There is a really good Gustavus Adolphus team buried deep in this bracket. Photo by Ryan Coleman, D3sports.com

Sigh.

I feel the same way about this bracket that most of the rest of you do. That is, those of you outside of Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

We never like to see blowouts at the Final Four, but we might be looking at some this year if things don't break right in the Atlantic bracket. Unfortunately, a set of unbalanced pairings like this tends to dampen enthusiasm for next year's expanded tournament.

Ahh well, here's our picks nonetheless for the surprises, disappointments and dark horses in the 2005 Division III men's basketball tournament:

West Regional

No. 10 Blackburn at No. 5 Hanover, winner plays at No. 2 Illinois Wesleyan
No. 12 Texas-Dallas at No. 4 Trinity (Texas), winner vs. No. 9 Pomona-Pitzer, site based on seeding
No. 8 Lawrence at No. 7 Gustavus Adolphus, winner at No. 3 UW-Stevens Point

Yeah, hmm, this is a tough bracket. The top four seeds, plus a couple of the 5-8 seeds, could advance to the Final Four. You might be asking why Puget Sound is the top seed while UW-Stevens Point and Illinois Wesleyan are higher ranked in our poll and we'd have to point you to the final regional poll from the NCAA, which uses the same limiting criteria as the selections. Puget Sound was ahead of UW-Stevens Point in that poll.

Cinderella story: Texas-Dallas would be a really neat story. But Lawrence is the team most likely to win two consecutive road games and reach the Sweet 16.

Most likely to disappoint: Puget Sound. They didn't win last year's sectional and they were at home. While it would be a significant departure from recent history for Buena Vista to pull offf the upset, it would not be a surprise at all for UPS to not live up to its top seed.

Who will win? UW-Stevens Point over Illinois Wesleyan in a game worthy of Salem, not an elimination game on the road there..

Atlantic Regional

No. 10 New York City Tech at No. 8 Ursinus, winner to No. 1 Ramapo
No. 11 Mt. St. Mary at No. 5 Albright, winner to No. 4 King's
No. 9 Endicott at No. 7 Western Connecticut, winner to No. 3 Worcester Polytech
No. 12 New Jersey City at No. 6 Virginia Wesleyan, winner to No. 2 York (Pa.)

The consensus weak bracket, and if it weren't for Ramapo, which is one team that could represent itself well in Salem, it would be even worse. Otherwise this bracket reminds me of the 1997 bracket which got Alvernia to Salem after the top seed got knocked off early. Anyone else hoping to make a run will have to get on a big roll to compete outside of the bracket.

Cinderella story: Although they have been painfully inconsistent, New Jersey City has the best chance to win two road games.

Most likely to disappoint: Anyone from this bracket in Salem, except the aforementioned Ramapo.

Who will win? That would be the aforementioned Ramapo.

East Regional

No. 10 Norwich at No. 5 Springfield, winner to No. 2 Amherst
No. 12 Union at No. 6 Gwynedd-Mercy, winner to No. 3 Rochester
No. 11 Elms at No. 7 Salem State, winner to No. 4 Potsdam State
No. 9 Penn State-Behrend at No. 8 Lebanon Valley, winner to No. 1 St. John Fisher

Four really good top seeds and five teams that could come out.

Cinderella story: It's hard to picture any of these four lower seeds winning two road games to reach the Sweet 16. Penn State-Behrend has the best chance at winning one.

Most likely to disappoint: I basically think all four top seeds should advance. That means no real disappointments.

Who will win? Amherst. A year of deep playoff experience under its belt will help carry them past St. John Fisher.

Great Lakes Regional

No. 10 Bethany at No. 8 John Carroll, winner to No. 1 Wittenberg
No. 11 Baldwin-Wallace at No. 4 Wooster, winner to No. 3 Albion
No. 9 Calvin at No. 6 Wheaton (Ill.), winner to No. 2 Aurora
No. 12 Methodist at No. 5 Maryville (Tenn.), winner vs. No. 7 Mississippi College, site based on seeding

Whoo, another stacked bracket. Any bracket in which Calvin is a No. 9 seed is a stacked bracket, for sure.

Cinderella story: Calvin has the best shot at winning two games, but they will have to be two great games. Aurora and Wheaton are both talented and tough at home.

Most likely to disappoint: Wittenberg. Not necessarily against the Bethany/John Carroll winner, but against the Baldwin-Wallace/Wooster/Albion winner.

Who will win? Wooster over Calvin.

Final Four

I like Amherst over Wooster for some reason. This is just a hunch pick, though. UW-Stevens Point beats Ramapo in a game that's better than people expect. And UW-Stevens Point finishes the repeat.