Written By: Cameron Bramham
What a year for college basketball fans! Reflecting on the all-around amazing display of team and individual talent this past season, it is difficult to predict if this year’s dance will be as exciting and unpredictable as last year’s tournament. I mean, the title game ended on a Villanova buzzer beating three-point basket to win it all for the Wildcats. However, one cannot ignore the fact that each tournament brings new hope for 68 teams who are starting new postseasons for themselves with a chance to win it all. Yes, there are heavy favorites and huge underdogs, but the announcement of the tournament field creates more than excitement and uncertainty. It produces questions, predictions, debates, and best of all unscripted, heart-pumping drama.
Will ‘Nova’ repeat? Can Gonzaga finally reach a Final Four? Is this the year that a 16 seed finally beats a 1 seed? Highly unlikely on that last one, but these and many other questions are what keeps millions across this country in front of their televisions and computers researching the Cinderella teams and best picks that can make it to Phoenix. Now that the ten-member NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Committee has selected the teams and match-ups, the fun part will now begin. Here are my predictions for each region with upset specials and games to be on the lookout for. After deciding on the winners of each region, we’ll dive into the Final Four and pick the 2017 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Champion. All the buzzer beaters, clutch performances, eye-popping dunks, and historic moments from this season have led up to this moment. Cue the music and strap on those slippers because March is here and the dance is on!
EAST REGION
Breakdown: For the first time since 2007, the defending national champions are the number 1 overall seed. However, we cannot forget that nothing is guaranteed in March and the tournament is unforgiving if you don’t bring your A-game. Every night is a one-game life span for each team followed by another for those who prevail. Being a top seed doesn’t mean a repeat for the Wildcats by any means. In fact, no team has repeated since Florida won it all in 2006 and 2007. It also won’t be an easy road to Phoenix either as the region is loaded with talented teams. Duke comes in as the 2 seed in the East and easily could have been a 1 seed in another region. Baylor is a strange case at the 3 seed as the Bears are on a slide lately and may have peaked early in the season in terms of quality of play. Florida and Virginia check in at the 4 and 5 seeds while SMU, South Carolina, and under-seeded Wisconsin round out the 6, 7, and 8 seeds. Overall this is a very difficult road to Phoenix for any team but most eyes will be on Villanova and Duke to come out of the east.
Potential Cinderella: Although I have all top 8 seeds moving on in this region watch out for UNC Wilmington over Virginia. The tournament is all about finding the best or worst matchups, and the Seahawks are a nightmare opponent for the Cavaliers. Virginia is known for their suffocating defense that wears down opponents and can cause many turnovers. However, UNC Wilmington has turned the ball over fewer times per possession this season than any team at a mere 13.9 percent. If Virginia doesn’t force turnovers, it takes away from their offense which has been stagnant much of the year. Look for the Seahawks to slide on the glass slipper in Orlando and become a Cinderella story in Walt Disney’s backyard.
Potential Best Game-Villanova vs. Duke: Could there be a better possible outcome for the NCAA than a matchup between the defending national champions and one of the more recognizable brands in college basketball? Better yet, put the game in Madison Square Garden under the brightest lights for a spot in the Final Four. Yeah, sign me up! It’s easy to estimate the committee paired these two blue-blood programs in the same bracket on purpose, yet there will be no complaints if both teams take care of business and meet in New York. The key player for this game will be Duke freshman forward Jayson Tatum who has vaulted his game in the past month and scored a total of 88 points in four games during the ACC Tournament. If Villanova can’t find a matchup for him defensively inside and out, they might find themselves down and out in the Big Apple.
Winner: Villanova just has too much experience returning National Player of the Year candidate, senior forward Josh Hart and last season’s national title game hero, senior forward Kris Jenkins along with a very, very good supporting roster. They are as complete of a team as you can get with skilled players on the perimeter and in the paint. They defend just as well as they score and play fundamental basketball as good as any in recent memory. There are very few teams in this tournament that possess every trait needed to win the whole thing, and Villanova is one of those teams. As difficult (and epic) as the matchup with Duke will be, the talent and experience Wildcats’ Head Coach, Jay Wright has stockpiled this year will be too much for any opponent in the East. ‘Nova’ moves on to the Final Four for the second straight year.
WEST REGION
Breakdown: Gonzaga is back as a 1 seed and will play in great geographical locations throughout the tournament at Salt Lake City, San Jose, and Phoenix should they advance. Number 2 seed Arizona is playing as good as any team in the country and 3 seed Florida State boasts as much athleticism as anyone. The potential second round game between 4 seed West Virginia and 5 seed Notre Dame, can be a great chess matchup between two of the best coaches in the nation with Mountaineers Head Coach Bob Huggins and Fighting Irish’s Head coach Mike Brey. Moving down the line, Maryland is a strong and sneaky-good 6 seed while Saint Mary’s and Northwestern are the 7 and 8 seeds. Speaking of Northwestern, they are entering their first NCAA tournament ever in 113 years of basketball. To put this in perspective, the Chicago Cubs waited five fewer years for their elusive World Series title than Northwestern waited to compete in a meaningful postseason game. They are no fluke either and can cause matchup problems for 9 seed Vanderbilt and the ‘Zags’ if they meet in the second round. 10 seed Virginia Commonwealth and 11 seed Xavier are also solid teams as anyone of these 11 teams can win multiple games in this balanced region out west.
