Big Toe

Last year, when I was making my picks, I didn't take North Carolina as my champion because Guard Ty Lawson (the second highest scorer behind Hansbrough) had an injured big toe. This was a huge mistake, as he recovered and UNC went on a rampage. The closest game for the Tarheels was in the Regional Final versus Oklahoma, and they won that contest by 12 points.

I'm not going to overreact this year to minor injuries.
It will destroy my bracket.
Here's some injuries that I will just ignore, and trust that each team is deep enough to absorb them or that the players will magically heal:

Arinze Onuaku, starting center for Syracuse, injured his right leg in a losing effort today against Georgetown (he's not a good free throw shooter (43%), so maybe they're better off)

Robbie Hummel, Purdue's second leading scorer, is out for the rest of the season with a torn ACL

Center Max Zhang (collapsed lung) and guard Jorge Gutierrez (sprained ankle) may both not be playing for California today in their Pac-10 Tournament opener (against the mighty Oregon Ducks)

Virginia Tech starters Dorenzo Hudson and Jeff Allen are probable tomorrow against Miami with foot and shoulder injuries

Starting Louisville guard Jerry Smith did not play in the tournament game against Cincinnati because of a hand injury.

UNLV guard Derrick Jasper, who averages over 25 minutes per game, is out indefinitely with a knee injury.

Star forward Trevor Booker of Clemson suffered a cut above his right eye in the last game against Wake Forest, but hopefully the bandage will hold.

Mangisto Arop, reserve forward for #14 Gonzaga, had surgery to repair a broken foot and will be out for the season. He likes to be called Manny, by the way.

Just to reiterate, the teams in bold letters will probably not be affected much by these injuries. Or maybe they will. Don't think about it too much. It might cloud your judgment. Go with your heart, or gut...or whatever body part.