Conference Tournament Champions
Here are my picks for the conference championship games, winners and MVPs for the 7 major conference tournaments.
BIG 10
Final: Michigan St vs. Nebraska
Winner: Michigan St
MVP: Gary Harris
Michigan St is beginning to get fully healthy, which means we are just beginning to see what they can do. Recently, they have not played very well, and are nearly out of the rankings, down to 22. But the injuries they have had are just unbelievable. Each of their top 4 players has missed significant time (and by significant, I don't mean one or two). Gary Harris missed the least, at just a couple weeks, but Payne missed even more time, and Keith Appling missed time, and was hindered in many of the recent games he has played. Brandon Dawson, arguably their best rebounder, missed the most time, sitting for about a month for (wait for it) breaking his hand after slamming on the table in the film room. With all of these guys back, I think they can make a run and win the Big 10 tournament. Gary Harris is their best player, and maybe the best in the conference, and he will lead the way. I think Nebraska will pull of the upset and make it to the finals. They are playing great right now, and it seems like Terran Petteway can score whenever he wants.
Big East
Final: Creighton vs. Providence
Winner: Creighton
MVP: Doug McDermott
I think Doug McDermott is one of the top 5 players in NCAA history. He is moving up the scoring list, and he may end up in the top 4 (although he will play almost twice as many games as No. 1 Pete Maravich). Providence is playing great right now. I know I talked about them in and early post, and since then they have only added to their bubble resume. This tournament showing would most likely put them in the NCAA tournament for sure, and maybe they could get a 9 seed or higher. Creighton is playing great right now, and if they do match up with projected NCAA No. 1 seed Villanova (I think Providence will upset 'Nova), they should beat them for a third time.
ACC
Final: North Carolina vs. Duke
Winner: North Carolina
MVP: Marcus Paige
The third matchup of the best rivalry in the country. The deciding game in this year's series. I don't just think this will happen. I want it to happen. The hype for this game would be outstanding, and it would be a fun game. I think North Carolina is setting themselves up for a Elite 8 or Final 4 appearance. I really like their team, especially Marcus (sweetshootin') Paige and James (big boy) McAdoo (those are not their real nicknames, in case you didn't notice). Anyways, these two teams are easily the best two teams in the ACC, and they should set up a title tilt, and one of the games of the year.
SEC
Final: Florida vs. Georgia/Kentucky
Winner: Florida
MVP: Scottie Wilbekin
I'm going with the crazy pick on this one (hint: it's not that Florida is winning it). Georgia has quietly won 8 of 10 (really quietly, I had no idea until I looked them up). The reason for this pick is that I just don't see any of the teams on that side of the bracket making it, other than Kentucky. Although they are definitely the best team on this side of the bracket, I think that Georgia has a solid chance to pull off the upset over Kentucky. I just couldn't decide on this one, other than Florida, I think the rest of the SEC is just horrible, take out maybe Tennessee, and possibly Kentucky. If I had to choose, I would go Kentucky on this one, but I just can't see them in the final... Florida was an easy pick. I don't know if I need to talk about that one very much, I think I pretty much summed it up in my last post.
PAC-12
Final: Arizona St vs. Arizona
Winner: Arizona St
MVP: Jahii Carson
The tough part about this one was Arizona St and Oregon in the semifinals. I think this game could go either way, but I think that Arizona St will most likely pull it out. The other final pick was easy, there are no real challenges for Arizona on that side of the bracket. I think Arizona St will pull out the tourney win in the end, mostly because I just don't think Arizona is that good. Here is the equation: Arizona + Brandon Ashley= Top 5 or 10 team Arizona - Brandon Ashley= Top 20 team.
Big 12
Final: Kansas vs. Oklahoma
Winner: Kansas
MVP: Andrew Wiggins
Although Kansas lost to West Virginia, it was on the road, and West Virginia is a good team. Oklahoma seems to be the only option on the other side of the bracket, as Texas is playing horrible at the moment. Kansas may face its toughest tests on their own side of the bracket in likely games against Iowa St and Oklahoma St (the two best in the conference after Kansas), but I think they will win these games, and then beat Oklahoma.
