Conference Tournament Champions

Before I get into my post, I want to show you my new favorite video, the highlights of last year's basketball season.  I thought it was very well done, and wanted to share.

Conference Tournament Championship Games and Winners (Only 7 Conferences)

Big 10
Final: Indiana vs. Iowa
Winner: Indiana
MVP: Victor Oladipo, Indiana
Many of you may be surprised at this final.  Of course, not that Indiana is in it, but that Iowa is in it.  Iowa needs at least 2 wins desperately, if they are to make it in the NCAA tournament, and this will make them the most motivated team in the Big 10 tournament.  They need win(s) like no other team.  Indiana played very well against Michigan, getting the outright Big 10 title.  They have amazing chemistry and I will be surprised if they do not make the Final Four.  Not that it would be a disappointment, but it would surprise me.  IU has Victor Oladipo and Cody Zeller, who both had double-doubles in their win over Michigan.  beating Michigan on the road is really, REALLY, impressive.  Especially when Glenn Robinson III has a good game (see previous post).  The Hoosier Nation is happy with IU and they will be even more happy when IU wins the Big 10 tournament.

Big East
Final: Louisville vs. Syracuse
Winner: Syracuse
MVP:  Michael Carter-Williams, Syracuse
Syracuse did not finish the regular season well, which is the primary reason that I have them winning the Big East tournament (the other is that it would be the 11th time in the last 24 years that a coach named Jim has won the Big East tournament).  Syracuse is very talented and so is Louisville, but both have been somewhat of a disappointment this season, especially Syracuse.  I think that both of these teams will come out and play to their potential.  Michael Carter-Williams will distribute the ball well and score better than he has all season.  Peyton Siva will pass the ball well and finally start scoring.  The difference in this game will be the three Syracuse guards, Carter-Willams, Brandon Triche and James Southerland.  They will dictate the game and lead Syracuse to victory.  Louisville won't be able to get past Syracuse's zone.

ACC
Final: NC State vs. Duke
Winner: Duke
MVP: Seth Curry, Duke
Duke is the best team in the ACC, period.  BY FAR!  They may even be the best team in the country.  They have a ton of talent, starting with Ryan Kelly and Seth Curry.  Seth Curry is an amazing shooter.  He shoots the lights out of the ball.  Three point shots are one of the most efficient shots in basketball, especially if you have Seth Curry.  Ryan Kelly is a good offensive player, but he is a great defender.  He directs their defense like a middle linebacker, and they are soooooo much better on defense with him on the floor.  Quinn Cook directs their offense well, and Plumlee can clog up space and run the floor, which is why Duke will win this game.  NC State has great talent, and I think they could make a Final Four.  That's how good they are.

SEC
Final: Tennessee vs. Missouri
Winner: Tennessee
MVP: Jordan McRae, Tennessee
Tennessee is hot.  Jordan McRae is playing great.  Josh Richardson is playing great.  Trae Golden is playing great.  McRae is a great scorer, averaging 16 points per game.  Tennessee is great at getting up and down the floor and also does well in half-court offense.  This is a great combination.  Trae Golden can set up everyone for shots, and he is a great point guard.  Richardson is a big, physical SF who can run the court, and score in transition.  Missouri needs SEC tournament wins to set themselves up well for the Big Dance.  Although they have been cold recently, they have great athletes and will set up a rematch of Saturday's loss vs. Tennessee.

PAC-12
Final: Arizona State vs. Oregon
Winner: Oregon
MVP: Arsalan Kazemi, Oregon
At the middle of the season, Oregon looked like one of the best teams in college basketball.  I thought they had a chance to go to a Final Four.  But recently, they have fell off, losing to Utah and getting killed by Colorado.  But with wins in the PAC-12 tournament, they will set themselves up nicely for the NCAA tournament.  They need wins, and Arsalan Kazemi will get them those.  Aside from having the coolest name in college basketball, he is a GREAT rebounder.  Arizona State is TALENTED.  Jahii Carson is supposed to be a 1st round pick next year, and Carrick Felix and Jordan Bachynski are supposed to be 2nd round picks this year.  Arizona State is a quiet bubble team who needs wins.  The PAC-12 tournament is a great place to do it.

Mountain West
Final: Air Force vs. New Mexico
Winner: Air Force
MVP: Michael Lyons, Air Force
Air Force needs wins, as they just fell off the bubble.  They will probably need to win the Mountain West tournament to get in, and I think they will do that.  The Mountain West might get as many as 6 teams in the tournament, if Air Force wins their conference tournament.  Michael Lyons is a great player and maybe Air Force will have enough air forces to take down New Mexico, who is a top 15 team.  New Mexico and Kendall Williams are probably one of the two best mid-major schools in the nation (along with Gonzaga).  New Mexico's coach knows the Big Dance, (Steve Alford played in that tournament a lot with IU, winning a title) and they will do very well in the NCAA tournament.

Big 12
Final: Kansas vs. Oklahoma State
Winner: Kansas
MVP: Ben McLemore, Kansas
Kansas has been a great program for so many years.  They have gotten at least a share of the Big 12 title for 9 years, and I think they will continue their dominance this year.  Ben McLemore is such a great scorer.  Although they lost to Baylor on Saturday, I attribute that to great play by Baylor.  Baylor's two leading scorers shot a combined 22-26 from the field, which is amazing.  It may have been good for Kansas to get a loss before the tournament, and for some reason they didn't look bad, even though they got killed.  Oklahoma State showed their talent this weekend against Kansas State, maybe now you think I am SMART, and that I went to BROWN University, and that writing about basketball is my FORTE (see earlier post).  They are a great team who I think will breeze through the conference tournament before being stopped cold by Kansas.  Ben McLemore is just too good, as is his fellow Macklemore who is a very popular singer.  Ben McLemore can dunk and shoot amazingly.  He is a player of the year candidate who gets my vote (My Vote: 1. McLemore 2. Victor Oladipo 3. Seth Curry).  Kansas will soar through the Big 12 tournament.

March Madness is here and it was evident this weekend.  The  NCAA tournament, in my opinion, will go down as one of the best ever.  This week the conference tournaments will be very exciting, leading up to the Big Dance.