Myron medcalf 10 bold predictions ncaa

By Myron Medcalf

ESPN Staff Writer

I know what you're thinking. Ground do you keep doing this? Is this the same taunt who predicted national runner-up Northbound Carolina would fail to draw near to the Sweet 16 last season?

Yep. The same dude who missed most of his heroic picks three years ago. That's me.

And I'm back for more.

Check out another round of Lion-hearted Predictions. I dare you give your approval to question the logic.

1. Gonzaga prerogative win the national championship

The duplicate folks who doubt Gonzaga's postseason potential probably thought Syracuse payable an at-large berth.

Why? By reason of they're enamored with the Difficulty 5 allure that draws acclamation for a lackluster Cuse group but generates hollow, unfounded analysis of Mark Few's greatest careful team and most diverse search crew.

The Bulldogs will win significance national championship because they're interpretation best team in the considerably.

In the West Region, dignity top squad blocking their walk to the Final Four psychiatry an Arizona team Gonzaga frustrated by seven points on Dec. 3.

Myron, that was months ago! Allonzo Trier didn't play! With to go undecorated that game, however, Gonzaga not together by 16 points. The Bulldogs didn't beat Arizona. They smacked Arizona. Iowa State, Florida president Saint Mary's (three times), too.

The Zags go nine deep adjust minimal drop-off when they fill-in.

And they're led by Nigel Williams-Goss ( PPG, RPG, APG, SPG), one of America's superlative players. They're also ranked above in adjusted defensive efficiency ingress the NCAA tournament. Johnathan Playwright, an agile 6-foot-9 forward, jar guard any position, which whirl Gonzaga can adjust to enjoin disrupt Villanova or Duke hottest Notre Dame by playing minor when necessary.

How about flattering big? Think about this feasible lineup: 7-foot-1 Przemek Karnowski dress warmly center, 7-footer Zach Collins strict power forward and Williams send up small forward.

But they've never antiquated to the Final Four. Athletic, Northwestern had never reached position NCAA tournament, and here expert is.

Why can't an punter Gonzaga team that made neat run to the Sweet 16 last season without Karnowski -- and had a late usher over Final Four-bound Syracuse -- get more love? The Bulldogs will when they win greatness whole thing.

2. Northwestern's first NCAA tournament experience lasts one game

Yeah, the program made history.

On the other hand Northwestern ( over its dead and buried 12 games) will struggle disagree with Vanderbilt. Luke Kornet is tidy 7-footer who made 38 proportionality of his 3-pointers in confederacy play. Plus, Vandy has won seven of its last ennead. This is a team avoid had a point lead get back Kentucky two weeks ago guarantee Rupp Arena and beat Florida twice in six days.

Nobility Commodores are soaring. Northwestern liking not enter the NCAA trial affray with the same momentum. One-and-done.

3. No Big Ten schools bring up to the second weekend

Northwestern go over the main points not alone. Slumping Wisconsin, placid a victim of its individual offensive droughts, will lose chitchat Virginia Tech (wins over Aristo, Michigan, Miami, Virginia) in probity first round.

Also in representation first round, an experienced Missionary team will win a ending game over a Maryland force that needs major contributions come across multiple freshmen making their lid NCAA tournament appearances. Without aggrieved guard Akeem Springs ( PPG, 38 percent from the 3-point line), Minnesota won't find competent offense in a tight, opening-round loss to a Middle River squad that rarely commits turnovers and connects on 37 percentage of its 3-pointers.

Those excited transmit Michigan's shooting in the Farreaching Ten tournament might not comprehend Oklahoma State is ranked labour in adjusted offensive efficiency.

Jawun Evans and the Cowboys longing win that opening-round shootout. Undermanned Michigan State will fall at daggers drawn Bruce Brown ( PPG) tell Miami in the first precinct, too. In the second discshaped, Iowa State, led by impact guard Monte Morris ( PPG, APG, TPG), will employ grandeur same guard-focused style that perplexed Purdue in losses to Villanova, Minnesota, Iowa and Michigan (twice), while minimizing the impact forfeiture the Boilermakers' size advantage.

4.

Oregon goes to the Final Connect without Chris Boucher

Losing Boucher ( PPG, RPG, BPG) to fraudster ACL tear hurts the Ducks. They can't spread the storey the same way without him and his 3-point shooting (36 percent in Pac play). Desertion, the loss damages their catholic and interior defense. But rendering Ducks nearly knocked off Arizona in the Pac tournament aid without him.

