SES 3rd grader: Louisville favored pick

Like an expert college basketball analyst, Micah Turner didn’t hesitate to point out which game is going to be a good one as the 2014 NCAA Tournament tips off this afternoon.

Turner, 9, a third grader at Straughn Elementary and huge Florida fan, loves this time of year when people from all over pour over their brackets to pick who they think will win it all.

Since he was a little baby, Turner said he’s been rooting for the Gators, who are the No. 1 seed out of the Southern portion of the bracket this year.

“My dad and my brother go for Auburn,” Turner said with a smile. “My mom and my sister and me go for Florida.”

On his bracket, Turner has Florida meeting Louisville in the National Championship game on April 7 in Dallas.

“Both of them are good,” he said.

UF punched its ticket to the tournament a while back, but had to fight tooth and nail with Kentucky — the No. 8 seed out of the Midwest — in the SEC Championship game last weekend.

Turner watched the game, in which the Gators won 61-60, and said it was a close one.

“They barely won,” he said.

Turner had to get his mom to fill out his bracket for him this year. He picked which team would win and his mom would write the hopeful successor.

When asked which game he thinks will be a good match up to watch, Turner said look no further than the No. 7 seeded Connecticut facing No. 10 seeded Saint Joe’s.

Turner said he doesn’t really know how this will be a good game, but trust his word.

The son of Christy Norris and Adam Turner said this time of year is always exciting because of March Madness.

“It’s fun to watch,” he said. “It’s really interesting. To some people, it’s not, but to me it is. I’ve always liked basketball.”

In addition to playing hoops, Turner plays baseball as well.

Starting tomorrow morning, ESPN’s “SportsCenter” will be airing the Top 10 plays from the day before.

Turner said he likes watching the best plays as he gets ready for school.

“Me and my mom want to watch the Top 10 all the time,” he said. “So, we get dressed quick and my brother’s (Mason) already dressed. He tells us when it’s coming on, and we just turn around and watch it when we brush our teeth.”

Turner also said the Kansas State-Kentucky game will be a good contest as well.

As far as who will win it all?

Turner said he picked Louisville to win, but it could go either way.

Micah also has a sister, Megan.