BY A.J. KURZMAN
With one of the best months in sports is just a short two weeks away, college basketball is as wide open as ever. Unlike last year, where Kentucky was so dominant and the clear cut favorite to win the championship, there is no team that is extremely better than another. So far this season, the ACC has been under a hurricane warning, the SEC is getting chomped, and the big ten has proved to be a powerhouse. The projected one seeds for the tournament are Indiana, Duke, Florida, and Miami, but of course those are subject to change as the season progresses. Kentucky however, is on the bubble to make the tournament, as they are 0-7 versus teams that are in the top 50 in RPI. The loss of center Nerlens Noel doesn’t help. These are the four teams I expect will be playing in Atlanta come final four time:
Michigan Wolverines: They’re 22-4 third in the big ten and have the best point guard in the NCAA (Trey Burke). Being one of the most exciting teams to watch and I feel, come tournament time, they’ll turn it up and cruise to the final four.
Florida Gators: Apart from losing to Arkansas, the gators have been dominant in every SEC game. With only 3 losses (road games) the Gators are practically a shoe-in due to their overwhelming experience. This same core group has been to back to back elite eight’s. They know what the big stage is like and how to handle it.
Miami Hurricanes: With all the talent going on this season, there has not been a team that has been more impressive than Miami this season. Starting off the season unranked, they’ve compiled the best resume in the NCAA, taking out Michigan State, NC State on the road, and both Duke and North Carolina by over 25 points each. They’re still unbeaten in the ACC and currently have the confidence and spirit that could take them all the way.
Wisconsin Badgers: They’re my sleeper team because of their talent and quality of wins. They’ve beaten Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Michigan, and even Ohio State. Even though they have 8 loses, they just but be the team to look out for this March because they’re a very capable and other squads may not take them so seriously.