Potential Cinderella: It has been four years since Florida Gulf Coast gave us ‘Dunk City’ and became the first 15 seed to reach the Sweet Sixteen. Well, this year’s FGCU squad has more total dunks this season than the 2013 team did. Pair them against an athletic and talented Florida State roster, and we’re in for a lot of fireworks of the throw down variety. This game also screams major upset because the Eagles can match the Seminoles basket for basket. Florida State has had inconsistent spells of play at times this season. They are very strong and difficult to guard when they are on their game, but when their game is off, it is not pretty. Florida Gulf Coast can give Florida State problems for 40 minutes in the half court where they prefer to play. If they can slow the game down, look for the Eagles to keep it close and eventually bounce an inexperienced Seminoles team out of the tournament. History is not on the ‘Noles’ side either as lower seeded teams have won eight of the last nine tournament games they have played in.
Potential Best Game-Gonzaga vs. Vanderbilt: There are many variables for this to happen as ‘Vandy’ needs to hold off a Northwestern team riding emotionally high and playing strong, fundamental basketball. The Commodores will also need to play the game of their lives to pull the upset, but they can easily make the ‘Zags’ sweat this one out and give the fans a great ending that could come down to the final possession. This is always the time of year we see Gonzaga enter the dance with aspirations of breaking through the Elite Eight and reaching the Final Four. Yet they have only made it to the Elite Eight twice and past the second round in seven of their nineteen tournament trips. Like Florida State, history is not on Gonzaga’s side. In 2013 they were also a number 1 seed when 8 seed Wichita State knocked them out in the west region; sound familiar? I am not saying ‘Vandy’ will pull off the upset, but they can shoot the three very well and matchup with Gonzaga at multiple levels on the court. Both factors make this potential matchup an interesting one to look forward to if the dominoes fall in place.
Winner: As a fan, I want to see Gonzaga win this region and make it to their first Final Four. Head Coach Mark Few deserves a chance to compete in the final weekend, of the season but once again, they will fall short of their goal. If not to Northwestern or Vanderbilt in second round, nor even to West Virginia or Notre Dame in the Sweet Sixteen; then definitely to the Arizona Wildcats in the Elite Eight. Let’s be clear, Arizona will ride out of the West region no matter whom they play. They are that good and have premier players at each position. Perimeter scoring threat, sophomore guard Alonzo Trier is playing his best basketball of the season and big man, freshman forward Lauri Markkanen is drawing comparisons to New York Knicks’ phenom Kristaps Porzingis. The key player is undersized junior point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright who is playing a lot taller than his 5-11 frame and hit many clutch baskets for the Wildcats during their Pac-12 Tournament run. Add multiple talented freshmen in the backcourt and a deep frontcourt line, and Arizona is the favorite to make it out of this region and play the Final Four in their home state.
MIDWEST REGION
Breakdown: Top seed Kansas is always a popular pick and the loss against TCU in the Big XII Tournament is not as big a concern as some think. Keep in mind talented freshman forward Josh Jackson, (whom they will have back for the NCAA Tournament) did not play in that game. 2 seed Louisville is as deep a team as any in the country with a rotation of ten players who can contribute at any time. However inconsistent free throw shooting at 68.5 percent is cause for concern primarily in late game situations. 3 through 5 seeds all have some of the best players at their positions in the country. Multi-level junior forward Dillon Brooks can score inside and out for 3 seed Oregon, 4 seed Purdue has sophomore power forward Caleb Swanigan who led the nation in double-doubles and will most likely be a First Team All-American. 5 seed Iowa State has (potentially) the nation’s best floor general in senior point guard Monte Morris who has successful tournament experience as well.
Potential Cinderella: There are two popular picks in the south with 12 seed Nevada knocking off Iowa State and 11 seed Rhode Island beating 6 seed Creighton. However, let’s take it a step further with 13 seed Vermont over the Boilermakers. It’s a stretch and a longshot for sure, but that’s what makes choosing Cinderella teams so exciting. The Catamounts rolled through the American East Conference without losing a single game and are currently on the nation’s longest active win streak at 21 games. Purdue is coming off a first-round loss in last year’s tournament to Arkansas Little Rock. Although Swanigan plays like a man amongst boys, Vermont knows how to defend allowing only 61.6 points per game, ranking them 11th in the nation. Purdue’s style of play is slow, and although they are third in the country in assists, Vermont can match them defensively. Swanigan will get his points and rebounds, but his teammates can be contained by Vermont’s perimeter defense. There are many sexy picks for potential upsets in this region, but one that most won’t recognize is Vermont over Purdue.
