Predictions

I need to get some of my college basketball predictions in writing, so in a few months I look like either an augur or a dufus.

As of right now, I would put the following teams in the Elite Eight:

Duke, UNC, Wake Forest, Louisville, Kansas, Oklahoma State, Gonzaga, Illinois (my alternates are Boston College, Vermont, and Syracuse)

The Final Four will be UNC, Kansas, Oklahoma State, and Illinois.

Championship game will be Kansas and UNC.

And the Champion . . . UNC.

I somewhat doubt that I am right. Kansas is a good team, though, and has a solid chance of going undefeated in the Big 12. Mainly I am just wishing. Wouldn't a Kansas-UNC championship be intriguing? For any who don't know, Roy Williams, the current coach at UNC, formerly coached at Kansas. He took them to at least 2 championship games, but never lost. Bill Self, the current coach at Kansas, formerly coached at Illinois, but never lead them to a championship game, or a Final Four for that matter.

Futhermore, I would choose Francisco Garcia from Louisville as the Player of the Year. He is extremely smart and talented. He can play 4 positions, and play them all very well. He is one the best leaders in all of college basketball.

I think Defensive Players of the year could go to either Sheldon Williams (I am very partial to Duke) or Ivan McFarlin of Oklahoma State. Both are very athletic and very tough.

No one at ESPN or CBS Sports or Sports Illustrated will listen to me, though they should. I challenge anyone to dispute my choices.