Championship Week Predictions

Today, Friday, and the Weekend ahead, provide College Basketball fans a small look into the future for what the NCAA Tournament will hold. And championship week is just exciting enough to require some predictions from yours truly. Some tickets to the big show have already been punched (Winthrop, Western Kentucky, and San Diego to name a few you might not have known), but others remain to be dealt out in the next 4 days. Unfortunately, I don’t have enough time to do every remaining conference, so I’m gonna treat you to the big five.

In alphabetical order…

Atlantic Coast Conference:

This year, just like it has been in the past, the ACC is a two pony race. It’s only inevitable that after another tremendous regular season of games that the championship be between Duke and North Carolina. Clemson and Virginia Tech are both good clubs, but they’ll be no match for the powers of Tyler Hansbrough and Greg Paulus respectively. I liked the way Duke played against UNC the last time they met at Cameron. Their game was pitch perfect until the last two minutes. Everyone knows that Duke’s weakness comes in the inside this year, both offensively and defensively, so the job that they did in handling Hansbrough should be commended. Granted, he still put up a solid line of 16 and 15, but he’s one of those guys that you can’t stop, you can only hope to contain. And looking at what he did to them last time at Chapel Hill (28 and 18) it was certainly an improvement on the part of Coach K’s kids. I like Duke to sneak up on people here and take the tournament title away from UNC and provide the Blue Devils some momentum going into the the tourney.

Prediction: Duke 86-UNC 78

Big 12 Conference:

No different than in the ACC, the Big 12 title is going to come down to two very deserving candidates and two very qualified coaches. Kansas and Texas have made a name for themselves over the past couple years in the NCCA by breeding quality teams with a lot of character to offer on both ends of the basketball. This year, it’s the battle of the guards as UT’s POY contender D.J. Augustine and teammate A.J. Abrams will square off against Mario Chalmers and Brandon Rush of the Jayhawks. Look for another similarity between this conference and the ACC in Kansas’ ability to rebound from a rough 72-60 loss to the Longhorns in the regular season. I like Kansas to win a close one on Sunday and also go deep into March.

Prediction: Kansas 79-Texas 75

Big East Conference:

I’m not as sold on the talent in the Big East as everyone else seems to be. Yes, they’ll most likely get 6 or even 7 teams into the dance this year, but then again they are the deepest conference in all the NCAA. As you might have read on Monday, I think Marquette is the most overrated team in the top 25 and I think that the Big East this year is filled with over hyped players and teams on the whole. I dislike just about everything in Georgetown’s game, and I could say the same for Notre Dame. (That was a very impressive unintentional rhyme that I just threw out if you’re keeping track at home). The one team that I see emerging out of the Big East and going deep into the tournament is Louisville. I love everything about these guys, from the way they hustle to every loose ball to their defensive tactics under Pitino, this group reminds me a lot of the ’03-’04 Pistons team that destroyed the Lakers in the Finals. Many good solid players who know their role and can be effective as a cohesive unit. Look for the Cardinals to go deep in March, and maybe even to the Final Four.

Prediction: Louisville 81-Georgetown 70

Big Ten Conference:

Not much to say here…four very good teams (Consin, Purdue, Mich. St. and Indiana) that I think will be the last four remaining in the tournament. When it comes down to it though, experience will rain and Wisonsin will face Michigan State in the finals. From here though, its a bit of a toss-up. I like what Drew Neitzel brings to the table as a playmaker and a leader on the floor, but having already suffered a devastating 15 point loss to Brian Butch and company in Madison, I see this game turning out just like last time. The Badgers are the best team in the Big Ten this year, and have the best chance of making a deep push in the tournament.

Prediction: Wisconsin 74-Michigan State 62

Southeastern Conference:

Bruce Pearl’s group of Volunteers seem to be a lock to reach the finals, but who will they play? The apt choices seem to be Kentucky, Vanderbilt, and Mississippi State. With the Wildcats and the Bulldogs having the better conference record than Vandy it seems like they would be in line to take the thrown, but not so fast. The Commodores were the only team to beat all three out of the four opponents listed above. They have the best out-of-conference record, and have the most versatile player out there in Shan Foster. It’s going to come down to a grudge match between Vanderbilt and Tennessee, with the winner determined by which team can shut down the other’s superstar. For the Volunteers their focus will be on Foster, and the ‘Dores will direct their attention to senior phenom Chris Lofton. At this point in the season though, Tennessee’s overall demeanor seems to tough to stop, and I see them prevailing in a very exciting game.

Prediction: Tennessee 83- Vanderbilt 80