Potential Best Game-Kansas vs. Louisville: The Cards and Wolverines is very intriguing simply because of the Michigan’s recent run to the Big Ten Tournament title after the incident with their plane running off the runway which forced them to nearly miss the tournament completely. However, the matchup against the Cards is not favorable for Michigan because Louisville possesses too much length and size on the front line. To be fair, the Jayhawks also lack depth and length up front but make up for it with seasoned guard play and tremendous talent on the perimeter. Senior guard Frank Mason and junior guard Devonte Graham are experienced back-court mates who can shoot, get in the lane, defend very well, play both guard positions, and pretty much anything else Head Coach Bill Self needs them to do. Louisville guard Donovan Mitchell is having a tremendous breakout season and has seen his three-point percentage increase ten percent from his freshmen year. He also led the ACC in steals and is Louisville’s best all-around player. This game would feature two storied programs and two Hall-of-Fame head coaches in Bill Self and Louisville’s Rick Pitino going head to head in Kansas City. There will be displays of talent everywhere and could produce a phenomenal game played at an extremely high and intense level.
Winner: Before the tournament began I really liked Oregon as a Final Four team but that all changed with the announcement of senior forward Chris Boucher’s torn ACL injury, ending his season and changing my opinion of the Ducks. Losing a player of Boucher’s caliber changes a team’s DNA and how they perform in games. Other unproven players need to slide into the void and this will affect Oregon down the line. They still have enough talent to get in through to the second weekend but they won’t beat Louisville or Michigan in the Sweet Sixteen and could even lose to Rhode Island or Creighton in the second round. Because of this adjustment, I am now choosing Kansas as the team to beat in this region. Although Louisville can pull off a win against ‘Rock Chalk’, I’m still not sold on the Cardinals’ decision making and free-throw shooting in late game situations. Give me an experienced backcourt and perimeter talent in any big-time tournament game and that’s exactly what Kansas provides on the court. The key player will be Jackson who is a do-it-all type of talent and can score in multiple ways from inside the paint, beyond the arc and everywhere in between. A potential top-five pick in this summer’s NBA Draft, the small forward is a matchup concern for the Cards’ defense. He can play at the power forward spot as well, giving the Jayhawks a fast-paced lineup that gets out in transition and runs opposing teams off the three-point line where Mason and Graham will distribute the basketball to open shooters. Look for Jackson to ball out against Louisville scoring over 20 points, leading the Jayhawks to Phoenix, and solidifying himself as a future NBA star.
SOUTH REGION
Breakdown: Talk about pedigree! The top 3 seeds are three of the most storied basketball programs in the country. 1 seed North Carolina comes in after last season’s heartbreaking loss in the national title game and brings in a deep and experienced team that is loaded with size, talent, and speed at every position. 2 seed a group of freshmen once again leads Kentucky, mainly the backcourt duo of point guard De’Aaron Fox and shooting guard Malik Monk with both on paths towards lottery selections in the upcoming NBA Draft. While freshman superstar guard Lonzo Ball leads the 3 seeded UCLA Bruins and a talented roster that many consider to be the best offense in the country. Down the line, 4 seed Butler beat Villanova twice this year, and 5 seed Minnesota led the nation in blocks at 6.79 per game. 6 seed Cincinnati, 7 seed Dayton, 8 seed Arkansas, 9 seed Seton Hall, and 10 seed Wichita State (who is severely under-seeded) are all teams that can provide exciting games between each other and the higher ranked teams in this region. The south region could be the toughest corner of the bracket.
Potential Cinderella: Last year we saw another 2 seed lose in the first round when Michigan State ran into a relatively unknown Middle Tennessee State team that gave Sparty matchup issues and was too much for Head Coach Tom Izzo to overcome. The Blue Raiders are now back in the tournament and are seeded three spots higher as a 12 seed this time around. Cinderella in name only, this team is for real and has talent all over the hardwood. Junior guard Giddy Potts (probably the best name in the tournament), senior forward Reggie Upshaw and senior forward JaCorey Williams lead the Raiders through the madness once again yet they are by no means an unknown team anymore. In fact, many consider this team to be more talented and much better than last year’s squad. Keep in mind this team is still the lower seed and still considered an underdog. Unlike most darling tournament teams, however, they do not feel like a Cinderella team invited to the dance. They feel like a team that belongs in the dance and I believe they will prove it knocking off both Minnesota and Butler, dancing well past curfew. The clock towards midnight just might slow down for this team, and one would be wise to keep a sharp eye on them as they can easily make a deeper run this year.
