If you like insane amounts of competition and drama crammed into the smallest conceivable window of time possible, then the NCAA tournament is for you. Let’s jump right into our predictions for this year’s tournament, which could turn out to be a classic.
Midwest Region
The most hyped bracket lies in the Midwest region, which features overall #1 seed Louisville, and perennial powerhouses Duke and Michigan State. You’d be hard pressed to find a single region with more coaches that have ascended to baller status ever in tournament history. Rick Pitino, Mike Krzyzewski and Tom Izzo always have their troops prepared in March. Izzo has been especially impressive, as his teams don’t always necessarily have the most talent. Each of these schools has the potential to reach the Final Four in Atlanta, but there’s another less-heralded group that has caught the eye of this observer.
The four-seeded Saint Louis Billikens has quietly put together quite a season. After falling just short of making the Sweet Sixteen last season, and bowing out to Michigan State after a hard fought game, then coach Rick Majerus and his team left fans with a memorable presser about not just what it means to be a coach, but what it means to be a mentor (it’s a long, but powerful clip, especially when the players speak on their coach). Majerus would never coach another game, as he passed away at age 65 from heart failure back in December after taking a medical leave of absence.The juniors and seniors on the team served as the pallbearers at his funeral.
Now coached by former assistant Jim Crews, the Billikens are poised for a deep run. Led by junior Dwayne Evans, Saint Louis has played this entire season with a greater purpose (24-3 since Majerus’ passing). They’ve already beaten New Mexico, VCU twice and Butler three times.
We already know how teams can respond when playing for something greater than personal glory— look no further than the Super Bowl. Saint Louis is a talented and disciplined team that can knock off Louisville and shock the Blue Devils to earn a trip to the Final Four.
Louisville is a popular choice to win it all, but as good as they are, they don’t seem to pass the eye test. Russ Smith and Peyton Siva are as quick of a backcourt as there is in the country, but neither shoot well at all and Russ’ erratic decision-making leaves a lot to be desired down the stretch of games, which could ultimately be their undoing.
West Region
The Bulldogs from Gonzaga head up what is largely regarded as the weakest region, which is quite the back-handed compliment to the Zags, but they’re probably not complaining.
Still, Gonzaga is no longer a Cinderella team that’s “just happy to be there”. After a 30-2 season they really believe they can win this thing.
I have my doubts.
While it’s to be somewhat expected, the Bulldogs haven’t beaten anybody this year. Their toughest opponents this season were Illinois (loss), Butler (loss) and St. Mary’s, whom they beat three times. This is the same Saint Mary’s team that had to win a play-in game the other night just to make the field of 64.
If Kelly Olynyk and son-of-Stockton want HHSR’s respect, they’ll have to earn it over the next three weeks. Until further notice, Gonzaga is just the basketball version of Boise State. Very talented squad from a small school in a mid-major conference. But they gotta swing with the big boys consistently if they want that respect.
Meanwhile, the rest of this bracket is filled with their share of question marks. New Mexico is a quality team, as is Wisconsin and Kansas State. Everybody is talking about how Oregon won their conference tournament & got hosed on their seeding, but nobody is saying the same thing about Ole Miss, who won the SEC tournament on Sunday. Belmont could also shock a few teams with their dead-eye shooting. But one team has emerged as the favorite from this region, and they aren’t even the top seed.
Sidebar: Ole Miss’ Marshall Henderson seems to be such an incredible douchebag, that I just can’t help but root for him. The more Henderson, the better, in this tournament.
Oh, word? You think your favorite player plays lockdown D? Check out Aaron Craft.
ESPN’s Dick Vitale, and many others, have The Ohio State University Buckeyes representing the West Region in Atlanta. After a decent, but far from stellar start to the season, the Bucks finished strong with a win at Indiana, which propelled them into the B1G Conference Tournament (largely viewed as the deepest conference this season). OSU knocked off Wisconsin to win the tourny, and was rewarded with the Young Berg bracket.
