NCAA March Madness Predictions: Who Will Win It All?
It’s a little early to get excited about March Madness with so much left to be decided in conference championships, but we can’t help ourselves. Here are some preliminary thoughts about the top few teams and the keys to their success in the tournament.
1. Florida – I think Florida is the most complete team in the tournament. They have enough scoring to allow their tenacious defense to carry the load. Deep enough to run the table, they’re my favorite to win it all right now, but no teams really stand out. This tournament really is anyone’s to steal.
2. Wichita State – The likely one seed is also something of a Cinderella story form a mid-major. They’ve got a couple dynamic weapons, but like most small programs before them I think they lack the depth to truly be competitive. It would shock me if they ran the table, though they are undefeated right now.
3. Arizona – Arizona keeps losing conference games, and it makes it hard to expect them to flip a switch when the tournament starts up. I don’t like the way they’re playing right now, and think it will be tough for them to win it all.
4. Duke – One of the best coaches in the history of the game leads a skilled team that is heating up at the right time. I think Duke has everything it takes to make a run. Then again, didn’t we think that when Duke fell to Lehigh a few years ago? We see you, Mountain Hawks.
5. Virginia – Where did Virginia come from? Again, there’s no truly dominant teams here, but some bad losses fuel a hesitation to back their tournament hopes. I’m not big on UVA this year.
Outside the top five:
7. Syracuse – They’ve stumbled down the stretch, but they can win the close game and they seemed like the best team in college basketball for much of the year. Maybe they don’t have enough, but they’ve got a shot.
8. Kansas – They’re young and volatile, but that makes them extra dangerous. Their inconsistency should doom them when you have to win this many games in a row, though.
9. Wisconsin – People are big on Wisconsin this year. They’ve flown under the radar, but they’ve got some real talent and could make a run.
11. Louisville – They’ve been here before and they’ve got a lot of talent. I think Louisville could make a little run here.
14. North Carolina – It seems like they can beat anyone and lose to anyone. I wouldn’t be surprised if they fell in the first couple rounds, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they found their way to the Elite Eight.
22. Michigan State – They’re finally healthy and if they get hot down the stretch, this could be one of the best teams in the tournament. Watch out!
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