Final Four Predictions 2015: Early Projections Following NCAA Bracket Release

The bracket.

It’s the most beautiful piece of paper in the sporting world, and the 2015 version is filled with intriguing storylines and potential thrillers. Will the Kentucky Wildcats take home the title and complete their undefeated quest? What about potential challengers like the Duke Blue Devils, Wisconsin Badgers or Villanova Wildcats? 

The ultimate goal is to win the national championship, but even reaching the Final Four deserves a banner in the rafters. With that in mind, here is a look at the critical information for the tournament and some Final Four predictions.

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Final Four Predictions

East Region: Virginia Cavaliers

Duke may have gotten most of the headlines in the ACC, and Notre Dame may have won the ACC tournament, but Virginia is the most dangerous team from that conference come tournament time.

Postseason games often come down to grueling final possessions in the half court, and there may not be a better suited team in the country for that (outside of Kentucky) than the Cavaliers. Virginia finished with the No. 1-ranked defense in Ken Pomeroy’s pace-adjusted defensive efficiency rankings and will control the tempo against any opponent it faces.

The Cavaliers finished atop the regular-season ACC standings, knocked off a formidable Maryland team, beat VCU and handled business in its conference against Notre Dame, Louisville and North Carolina.

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What’s more, Justin Anderson returned to the court during the ACC tournament after an extended absence from injury. While he looked quite rusty, having him as an option makes Virginia even more dangerous. 

This pick ultimately comes down to defense, and Virginia plays it better than any team in the country. That will be enough to get it to the Final Four.

South Region: Iowa State Cyclones

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

If you want to call a No. 3 seed reaching the Final Four a surprise, this is your biggest upset of these Final Four predictions.

Iowa State is playing its best basketball of the season and will carry the momentum from the Big 12 tournament title into the NCAA tournament. The Cyclones won their final five games before Selection Sunday and capped that off with a victory over the regular-season champs Kansas in the Big 12 tournament championship game.

What’s more, they have Georges Niang to make plays when the game comes down to the final possessions.

As far as the No. 1 seed in the South region? ESPN’s Jeff Borzello pointed out how Iowa State will counter a Duke team that has experienced some defensive letdowns at times this season:

The Cyclones have the offensive pieces with Niang and Monte Morris to challenge Duke. They will do just that and emerge from the South Region.

West Region: Wisconsin Badgers

Michael Conroy/Associated Press

If there is one team in the entire bracket that can potentially challenge the Kentucky Wildcats, it is Wisconsin.

Big man Frank Kaminsky can stretch the floor with his three-point shooting ability and pull the Kentucky big men away from the rim, and playmakers like Sam Dekker and Nigel Hayes can take advantage of the resultant space. However, before Wisconsin gets the opportunity to knock off mighty Kentucky, it has to emerge from a difficult West Region.

It will do just that based on its ruthlessly efficient offensive attack that helped it win every single game except one at Maryland since Jan. 11. In fact, the Badgers finished No. 1 in Pomeroy’s offensive rankings and make life incredibly difficult for every defense they face. Sure, they may slow the pace down, but they also seemingly make every shot at the end of the shot clock. 

With Kaminsky leading the way, the Badgers will reach the Final Four behind their dominant offense. That could be a problem for the Wildcats.

Midwest Region: Kentucky Wildcats

Steve Helber/Associated Press

Surprise, surprise.

Wisconsin may be able to challenge Kentucky, but John Calipari is sending a team of future NBA players out on the floor every night. If that’s not enough, the Wildcats have players with All-American talent on the bench who can come in and change the pace if some of the starters struggle early in games.

That's right—Kentucky isn't just the best team heading into the postseason; it is the freshest.

Between Willie Cauley-Stein, Marcus Lee, Karl-Anthony Towns and Dakari Johnson, Kentucky has overwhelming size that will help it overpower any opponent it faces. It will control the glass and swat shots every single game and completely stifle the offensive attack of its opponents.

On the other end, Towns and Cauley-Stein are athletic freaks who are matchup nightmares down low, Devin Booker can drill three-pointers and stretch the defense, and Aaron Harrison has a proven track record when it comes to cold-blooded shots in the final seconds of NCAA tournament contests.

The offense is also very unselfish, as coach John Calipari said, via Nicole Auerbach of USA Today: "What these kids have accomplished, as young as they are, is not winning every game; it's that they shared. In this society, instead of me, me, me — it's us, us, us."

That formula will be more than enough to handle potential foes in Cincinnati, Maryland and even Kansas or Notre Dame (in case you forgot, Kentucky already annihilated the Jayhawks in the regular season).

Kentucky will be the national champs.