My Official Final Four Picks

Will the Dukies be cutting down the nets once again this year? Grant Hill sure thinks so. Not sure about Jalen Rose. One things for sure, I'm not big on the Buckeyes or the Big East, as neither of them are in my mock Final Four. Click on the link for who I'm picking in this years bracket.

I can feel the madness already!!!


From worst to first:

4- Kentucky Wildcats

I've got a sneaky feeling about the "cradle cats" this year. Not only is the talent there once again in Lexington, but this years addition has commited themselves to the defensive end of the floor. 

The Wildcats have been top 5 in defensive efficiency over the last 20 games.

Also in Kentucky's favor, and unlike teams of Calipari past, pressure to win is at an all time low. Sandwiched between Wall and Cousins racing to the NBA and a MASSIVE recruiting class coming in next year, this years Kentucky squad has been overlooked and could be poised for a deep run in this years tournament.

3- Florida Gators

Call it an SEC bias if you will, but the SEC East is where the Big Boys play!

Yes, Kentucky handled Florida in the regular season this year, but I fell the Gators are a slightly better play in this years tournament.

For starters, Billy Donovan is a superior coach to Calipari, and has navigated two teams to the promised land in recent years. Additionally, Florida has quietly been one of the most talented teams in the nation all year. Playing the 8th hardest schedule in the nation, losses to in-conference rival Kentucky and and few slip ups against second tier teams has kept Florida out of the national spotlight.

Yet, Coach Donovan has a full toolbox to work with in offensive rebounding extroirdinare Chandler Parsons, big boy Vernon Macklin and clutch scoring Erving Walker. Plus, the Gators start 3 Seniors, with motivation to avenge last years loss to the Jimmer show in last years tournament.

2- Kansas Jayhawks

For starters, lets make it clear that I do not like this years Jayhawks squad. They don't protect the basketball, they dont shoot free throws well and they cruised through the regular season on talent alone.

With that said, their region is terrible.

I cant imagine any scenario where featherweight 2-5 seeds Notre Dame, Purdue, Louisville or Vanderbilt knock off the Jayhawks. So while im not on the rock-chalk train, you cant argue with their abundance of talent on their roster or the abundance of suck in their region.

1- Duke Blue Devils

The Dukies would have been a no-brainer to repeat had Kyrie Irving stayed healthy all season.

Without him (all though reports indiciate that he will play a role in this years tournament) they still pose a ligitamte threat at wining it all once again.

Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith,will provide Duke with the two best players on the court throughout the tournament (with possible apologies to Jared Sullinger and Kemba Walker.) This team actually scores with more efficiency than last years version and they still play trademark in you facer Duke style man-to-man defense.

Unlike the Jayhawks and Buckeyes, who cruised through the regular season, Duke had to deal with good ol' fashioned, charachter building adversity, with injuries to Kyrie Irving injury and a few mid-season losses.

In my opinion, this mental toughness earned by Coach K's squad will give them the edge they need to cut down the nets this year in Houston.