Can you believe it? The long wait is finally over as one of the biggest sporting events in the world is finally upon us once again, which is the March Madness. Sixty-eight of the best college basketball teams in the country will lock horns in pursuit of the ultimate prize – the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship.
Who will be the last team standing in this event? Read on below as we list down our complete picks and predictions for the entire national tournament. While you’re at it, you can check out the experts’ picks for this year’s March Madness as well as our sleepers for this year’s NCAA championship.
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2015 March Madness Complete Picks and Predictions
Midwest
The big secret in college basketball was finally revealed on Sunday as Kentucky was declared the no. 1 overall seed in this year’s tournament. It wasn’t a complete surprise considering the way the Wildcats have dominated in this season thus far. Heading into the NCAA Tournament, the Wildcats’ record is still unblemished after 34 games with their latest victory, the 78-63 triumph over the Arkansas Razorbacks in the SEC championship game.
Key to the Wildcats’ success this season has been their exemplary defense. They are third in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 54.0 PPG. Kentucky’s odds of completing a perfect season are currently priced at EVEN.
[sc:NCAAB240banner ]It won’t be smooth sailing for the Wildcats, however, as reigning ACC champions Notre Dame is also in this side of the bracket. The Fighting Irish displayed their title credentials in the ACC tournament, beating Duke and North Carolina in the semis and the finals respectively to clinch their program’s first ever conference title.
Notre Dame’s rise this season can be attributed to its exquisite offense. The Fighting Irish are 12th in the NCAA in scoring this season, averaging 78.8 points per contest. They are one of the best-shooting teams in the country as well, hitting 51 percent of their field goal attempts this season, second in the entire nation. The Fighting Irish are pegged at +2,500 to win it all this year.
March Madness has been famous for its unpredictability and the Midwest bracket is expected to deliver its fair share of upsets. No. 11 Texas is primed to deliver one in the first round when they take on No. 6 Butler on March 19.
The Longhorns are one of the best defensive teams in the nation today, allowing just 60.4 points per game this season, 39th in the entire NCAA. They lead the country in blocks (7.9 BPG) and are also eighth in the rebounding department (39.7 RPG). With their ability to clamp down on opposing offenses, expect Texas to make some waves in this year’s tourney.
West
It sure was a great Sunday for the Wisconsin Badgers. They not only sealed their third Big Ten tournament title with an 80-69 overtime victory over Michigan State in the finals but they also clinched the No. 1 seed in the West bracket of the NCAA Tournament. It was a distinction totally deserved as the Badgers produced one of the best offensive seasons in the history of the NCAA this year.
The Badgers’ 124.2 points per 100 possessions, per Kenpom.com, is the highest total since 2002. Wisconsin will be led in the NCAA tournament by Frank Kaminsky who once again had a stellar season for the Badgers this year.
The star center led the team not only in points (18.2 PPG) but also in rebounds (8.1 RPG) and blocks (1.6 BPG) as well. Expected to provide support to Kaminsky is the talented frontcourt duo of Sam Dekker and Nigel Hayes. They are averaging 13.2 PPG and 12.1 PPG, respectively for the Badgers this season.
It’s a pretty straightforward bracket with most of the favorites expected to advance in the first round. The only team we forecast who will cause a major shock in the opening round is Ohio State. The Buckeyes may be seeded No. 10 in this bracket but expect them to turn some heads in this year’s tournament.
That is because they have in their arsenal one of the most exciting players in the college game today in D’Angelo Russell. The 6-5 freshman has been a vital cog to the Buckeyes’ success this season, leading the team in points (19.3 PPG), rebounds (5.6 RPG), assists (5.1 APG) and steals (1.6 SPG). Look for Russell to steer Ohio State to a second-round showdown with Arizona.
Speaking of Arizona, the Wildcats are expected to provide the toughest test to Wisconsin in this side of the bracket. Arizona (31-3) romped to its record fifth Pac-12 tournament title with an 80-52 destruction of Oregon in the championship game Saturday.
What makes Arizona such a tough team to matchup with is its excellent play on both ends of the floor. They are one of the best offensive teams in the nation today, averaging 76.4 PPG, 22nd in the entire NCAA. They also are great on the defensive end, allowing a measly 58.6 points per game this season, 15th in the entire country. No wonder they are pegged at just +1,400 to win the national title this year.
