It’s been 2 years since we’ve had the excitement of NCAA Basketball madness in March. Last year as the pandemic was starting and normalcy being tossed onto a highway and run over by cars, the tournament that unites the nation was canceled. It was the right call, we had this crazy virus with unknown infection rates and deaths. The world was collapsing and to help stop the spread, sports were canceled or postponed.
I was disappointed the 2020 tournament didn’t get a chance to run it’s course. I felt that for the men and women it was pretty wide open on who could be crowned the Champ. I really think Michigan State would’ve gotten over the Elite 8 hump and won the men’s title and Oregon would’ve won the women’s tournament. But, the world stopped on March 11th. It would’ve been nice to see new champions.
So here I sit, March 15, 2021 and I’m ready for it all to begin! Next to fantasy baseball keeper declaration day, the bracket release day is right on its heels as the best sports day of the year. What colleges make the cut? How many 2am nights will I have this year because the game is just too good to see highlights? Will an underdog make it to the Final Four?
The men’s bracket was released Sunday evening with no surprises for the #1 spots: Michigan, Illinois, Baylor and Gonzaga. But do you expect any of them to get to the Final Four? I have 2 going to the FF: Gonzaga & Illinois. Gonzaga’s biggest challenge is Iowa who they’ll meet up with in the Elite 8, and Gonzaga will repeat what they did in December by beating Iowa…but probably not by as much as the previous matchup. Patrick Ewing is back in the NCAA tourney, as a coach! His team has a touch matchup with Colorado but I like the Hoyas and they play in a tough conference (listen to our podcast and why we feel teams in tougher conferences are more prepared for the Tournament!). You can’t sleep on Michigan State in the East but I think Texas it just too tough for them. In the end, I see Alabama moving on from the East.
The South have a group of talented teams that have a long Final Four history. Wisconsin, Villanova, & UNC. My biggest upset is in this one: Winthrop beats Villanova. Winthrop plays very fast and will and with the absence of Collin Gillespie to injury, it will be hard for them to keep up. Ohio State ultimately comes out of this region into the Final Dance Party.
The Midwest, I think, has the most teams that are peaking at the right time. Georgia Tech just won the ACC tournament, Oregon State went on a run in the Pac-12 that nobody saw coming, San Diego State is rolling with the Coach of the Year and Player of the Year in the Mountain West, West Virginia has been going on a scoring rampage and Rutgers is in the tournament for the first time since 1991. Rutgers will get to the Sweet 16, upending Clemson and Houston (in a nail biter). Illinois is my other #1 seed to move to the Final Four.
Ahh, the Final Four. The pinnacle of college sports, in any sport. Make it to the Final Four. The four teams that remain standing after months and months of effort. The atmosphere won’t be quite the same but there will be fans in Indianapolis.
That leaves Gonzaga vs Alabama, Ohio State vs Illinois. Guards will win championships, having a top Point Guard is key and Gonzaga has that in Jalen Suggs. He is an NBA lottery pick, he is SPECIAL. Corey Kispert has the best jump shot in the country, bottom line…their offense is unheard of and Gonzaga wins over Bama. Ohio State is going to make it tough for Illinois, but I see Illinois winning in the last minute of the game. They are poised for the Championship game this year, hands down, tough conference play and more mature players set them up nicely.
Gonzaga goes onto win the Championship. Their offense is just too potent to be stopped. Suggs gets Most Outstanding Player then enters the NBA draft and gets picked #1. So get those brackets done, get the popcorn ready and take in some NCAA basketball…it’s been 717 days since the last run for the title.
Time Out With Jenn & Lisa 