Looking at the anti-jinx, Magic Eight and more

	Aaron Brooks led Oregon on a tear through the Pac-10 tournament and has powered the Ducks into the Sweet 16. AP
	MAILBAG Grant Wahl will periodically answer questions from SI.com users in his mailbag. Your name: Your e-mail address: Your home town: Enter your question:

SAN ANTONIO -- Five things to ponder heading into this week's NCAA regionals (Gus Johnson screams, sadly, not included):

1. Is Oregon's Aaron Brooks about to prove that the SI anti-jinx is for real?

You've heard of the so-called SI cover jinx, right? Well, what about the anti-jinx? I refer to the now-annual "Where's Waldo?" NCAA tournament preview cover that features a member of every team in the tournament field -- a brilliant way to kill the jinx, since somebody on the cover is going to win it all. But there's more to the story: Last year the one figure who appeared on the cover's oversized basketball was the star of an unheralded No. 3-seed that had just won its conference tournament. That player: Florida's Joakim Noah, who went on win the Final Four Most Outstanding Player award and the national title.

This year the one player who appeared on the cover's basketball was another star of an unheralded No. 3-seed that had just won its conference tournament: Oregon's Aaron Brooks. If the Ducks go on to win it all and Brooks snags the MOP award, you can go ahead and cue the Twilight Zone music.

2. How is the 'Bag's Magic Eight shaping up?

Loyal readers are familiar with the Magic Eight, my annual early-January list of the eight teams from which I guarantee the national champion will emerge. In six of the past seven years the Magic Eight has worked to perfection, the only exception being the 2003 Syracuse national champions. Keep in mind, I try to go out on a limb and not just pick the best eight teams in the country (hence my inclusion this year of Washington State and exclusion of Ohio State). In any case, here's an update on this year's octet:

Already out:
• Arizona: Congratulations, Wildcats, on beating out Arkansas to become (officially) the nation's most underachieving team. We knew Arizona's defense was atrocious, but allowing a guy to make a shot from his knees was an all-time low. Verne Troyer could probably drop 20 against these guys.

• Washington State: The Cougars were a reach, we admit it. But they were clearly the second-best team in a conference that's having a solid NCAA tournament so far.

• Wisconsin: Sigh. The Badgers peaked too soon, and now their tournament fizzle will regrettably overshadow a history-making season in Madison. The 'Bag has been fortunate to profile several college hoops stars this season (from Greg Oden to Kevin Durant to Tyler Hansbrough and others), but no one was more impressive from a personal standpoint than Alando Tucker. I think he's headed for big things -- on and off the court.

Sports Illustrated senior writer Grant Wahl covers college basketball for the magazine and SI.com.