Duke and Missouri to make noise

South

<I>The Powerhouse

For the fourth consecutive year, the Duke Blue Devils ended the season as the highest ranked team in the land. And quite frankly, they're that good. They have the best player in the country in junior guard Jason Williams, who averages 21.6 points per game. They have the most versatile player in the country in junior forward Mike Dunleavy, who averages 17.4 points. At 6-10, Dunleavy can rain jumpers or play in the post. And they boast the nation's hottest offensive player, Carlos Boozer, who is 76-91 from the field in his last 10 games. Add Dahntay Jones, whose defense can shut anyone down, and Chris Duhon, a talented passer with a solid shot and great instincts, and you have the best starting five in recent college hoops history. Duke does not shoot well from the free throw line, nor does it possess a strong bench, yet nothing should keep the Blue Devils from Atlanta and the Final Four.

<I>The Contender

The Alabama Crimson Tide was the best team in the SEC this year, despite losing to Mississippi State in the finals of the SEC tournament. Alabama also finished the year ranked in the top ten of both major polls. Without a senior on its roster, Alabama is young, athletic, and fast. The Tide were 17-0 at home, which bodes well for them in the tournament; should they advance to the Final Four, they would play games in nearby Lexington, Kentucky and Greensville, South Carolina before heading to Atlanta. When junior guard Ron Grizzard is shooting well, Alabama is tough to beat.

<I>The Question Mark

The Pittsburgh Panthers were the nation's biggest surprise this season. Though they advanced deep into the Big East tournament last year after a lackluster regular season, the Panthers took the nation and the Big East by storm this year, compiling a 27-5 record and a top ten ranking in both polls. But when Brandin Knight, the junior point guard and co-Big East player of the year, slipped awkwardly after recording an assist at the end of regulation against UConn in the conference tournament finals, so too did Pitt's dreams of a national championship. Simply put, with a healthy Knight, Pitt can beat anyone in the country. More importantly, with a healthy Knight, Pitt thinks it can beat anyone in the country. Though the MRI on his knee was negative, Knight will surely be hobbled by his injury, and the Panthers will only go as far as Knight's limping legs can carry them.

<I>The Sleeper

How good is Kent State? Just ask its MAC counterparts, which lost to the Golden Flashes in 17 straight games to close out the season. You could also ask Big 10 powerhouse Indiana, which lost to Kent State 77-73 in the first round of last year's tournament. The MAC is no joke, though its teams play out of the national spotlight. Kent State is led by a fantastic troika of guards: seniors Trevor Huffman and Andrew Mitchell, and sophomore, Antonio Gates who all average over 15 points per game and shoot splendidly from the charity stripe. Could Kent State make it past Oklahoma St. and give Alabama a run for its money? In a word, absolutely.

<I>The Prediction

Duke waltzes into the Elite 8 without facing any terribly stiff competition. Kent State wins one before losing to Alabama. However, Cal, which gets hot after taking down Pitt, upsets Alabama to get to the round of 8. Duke blows out Cal to go the Final Four.

West

<I>The Unappreciated

The biggest story of this year's tournament selections was not the great teams that were left out of the bracket of 65, but of the great team that went unrecognized, Gonzaga. Ranked in the top 10, a team that has repeatedly proven itself by advancing to the Sweet 16 in each of the last 3 years, Gonzaga drew a six seed in the West. The Zags are also on a collision course to play Arizona, one the country's most talented squads, in the second round. This could be one of the great games in the entire tournament, let alone the second round. Gonzaga has won 24 of its last 25 contests and boasts a strong inside presence, especially when opponents double team senior guard Dan Dickau. If junior forward Zach Gourde and sophomore center Cory Violette continue averaging double figures in scoring, the Zags can shock the basketball world, again. Yet, like all teams coming from small conferences, many question the Zags' strength of schedule. Their three losses come to tournament teams - Illinois, Marquette and Pepperdine - and they have not beaten any opponents of this caliber. Certainly, Arizona will pose a challenge.

<I>The Top Cat

Cincinnati has only one person to thank for its 30-3 overall record: Steve Logan, who has turned his basketball career around. He has lost weight, gained focus and mobility, and become the most valuable player to his team in the country. He is lethal from the free throw line, shoots nearly 50% from the floor and 40% from behind the arc. The Bearcat defense is one of the nation's best, holding opponents to only 58 points per game during the season. Cincinnati does not relinquish leads, an important trait for a Final Four hopeful. That being said, the team plays a rough brand of basketball, which occasionally borders on dirty. The Bearcats are the least respected of the number one seeds, and for good reason - their bracket is undoubtedly the nation's toughest. Still, never underestimate a team with a single great player. Kansas won a championship on the back of Danny Manning, and Cincinnati could ride Logan's shoulders all the way to Atlanta.

<I>The Overrated

Yes, Miami has a good football team. But after its basketball squad won 14 straight to start the season, a few too many experts jumped on the Hurricane bandwagon. Here's what's true: Miami does have a very talented starting five led by John Salmons and Darius Rice. Miami did move up in the polls after losing two games the previous week. The Canes do have the weakest bench in the Big East with only one non-starter who gets significant time. Miami does lack a consistent scorer to carry it to the deeper rounds of the tournament. Miami has to find someone to rely on to defeat Missouri, a more talented first round opponent.

<I>Prediction

The Canes drop a first-round game to Missouri. Missouri gets hot and takes out Ohio State and, in the upset of the tournament, beats Cincinnati to advance to the elite eight. Hawaii knocks off Xavier, before losing to Oklahoma. Arizona beats Oklahoma, then Missouri, and goes to Atlanta.