Potential Best Game-Kentucky vs. UCLA: Those looking for an NBA-style game in this tournament needs to cheer for the Wildcats and Bruins to meet in the Sweet Sixteen. This season UCLA ranked first in points at 90.4 scored per game and Kentucky ranked fifth at 86.1 scored per game. Both teams love to run, both teams love to shoot, and both teams absolutely love to score! They thrive on it and each squad has an array of players inside and out that can do damage from anywhere on the court. Both teams potentially have difficult second round matchups with Kentucky facing Wichita State who is very good. I say again, Wichita State is very good, and if the Wildcats sleep on them, they’ll be heading home early. UCLA may have to face a Cincinnati team that plays a lot more physical than the Bruins are used to and that matchup could cause UCLA to bow out early. However, both teams are two of the best in the country and have what it takes to cut down the nets in Phoenix. It’s basically a Final Four caliber game being played in the Sweet Sixteen, and the score can certainly reach over 160 combined points. Whichever team has the ball last will have the best chance to win this track meet. Look for Monk or Ball to take the game-winning shot should it come down to that moment and expect nothing but buckets.
Winner: Every year a team gets hot and starts playing to its full potential towards the end of the season heading into March. They then go on a major run that leads them to the final weekend of the tournament. This year, that team is Kentucky, and Head Coach John Calipari has his Wildcats playing the best they have all season. This isn’t the most talented team he’s had in Lexington, but they are one of the more exciting and unpredictable Wildcat teams for sure. They are also one of Calipari’s more experienced teams with two seniors in guard Dominque Hawkins and senior forward Derrek Willis, both who contributes in different ways off the bench. A key turnaround for the Wildcats has been the emergence of freshman center Edrice ‘Bam’ Adebayo who is now playing like the top ten recruit he was coming out of high school. He has slimmed down losing over ten pounds in the past month and is now more powerful on the block and extremely athletic around the rim. He snags offensive rebounds like Charles Barkley and dunks the ball off missed shots and lobs from Fox left and right. Although Fox and Monk continue performing at high levels, the supporting cast is starting to catch up, and that makes this team very dangerous. Look for the Cats to beat UCLA and then North Carolina in another amazing game between the two storied programs and reach the Final Four.
FINAL FOUR
Villanova vs. Arizona: Wildcats vs. Wildcats in the first Final Four matchup! Again, ‘Nova’ has all the pieces to repeat as champs but this Arizona team is the most talented and deepest that Head Coach Sean Miller has had in Tucson, and his Wildcats have the skills and firepower to take down Wright’s Wildcats in the desert. It’s also worth noting this game will be played in Arizona’s backyard and University of Phoenix Stadium will be packed with ‘Zona’ fans. Although that won’t shake Villanova, it will do enough to inspire and excite an Arizona team to victory. Arizona’s Trier matches Villanova’s Hart shot for shot and senior guard Kadeem Allen makes a couple of big plays towards the end of the game to vault ‘Zona’ into the National Championship game.
Kansas vs. Kentucky: This is a rematch from an incredible game played in January that was won by the Jayhawks in a hostile environment at Rupp Arena. Kansas left Lexington with the victory due to their experience and ability to make plays late in the game. The environment was electric, and I expect it to be no different this time around. I also expect another Kansas win against the Wildcats. Jackson will continue his tournament dominance while Mason and Graham make play after play, giving the Jayhawks their third appearance in the title game under Self. The X-factor for this game is senior forward Laden Lucas who must stay out of foul trouble and remain on the court shutting down Bam Adebayo and the rest of Kentucky’s post game. Kentucky’s youth will surface once again as either Monk, Fox, or both take ill-advised shots late in the game and miss them. Kansas knocks down their free throws to once again pull away late and march onto the title game against those other Wildcats.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Arizona vs. Kansas: Well here we are at basketball’s biggest stage in early April. The Wildcats and Jayhawks are both historically great programs and enter this game with passionate fan bases behind them. Once again, ‘Zona’ will have the overall crowd advantage but don’t underestimate the noise that Kansas fans create. After all, they only broke the Guinness World Record for loudest indoor arena on February 13 during the Jayhawks incredible comeback against West Virginia. They can bring the volume and their players always respond. This game will be played at a very high level of fundamental basketball and could go down to the wire. However, Arizona goes cold from the outside when it matters most, and Mason knocks down two huge three-pointers within the last four minutes to give the Jayhawks a six-point lead heading into the final minute. A couple missed threes from Trier and Jackson-Cartwright and made free throws from Mason and Graham gives the Jayhawks a ten-point victory and their fourth NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship and second under Head Coach Bill Self. Rockchalk Jayhawk reigns supreme in the desert while Mason earns Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player and caps off an amazing tournament.
