KANSAN.COM / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2011 / SPORTS
3B
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN BRACKET BASH
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Predictions for the tourney's top teams
BY MIKE LAVIERI
mlavieri@kansan.com
twitter/kansanbball
OHIO STATE EAST/ NO.1 OVERALL
Ohio State has the best starting lineup in America, which is great for them because only five players can be on the court at the same time. Four of its starters average 30-plus minutes per game with the other, senior Dallas Lauderdale, playing 16.2. Ohio State's sixthman freshman Aaron Craft averages 29.5 minutes off the bench. Ohio State really only has six players, which can be a problem if Ohio State gets into foul trouble. The Buckeyes have all the pieces with freshman phenom Jared Sullinger and seniors Jon Diebler and David Lighty. Coach Thad Matta has tournament experience, but if the Buckeyes have to rely on its freshmen, it could be an early exit for the Buckeyes.
Prediction: National Champions
KANSAS SOUTHWEST/ NO.2 OVERALL
When Kansas is good, it is really good. The Jayhawks shot a nation-best 51.4 percent from the field. When Kansas is hitting from deep, it can't be stopped. The Jayhawks have all the parts to make the Final Four: experience, coaching and disappointment from last season. Seniors Brady Morningstar and Tyrel Reed were on the 2008 National Championship team; they know what it takes to get there. Kansas will need some luck, obviously for the matchups to fall into place, but there isn't a team in the country Kansas can't beat. While Kansas is one of the better defensive teams, statistically, it sometimes loses focus, which will hurt if it isn't making its shots. Can Kansas rely on its defense to win a game? It did against Oklahoma State on Thursday. What about free throws? Kansas is 267th in the nation. The freebies haven't cost Kansas a game, yet, but it might in the next few weeks. If Kansas shoots 29-for-33 like it did against Colorado on Friday, Kansas will be OK.
Prediction: Losing to Ohio State in National Championship game
PITTSBURGH SOUTHEAST/ NO.3 OVERALL
Of the No. 1 seeds, Pittsburgh played the hardest schedule. It played 10 games against ranked opponents, going 6-4. It played 18 conference games in the Big East, the toughest conference this season. Eleven teams from the conference made it to the Big Dance, but that's a whole different discussion. In conference play, the Panthers went 15-3 in conference play and 9-3 against those that made the tournament. Pitt is definitely battle tested and may have the easiest road of any No. 1 team, but the question is whether or not it has the right components to win the whole thing. Junior Ashton Gibbs is averaging 16.7 points per game and coach Jamie Dixon has been to the tournament seven times before this year, but has never advanced past the Sweet Sixteen. This year might be different or it might be the same old same old for Dixon.
Prediction: Losing to Kansas in the Final Four
DUKE
WEST/ NO. 4 OVERALL
There is a reason this team was ranked first in the nation before the season started. It had all the components to repeat as a champion with seniors Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler coming back and freshman Kyrie Irving running the point. Irving injured his big toe on his right foot in early December and has been out since. He participated in shoot-around in the ACC tournament, but his return to play in the NCAA tournament is doubtful. He was the team's leading scorer until his injury, but Smith has stepped up nicely. People usually complain about Duke having an easy path, but this season is different. It will most certainly get by Hampton with ease and will await a matchup with Michigan or Tennessee. Michigan played Kansas and Ohio State close this season, while Tennessee had an up and down type of season. The Volunteers started 7-0 defeating then No. 7 Villanova and then No. 3 Pittsburgh until they lost four of six to unranked teams, three being at home with the two victories by a combined four points. If Duke gets into a three-point shoot-out with either team, Duke might end up like last year's Jayhawks. In three of the Blue Devils' losses they shot 20-for-81 combined from three.
Prediction: Losing to Michigan in the third round
—Edited by Danielle Packer
BEST DRAW: PITTSBURGH
Pitt's probably the weakest one-seed, but they've got a bracket to walk through. Two-seed Florida should have been a three, three-seed BYU should have been a four without Brandon Davies (sorry, Jimmer), four-seed Wisconsin can't win on the road, and five-seed Kansas State should have been what, a seven? I've got Wisconsin getting to the Final Four, but not with any shred of confidence. If you want to get really crazy with a Final Four pick, there's always Tom Izzo coaching 10-seed Michigan State.
WORST DRAW:DUKE
The always-popular chatter about the committee giving Duke the easiest road won't come this year. They have to travel across the country for the Sweet 16 (assuming they win their first two in Charlotte). There, the Blue Devils will potentially meet up with Big 12 runner-up Texas in the Sweet 16, and either Big East tournament champ Connecticut or Mountain West tourney champ (and 32-2) San Diego State in the Elite Eight. Duke's still the best team in the region, but no favors were granted with this draw.
Tim Dwyer