UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Thursday, March 14, 1996
9C
Men's team should reach Final Four
After spending hours in my personal think tank, I have emerged ready to reveal who I think will win the 1996 men's and women's national championships.
Ladies first.
The Southeastern Conference has dominated women's basketball this season, sending seven teams to the
the round of 64.
But I see only Tennessee making it to the Final Four in Charlotte, N.C. The Lady Vols will come from the East regional, which features fourth-seeded Kansas.
The Jayhawks definitely will benefit from playing their first two games
SPORTS EDITOR
at home. After victories at Allen Field House against Middle Tennessee State and Southwest Missouri State, Kansas will have the honor of facing Tennessee in the third round.
While I have all the confidence
that the Jayhawks will get to the Sweet 16, I don't see them getting past that point.
Still, it will serve as a giant step for the program and Coach Marian Washington, and it will be a fitting end to their outstanding season.
I think the Midwest appears to be the toughest women's bracket, with No. 1 seed Louisiana Tech and second-seeded Georgia playing a close game for the regional final.
Texas Tech, a future Big 12 Conference team, should also be strong in the Midwest, but the Lady Raiders will have to battle with the Techsters to get to Charlotte.
No. 1 seed Connecticut will return to the Final Four to defend its title. The Huskies also face tough competition in their bracket from the Iowa, Florida and Vanderbilt, but their experience should win out.
The West regional should be the only bracket not to bring its No.1 seed to Charlotte. Second-seeded Penn State, which edged Kansas early in the season, will upset top seed Stanford in the regional final. The Lady Lions have struggled of late, but a strong tournament run will help them forget all that.
Tennessee and Louisiana Tech will meet in the championship game, and since the Lady Techsters' only loss is to the Lady Vols, revenge will be the factor.
So here is my women's Final Four. Penn State, Louisiana Tech, Tennessee and Connecticut.
Now to the men — and my fate for the No. 4 Kansas team. I said the Jayhawks have the ability to reach the Final Four, and I think they will. However, Kansas will have to get tough to do so.
The Jayhawks were pushed around far too much in their game against Iowa State on Sunday, and that caused fatigue down the stretch.
Easy wins against South Carolina State and Santa Clara will help Kansas, and the Jayhawks will also get past Arizona and top-seeded Purdue on their way to the Final Four.
Whom will Kansas meet there? How about the Cincinnati, Massachusetts and Kentucky. The Minutesmen and Wildcats are all but guaranteed spots in New Jersey, despite playing weak conference competition this season.
The Southeast Regional is
stacked, with the Bearcats, Georgia Tech, UCLA and top seed Connecticut.
Despite a dramatic Big East Conference tournament win against Georgetown on Saturday, I don't think the Huskies will have the gas to get past Cincinnati.
At the Final Four, Kansas should use its strong perimeter shooting to stop the Bearcats. Kentucky will win a close game against Massachusetts.
But in the championship game, the Wildcats will reign supreme.
Kentucky has perhaps the only bench that is better than Kansas, and it will be on full display on April 1.
Because the Jayhawks put so much emphasis on the outside shot, the Wildcats will be able to outmuscle Kansas down low for rebounds and tip-ins.
Another factor to consider is experience. The Jayhawks have just three players with Final Four experience, so next season may be their chance to shine.
Then again, I could be wrong.
That's why the games are so fun to watch.
Enjoy.
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