5 Teams To Watch
1. Texas- Call me crazy. Go ahead, do it. Texas is one of the hungriest teams in this tournament solely because of the way they descended this season. Texas had a glimpse of the Nation's Number one spot this season, and tasting that kind of success triggers the biggest craving to get it back. Expect a second round date with John Wall and Co. to not be an easy victory for the 1 seed Wildcats if a victory at all.
2. Marquette- A win over Villanova in the Big East tourney will create a lot of momentum going into the Big Dance, and we all know how important momentum can be (Duke every year). The Golden Eagles led by senior Lazar Hayward, are a traditional Big East basketball team that will run a ton and shoot threes in your face. Marquette's first date is to spoil what has been just about a perfect season for New Mexico, and then most likely tussle with Conference foe West Virginia.
3. Tennessee- Tennessee is a scary team coming out a strong SEC conference where they finished third behind Vandy and Kentucky. What is dangerous about Tennessee, is that they can beat you a lot of different ways with pure athletes up and down their roster. J.P. Prince, Walt Chism, and Bobby Maze constantly create match up problems for opponents and Scotty Hopson can score at will when on. And when Bruce Pearl brings out the Orange Jacket, we know the Vol's are dancing.
4. Notre Dame- There is something about the Irish that makes me believe that they have a "Fighting" chance in this year's tourney. With a probable second round date with the Baylor Bears, Notre Dame needs continue to do what it does best; play hard-nose basketball and dominate teams from behind the arc. If Hansbrough and Abromaitis can continue to carry this team offensively, Luke Harangody will slowly take on his usual load and this team will excel.
5. North Carolina- And by watch I mean watch from your couch Roy Williams.
5 Early Exits
1. Butler- I feel like this time every year we are all in deep thought on the fate of the Butler Bulldogs. Butler to me is like Boise State in football, it is always hard to accept their consistent success because they are in the Horizon Conference. This year I don't think Butler is big enough to be a force in the Tournament. Matt Howard is their only post presence and I feel like Major Conference teams that have plethora's of big men will eat Butler up.
2. Purdue- E-Twaun Moore lost his wing man Robbie Hummel, and with Texas A&M and Duke in their half of their region it is anything but smooth sailing for the Boilermakers. I wouldn't go as far as a first round upset against 13 seed Siena, but Purdue is at risk every time they step on the floor without half of their go-to-combo.
3. Temple- The Owls have had a great season in the A10, but a first round match up with streaky Cornell and a probable second round match up with a strong Wisconsin squad is something that I cannot see the Owls escaping. A shimmer of hope? Fran Dunphy takes a page out of Cheney's book and puts a bounty on some opposing star players. Other than that Temple will need Juan Fernandez to do his best Steph Curry impression for Temple to have any shot.
4. Xavier- Xavier needs Jordan Crawford to show up big time in the first round against a sneaky Minnesota Gophers team and even more against Pittsburgh in the second round; and I just don't see him being able to string together two big games against two solid defenses. Xavier needs big man Jason Love to be of assistance to a back court that will have a lot of pressure put on them for 40 straight minutes. An unpredictable Musketeer team will not be dancing for long due to their inconsistency and semi-tough draw.
5. Lehigh- If no other predictions check out. This one will.
Final Four Favorites
Midwest Region- Kansas is the number one team for a reason; they are simply elite. The Jayhawks will not even be rattled until their Elite 8 date with Ohio State where they will send Evan Turner and the boys back to the Buckeye State. Sherron Collins has so much experience on this stage to make up for anyone on Kansas who doesn't, a leader in every sense of the word that only great teams have. Kansas will not only rise out of the Midwest but take the Championship Trophy back home as well. Not only is Kansas more experienced and disciplined than just about any team in the tournament, but the fact that they put five scoring threats on the floor at one time, doesn't hurt a little.
West Region- This is by far the weakest Region in the Tournament with the weakest 1 and 2 with Syracuse and Kansas State. Syracuse, however tinted it may be, will rise out of the West Division into the Final Four. Despite a rocky ending to the season, 'Cuse will get its act together behind Andy Rautins, Wesley Johnson, and Arinze Onuaku, and will be there
East Region- This Region is coming down to two of the tournament's best teams, the Kentucky Wildcats and the West Virginia Mountaineers. The Mountaineers were amazing in the Big East tournament behind Da'Sean Butler and Devin Ebanks who are not only great but extremely clutch as well. Clutch teams go far in the NCAA tourney. Kentucky is really young and that inexperience in "big game" situations will show in the NCAA tournament when Big East Champion West Virginia waltz's into the Final Four.
South Region- Duke, as a number one, will soar through the South because teams that can contend with them down low can't stick with them up top, and teams that can stick with them up top cannot keep up with them down low. Nolan Smith and Jon Scheyer are two of the most mature guards in the Nation, and maturity is key when in the tournament spotlight. Villanova will pose a threat to the Blue Devils, but their inability to show up in big games, and make things happen in the paint will keep them tied to the ground. Duke will set up an April 5th National Championship date with the Kansas Jayhawks, but will have a hard time keeping up with the speed and athleticism of Kansas, leaving them with second place.
JD
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