From the East bracket, my pick for national runner up, The University of Maryland:
The Terrapins ended the regular season criminally under-ranked at #12 in the country but I strongly believe this team is a national title contender.
-They're both a strong rebounding team, and they don't give out unnecessary fouls, both key characteristics (in my opinion the most important characteristics) of a title contender.
-They haven't lost to a non-tournament team all year, with their worst loss coming to Rutgers (predicted at an 8-9 seed), and they're strongest wins coming vs top their teams such as Michigan St and Michigan.
From the South bracket, Baylor:
Definitely my least favorite of the final four teams, and the only final four team to fail the rebound and fouling test, but they've played elite basketball all season and are definitely good enough to come out of the South bracket, which is definitely the weakest bracket this year in my opinion.
-They are one of the few teams to beat Kansas and were only 3 points away from beating the Jayhawks a second time. They have also beaten other top tier teams such as Villanova.
-I don't know who else to take from this bracket since I don't trust Florida St or any other school in the south region. Sooo Baylor by default.
From the Midwest bracket, Kansas:
The easiest final four pick this year. Kinda cheating and sort of a cop-out. It almost makes me feel like I'm picking Kentucky in 2015. But just because its easy doesn't mean you can't pick it. Not everything has to be a hot take. The midwest will be the most contentious bracket, with Kansas, Michigan St, Dayton, and Kentucky, but Kansas is still the clear pick
-Second best Rebounding/Fouling team in the nation, behind only Gonzaga
-Most wins of any Power 5 team
-Least losses of any Power 5 team
-Hasn't lost to any teams that would be in their bracket
From the West bracket, and YOUR NATIONAL CHAMPION, Gonzaga:
Easily my favorite team in this tournament, ended the season ranked at #2. Has gained a reputation for poor tournament performance in the past few years that I don't feel they deserve AT ALL, being only 3 years out from a run to the finals, having made it out of the first weekend every year since 2014.
-Top 15 In the nation for both rebounding AND lack of fouling (which doesn't SOUND impressive, but they are the only school to do it).
-Gonzaga has been knocking on the door for so long, they've gotta be due for one by now.
-Haven't lost to any teams worse than Michigan, and only have 2 losses all year (The other coming to a ranked BYU squad).
-A team with experience and experience together, having no freshman starters, and 2 senior starters, and a senior 6th man.
The team most likely to get Upset, Dayton:
Dayton is a team that had "first-weekend elimination" written all over them. Their coach has very little tournament experience and only one win, Their offense was heavily based around one player (Which goes very bad if he goes cold, remember Doug Mcdermott?), and most importantly, they haven't beaten a single high-quality team, their best win coming vs bubble team Saint Marys.
The other team most likely to get upset, Seton Hall:
Has had a couple very weak losses, hasn't escaped the first weekend since 2000, and most importantly, I hate them.
The team most likely to surprise some people, Illinois:
A tournament built team that can rebound with the best in the country, has beaten many of the top schools in the Big Ten (this year's best basketball conference), and most of their losses came when star player Ayo Dasunmu was injured, but he was back in time for the tournament, and ready to make a run. They would probably come in around the 6 line, which is a great sport to make a run from as you won't see a 2 till the suite 16 or a 1 till the elite 8.
I wouldn't be surprised if they made a run, but don't hold your breath, Duke:
Coach K is coming close to 100 tournament wins, far more than any coach in the field. Despite this Duke team not being a 1 or 2 seed (as is expected from Duke), they still won 25 games and beat Kansas. They have however lost to some low caliber teams.
Honorable mention, Rutgers:
If you know me, you know I've gotta plug Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights were a lock for their first tournament appearance since 1991. Coach Steve Pikiell won the Jim Phelan National Coach of the year award, and almost all of their key players will return next season (along with top recruit Cliff Omoruyi). They beat nearly every big ten team at least once and I feel had a shot at the second weekend this year.
So there you have it. I told you what would have happened and I've crowned the OFASGMCBDONC. At this point, you didn't even miss out on anything and its not really a big deal that it got canceled! You're welcome. So what's left now? Just listen to one shining moment and watch highlights till baseball season starts.
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