After today's performance in the Big East tournament, Uconn's NCAA Tournament chances are zero. What we now know is that the Huskies' 21-point loss to St. John's eliminates one bubble team. Yesterday, four teams punched their tickets in the Big Dance, and two more have a chance to do so today. North Texas and Troy will play for the Sun Belt title at 7:00, and at 9:00, Butler will square off against Wright State in the Horizon League Final. I can already feel the March Madness in the air, as can millions of college basketball fans across the world. I felt very obligated to pick all of the 1 seeds in the conference tournaments to win them, but tried to choose some others. Here are my predictions for some tournament winners.
Big East - Syracuse
The Big East tournament began today, but I think the champion won't play until Thursday. I wanted to pick Villanova, but they may be missing their second leading rebounder, Taylor King. Syracuse has won all but three of their Big East games, losing to Louisville twice and Pittsburgh, but they probably won't be playing Louisville in this tournament because they're on opposite sides of the bracket. I think the other side of the bracket is up for grabs, as Notre Dame and Louisville are hot low seeds that could pull off an upset. Still, I feel confident that Syracuse can get to the finals (considering the fact that they haven't lost to anyone on their side of the bracket) and then win the championship. I think this will be one of the more interesting conference tournaments of the year.
Big 12 - Kansas State
Kansas is simply the best team in the Big 12. But with a 1 seed just about locked up in the NCAA Tournament, the Jayhawks are preparing for the 65-team tournament, not the 12-team one. That gives Kansas State an opportunity to get back on track. The Wildcats have lost two straight, including a rough one to Iowa State in the season finale, but they are fighting for that fourth #1 seed in the NCAA tournament. I think that they need to win this tournament to get it. Kansas State would love to face Kansas in the finals and win because they have already played in an overtime-thriller with Bill Self and the Jayhawks. I've got KSU winning it all, but this could easily go to the red-hot Baylor or Kansas.
SEC - Kentucky
This is not even a question for me. As I've been saying throughout the year, Kentucky is my pick to win it all, and I think they will have no problem winning the SEC tournament. Their two loses came to South Carolina and Tennessee, but they have beaten both of those teams as well. In the two loses, junior forward Patrick Patterson averaged just 7.5 PPG, but Patterson has reached double digits in 10 of his last 11 games. I think the Wildcats will take care of business if they have to face one of these teams again. If they can get to the finals, they have not lost to anyone on the other side of the bracket so far, and I don't think they will now.
Big Ten - Michigan State
The Big Ten Tournament starts on Thursday with three games. While Naismith candidate Evan Turner and the Ohio State Buckeyes are the 1 seed in the tournament and are going for a 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, I like MSU this week. 2009 Big Ten Player of the Year Kalin Lucas is back and healthy again for the Spartans, which is exactly what they want going into the postseason. MSU plays the winner of Penn State and Minnesota, and Lucas has averaged 5 APG and over 17 PPG in the four games he played against them this season. I think the Spartans have an advantage over Purdue because of the loss of Robbie Hummel, and MSU has won each of the two Big Ten Championship games they have played in under Tom Izzo.
ACC - Duke
The ACC tournament kicks off on Thursday as well, and I just think Duke is the best team in the ACC. Maryland did beat Duke a week ago, but I don't think anything could have been more motivating for the Blue Devils than a 32-point win over their arch rivals. I think the ACC Final will be Duke/Florida State like last year, but even if it was Maryland, Greensboro Coliseum is much closer to Duke, and when the Terps went to Duke on February 13, they lost by 21. Senior John Scheyer scored 29 in the ACC Championship game last year, and I just think Duke is too strong for the other ACC teams.
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