So lets get right into it and take a look at what we got going into this years tournament.
Kentucky is going into the tournament 34-0, becoming the 19th school in tournament history to head into the NCAA Tournament unbeaten. Last year the Shockers of Wichita State, who came in with the same record as Kentucky at 34-0. Last year the Shockers came up short, falling to Kentucky in the 2nd round. There have been seven teams to run the table, going unbeaten to win a national title, the last team to do it being the Indiana Hoosiers from 1976. The Hoosiers went 27-0 that year to claim the crown. For the Wildcats to that this year, the would have to run the table in the big dance and finish the year at 40-0. A bit of a surprise this year is that the defending national champions, Connecticut, weren't even invited to the big dance. This marks the 4th time since the turn of the century that the champion has failed to make the tournament to defend their crown.
One has to wonder, just how important is seeding in the tournament? In this setup of the win or go home tournament, no seed is safe really. There is one thing we do know for sure, the #16 seeds have had no luck whatsoever in the big dance. The #1 seed is perfect in the opening round, going 120-0 against the #16 seeds. So its a pretty safe bet that Kentucky, Duke, Villanova and Wisconsin will all be moving on after round one. There have been some upsets in the opening round, as there have been seven instances where a #15 has beaten a #2 seed. It's happened in 2013 (Florida Gulf Coast over Georgetown), 2012 (Lehigh over Duke), 2012 (Norfolk State over Missouri), 2001 (Hampton over Iowa State), 1997 (Coppin State over South Carolina), 1993 (Santa Clara over Arizona) and in 1991 (Richmond over Syracuse). For this years dance, however, I have the gut feeling that the #2 seeds in this dance really don't have much to worry about. As it sits right now Gonzaga, Virginia, Arizona and Kansas should be able to hold off
The highest number of upsets in the opening round? That would be the 44 times that the 12 seeds knock off the 5 seeds. So in this years tournament, it's Arkansas, Northern Iowa, Utah and West Virgina have to deal with that unlikely number and bit of luck. In fact, there are five teams in this years tournament that rank in the top twenty of the longest consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament. You have Kansas at 25 straight years (T-2nd), Duke at 19 straight years (4th) Michigan State at 17 straight years (T-6th), and Gonzaga and Wisconsin with 16 straight years each.
As mentioned before, there some big stories going into the tournament. One being, as mentioned before, Kentucky running the table and winning the title at 40-0 if they can do it. There also the possibility each and every year of a major upset. In the opening round I don't really see any upsets, except one. I got #10 Ohio State pulling off an upset and beating #7 VCU. The feeling won't last long for the Buckeyes though, as I have them falling to Arizona in the round of 32. I also have #9 Purdue beating #8 Cincinnati. Then Purdue has to run into the best team in the nation in Kentucky, thus wending the dream season.
It would take way too long and be too boring to read my entire bracket for the tournament. So here's what we gonna do I'll share with you who I got going to the final four and why.
All the #1 seeds will make the final four. Villanova will take on Duke and Wisconsin will take on Kentuky in my final four. Villanova gets to the final four by beating NC State, Lousiville and Oklahoma to reach the Final Four. Darrun Hilliard II, Josh Hart, Ryan Arcidiacono and Dylan Ennis are the guys who have been carrying the offense for Nova this season, and are big reasons why they captured a #1 seed.
They will face Duke in the final four. For Duke to get there, they have to go through St. Johns Georgetown and Gonzaga to get to the final four. Duke has had good performances most of the year from talented players like Tyus Jones, Justise Winslow and their big men in Quinn Cook and Jahlil Okafor. Sure Duke is coming off the loss to the Fighting Irish. But there really isn't really anybody in the south bracket who scares me against Duke. The only one in that bracket who I could see possibly knocking off Dukle would be Gonzaga, which is going to be a very close game. I still think Duke is the best team in the bracket.
In this one I have Duke squeaking it out my a hair over Villanova to move on to the title game. I just think that Duke has a slightly better talent pool than that of Villanova. So Duke will wait the winner
The other final four matchup for me is Kentucky playing Wisconsin. The Badgers will reach the final four by getting through Oregon, North Carolina and Arizona. Frank Kaminsky, Sam Dekker and Nigel Hayes are the reason the Badger are where are they are in the tournament. During the course of the season, the Badgers have been a team that usually had a ten point margin of victory. They are a strong team which is why they are going to the final four.
Then there is the unbeaten Kentucky. The Wildcats get to the finals beating Cincinnati, Maryland and Kansas in the march to the title. Aaron Harrison and Devin Booker are the guys leading the Wildcats attack, while Kentuck has been putting beatings on opponents most of the year this season. They can hit shots from all over the place and are just a well balanced good basketball team. In this matchup I got Kentucky taking the game and moving on to the national title game to play Duke.
In the Title game, I got the Wildcats taking down the Blue Devils 77-70. Its going to be a entrtaining basketball game for sure but I just have the gut feeling that Kentucky's offense is going to be too much for Duke. I know the Wildecats weren't truly tested most of the year,the toughest test Kentucky has all year was an eight point win over Louisville back in December. Still I think they are the best team in the land and they will run the table to claim the National Championship.
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