Sweet 16 2012: Which No. 1 Seeds Are Locks for the Final Four?

While this year's edition of March Madness will be remembered for No. 2 seeds, Duke and Missouri, falling in their opening round matchups, the top seeds have had no problem advancing to the Elite Eight.  

With only two games separating these teams from the Final Four, is it possible that all four of the No 1 seeds—Kentucky, Michigan State, Syracuse and North Carolina—could make it to the final four?

Although both Syracuse and North Carolina are certainly talented teams, there are issues that prevent both from being locks for the Final Four.

Obviously for North Carolina the key problem is the health of point guard Kendall Marshall. 

Marshall, who is dealing with a fractured bone in his right wrist, is the player that makes the Tar Heels offense go.

Without his presence, the only other Tar Heels point guard is freshman Stilman White, who plays less than five minutes per game. 

If Marshall is unable to go, or comes back limited, it will bring major problems to the Tar Heels hopes of making it to New Orleans. 

Friday’s matchup against Ohio should be survivable without Marshall, but a potential Elite Eight visit with the Kansas Jayhawks looms large. 

Without Marshall (or with a limited Marshall), beating the Jayhawks would be very tough task.

Like the Tar Heels, the Syracuse Orangemen are also dealing with the loss of one of their key players. 

The suspension of sophomore center Fab Melo has left the Orangemen's zone defense vulnerable on the interior. 

Thursday’s matchup with Wisconsin and Bo Ryan’s methodical offense will be Syracuse’s toughest test in the tournament thus far. 

If the Orangemen are able to survive the Badgers, a potential matchup with the Ohio State Buckeyes and star post Jared Sullinger awaits.

Sullinger’s interior scoring ability and rebounding prowess would be minimized with Melo, but with Melo sidelined ‘Cuse could be in major trouble.

While Kentucky and Michigan State both face tough tests before the Elite Eight, it is tough at this point to see them not making the Final Four.

With victories over Western Kentucky and Iowa State, Kentucky has looked deserving of their No. 1 ranking in their first two games. 

Led by Anthony Davis anchoring the defense, and a host of talented offensive weapons including Terrance Jones and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, the Wildcats have looked unbeatable thus far.

Of course a matchup with Indiana, who beat them earlier in the year, is next.

It is important to remember that the Hoosiers lost senior guard Verdell Jones III to a torn ACL. While this will still be tough matchup, it is tough to envision the Hoosiers scoring enough points to hang with the Wildcats. 

After that the Wildcats matchup in the Elite Eight would be the winner of Friday’s game between Xavier and Baylor.  Both of these teams are talented, but have flaws that the Wildcats could easily expose.

Xavier is heavily reliant on the scoring of diminutive guard Tu Holloway, who would struggle with the athleticism that the Wildcats can throw at him. 

Baylor, with their mix of athletic big men and outside shooting, would likely be the tougher matchup for Kentucky. But the Wildcats' depth would allow them to handle the Bears.

While Michigan State doesn’t get nearly as much attention as the other No. 1 seeds, they appear to be the second best No. 1 seed behind Kentucky. 

Behind senior Draymond Green—who recorded a triple-double in the second round and a 16-point, 13-rebound, six-assist line in the third round—Michigan State appears primed for another Final Four run under Tom Izzo.

Although the Spartans struggled in their last game against St. Louis, they were able to prevail and advance to Thursday’s matchup against Louisville.  

Louisville and guard Peyton Siva will present a tough challenge for Michigan State, but with their team defense the Spartans should advance to the Elite Eight.

Although a matchup with Marquette could be on tap in the Elite Eight, the Spartans are still avoiding the team in their bracket best suited to beat them: Missouri who lost in the first round. 

Green should be able to neutralize Marquette star Jae Crowder, which would allow Michigan State to focus their defense on stopping guard Darius Johnson-Odom. 

It is certainly tough to consider any team a lock in March Madness, but based on the play of Kentucky and Michigan State, both teams should be penciled in for the Final Four.