino's tournament experience were a good combination for a deep run. The 'Ville will have to earn it, though, by beating a quick-as-hell Tennessee team (which has some serious point-guard issues) and a North Carolina squad that's doing everything right these days. Don't make too much out of UNC's home crowd in Charlotte, however -- both Tar Heels losses this season came on their home court in Chapel Hill