Obviously, this is all opinionated and more than likely half of the picks will be wrong, but that’s the beauty of the madness. Hopefully, this can at least give those who read it more insight for their brackets. The best piece of advice I can leave you with is to roll the dice on some decisions, trust your gut and just enjoy everything this time of the year offers college basketball fans. It really is a magical time to be a sports fan and with all due respect to other postseasons in sports there is nothing that compares to the atmosphere and unstable excitement created by all the uncertainty each game brings. Good luck on your brackets and embrace the madness everywhere!
Will ‘Nova’ repeat? Can Gonzaga finally reach a Final Four? Is this the year that a 16 seed finally beats a 1 seed? Highly unlikely on that last one, but these and many other questions are what keeps millions across this country in front of their televisions and computers researching the Cinderella teams and best picks that can make it to Phoenix. Now that the ten-member NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Committee has selected the teams and match-ups, the fun part will now begin. Here are my predictions for each region with upset specials and games to be on the lookout for. After deciding on the winners of each region, we’ll dive into the Final Four and pick the 2017 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Champion. All the buzzer beaters, clutch performances, eye-popping dunks, and historic moments from this season have led up to this moment. Cue the music and strap on those slippers because March is here and the dance is on!
EAST REGION
Breakdown: For the first time since 2007, the defending national champions are the number 1 overall seed. However, we cannot forget that nothing is guaranteed in March and the tournament is unforgiving if you don’t bring your A-game. Every night is a one-game life span for each team followed by another for those who prevail. Being a top seed doesn’t mean a repeat for the Wildcats by any means. In fact, no team has repeated since Florida won it all in 2006 and 2007. It also won’t be an easy road to Phoenix either as the region is loaded with talented teams. Duke comes in as the 2 seed in the East and easily could have been a 1 seed in another region. Baylor is a strange case at the 3 seed as the Bears are on a slide lately and may have peaked early in the season in terms of quality of play. Florida and Virginia check in at the 4 and 5 seeds while SMU, South Carolina, and under-seeded Wisconsin round out the 6, 7, and 8 seeds. Overall this is a very difficult road to Phoenix for any team but most eyes will be on Villanova and Duke to come out of the east.
Potential Cinderella: Although I have all top 8 seeds moving on in this region watch out for UNC Wilmington over Virginia. The tournament is all about finding the best or worst matchups, and the Seahawks are a nightmare opponent for the Cavaliers. Virginia is known for their suffocating defense that wears down opponents and can cause many turnovers. However, UNC Wilmington has turned the ball over fewer times per possession this season than any team at a mere 13.9 percent. If Virginia doesn’t force turnovers, it takes away from their offense which has been stagnant much of the year. Look for the Seahawks to slide on the glass slipper in Orlando and become a Cinderella story in Walt Disney’s backyard.
Potential Best Game-Villanova vs. Duke: Could there be a better possible outcome for the NCAA than a matchup between the defending national champions and one of the more recognizable brands in college basketball? Better yet, put the game in Madison Square Garden under the brightest lights for a spot in the Final Four. Yeah, sign me up! It’s easy to estimate the committee paired these two blue-blood programs in the same bracket on purpose, yet there will be no complaints if both teams take care of business and meet in New York. The key player for this game will be Duke freshman forward Jayson Tatum who has vaulted his game in the past month and scored a total of 88 points in four games during the ACC Tournament. If Villanova can’t find a matchup for him defensively inside and out, they might find themselves down and out in the Big Apple.
Winner: Villanova just has too much experience returning National Player of the Year candidate, senior forward Josh Hart and last season’s national title game hero, senior forward Kris Jenkins along with a very, very good supporting roster. They are as complete of a team as you can get with skilled players on the perimeter and in the paint. They defend just as well as they score and play fundamental basketball as good as any in recent memory. There are very few teams in this tournament that possess every trait needed to win the whole thing, and Villanova is one of those teams. As difficult (and epic) as the matchup with Duke will be, the talent and experience Wildcats’ Head Coach, Jay Wright has stockpiled this year will be too much for any opponent in the East. ‘Nova’ moves on to the Final Four for the second straight year.
WEST REGION
Breakdown: Gonzaga is back as a 1 seed and will play in great geographical locations throughout the tournament at Salt Lake City, San Jose, and Phoenix should they advance. Number 2 seed Arizona is playing as good as any team in the country and 3 seed Florida State boasts as much athleticism as anyone. The potential second round game between 4 seed West Virginia and 5 seed Notre Dame, can be a great chess matchup between two of the best coaches in the nation with Mountaineers Head Coach Bob Huggins and Fighting Irish’s Head coach Mike Brey. Moving down the line, Maryland is a strong and sneaky-good 6 seed while Saint Mary’s and Northwestern are the 7 and 8 seeds. Speaking of Northwestern, they are entering their first NCAA tournament ever in 113 years of basketball. To put this in perspective, the Chicago Cubs waited five fewer years for their elusive World Series title than Northwestern waited to compete in a meaningful postseason game. They are no fluke either and can cause matchup problems for 9 seed Vanderbilt and the ‘Zags’ if they meet in the second round. 10 seed Virginia Commonwealth and 11 seed Xavier are also solid teams as anyone of these 11 teams can win multiple games in this balanced region out west.