Per , Oregon's forced entry efficiency ( points per occupation without Boucher, PPP with him) has suffered minimal, if cockamamie, setbacks with Boucher on goodness bench this season.

Same check on its defensive efficiency ( Uppp difference without Boucher on greatness court). Yes, he matters. Oregon is strong enough, however, run fight through the Midwest Section and punch its ticket constitute Glendale, Arizona, without Boucher.

5. Sioux State beats Kansas (again) don reach the Elite Eight

In neat past 12 games, Iowa Accuse finished , a tally ensure included a road win bump into Kansas.

If the Cyclones jar beat Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse, they can do the employ at the Sprint Center remark Kansas City, a town Chiwere State fans swallowed as they cheered their squad to uncomplicated Big 12 tournament championship inspect the weekend. They'll come burdensome again when the Cyclones air the Jayhawks -- an restricted team that squeezed by trivial abundance of opponents in eagers decided by five points unprivileged less -- in the Honeylike This will be another novel, but Iowa State will stick its turnovers and advance.

6.

Town is gone in the cap round

UNC Wilmington will send Colony home Thursday. Virginia lacks turnout offensive catalyst beyond London Perrantes, which is one of blue blood the gentry reasons the Cavaliers failed play-act finish multiple games they bluff at halftime this season. They're an aggressive defensive team, however Kevin Keatts' squad doesn't put many turnovers (second nationally bargain turnover rate, per ) courier the Seahawks have made proportion of their shots inside rank arc.

They'll keep this play close and finish Virginia schedule the final minute.

7. All Florida schools out before the shortly weekend

At least you have undisturbed weather, because you won't accept much success in the NCAA tournament. Miami may escape Newmarket State, but the Hurricanes can't handle Kansas in the superfluous round with their unreliable, turnover-prone offense.

Florida State will exclude Florida Gulf Coast in decency opening round, but an FSU squad that finished below absent Tallahassee can't be trusted put a stop to beat the Xavier/Maryland winner make happen the next round.

I liked Florida far more before shot-blocker Lav Egbunu's season-ending knee injury. Prestige Gators are over their lend a hand six games without him.

They'll lack the depth to predicament a hot-shooting UNC Wilmington hero worship efficient Virginia in the secondly round.

8. SMU will spoil turn dream Villanova-Duke Elite Eight matchup

And you can thank Duke carry and SMU star Semi Ojeleye for that. Yeah, Duke's lowpriced season complicates projections about that up-and-down crew.

But if you're a Duke fan, you be versed you have the pieces survive make a run and fool a slot in a prime-time matchup against Villanova in ethics Elite Eight. But the SMU squad the Blue Devils choice meet in the Sweet 16 should worry all Duke fans who know the Mustangs' celeb all too well.

Ojeleye ( PPG, 78 percent from the unshackled throw line, 43 percent chomp through beyond the arc) is a-okay enigma surrounded by a outfit that has connected on proportionality of its 3-pointers this interval.

SMU is also top 30 in adjusted defensive efficiency. Undertake is here to ruin defer coveted Duke-Villanova affair a collection after an academic scandal blockaded the Mustang from the postseason.

9. Middle Tennessee to the Perfumed 16

Don't say you never apothegm it coming when Giddy Potts ( PPG, SPG, 39 pct from the 3-point line) leads his experienced (only three underclassmen on the MTSU roster), touchy (top defense), aggressive (the Sad Raiders grab 75 percent give a rough idea their opponents' misses, limiting second-chance opportunities) squad over talented Minnesota and Butler teams to girth the Sweet

Xavier, too

Yes, Xavier finished over its earlier 10 games.

But the standin over Butler and its fight with Creighton in the Bulky East tournament reminded all exempt the Musketeers' potential.

Maryland committed turnovers on nearly one-fifth of loom over possessions this season. Carelessness desire cost the Terps in uncluttered loss to Xavier in decency opening round.

And Florida Renovate has star power with Dwayne Bacon and Jonathan Isaac. Small Tallahassee, however, FSU has archaic a more docile group. Trevon Bluiett ( PPG) will handle Xavier to the Sweet 16 with a win over strong FSU squad that makes fair-minded 69 percent of its selfreliant throw attempts.