Hello everybody!It feels good to be writing again. I have not typed a word about College Basketball since the season began, so needless to say I have some catching up to do. As you readers are aware, Selection Sunday has passed and we now know where every team stands as far as seeding goes. I will now write about 10 teams who I think can make it to the Final Four and possibly beyond.
#1 Kentucky
The Wildcats have been the best team in the country since Day 1, as they are by far the deepest team in the country. Ever since they obliterated Kansas on opening night, the country has taken notice that the Cats are a force to be reckoned with. This is arguably the best team John Calipari has ever coached, and certainly has more depth than any team Cal has ever led. UK has the #2 scoring defense in the country, allowing just 52.7 points per game, and they are also 2nd in the country in blocked shots, averaging 7 per game. The Cats have a big and aggressive front court, with Willie Cully-Stien and Karl-Anthony Towns leading the way. In the back-court, the Harrison brothers(Andrew and Aaron) are both playing key roles in the Wildcats' success. Aaron leads the team in scoring, averaging 11.2 points per game, while Andrew leads the team is assists with 4.1 per game. Also playing a key role in the back-court is Devin Booker, who is right behind Aaron Harrison with 11.1 points per game. Tyler Ulis, Dakari Johnson and Trey Lyle also play their roles well. Everybody knows how good this team is, and it will be interesting to see if they become the first team since the 1972 Indiana Hoosiers to finish the season perfect and win a National Championship. To the surprise of nobody, the Wildcats received the #1 overall seed and will be playing the winner of the first 4 matchup between #16 Hampton/Manhattan(play in game).
#2 Virginia
This is a team that will not excite a lot of people with the way they play, but while ''first to 50'' style games may be boring, winning is not, and this team wins a lot. Guard Malcolm Brodgon leads the team with 13.5 points per game, and Anthony Gill, Mike Toby and Darion Atkins have all contributed in the front-court, with Gill averaging 11.2 points per game. The Cavs are another team that could win the whole thing, even with their loss to UNC in the ACC Semi-Final on Friday night, as Tony Bennett is qualified to be a national championship head coach. Virginia received a 2 seed and will face off against #15 Belmont.
#2 Gonzaga
Every year, the Zags are questioned for their sub-par level of competition, but I truly believe that this is the best team Mark Few has had at least since Adam Morrison left in 2006. Gonzaga is solid on both sides of the ball. Offensively, they rank in the top 15 nationally in both points per game and assists per game, and are 1st in field goal percentage. On defense, they are 24th in the country in points allowed, and rank 4th in rebounding. Only a overtime loss early in the season to #7 Arizona, as well as a 83-80 defeat at the hands of BYU, has kept the Zags from being the 2nd perfect team in the land. Forward Kyle Wiltjer leads the team with 17 points per game, and guards Kevin Pangos and Byron Wesley are both averaging double figures. 7-1 Center Przemek Karnowski is a great complement to Wiltjer in the front court, and he is averaging 10.6 points and 6 rebounds per game. Another big man, Domantas Sabonis, is also playing a key role, averaging 9.7 points and nearly 7 rebounds per game. The Zags have all the pieces they need to make a deep run, all they have to do is play. The Zags have also received a #2 seed and will face off against #15 North Dakota State.
#1 Duke
You do not have to be a big basketball fan, or even a basketball fan at all to know that Coach K is a great coach. K recently became the first coach in Men's D1 Basketball history to win 1,000 games, and he has a group that is capable of bringing him his 5th national championship. Center Jahil Oakfor is projected to be the 1st overall pick in this June's NBA Draft, and he is complimented in the front court by Justice Winslow. Dukes back-court of Tyus Jones and Quinn Cook is one of the best in the land, and Amille Jefferson provides good defense in the front court. Guards Grayson Allen and Matt Jones provide good minutes off the bench. Duke may not have the depth of Kentucky, but the players they use are talented enough to make a run at the title. They received a #1 seed and will be pitted against the winner of the #16 Robert Morris/North Florida game that will take place in Dayton.
