It’s almost that time of the year again! No, not springtime
although we could all use some warmer weather. I’m talking about March Madness- the breathtaking, exhilarating, and heartbreaking annual college basketball tournament. Personally, I think it’s the greatest sporting event in the western hemisphere. The upsets, the drama, and the nonstop, all-day excitement- the NCAA tournament has it all. But before it all kicks off, let’s review this season in college basketball.

Kentucky reloaded with top prospects after a tough loss in last year’s championship game. However, unlike last year, Kentucky has lived up to – maybe even exceeded – the preseason expectations. They currently sit atop the college basketball world at 26-0, and many fans are starting to wonder if they can become the first team since the ’76 Indiana Hoosiers to complete a perfect season. In my opinion, it won’t happen: the Wildcats have had too many close calls against lackluster SEC opponents to inspire much confidence in them going forward. They will probably head into the tournament undefeated, but a more experienced team will upend the Wildcats as early as the Sweet Sixteen.

It’s not easy for a Maryland fan to say this, but Duke freshman Jahlil Okafor has been by far the best player in college basketball this season. He averages 18 points and 9 rebounds per game, while shooting a ridiculous 66% from the floor. He regularly overpowers defenders, and the only way opposing teams have been able to slow him down is by double teaming him every time he touches the ball. Nobody on the floor can match his combination of size, speed, and skill, and his play has been the main reason for Duke’s success. Barring a freak injury, he is my frontrunner for the John R. Wooden Award, awarded to the best player in college basketball, and a near-lock for the first pick of next year’s NBA draft.

The most overrated team in college basketball is, without a doubt, Louisville. The Cardinals have shown time and time again that they cannot score points against good defensive teams – they currently sit at 187th in the nation in field goal percentage and 242nd in assists per game. Louisville will most likely be a 3 or 4 seed in the tournament, but all a team needs to do is shut down junior forward Montrezl Harrell by double teaming him. Conversely, the most underrated team this year has to be Wisconsin. I know they’re ranked number 5, but it seems that people are reluctant to put them in the championship conversation. Frank Kaminsky is a legit Wooden Award candidate, and they play solid defense. I think Louisville gets ousted in the round of 32, and Wisconsin makes it to the Final Four. Picking the Final Four teams is nearly impossible because it all depends on the seeding, but in my mind the four teams most likely to reach it are Kentucky, Virginia, Duke, and Wisconsin. I predict a championship game between Duke and Virginia – a rematch of the January 31st matchup between the two teams, a game that Duke won 69-63. However, I predict that Virginia will bring its stifling defense, shut down Duke’s offense, and win their first-ever national championship.