I can't see how KENTUCKY will not be part of this thing when all is said and done. However, coach Cal is, and has always been a problem for me. While he is obviously capable of getting players, I think he is a rotten X's and O's coach. At UMASS, MEMPHIS or now, his game plan seems to involve, in your face defense...a lot of full court pressue and no particular plan on offense. Just get the ball in the hands of an athlete and let him go to town. I feel Kentucky can be beat by a slightly lesser team in the tourney beacuse of coach Cal's lack of basketball I.Q.
TEXAS has been playing great, but I need to see them do it outside of the state of TX. While their defense will give opponents problems in any game at any location, I see their stock as a bit inflated at this stage of the season. I DON'T HAVE THEM IN MY FINAL FOUR.
SYRACUSE has stunned me to this point. I see their stock as inflated at the moment, as well. Like Texas they have had a very favorable schedule...location wise. The demise of the zone will come in the tourney when they face a great shooting team who will shoot the orange zone straight out of the tourney. I DON'T HAVE THEM IN MY FINAL FOUR.
I realise that MICHIGAN ST. has not been overly impressive. However, I feel that their talent remains on par with all of the teams in the mix this year. For my dollar, Tom Izzo is as good as any coach you can name. You can't tell me that he will not have them playing as good as anyone in the country in March. I'd love to see rematches with UNC or TEXAS in 3 months on a neutral floor. SPARTY is a serious threat for the national title.
If you took KANSAS' starting 5 off the team, the remaining players would still have a shot at making the final 4. With this said, I think we all could agree that we have yet to see the best this team has to offer. While depth is a great strength for the JAYHAWKS, you almost get the feeling that it is also their greatest weakness. The team has, as of yet been unable to gel and play like a championship squad. If the water ever comes to full boil in KANASA, they will win the title going away. I'm troubled by the lack of toughness I've seen from this bunch. A definate contender.
I can't see how any teams, other than the ones I have discussed can even be in a serious discussion for the National Title. (Sorry, 'Nova...Purdon't...WVU)
To sum it up, I have KENTUCKY, MICHIGAN ST. and KANSAS as three of my Final Four. I feel one for these three teams will be the champ. The fourth team will be an outsider...a solid team, that has no shot of winning it all. I'll go with VILLANOVA to round it out.
Of the three contenders, I'm going with....
MICHIGAN ST.
NATIONAL CHAMPS
HANDS DOWN
Kentucky looks the strongest right now as of Dec 
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