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South
Duke may have suffered yet another early exit in the ACC tournament but that didn’t deter the national committee from giving the Blue Devils the No. 1 seed in the South Bracket of this year’s competition. We definitely can’t argue with that point as the Blue Devils have been superb this season, posting a 29-4 overall record thus far.
Key to their strong showing this season has been the excellent form of Jahlil Okafor. The talented freshman has been a beast for the Blue Devils the entire season, accumulating team-best averages of 17.7 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. Coach Mike Krzyzewski will bank on Okafor bringing his outstanding play to the NCAA tournament and lead the Blue Devils to their fifth national title.
It won’t be an easy road for Duke, however, as Iowa State is lurking inside this bracket as well. The Cyclones were simply phenomenal in their Big 12 championship run, recording three double-digit comeback victories en route to their second consecutive conference title.
Now, they have their sights set on their first ever national championship. It isn’t far-fetched to think that they can pull off such a feat, especially with the way Georges Niang is playing right now. Niang is averaging 15.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game for the Cyclones this season.
Iowa State isn’t just a one-man team though. Four other players are scoring in double-figures for the team namely Monte Morris (11.8 PPG), Jameel McKay (11.0 PPG), Bryce Dejean-Jones (10.9 PPG) and Naz Long (10.3 PPG). That offensive balance is what makes Iowa State one of the teams to beat this season. Their odds of winning the championship are set at +2,500.
In terms of possible upsets in this bracket, the Davidson Wildcats are expected to create some noise on that front. The Wildcats boast one of the highest-scoring offenses in the nation today, averaging a whopping 79.9 points per game, sixth in the NCAA. Exquisite ball movement has been the key to their high-powered offense with Davidson generating 17.2 assists per game this campaign, third-best in the entire nation.
Davidson has made thrilling tournament runs in the past, the most famous of which was when Stephen Curry led them to the Elite Eight back in 2008 as the No. 10 seed. Look for Davidson to upset second-seeded Gonzaga in the second round and forge a Sweet Sixteen showdown with Iowa State this year.
East
Villanova grabbed the top seed in the East bracket by virtue of its strong performance in the Big East tournament. The Wildcats emerged victorious in a conference widely considered to be the second-most competitive in the country, routing Xavier in the finals, 69-52. The win helped improve Villanova’s record this season to 32-2.
Key to their success so far this year has been their excellent form on the offensive end. Villanova is averaging 76.3 PPG, 23rd in the entire nation. Darrun Hilliard II, Josh Hart and Ryan Arcidiacono have picked up the scoring cudgels for the squad, averaging 14.0, 10.4 and 10.2 points per game respectively this season.
If offense is Villanova’s cup of tea, Virginia’s rise to the top this season has been powered by its exceptional defense. The Cavaliers have been simply phenomenal on the defensive end this campaign, allowing just 50.8 points per game, the best mark in the NCAA this season. Their stifling defense has helped them establish an impressive 29-3 record with their only losses coming to Duke, Louisville and North Carolina.
Although they have lost two of their last three games, Virginia is still a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming tournament and is expected to go deep in this event this year. The Cavaliers are pegged at +1,500 to win the NCAA title this season.
Even though we picked No. 1 Villanova and No. 2 Virginia to square off in the Elite Eight, we expect the East bracket to deliver some mouth-watering upsets along the way as well. No. 12 Wyoming can deliver one against Northern Iowa in the first round on March 20.
Why not? They are fresh off a monumental 45-43 upset victory over San Diego State in the Mountain West Conference championship to seal their first trip to the national tournament in 13 years. Also, No. 12 seeds have been pretty successful in the tournament the past three years. Eight No. 12 seeds have advanced to the second round during this period, including three 12th-seeded teams last season.
Writer’s Prediction
Kentucky, Wisconsin, Virginia and Iowa State emerge triumphant in their respective brackets and seal their places in the Final Four at Indianapolis on April 4. The Badgers (+600) will end Kentucky’s perfect season and seal their first national title in 74 years with a nerve-wracking win over Virginia in the title game.
