College Basketball: Mid-season Final Four Predictions

Celtic1982citleC · #1 (**permalink**) 01-16-2007, 10:21 AM

Even though we're only half way through the season the better teams are starting to surface in college basketball. Here are my picks as to who would currently make the final 4, with 1 dark horse who is capable of crashing the party.

1. Florida
Deep, experienced, athletic team. Defending national champs. Would be very surprised to not see them amongst the final 4.

2. UCLA
Last year the Bruins escaped the Zags with a huge come from behind win. This year they are more experienced and just as talented.

3. North Caroline
Tyler Hansboro is a monster down low. When you have a big man like this he can carry you though a lot of games. Great coach in Roy Williams.

4. Wisconsin
Another great coach here in Bo Ryan. Runs a very disciplined scheme and typically does well in the dance despite talent. This year the Badgers have more than enough talent including one of the nations top players in Arlando Tucker.

Dark Horse. Texas A&M
The Aggies show up every night on the defensive side of the floor. They have some showstoppers on offense and if they can find rythm in the tourney the Aggies are capable of beating any of the 4 teams listed above.

waltbabyluv · #2 (**permalink**) 01-16-2007, 10:24 AM

I dont have picks yet but my favorite team in college sports is West Virginia

waltbabyluv · #3 (**permalink**) 03-12-2007, 10:13 PM

Syracuse and Drexel got fuckin shafted! i guess il root for albany since the cuse isnt in, no way albany is a 13........no fuckin way. Mike and the Mad dog ripped the chairman of the tourney board a new asshole today, the guy is clueless

Celtic1982citleC · #4 (**permalink**) 03-12-2007, 10:55 PM

NOBODY could do a better job than the board that has to do it. No matter who you picked, you could make an argument for another team. The ONLY gripe I had personally was Stanford over Syracuse. How can you say Albany doesn't deserve a 13 seed? They went on the road and won their conference @ UVM, returned all but 1 player from last years team that gave UConn everything they could handle, and only lost 9 games all season. The committee rewards teams that show they can compete in the tourney and play well all season and especially in their conference tourney. I don't believe Duke deserved a 6 seed...but with their experience in the tourney and Coach K they get the bump. Really the talent on that team is no better than a 9-10 seed. I think Mike and the Mad Dog just needed something to shout about. Too much gets made of this year in and year out. Just be thankful the NCAA has a tourney for college bball and you don't get the BCS like you do with College Football.

waltbabyluv · #5 (**permalink**) 03-13-2007, 07:36 AM

Oh so basically what your saying is that Albany got a 13 seed because theyve made it twice and competed in the game last year, Syracuse makes it almost every year ans won a national championship a few years back, if anyone should make it on merit it should be boeheim. They won enough games....they beat the teams they should have..they should be in

Celtic1982citleC · #6 (**permalink**) 03-13-2007, 08:23 AM

Here is how Albany got a 13 seed...

Finished SECOND in their conference in the regular season

Had a great road record

Won their conference tournament AT UVM

SOS was actually very good...they played @ Syracuse, @ UConn, and played a few Mid-Majors also away from the RAC.

Syracuse on the other hand had a horrible road record, lost in the 2nd round of their conference tournament, and finished middle of the pack in a weaker than usual Big East conference. Could they have gotten in? Definitely. But you're looking at things in the wrong light, Walt. You have to consider ALL of the facts surrounding the selection. Not just cause you like Syracuse and are pissed they didn't get in. I'm a huge U of Michigan fan....we've won 20+ games the past 3 seasons and finished over 500 in the Big 10 and we've been in the NIT every season the past 3 years. I'm not excited about it, but I realize we played poorly on the road and didn't perform well enough in the conference tourney to warrant a bid.

One of the BIGGEST thing looked at by the committee is your road/neutral floor record. As all the tourney games are at neutral sites, obviously the committee will reward teams that have shown they can play at a high level away from their home floor.

Just my opinion. These guys have the toughest job going. I don't think it's fair to burn them. BCS guys in college football on the other hand...

...how the HELL can they say that Boise State couldn't have played with FL and given them a better game than OSU did? WENEED A COLLEGE FB PLAYOFF!

Cobbcustomz · #7 (**permalink**) 03-13-2007, 01:57 PM

Syracuse should have been in, better league records then 2 teams in their conference that made the tourney. Airforce (i think) didnt make it in over stanford despite blowing them out by 30 @ stanford and having a higher RPI. The thing was a joke.
Albany despite being a good team and their good performance last year did not warrent a 13 seed. yes they won there tourney on the road but at best they were a 14 seed i figured they were more of a 15 seed.

Duke while struggling down the stretch, did play one of the toughest schedules in the nation. I think their 6th seed is justified