Potential Cinderella: It has been four years since Florida Gulf Coast gave us ‘Dunk City’ and became the first 15 seed to reach the Sweet Sixteen. Well, this year’s FGCU squad has more total dunks this season than the 2013 team did. Pair them against an athletic and talented Florida State roster, and we’re in for a lot of fireworks of the throw down variety. This game also screams major upset because the Eagles can match the Seminoles basket for basket. Florida State has had inconsistent spells of play at times this season. They are very strong and difficult to guard when they are on their game, but when their game is off, it is not pretty. Florida Gulf Coast can give Florida State problems for 40 minutes in the half court where they prefer to play. If they can slow the game down, look for the Eagles to keep it close and eventually bounce an inexperienced Seminoles team out of the tournament. History is not on the ‘Noles’ side either as lower seeded teams have won eight of the last nine tournament games they have played in.
Potential Best Game-Gonzaga vs. Vanderbilt: There are many variables for this to happen as ‘Vandy’ needs to hold off a Northwestern team riding emotionally high and playing strong, fundamental basketball. The Commodores will also need to play the game of their lives to pull the upset, but they can easily make the ‘Zags’ sweat this one out and give the fans a great ending that could come down to the final possession. This is always the time of year we see Gonzaga enter the dance with aspirations of breaking through the Elite Eight and reaching the Final Four. Yet they have only made it to the Elite Eight twice and past the second round in seven of their nineteen tournament trips. Like Florida State, history is not on Gonzaga’s side. In 2013 they were also a number 1 seed when 8 seed Wichita State knocked them out in the west region; sound familiar? I am not saying ‘Vandy’ will pull off the upset, but they can shoot the three very well and matchup with Gonzaga at multiple levels on the court. Both factors make this potential matchup an interesting one to look forward to if the dominoes fall in place.
Winner: As a fan, I want to see Gonzaga win this region and make it to their first Final Four. Head Coach Mark Few deserves a chance to compete in the final weekend, of the season but once again, they will fall short of their goal. If not to Northwestern or Vanderbilt in second round, nor even to West Virginia or Notre Dame in the Sweet Sixteen; then definitely to the Arizona Wildcats in the Elite Eight. Let’s be clear, Arizona will ride out of the West region no matter whom they play. They are that good and have premier players at each position. Perimeter scoring threat, sophomore guard Alonzo Trier is playing his best basketball of the season and big man, freshman forward Lauri Markkanen is drawing comparisons to New York Knicks’ phenom Kristaps Porzingis. The key player is undersized junior point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright who is playing a lot taller than his 5-11 frame and hit many clutch baskets for the Wildcats during their Pac-12 Tournament run. Add multiple talented freshmen in the backcourt and a deep frontcourt line, and Arizona is the favorite to make it out of this region and play the Final Four in their home state.
MIDWEST REGION
Breakdown: Top seed Kansas is always a popular pick and the loss against TCU in the Big XII Tournament is not as big a concern as some think. Keep in mind talented freshman forward Josh Jackson, (whom they will have back for the NCAA Tournament) did not play in that game. 2 seed Louisville is as deep a team as any in the country with a rotation of ten players who can contribute at any time. However inconsistent free throw shooting at 68.5 percent is cause for concern primarily in late game situations. 3 through 5 seeds all have some of the best players at their positions in the country. Multi-level junior forward Dillon Brooks can score inside and out for 3 seed Oregon, 4 seed Purdue has sophomore power forward Caleb Swanigan who led the nation in double-doubles and will most likely be a First Team All-American. 5 seed Iowa State has (potentially) the nation’s best floor general in senior point guard Monte Morris who has successful tournament experience as well.
Potential Cinderella: There are two popular picks in the south with 12 seed Nevada knocking off Iowa State and 11 seed Rhode Island beating 6 seed Creighton. However, let’s take it a step further with 13 seed Vermont over the Boilermakers. It’s a stretch and a longshot for sure, but that’s what makes choosing Cinderella teams so exciting. The Catamounts rolled through the American East Conference without losing a single game and are currently on the nation’s longest active win streak at 21 games. Purdue is coming off a first-round loss in last year’s tournament to Arkansas Little Rock. Although Swanigan plays like a man amongst boys, Vermont knows how to defend allowing only 61.6 points per game, ranking them 11th in the nation. Purdue’s style of play is slow, and although they are third in the country in assists, Vermont can match them defensively. Swanigan will get his points and rebounds, but his teammates can be contained by Vermont’s perimeter defense. There are many sexy picks for potential upsets in this region, but one that most won’t recognize is Vermont over Purdue.
