Monday, February 12, 2001
Our Fearless NCAA Predictions
By Michael Perry
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Predicted seeds
1. Duke, Illinois, North Carolina, Stanford
2. Boston College, Kansas, Michigan State, Tennessee
3. Iowa, Iowa State, Syracuse, UCLA
4. Arizona, Kentucky, Virginia, Wisconsin
5. Georgetown, Mississippi, Notre Dame, Texas
6. Fresno, Indiana, Maryland, Oklahoma
7. Georgia, Southern Cal, Wake Forest, Xavier
8. California, Florida, Missouri, Providence
9. Alabama, Cincinnati, St. Joseph's, Vanderbilt
10. Georgia Tech, Ohio State, Purdue, St. John's
11. Brigham Young, Illinois State, Richmond, Wyoming
12. Butler, College of Charleston, Creighton, Gonzaga
13. Central Michigan, Georgia State, Hofstra, UC-Irvine
14. Austin Peay, Holy Cross, Valparaiso, Western Kentucky
15. Cal. St.-Northridge, George Mason, Iona, Princeton
16. Alabama A&M/Radford play-in game, McNeese, Monmouth, South Carolina State
Ten who could fall out
Cincinnati, Illinois State, Georgia Tech, Ohio State, Providence, Purdue, Richmond, St. John's, Wake Forest, Wyoming
Ten who could fall in
Arkansas, Connecticut, Memphis, Minnesota, Oklahoma State, Penn State, Pepperdine, SMU, TCU, Villanova.
Final Four favorites
Arizona, Duke, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan State, North Carolina, Stanford, Tennessee
Could make a run
Boston College, Fresno, Georgetown, Iowa State, Maryland, Syracuse, UCLA, Virginia
Favorite to win it all
Duke. We picked 'em in the preseason, and there's no reason not to stick with 'em. The Blue Devils are not without flaws, but they still have a preseason Player of the Year candidate (Shane Battier), a current Player of the Year candidate (Jason Williams) and Coach K.
Ten unique scenarios
1. Kent (14-7, 8-3 MAC, 112 RPI). 2. Marquette (12-9, 7-3 C-USA, 75 RPI). 3. Massachusetts (10-11, 8-2 A-10, 73 RPI). 4. Memphis (14-9, 8-2 C-USA, 86 RPI). 5. Pepperdine (17-6, 9-1 West Coast, 80 RPI).
6. Richmond, 16-6, 7-4 Colonial, 63 RPI, not allowed to play in league tournament because it's leaving for A-10 next season; needs at-large bid). 7. Southern Mississippi (16-7, 6-5 C-USA, 70 RPI), 8. South Florida (15-8, 7-3 C-USA, 87 RPI). 9. Toledo (15-8, 7-5 MAC, 72 RPI). 10. Minnesota/Penn State/Purdue/Wake Forest, all have good enough records and high enough RPIs but having losing records in league play).
Five ranked in the preseason who could/will miss the NCAA
Arkansas (No. 15), Connecticut (14), DePaul (21), Seton Hall (10), Utah (13)
Sports Stories
XU blasts Fordham; Dozier's 3 lifts UC
Strong finish key for Bearcats' NCAA chase
Time's important to Boone