2011 NCAA Tournament: Which Top 25 Teams Can Make a Final Four Run?
I don't know about you, but occasionally I like to put a friendly wager on the NCAA Tournament.
While bracket challenges are always a go-to staple for March Madness gambling, I always find time to place some Final Four wagers.
It is good to have a well-rounded and diversified approach to things.
Here are 10 teams (with their odds to make the Final Four) that I am contemplating dropping a little coin on, and hoping they have what it takes to make it to the Final Four in Houston, Texas.
Do with them what you will.
10. Connecticut Huskies: 22-1
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The Connecticut Huskies got the season off to a roaring start. They then slowed down in Big East play and limped to a No. 9 seed in the Big East Tournament.
Well, the Huskies have come alive since then.
As I type this they are fresh off of a quarterfinal victory over third-ranked Pittsburgh, and Kemba Walker's last second buzzer-beater is a perfect example of why they have what it takes.
Good guard play is at a premium in the tournament, and Kemba Walker is among the best.
The Huskies are also excellent on the boards.
9. Kentucky Wildcats: 19-1
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The Kentucky Wildcats youth makes them a real wild card in this tournament.
When they are clicking that youth can run with anyone in the country, and they are clicking with a lot more frequency as the season goes on.
Freshman Terrence Jones is an unguardable force when he is on his game.
Their inexperience led to them blowing some late leads and playing too tight in close games. However, John Calipari is the master of getting his teams to play loose, and this Kentucky squad seems to finally be getting that message at the right time.
They pulled out late wins against both Tennessee and Vanderbilt as the season came to a close.
And unlike other Calipari teams, this Wildcat squad is not a disaster from the foul line.
8. North Carolina Tar Heels: 13-1
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North Carolina is a young team, and it has certainly been a work in progress, but they are storming into March Madness by getting better every game.
They showed the nation exactly what they are capable of as they blasted Duke 81-67 to end the season.
The Tar Heels' inside presence is going to be a problem for any team.
7' Tyler Zeller and 6'10" John Henson are capable of putting up double-doubles every night, and they both have a knack for blocking shots.
If the Tar Heels get some consistent guard play they can hang with anyone.
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7. Wisconsin Badgers: 8-1
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The Wisconsin Badgers have the most efficient offense in the country. They are rock solid in the backcourt and loaded with experience.
It is in the paint with Jon Leuer where the Badgers can really do some damage.
At 6'10" Leuer is a force inside, and he also has a decent mid-range game to stretch the defense.
He is the centerpiece for some exceptional interior defense.
The Badgers do struggle on perimeter defense, but if they tighten up their defensive rotations they are going to be very hard to beat.
6. Syracuse Orange: 7-1
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Syracuse is a young team that may just be starting to put it all together. That was on full display with Syracuse's streakiness throughout the season. They started off 18-0 before losing six of their next eight.
They are now on an impressive run and rampaging through the Big East Tournament. Sophomore guard Brandon Triche is playing the best basketball of his career right now.
Triche just put up a season-high 22 points in a Big East quarterfinal match against St. John's.
Even more promising for the Orange is the emergence of freshman Fab Melo.
Many had this seven-footer pegged as a one-and-done player, as he spent most of his season on the bench. He is now coming off of games where he put up career-highs of 10 and then 12 points.
The Orange are a balanced team. They rank 15th and 17th in offensive and defensive efficiency, respectively.
5. Duke Blue Devils: 6-1
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The defending champs certainly aren't hurting for experience, but they may be hurting for confidence at the moment.
The Blue Devils lost two of their last three games to close out the regular season.
This is an area where experience should really pay off, and I fully expect the Blue Devils to find their groove in the ACC Tournament.
If they do have a weakness, it is in the post, as they have struggled to find a consistent low-post scoring option. The low-post scoring concerns could very well evaporate if Kyrie Irving returns to form from a toe injury.
The Blue Devils do not need a ton of production in the post—just enough to keep teams thinking about it, because when they are draining the three, there isn't a team in the country that can hang with them.
4. Purdue Boilermakers: 4-1
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Purdue is another team that enters tournament play looking to regain some of their swagger.
They ended the regular season with an embarrassing loss to Iowa.
Similar to Duke, Purdue has the experience that would lead one to believe they will rebound and be ready for the dance.
Purdue has everything you are looking for in a tournament team—experience and very reliable backcourt play.
While their road record is less than sterling, this is a battle-tested group that is not going to be overwhelmed by their surroundings.
3. Pittsburgh Panthers: 3-1
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The Pitt Panthers are a complete squad; there is not a weakness to be had among this group. They feature a very balanced attack, with three players averaging double figures in scoring.
They are coming off a close loss to UConn in the Big East Tournament, but that was a game that was far more important to UConn than to Pitt.
While that almost assuredly cost them a No. 1 seed they are likely still looking at a No. 2 seed.
In a tournament that puts an emphasis on backcourt play, Brad Wanamaker and Ashton Gibbs form the best and most reliable backcourt tandem in the country.
They also have enough inside presence that makes it impossible for other teams to focus on shutting down just one aspect of their attack.
2. Kansas Jayhawks: 3-1
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The Jayhawks are a complete and experienced team. With a buzzer-beating win against Oklahoma in the Big 12 quarterfinals, they are virtually a lock for a No. 1 seed.
Marcus and Markieff Morris form a deadly one-two low-post punch. They can both score, rebound and defend.
If a team is going to beat Kansas it is going to be from the perimeter.
If the Jayhawks are on their game, it is going to take an absolute miracle performance from another team to knock them off before the Final Four.
1. Ohio State Buckeyes: 2-1
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There is a reason they are ranked No. 1 in the country, and it is not luck.
Ohio State is the complete package and they have been playing at the highest of levels all year. They have an elite inside-outside presence, and it is going to be tough for any team to match up with the Buckeyes.
There is not one player a defense can key in on in hopes of shutting down the offense. Ohio State has four players averaging over 12 points.
If they don't make the Final Four it will be a huge disappointment.
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