NCAA Bracket 2011: Why Kansas Will Win It All, Plus (Revised) Final Four
Kansas was the most talented team entering the tournament, and when the tournament draws to a close, the Jayhawks will be crowned NCAA Champions.
They are the most balanced team in the tournament. They have great depth, a great coach and, most importantly, they have the easiest road to the Final Four.
When all is said and done, Kansas will be champion for the second time in four years—but the road will not be easy.
Read ahead for (revised) Final Four predictions and a National Championship game preview.
Reasons to Like Kansas
1 of 8
There just aren't many reasons not to like Kansas.
The Jayhawks have scoring down low with the Morris twins, a lockdown defender in Tyshawn Taylor, three-point shooters in Brady Morningstar and Tyrel Reed and one of the 11 active coaches with an NCAA championship.
They lead the nation in field goal percentage (they are the only team that shoots above .500) and are second in assists per game.
They have a played a difficult schedule, with wins over tournament teams Arizona, Missouri, UCLA, Texas, Texas A&M, Memphis, Michigan and Kansas State.
This college basketball season has been characterized by parity; four double digit seeds in the Sweet 16 shows that.
The rest of the tournament is sure to offer more upsets, but for the reasons above, Kansas will be the last team standing.
Southwest Region Champion: Kansas
2 of 8
Analysis: Obviously, if I have Kansas winning it all, I have to have it making the Final Four.
This bracket really was an easy call: All Kansas has to do to advance to Houston is defeat two double-digit seeded teams.
Two-seed Notre Dame and three-seed Purdue have both already been defeated, leaving Richmond and the VCU/FSU winner all that stand between Kansas and a Final Four berth.
What these lower seeded teams have done is impressive, but given a week to rest and prepare, Kansas should be able to handle these teams.
Predictions: Sweet 16: Kansas 75, Richmond 68. Elite Eight: Kansas 71, VCU 62.
Southeast Region Champion: Brigham Young
3 of 8
Analysis: Jimmer Fredette was the nation's leading scorer entering the tournament, and again he lit it up in the first two rounds, scoring a combined 66 points.
BYU also has an easy path, with No. 1 seed Pittsburgh suffering another early exit from the tournament. The Cougars play No. 2 seed Florida next, whom they defeated in the first round in last year's NCAA tournament.
The Florida game should be a shootout, as neither team is very good defensively. BYU's next opponent, whether it be Butler or Wisconsin, are both more defensive-minded teams that can struggle on offense.
BYU really is a one-man team behind Jimmer, but he is playing so well right now I see him outscoring any team that stands in his way.
Predictions: Sweet 16: BYU 88, Florida 85. Elite Eight: BYU 71, Butler 70
.png?w=256 "NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Championship")
West Region Champion: UConn
4 of 8
Analysis: UConn entered the tournament with a lot of momentum after winning the Big East tournament, and it has carried into the nationals: UConn has outscored it's first two opponents by 40 points.
Kemba Walker has shown the ability to hit clutch shots, and when Alex Oriakhi plays well down low, UConn is a very tough team to beat.
The problem with UConn is whether its other players will hit enough shots to help take pressure off Walker. Other than Kemba, UConn has just one other player who averages double figures scoring.
But UConn has been battle-tested all year playing in the Big East, as well as playing a tough non-conference schedule that included Texas, Michigan State, Kentucky and Tennessee.
Their matchups against San Diego State and the Duke/Arizona winner will both be close, but Walker and UConn should have enough to squeak by.
Predictions: Sweet 16: UConn 75, SDSU 70. Elite Eight: UConn 78, Duke 76.
East Region Champion: OSU
5 of 8
Analysis: Ohio State has been the No. 1 team most of the year, and is very similar to the Jayhawks.
Like Kansas, OSU has a very balanced lineup with Jared Sullinger providing scoring down low and Jon Diebler and David Lighty both excellent three-point shooters.
Kansas is first in the nation in field goal percentage; OSU is third. However, OSU is the best three-point shooting team in the nation. Kansas is second in the nation in assists, while OSU is not far behind at 23rd.
OSU plays two talented, but inexperienced, teams in Kentucky and UNC (who I predict will beat Marquette).
Relying on senior leadership, OSU should be able to get past those two younger teams.
Predictions: Sweet 16: OSU 74, Kentucky 62. Elite Eight: OSU 88, UNC 80
Final Four: No. 1 Kansas over No. 3 Brigham Young
6 of 8
Analysis: BYU's magical tournament run will come to a stop in Houston, as G/F Tyshawn Taylor's tough man defense will limit Fredette's effectiveness and send the Cougars packing.
Kansas's numerous weapons on offense will prove too difficult for BYU to defend; I can't see Fredette outscoring Kansas by himself.
Kansas is just too talented of a team. Bill Self is a smart coach as well, and he will likely try and turn Fredette into a passer.
With Brandon Davies still suspended, BYU does not have enough other scoring options to help Jimmer should he have an off shooting night.
Kansas's pesky defense on Fredette should give them a relatively easy win.
Prediction: Kansas 81, BYU 68.
Final Four: No. 1 OSU over No. 3 UConn
7 of 8
Analysis: This game should play out very similarly to the Kansas/BYU game, in that OSU will likely double and even triple-team Walker to limit his scoring opportunities and force other Husky players to beat it.
Again, OSU's multiple options on offense should prove too difficult for UConn to defend against. If Sullinger can get Oriakhi into foul trouble, UConn will have no other big men to defend the POY candidate.
I see OSU forcing the ball down low early and often to get high-percentage looks, stop UConn's transition offense and give it time to set up its half-court defense to stop Walker.
While Walker is the best player, OSU is the better TEAM, and I see it winning rather easily.
Prediction: OSU 75, UConn 67.
Championship Game: No. 1 Kansas over No. 1 OSU
8 of 8
Analysis: These two teams have been the best two in basketball for most of the season. They are two very similar and very talented teams: This game should go down to the wire.
I see Kansas prevailing for two major reasons:
1. The fact that OSU relies very heavily on two freshman, Jared Sullinger and Aaron Craft, worries me. The Buckeyes, for once, will not be the more talented team when they hit the floor against Kansas, and against top-notch competition and on the biggest stage, the two youngest players on OSU will have to come up the biggest.
2. OSU is an awful rebounding team—195th in the country. Kansas, meanwhile, is in the top 20 at 19th. The Morris twins' ability to box out, get offensive rebounds and create new possessions for Kansas should be enough of a difference to give Kansas the edge.
Prediction: Kansas 73, OSU 70.
.png?w=480 "NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Championship")
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
