Final Four shaping up to impress in Phoenix

Max Stoneking

The field of 68 teams for the NCAA basketball tournament will soon be set, and it is rather clear who will garner the four number one seeds. The question, however, is if the high-seeded teams will be able to remain upset free in the early rounds.

Kansas, Villanova and Gonzaga are almost sure to be number one seeds and the fourth number one will likely be either North Carolina or UCLA. Sitting on the cusp of number one seed material are teams like Kentucky, Arizona and Louisville, who will be able to contend for a Final Four appearance at the least, if not a national title.

For the high-seeded teams, one and two seeds, the round of 64 should be a warm up round. The second round of the tournament, however, could feature some surprises.

Kansas just seems too well rounded to be upset early; however, it has not been uncommon to see the Jayhawks lose in the second or third round when it appeared as if they had title aspirations. The other test of a number one seed will come with Gonzaga. They play in a weak conference, with most opponents not even inside of the RPI top 100. Their first true test may come as early as the second round when they face an eight or nine seed team from a major conference.

The difficulty in making tournament predictions is simply the unpredictability of how a team will perform under pressure. A one seed may fall apart while a 14 or 15 seed will thrive.

As the tournament progresses, the Final Four will shape up to be a quartet of really good teams. Kansas will avoid the early upset. Louisville has been playing as good as anyone as of late, and if they can hold form, they will be able to advance to the Final Four. Kentucky, possibly the best team in terms of pure talent, will have the chance to meet the expectations of winning it all. UCLA, a team with immense offensive ability, will round out the Final Four teams. Their only losses have come against Arizona and Oregon, potential Elite Eight contenders, and USC, a team that will make the tournament.

As always, brackets will be busted, and there will be upsets in this year’s tournament; however, Kansas, Louisville, Kentucky and UCLA will remain immune to the drama of March Madness, advancing to the Final Four for a chance to be one step closer to the national championship.

Max’s Final Four: Kansas, Louisville, Kentucky, UCLA

Top ranked seeds to face tough draw in March

Drew Houfek

As the college basketball season comes to a close and teams prepare for their conference tournaments, all eyes will shift to the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee, which will choose the 68 teams that go to the big dance this year.

It has definitely been a crazy year for the sport, with as many upsets as ever and many top ranked teams beating each other week after week. However, it is starting to become apparent what seed each team deserves, or if they even deserve one at all.

As of right now, Kansas will be awarded the top seed, with Villanova, North Carolina and Gonzaga falling right behind. The next four seeds, the two seeds, should be awarded to Oregon, Arizona, Baylor and Louisville. While those teams will be fighting it out for the top spots, many others are in a battle to even get into the tournament. This year, those teams who are on the “bubble” include Vanderbilt, TCU, Wichita State, California, Kansas State and USC, with the first four teams listed being the ones who currently are on the inside track to make the dance.

As for the actual tournament, there is more uncertainty than ever as to who will win it all. The defending champion and runner up, Villanova and North Carolina, are primed to be top seeds again, but both teams seem a bit more vulnerable to an upset this year, and it’s unlikely that either will return to the championship.

While Kansas may receive the top seed, they have a history of losing early in the tournament, so it would be a surprise to see them win it all. The other current one seed, Gonzaga, may have the best current record in the country, but they have hardly had to face any competition this season, and many would be surprised just to see them making it past the Sweet Sixteen.

I may seem to be doubting the one seeds, but there are just too many good teams this year to knock them off. Instead, expect to see a two or three seed, such as Arizona, UCLA or Louisville, take the title.

These predictions will almost certainly be entirely off, as will the rest of America’s, but that’s just the joy of March Madness.You never know until it’s already happened.

Drew’s Final Four: Kansas, Villanova, Arizona, Louisville