PRESEASON PICK: Indiana
NEW PICK: Florida
I went with the easy choice of the Hoosiers before the season got going and, while they’re not out of it, I don’t see them taking it all when it gets down to crunch time.
The Florida Gators might not be an obvious pick but I think their path through the tournament gives them the best chance at getting to the Final Four, and if they make it there I think they can beat out Louisville.
They’ve shown all season that they can win against strong teams, and they’ve surprised us all at least once.
The Gators struggled against teams within their conference, but that won’t be an issue for them since they don’t have to face any – they’ll make it past Northwestern State and UCLA easily, with their first challenge coming against the South’s No. 1 seed, Kansas.
However, Florida will make it all the way to Atlanta, and I predict we’ll see the Gators cutting down the net at the Georgia Dome.
PRESEASON PICK: Kentucky
NEW PICK: Georgetown
Ok, ok, I’ll wear it. Yes, I picked Kentucky to repeat as national champions. As you may or may not have heard, the Wildcats didn’t even make it to the Big Dance. Didn’t forecast Nerlens Noel’s season-ending injury or the struggles Coach Cal has had trying to integrate this year’s class of young guns.
If you weren’t laughing before, you may be after hearing my pick to win the whole thing – Georgetown. Hear me out. More than any year in recent memory, the college landscape is weak at the top. There is no clear-cut No. 1 team. The winner of this year’s tourney will be whoever makes it out of the South region. The South will come down to a showdown between the region’s top two talents – Georgetown’s Otto Porter and Kansas’ Ben McLemore. As most Bruin fans can attest to, Porter can more than hold his own against top talent.
I’m picking coach John Thompson III to bring home the Hoyas’ second-ever national title.
PRESEASON PICK: Louisville
NEW PICK: Louisville
While I will admit I am keeping my pick partially out of pride that I beat the bandwagon, I still think Louisville has what it takes to go all the way.
Sure, their season had it’s ups and downs, but at the end of the day, they conviced me – and, more importantly, the selection committee.
As if things weren’t looking up enough for Louisville, they get to play their first two rounds on the home court of their rival University of Kentucky – which didn’t even make it into the Big Dance. After a warmup in the first round, though, things will get more challenging for the Cardinals.
Even riding the momentum of a ten-game win streak, the Midwest is packed with a number of teams who could easily hold their own in Atlanta. But it’s nothing the Cardinals haven’t seen before.
A roster stacked with veterans and highlighted by the indominable inside presence that is Gorgui Dieng made clear in Saturday’s comeback against Syracuse that they have no intention of cracking under pressure. And that’s one expectation that not even March Madness is likely to break down.
PRESEASON PICK: Michigan
NEW PICK: Michigan State
Alright, alright, so I’m hopping around the mitten a bit with this one, but would you count out Tom Izzo? Besides, the Wolverines have been a bit shaky on the road in the latter half of the season, which means all bets are off if they make it out of Auburn Hills, Mich., to likely face No. 1 seed Kansas.
The Spartans, on the other hand, always seem to approach mid-March with an air of confidence given their recent tourney success. With three Sweet Sixteen and two Final Four appearances in the last four seasons, Michigan State has made a habit of finding a second gear once the brackets have been set.
If past tournaments have taught us anything, it’s that depth and unlikely hero types are essential. MSU has both, which could serve the Spartans well as they attempt to navigate the Midwest region, dubbed the “Region of Death” by many.