Final Four 2015: Updated Bracket and Picks for National Semifinals

Nets are ready to be cut, buzzers are ready to blare and four programs are ready to hoist the national championship trophy on Monday night.

Before any of that can take place, the Final Four will decide which teams compete for the top prize in college basketball. Kentucky, Wisconsin, Duke and Michigan State are set to take the stage in Indianapolis with hopes of cutting down the nets again.

The Wildcats and Badgers are meeting for a second straight season in the Final Four, and Wisconsin is hoping to even up the series. On the other side, Mike Krzyzewski and Tom Izzo will do battle for the 11th time in their illustrious careers. Coach K holds a 9-1 mark over Izzo, including an 81-71 win this season.

While the nets are still intact, here's a look at the updated bracket and full picks for the national semifinals.

Date	Matchup	Time (ET)	TV	Prediction
April 4	Duke (-4.5) vs. Michigan State	6:09 p.m.	TBS	Duke
April 4	Kentucky (-6) vs. Wisconsin	8:49 p.m.	TBS	Kentucky

Prediction Analysis

The aforementioned win earlier this season isn't necessarily telling of where both teams stand now. However, the stars remained the same in just the first true test of the year for each program.

Jahlil Okafor was just coming into his own with 17 points, while Justise Winslow, Quinn Cook and Tyus Jones also had over 15 points each. For Michigan State, Branden Dawson (18 points, nine rebounds) and Travis Trice (15 points, eight assists) led the way.

While a lot has changed, so much has remained the same.

One trend that has resurfaced late in the season is Winslow's impact for the Blue Devils. The freshman started the year strong before a rough open to conference play that saw him average just three points over a four-game span.

He's recovered with double-digit points in 17 of 18 games since, including seven double-doubles. Even when he's not contributing much offensively, Winslow can take over games, as Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress points out:

Having Okafor inside, Jones and Cook on the wing and Winslow creating all over the court, Duke has all the weapons to take down Michigan State. The Blue Devils' versatile lineup will get the job done to clinch a berth into the national championship game.

So who will the Blue Devils be facing? That comes down to whether Wisconsin can outlast unrelenting Kentucky.

John Calipari has gotten the most out of his uber-talented team this year with a collection of players that includes two lineups that could make the Final Four alone. Sure, there are great freshmen, but Willie Cauley-Stein and the Harrison twins keep the team grounded.

The message for the team all season has been a simple one from Calipari, via Kyle Tucker of The Courier-Journal:

Kentucky will face a Wisconsin team strikingly similar to last year's version. Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker are once again leading the way, but the Wildcats have the artillery to take down any opposition this season.

Look for the Wildcats to win a close game and advance to their second straight national title matchup. This time around, UK will likely be favored against Duke and looking for revenge after more than two decades.

Winning a title over Krzyzewski, especially with this cast, would be a perfect ending to the season for Calipari. On Monday night, that's exactly what the Wildcats will attempt to accomplish.

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