NCAA Tournament 2015: Predictions for Final Four Teams After Selection Sunday

Getting a favorable seed in the 2015 NCAA tournament is one thing, but making it out of the region and into the Final Four in Indianapolis takes the heart of a champion.  

In reality, each of the four regions represents a championship in and of itself. Four teams proved themselves worthy of being crowned top seeds. Elite national contenders stand in their way, and sleepers will get their deserved shots. 

While it takes a national championship to make for a memorable season at some schools, simply getting to the Final Four can be a program-changing moment for others. Both have come at the same time in the last couple of tournaments, but will 2015 follow suit?

Let's find out below.   

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Predicted Final Four Teams

Midwest: No. 1 Kentucky

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Not a single team in the tournament, much less in the Midwest Region, is capable of beating the Wildcats without Kentucky doing its part to beat itself.

Head coach John Calipari's crew ripped through its regular-season slate with a perfect record and then added three more wins in the SEC tournament to improve to 34-0. There have been some close calls along the way, but the Wildcats have turned it on as the postseason has started.

As ESPN's Darren Rovell noted, Kentucky is a huge favorite not just in the Midwest but also in the entire tournament:

The Wildcats may be in the toughest region, but they lucked out by sidestepping No. 2 seeds Arizona and Virginia, instead getting a Kansas team struggling to end the season. They're much more likely to face third-seeded Notre Dame, which beat Duke and North Carolina this weekend but doesn't have the size to contend with the Cats.

Getting into the Final Four isn't a formality for any team, but Kentucky will make it look easy.

West: No. 1 Wisconsin

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The selection committee rewarded the Wisconsin Badgers' Big Ten regular-season and tournament titles with a No. 1 seed, and Bo Ryan's crew looks poised for a run at the national championship.

There are simply no weaknesses on Wisconsin's roster, with Naismith Player of the Year finalist Frank Kaminsky leading the way in the post and Sam Dekker torching opponents on the wing. Traevon Jackson and Bronson Koenig do more than enough on the perimeter with their open chances to make Wisconsin a handful to keep up with on the scoreboard.

The ability Kaminsky and Dekker have to stretch out opponents will allow Wisconsin to breeze into the Sweet 16, and North Carolina isn't complete enough to hang with the Badgers for 40 minutes. They couldn't have gotten a tougher regional final matchup than No. 2 seed Arizona, but the Badgers have improved since last season—when they beat Arizona in a regional final—and will be intent on proving last year wasn't a fluke.

Arizona may not be able to get past third-seeded Baylor, but if the Wildcats do, they won't be able to contain the Badgers.

East: No. 2 Virginia

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The Virginia Cavaliers aren't your typical No. 2 seed. After two late-season losses, Virginia was snubbed with a spot on the bottom row of the bracket, as David Gardner of Sports Illustrated noted:

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Quick East regional thoughts: Virginia robbed of a No. 1 seed, Villanova gets the toughest No. 2 seed in its bracket. Oklahoma is dangerous

— David Gardner (@byDavidGardner) March 15, 2015"

Virginia has long looked the part of a national title contender because of its defensive dominance, which keeps opponents from putting up respectable scorelines. The Cavs have held six opponents to under 40 points and are poised for a deep run despite losing two of their last three games.

Oklahoma's affinity for letting leads slip away will do the Sooners in during a winnable Sweet 16 game, and Villanova will have its hands full getting past an opponent Virginia knows all too well in Louisville. Villanova represents the most vulnerable of the No. 1 seeds, which doesn't bode well with Virginia looming on the other half of the bracket.

The Cavaliers have a knack for allowing opponents to hang around, but beating them is a tough feat. Justin Anderson is getting back to full strength, and Malcolm Brogdon is ready to put the Cavaliers on his back during a prospective run to the Final Four. 

South: No. 3 Iowa State

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Saturday's repeat of a Big 12 tournament title for Iowa State was just the beginning, as the Cyclones are gearing up for the program's second-ever trip to the Final Four.

Iowa State comes into the tournament having won eight of its last 10 games, with its only two losses coming in back-to-back fashion during the last week of February. It took three comeback bids in the Big 12 tournament, but the Cyclones outlasted Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas for the title.

Second-seeded Gonzaga will be a tough out in the Sweet 16, but Iowa State's versatility in the post and size on the perimeter will frustrate the Bulldogs. Cyclones star Georges Niang will be the best player on the floor during most matchups and is a matchup nightmare as a stretch 4.

The biggest test will turn out to be top-seeded Duke, which CBS Sports' Jeff Borzello thinks Iowa State matches up well against:

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Duke-Iowa State would be a heckuva Elite Eight matchup. Blue Devils' perimeter defense would be tested by Iowa State's spacing.

— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) March 15, 2015"

A star-studded crop of freshmen leaves Duke with few weaknesses, but an inability to defend perimeter shooters is one Achilles' heel for the Blue Devils. Iowa State is more than capable of exploiting it en route to the South Region championship.