In less than a month, the exhilarating few weeks the sports world has dubbed “March Madness” will be upon us. For many of us, school will suddenly move down the priority list and mobile devices will become in-class TVs.
For others, the NCAA Tournament simply means five minutes with a pencil picking games based on whose name sounds cooler or whose jerseys are prettier. Regardless, here are six teams I believe can get there:
University of Kentucky (26-0) – They haven’t lost, and might not. This team is packed full of talent and defends as well as anyone. You can’t go wrong picking Coach Cal’s Wildcats to make the Final Four.
Duke (22-3) – With possibly the best big man in Jahlil Okafor, a group of talented young guards and the winningest coach in Division I basketball history, Duke is without question a championship-caliber team.
Wisconsin (23-2) – Coming off of a Final Four appearance last year, this year’s squad might actually be better. There’s no reason Frank Kaminsky and the country’s most efficient offense can’t do it again.
Virginia (24-1) – Tony Bennett’s Cavaliers have the nation’s best defense and have only lost once. If second-leading scorer Justin Anderson returns from his broken finger, watch out.
Arizona (22-3) – The Wildcats came within a point of the Final Four last year, and have been as consistently good this year. Balanced scoring and length in the frontcourt give Sean Miller’s team a solid shot to take that extra step in March.
Villanova (24-2) – The Big East’s best team has flown under the radar most of the season, but leading scorer Darrun Hilliard II can only be described as a star. Jay Wright took Villanova to the Final Four in 2009 and this team looks primed to do it again.
Team records are all as of Wednesday Feb. 18.