#1 Wisconsin
When you have one of the best coaches in the country, as well as a Wooden Award front runner, you have a great chance to go places. Wisconsin has both of those things. Bo Ryan has been in this game for a while, and he is simply one of the best coaches in the business. Frank Kaminsky is a 7-1 Center who is well established as a dominant force in college basketball. He is aided in the front court by San Dekker and Nigel Hays, who are both averaging a little over 12 points per game. Guard Josh Gasser is also contributing to the cause with his stout defense. I love watching Wisconsin play and believe that they deserved to be a #1 seed. They will face off against #16 Coastal Carolina.
#1 Villanova
The Wildcats have maybe the best back-court in the land. Darrun Hilliard and Ryan Arcidiacono both shoot very well and cause headaches for opposing defenses. In the front court, 6-11 Daniel Ochefu has quietly put together a good season, averaging close to 9 points and over 8 rebounds per game. He is complemented by JayVaughn Pinkston, who is averaging close to 10 points per game. Guards Dylan Ennis and Josh Hart are also averaging close to 10 a game, and Kris Jenkins and Phil Booth are both effective off the bench. All in all, the Wildcats are a very good team and much deeper than people give them credit for. As I suspected, the Wildcats snuck in as a #1 and will face off against #16 Lafayette in my hometown of Pittsburgh.
#2 Arizona
Sean Miller's team keeps getting better and better as the season goes on. TJ McConnell is the Point Guard, and he is one of the best in the country at being a floor general. In the front court, Stanley Johnson, who leads the team with almost 14 PPG and Ronde Hollis-Jefferson are both averaging double figures, and Brandon Ashley is a dangerous 2 guard. The Wildcats rolled through the Pac-12, and I think that they have a great chance to get to the Final Four. Sean Miller as never been to one, and he deserves to get there. This team would have been a #1 almost any other year, but I believe that the committee did the right thing by making them a #2. They will face off against #15 Texas Southern.
#2 Kansas
It was almost a given that Rock Chalk would be mentioned in this article. The Jayhawks have more wins against ranked teams than anybody else in the land, and although they did not win the Big 12 Tournament Championship, I still think they are very dangerous. Forward Perry Ellis leads the team in scoring and rebounding, with 13.8 Points and 7 Rebounds per game. Guard Frank Mason isn't far behind Ellis in scoring, averaging 12.3 points per game while also leading the team in assists with 4 per night. Wayne Seldon is also a factor in the back-court, averaging nearly 10 Points per game, while fellow guard Kelly Obrue is averaging 9.3 points per night. Cliff Alexander is a factor off the bench, as the 6.8 forward is 2nd on the team in rebounding and leads the Jayhawks with a .566 Field Goal percentage, as the Jayhawks hope to get him back from suspension for a suspicion of NCAA violations. The #2 seeded Jayhawks will face off against #15 New Mexico State in the first round.
#3 Notre Dame
The only 3 seed included in this list, the Fighting Irish would almost surely be at least a #2 any other year. But since the top teams are so talented this season, Mike Brey and is team will have to settle for a #3. Make no mistake about it, the Irish are dangerous. The became the 2015 ACC Tournament champions on Saturday night when they defeated North Carolina. Point Guard Jerian Grant is the backbone of the squad, averaging a team high 16.8 PPG and 6.6 Assists Per Game. Grant is complimented in the back-court by Pat Connaughton, who is contributing 12.8 PPG and leads the team with 7.4 Rebounds Per Game. Demetrius Jackson and Steve Vastura are also vital cogs at the guard position. 6-10 Forward Zach Auguste was a beast in the ACC Title Game, and is averaging 12.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. V.J. Beachem and Bonzie Colson add depth in the front-court coming off of the bench. The Irish are a sleeper, and they will face off against #14 Northeastern in the 1st round.
Honorable Mentions: UNC, Lousiville, Baylor, Iowa State