Potential Best Game-Kansas vs. Louisville: The Cards and Wolverines is very intriguing simply because of the Michigan’s recent run to the Big Ten Tournament title after the incident with their plane running off the runway which forced them to nearly miss the tournament completely. However, the matchup against the Cards is not favorable for Michigan because Louisville possesses too much length and size on the front line. To be fair, the Jayhawks also lack depth and length up front but make up for it with seasoned guard play and tremendous talent on the perimeter. Senior guard Frank Mason and junior guard Devonte Graham are experienced back-court mates who can shoot, get in the lane, defend very well, play both guard positions, and pretty much anything else Head Coach Bill Self needs them to do. Louisville guard Donovan Mitchell is having a tremendous breakout season and has seen his three-point percentage increase ten percent from his freshmen year. He also led the ACC in steals and is Louisville’s best all-around player. This game would feature two storied programs and two Hall-of-Fame head coaches in Bill Self and Louisville’s Rick Pitino going head to head in Kansas City. There will be displays of talent everywhere and could produce a phenomenal game played at an extremely high and intense level.
Winner: Before the tournament began I really liked Oregon as a Final Four team but that all changed with the announcement of senior forward Chris Boucher’s torn ACL injury, ending his season and changing my opinion of the Ducks. Losing a player of Boucher’s caliber changes a team’s DNA and how they perform in games. Other unproven players need to slide into the void and this will affect Oregon down the line. They still have enough talent to get in through to the second weekend but they won’t beat Louisville or Michigan in the Sweet Sixteen and could even lose to Rhode Island or Creighton in the second round. Because of this adjustment, I am now choosing Kansas as the team to beat in this region. Although Louisville can pull off a win against ‘Rock Chalk’, I’m still not sold on the Cardinals’ decision making and free-throw shooting in late game situations. Give me an experienced backcourt and perimeter talent in any big-time tournament game and that’s exactly what Kansas provides on the court. The key player will be Jackson who is a do-it-all type of talent and can score in multiple ways from inside the paint, beyond the arc and everywhere in between. A potential top-five pick in this summer’s NBA Draft, the small forward is a matchup concern for the Cards’ defense. He can play at the power forward spot as well, giving the Jayhawks a fast-paced lineup that gets out in transition and runs opposing teams off the three-point line where Mason and Graham will distribute the basketball to open shooters. Look for Jackson to ball out against Louisville scoring over 20 points, leading the Jayhawks to Phoenix, and solidifying himself as a future NBA star.
SOUTH REGION
Breakdown: Talk about pedigree! The top 3 seeds are three of the most storied basketball programs in the country. 1 seed North Carolina comes in after last season’s heartbreaking loss in the national title game and brings in a deep and experienced team that is loaded with size, talent, and speed at every position. 2 seed a group of freshmen once again leads Kentucky, mainly the backcourt duo of point guard De’Aaron Fox and shooting guard Malik Monk with both on paths towards lottery selections in the upcoming NBA Draft. While freshman superstar guard Lonzo Ball leads the 3 seeded UCLA Bruins and a talented roster that many consider to be the best offense in the country. Down the line, 4 seed Butler beat Villanova twice this year, and 5 seed Minnesota led the nation in blocks at 6.79 per game. 6 seed Cincinnati, 7 seed Dayton, 8 seed Arkansas, 9 seed Seton Hall, and 10 seed Wichita State (who is severely under-seeded) are all teams that can provide exciting games between each other and the higher ranked teams in this region. The south region could be the toughest corner of the bracket.
Potential Cinderella: Last year we saw another 2 seed lose in the first round when Michigan State ran into a relatively unknown Middle Tennessee State team that gave Sparty matchup issues and was too much for Head Coach Tom Izzo to overcome. The Blue Raiders are now back in the tournament and are seeded three spots higher as a 12 seed this time around. Cinderella in name only, this team is for real and has talent all over the hardwood. Junior guard Giddy Potts (probably the best name in the tournament), senior forward Reggie Upshaw and senior forward JaCorey Williams lead the Raiders through the madness once again yet they are by no means an unknown team anymore. In fact, many consider this team to be more talented and much better than last year’s squad. Keep in mind this team is still the lower seed and still considered an underdog. Unlike most darling tournament teams, however, they do not feel like a Cinderella team invited to the dance. They feel like a team that belongs in the dance and I believe they will prove it knocking off both Minnesota and Butler, dancing well past curfew. The clock towards midnight just might slow down for this team, and one would be wise to keep a sharp eye on them as they can easily make a deeper run this year.
