College basketball is starting to heat up, so it is time to make some predictions.

The number one seeds in the NCAA tournament will be Villanova, Gonzaga, Kansas, and Kentucky. Villanova is the best team in the country, and senior Josh Hart leads the team, averaging 19.3 points per game, with 6.6 rebounds a game, and 3.5 assists per game.’ Nova also has players like Kris Jenkins and Jalen Brunson who are good as well. Gonzaga is the best team in the West Coast, and has four guys that are averaging in double figures. Also Gonzaga has three transfers that have had an impact. These players like Nigel Williams- Goss, Jordan Matthews, and Jonathan Williams, will be key for them come tourney-time. Kansas has the best backcourt in college basketball with players like Frank Mason III, and Devonte’ Graham, both of them are averaging in double-figures. Also Kansas has an impact freshman in Josh Jackson who is averaging 15.5 points per game and could be one and done this year. Kentucky also has a good backcourt in players like Malik Monk and De’Aaron Fox that are really having an impact. Both of the guys are averaging over 15 points per game. So this team is dangerous.

The Wooden Award player of the year is going to be Villanova’s Hart, because this guy is the most complete player in the country. He can defend, he can make big plays. He scored a season-high 37 points in a win over Notre Dame in December, but he is a grinder that will help Villanova make a deep run in the NCAA tournament.

The best freshman in the country is Kentucky’s Monk, because this kid is so talented. He is averaging 21.9 ppg he has had a impact on this team. Monk had 47 points against North Carolina a career high. Also he could be a potential number-one pick in the NBA draft. The best starting five that could be made is UCLA’s Lonzo Ball, Hart, Clemson’s Jaron Blossomgame, Arizona’s Lauri Markkanen, and Purdue’s Caleb Swanigan.

Michigan State has been the most disappointing team in the country this season. They had high expectations this season with freshman like Miles Bridges, but they are 12-9 and 5-4 in the Big ten but don’t count out Tom Izzo because this team could make deep run in March with the coaching of Tom Izzo. A Cinderella team to look out for in March is Florida State this team has 11 guys that can get significant minutes. Players like Xavier Rathan-Mayes, Jonathan Isaac, and Dwayne Bacon and plus they have wins over Duke, Notre Dame, and Louisville to show they really can play. I feel like this is a potential final-four team because of the depth and their athleticism.

Virginia has the best chance out of the local teams because their defense and experience. Maryland will be a tournament team, but I don’t see them going very far because they rely on one guy, Melo Trimble, too much. Virginia Tech is a bubble team even though they had a win over Duke. Georgetown will not get in the tournament because they don’t have an impact player who can make a difference. My Power Six conference champions will be North Carolina in the ACC, Villanova in the Big East, Wisconsin in the Big Ten, Kansas in the Big 12, Oregon in the Pac-12 , Kentucky in the SEC.