March Madness will be INSANE
This is usually Matt's sport: But I'm writing this anyway. After being two rows up from the madness of Oklahoma State-Baylor a couple of nights ago and watch the higher ranked team fall in two rivalry games last night, I felt an article was necessary.
March Madness 2017 is going to be WILD. Absolutely insane. I am here to make a personal guarantee: You will see a 5 seed or lower in the final four in Phoenix. Put the house on it- college basketball glory is up for grabs this year. Heres a couple reasons why I'm saying what I'm saying:
Villanova is the best team in the country, and its not by much. The reigning champs are 22-2 in a real conference. Yes, I'm talking to you Gonzaga. It's cute that you're getting all the hype now, but in reality, you're a Wichita State (from a few years back) on steroids. Gonzaga doesn't have any real tests in their conference outside of St. Mary's (who is also overrated). Sure, they beat Iowa State and Arizona in close games- but even a blind squirrel finds a nut right? Put Gonzaga in the Big 12 or ACC, and they're a mediocre bubble team at best. So going back to where this paragraph started: Villanova is the best team right now, but they're so close to the rest of the pack.
As we move down the AP Top 25, we find Kansas coming in at #3. Kansas is good- very good- but they just lost on their own floor to Iowa State- final four teams shouldn't lose to the Iowa State's of the world on their own floor. Yes, Iowa State is a good team- but thats a game Kansas has to win. Louisville is a sneaky #4- I feel like they're not as hyped up as some of the other top teams- but they're impressively rolling right now. Are they an unstoppable force though? No- they've played all their big games at home.
Looking at the rest of the top 25... name a team that stands out. UCLA? I like UCLA. Florida State? This isn't football. Florida? The SEC is very "meh". When talking about college basketball for me, conference matters. In the Big 12, you're getting tested every night. Going to Kansas? You lose that one 9.5 times out of 10. Traveling to Stillwater? Have fun in what is re-establishing itself as one of the toughest places to play in college basketball. How about playing in the ACC and having to go TO Louisville, Duke, and Chapel Hill? You're lucky if you come out of that one 1-2. The Gonzaga's and St. Mary's of the world just don't do big things in March. I'd even say that teams like Wisconsin and Purdue don't face the challenges that Kansas and Baylor do.
As much as I want to talk about conferences, the reality is that there is going to be a few high seeds made up of WCC and AAC teams. Thats why I say that we'll see a low seed in the Final Four. I'll take a Kansas State or an Iowa State over Gonzaga or St. Mary's every single time on a neutral court. Give me Louisville or UNC over Cincy by double digits. I think any team from either the ACC or Big 12 that gets in to the tournament has a legitimate shot at winning a couple games.
If I had to predict my Final Four right now, I'd be conflicted. Its really too early. I like Kansas, because they're Kansas. I like Kentucky, because they're Kentucky. I think Baylor is a really good team (Motley is a BEAST). One of the teams from the Pac 12 will probably make a deep run, but I don't think they're going to beat a UNC or a Villanova in the Elite Eight. If I HAD to say it right now: My final four is Nova, Baylor, UNC, and some surprise low seed. Thats the best I can do. But this tournament is going to be crazy: No one is safe. No one.
P.S: Fellow writer Matt Oneil is going to have a lot to say about this article. Stay tuned