Potential Best Game-Kentucky vs. UCLA: Those looking for an NBA-style game in this tournament needs to cheer for the Wildcats and Bruins to meet in the Sweet Sixteen. This season UCLA ranked first in points at 90.4 scored per game and Kentucky ranked fifth at 86.1 scored per game. Both teams love to run, both teams love to shoot, and both teams absolutely love to score! They thrive on it and each squad has an array of players inside and out that can do damage from anywhere on the court. Both teams potentially have difficult second round matchups with Kentucky facing Wichita State who is very good. I say again, Wichita State is very good, and if the Wildcats sleep on them, they’ll be heading home early. UCLA may have to face a Cincinnati team that plays a lot more physical than the Bruins are used to and that matchup could cause UCLA to bow out early. However, both teams are two of the best in the country and have what it takes to cut down the nets in Phoenix. It’s basically a Final Four caliber game being played in the Sweet Sixteen, and the score can certainly reach over 160 combined points. Whichever team has the ball last will have the best chance to win this track meet. Look for Monk or Ball to take the game-winning shot should it come down to that moment and expect nothing but buckets.
Winner: Every year a team gets hot and starts playing to its full potential towards the end of the season heading into March. They then go on a major run that leads them to the final weekend of the tournament. This year, that team is Kentucky, and Head Coach John Calipari has his Wildcats playing the best they have all season. This isn’t the most talented team he’s had in Lexington, but they are one of the more exciting and unpredictable Wildcat teams for sure. They are also one of Calipari’s more experienced teams with two seniors in guard Dominque Hawkins and senior forward Derrek Willis, both who contributes in different ways off the bench. A key turnaround for the Wildcats has been the emergence of freshman center Edrice ‘Bam’ Adebayo who is now playing like the top ten recruit he was coming out of high school. He has slimmed down losing over ten pounds in the past month and is now more powerful on the block and extremely athletic around the rim. He snags offensive rebounds like Charles Barkley and dunks the ball off missed shots and lobs from Fox left and right. Although Fox and Monk continue performing at high levels, the supporting cast is starting to catch up, and that makes this team very dangerous. Look for the Cats to beat UCLA and then North Carolina in another amazing game between the two storied programs and reach the Final Four.
FINAL FOUR
Villanova vs. Arizona: Wildcats vs. Wildcats in the first Final Four matchup! Again, ‘Nova’ has all the pieces to repeat as champs but this Arizona team is the most talented and deepest that Head Coach Sean Miller has had in Tucson, and his Wildcats have the skills and firepower to take down Wright’s Wildcats in the desert. It’s also worth noting this game will be played in Arizona’s backyard and University of Phoenix Stadium will be packed with ‘Zona’ fans. Although that won’t shake Villanova, it will do enough to inspire and excite an Arizona team to victory. Arizona’s Trier matches Villanova’s Hart shot for shot and senior guard Kadeem Allen makes a couple of big plays towards the end of the game to vault ‘Zona’ into the National Championship game.
Kansas vs. Kentucky: This is a rematch from an incredible game played in January that was won by the Jayhawks in a hostile environment at Rupp Arena. Kansas left Lexington with the victory due to their experience and ability to make plays late in the game. The environment was electric, and I expect it to be no different this time around. I also expect another Kansas win against the Wildcats. Jackson will continue his tournament dominance while Mason and Graham make play after play, giving the Jayhawks their third appearance in the title game under Self. The X-factor for this game is senior forward Laden Lucas who must stay out of foul trouble and remain on the court shutting down Bam Adebayo and the rest of Kentucky’s post game. Kentucky’s youth will surface once again as either Monk, Fox, or both take ill-advised shots late in the game and miss them. Kansas knocks down their free throws to once again pull away late and march onto the title game against those other Wildcats.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Arizona vs. Kansas: Well here we are at basketball’s biggest stage in early April. The Wildcats and Jayhawks are both historically great programs and enter this game with passionate fan bases behind them. Once again, ‘Zona’ will have the overall crowd advantage but don’t underestimate the noise that Kansas fans create. After all, they only broke the Guinness World Record for loudest indoor arena on February 13 during the Jayhawks incredible comeback against West Virginia. They can bring the volume and their players always respond. This game will be played at a very high level of fundamental basketball and could go down to the wire. However, Arizona goes cold from the outside when it matters most, and Mason knocks down two huge three-pointers within the last four minutes to give the Jayhawks a six-point lead heading into the final minute. A couple missed threes from Trier and Jackson-Cartwright and made free throws from Mason and Graham gives the Jayhawks a ten-point victory and their fourth NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship and second under Head Coach Bill Self. Rockchalk Jayhawk reigns supreme in the desert while Mason earns Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player and caps off an amazing tournament.
Obviously, this is all opinionated and more than likely half of the picks will be wrong, but that’s the beauty of the madness. Hopefully, this can at least give those who read it more insight for their brackets. The best piece of advice I can leave you with is to roll the dice on some decisions, trust your gut and just enjoy everything this time of the year offers college basketball fans. It really is a magical time to be a sports fan and with all due respect to other postseasons in sports there is nothing that compares to the atmosphere and unstable excitement created by all the uncertainty each game brings. Good luck on your brackets and embrace the madness everywhere!