North Carolina Tar Heels: Despite Kentucky and Syracuse being the top two teams all year, North Carolina is the best overall “team” in this years tournament. Passing is what gets the job done for the Tar Heels, led by sophomore point guard Kendall Marshall, averaging 9.7 assists per game, and broke the ACC season record for assists
Best One-On-One Matchup
A.D. vs. A.D.: Barring a historical upset, and Connecticut(9) advancing past Iowa State(8), Kentucky’s Anthony Davis and the Huskie’s Andre Drummond will be a battle on the post. Davis is the 2012 South Eastern Conference Player of the Year, and has changed the dynamic of a defensive big man. On the flip side, Drummond’s size and strength leads his game, to a healthy 10.2 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. Both freshman will have a chance to show out in Louisville, Kentucky March 17.
Best Bet to Spring an Upset
Harvard Crimson: The Ivy League has always been known as the “smart conference”, but they always seem to give teams a run for their money. Princeton only lost by two, last year, versus Final Four team, Kentucky. And this is just the year for Harvard (12), over Vanderbilt (5). The Commodores have been hyped ever since the final buzzer sounded in the SEC Championship Game versus Kentucky. The hype will die, and so will Vanderbilt, to the hand of Harvard.
Best Player
Thomas Robinson: Behind twins Marcus and Markieff Morris for the past two years, Kansas forward Thomas Robinson is ready for his turn, and turns out he’s the most NBA ready player in this tournament. The 6-10, 240 pound big man from Washington D.C averaged a double-double (18.0 PPG and 11.8 REB) in the Big 12 this season and was the unanimous conference Player of the Year.
Final Four Prediction
Kentucky, Louisville, Ohio State, Kansas: A late change to the status of Syracuse center Fab Melo, forced a late change in my Final Four prediction. Kansas will fight past an experienced North Carolina team to reach the Final Four and take down Ohio State and Kentucky from that point.