This is not the most talented team Thad Matta has been given during his time at Ohio State. In fact, last year’s Final Four team had way more weapons. But this year’s group is high on heart. The grit that this team has show all year — particularly in their last 12 games — has been impressive and this team has taken on the identity of its emotional leader, Aaron Craft. The junior point guard is truly phenomenal on the defensive end of the court. The Buckeyes are only go as far as he, and top scorer Deshaun Thomas take them. Thomas has struggled with his shot of late, but he should be able to score enough to get the Buckeyes out of the West Region and into the Final Four.
What scares me most about Ohio State is that now, everybody is on their bandwagon. We’ll see if they can deliver under pressure.
South Region
This region is certainly not lacking in star power. Ben McLemore, Otto Porter Jr., Trey Burke, Shabazz Muhammad, James Michael McAdoo and Nate Wolters are just a few of the certified hoopers taking the floor in the South.
McLemore and Porter in particular seem to have the ability to be the best players in the entire field and lead their team to a national championship. Burke and his Michigan Wolverines are solid, but have slipped of late and could be ripe for a first-round upset at the hands of Wolters (22.8 ppg) and South Dakota State.
Porter and Markel Starks are a potent combination for Georgetown and would pose a major obstacle for any team they come up against. Had they been in a different region, they may end up going even further than the Elite Eight, but that’s about as far as they’ll go should they wind up taking on the Kansas Jayhawks, whom we recently pegged as a legitimate threat to win the whole tournament.
North Carolina went to the finals of the ACC Tournament and will not be a fun matchup for the Jayhawks in the second round (Or is it the third round? I don’t even know anymore). I wonder if Roy Williams secretly resents Bill Self for bringing a title to Lawrence, Kansas, something he could never do?
Shabazz Muhammad is an intriguing individual. He’s had a terrific freshman season with UCLA, but some believe he cares more about himself than the team. He was the highest rated player in his senior class and wound up in LA to play (presumably) one year of college ball before jumping to the league. It’s almost a carbon copy of O.J. Mayo’s story as a collegiate athlete. Mayo’s USC Trojans were bounced in their first game— don’t be shocked if the Bruins take an early L.
East Region
When the President of the United States picks you to win the national championship, you know the heat is on. This is the task facing the Indiana Hoosiers. We already explained why Indiana is a team to be reckoned with, but the Miami Hurricanes have inserted themselves into the discussion as a team that can carry this region.
Point guard Shane Larkin has emerged as one of the top flight floor generals in the nation. Barry’s kid leads rugged group of interior defenders that can impose their will on a team more often than not. This group was 4-2 vs the top 25 this season, and won the ACC regular season outright and the conference tournament. Simply put, this is the best season ever for Miami hoops (By the way, how’s their pro team doing?).
In a year where we say goodbye to the Big East — for reasons I’m still not sure about — the conference has once again have contributed a solid group of teams to the tournament. But this year is all about the B1G (writing Big 10 that way is still hilarious). Teams like Syracuse and Marquette are good, but seem to lack the game-to-game intensity it takes to string together six straight games in this environment. This region will come down to Indiana and Miami, with the Hoosiers heading to ATL.
Final Four
We have two #1 seeds, two Big 10 schools and one surprise team in our Final Four…that’s not too bad considering that parody has reigned supreme this season. Ohio State is more a product of the lay of the land, Saint Louis a product of inspiration, and Kansas and Indiana made our Final Four on sheer talent.
In the end, the trio of McLemore, Jeff Withy and Travis Releford should prove to be enough, as we have the Jayhawks climbing the ladder — figuratively and literally — to cut down the nets.
Here is a look at our complete bracket:
Let the massacre begin.
Still, nobody over here will be shocked if three or four teams came from nowhere to make the Final Four. The lighter fluid will be located directly next to the TV in case I need to set my bracket on fire by Friday night.
But this is March Madness— “shocking” became the new normal long ago.
So the only question that remains: Who you got?