American
Final: Louisville vs. Memphis
Winner: Memphis
MVP: Michael Dixon, Jr.
Michael Dixon is one of my favorite players. At Missouri two years ago, he was the best 6th man in the country, and he is again this year in a different uniform. Not only does he score the basketball at an alarming rate, he defends as well as anyone in his conference. He is the one reason that I think they will win the American tourney. The other reason is that they have Chris Crawford, Geron Johnson, and Joe Jackson, who are just three more phenomenal guards. They might have the best guards in the country. Louisville will only have to face one test on their side of the bracket, and that is SMU. Although I think SMU is probably just as good of a team (if not better), Rick Pitino is a great coach, and they always do well in the conference tournaments.
BIG 10
Final: Michigan St vs. Nebraska
Winner: Michigan St
MVP: Gary Harris
Michigan St is beginning to get fully healthy, which means we are just beginning to see what they can do. Recently, they have not played very well, and are nearly out of the rankings, down to 22. But the injuries they have had are just unbelievable. Each of their top 4 players has missed significant time (and by significant, I don't mean one or two). Gary Harris missed the least, at just a couple weeks, but Payne missed even more time, and Keith Appling missed time, and was hindered in many of the recent games he has played. Brandon Dawson, arguably their best rebounder, missed the most time, sitting for about a month for (wait for it) breaking his hand after slamming on the table in the film room. With all of these guys back, I think they can make a run and win the Big 10 tournament. Gary Harris is their best player, and maybe the best in the conference, and he will lead the way. I think Nebraska will pull of the upset and make it to the finals. They are playing great right now, and it seems like Terran Petteway can score whenever he wants.
Big East
Final: Creighton vs. Providence
Winner: Creighton
MVP: Doug McDermott
I think Doug McDermott is one of the top 5 players in NCAA history. He is moving up the scoring list, and he may end up in the top 4 (although he will play almost twice as many games as No. 1 Pete Maravich). Providence is playing great right now. I know I talked about them in and early post, and since then they have only added to their bubble resume. This tournament showing would most likely put them in the NCAA tournament for sure, and maybe they could get a 9 seed or higher. Creighton is playing great right now, and if they do match up with projected NCAA No. 1 seed Villanova (I think Providence will upset 'Nova), they should beat them for a third time.
ACC
Final: North Carolina vs. Duke
Winner: North Carolina
MVP: Marcus Paige
The third matchup of the best rivalry in the country. The deciding game in this year's series. I don't just think this will happen. I want it to happen. The hype for this game would be outstanding, and it would be a fun game. I think North Carolina is setting themselves up for a Elite 8 or Final 4 appearance. I really like their team, especially Marcus (sweetshootin') Paige and James (big boy) McAdoo (those are not their real nicknames, in case you didn't notice). Anyways, these two teams are easily the best two teams in the ACC, and they should set up a title tilt, and one of the games of the year.
SEC
Final: Florida vs. Georgia/Kentucky
Winner: Florida
MVP: Scottie Wilbekin
I'm going with the crazy pick on this one (hint: it's not that Florida is winning it). Georgia has quietly won 8 of 10 (really quietly, I had no idea until I looked them up). The reason for this pick is that I just don't see any of the teams on that side of the bracket making it, other than Kentucky. Although they are definitely the best team on this side of the bracket, I think that Georgia has a solid chance to pull off the upset over Kentucky. I just couldn't decide on this one, other than Florida, I think the rest of the SEC is just horrible, take out maybe Tennessee, and possibly Kentucky. If I had to choose, I would go Kentucky on this one, but I just can't see them in the final... Florida was an easy pick. I don't know if I need to talk about that one very much, I think I pretty much summed it up in my last post.
PAC-12
Final: Arizona St vs. Arizona
Winner: Arizona St
MVP: Jahii Carson
The tough part about this one was Arizona St and Oregon in the semifinals. I think this game could go either way, but I think that Arizona St will most likely pull it out. The other final pick was easy, there are no real challenges for Arizona on that side of the bracket. I think Arizona St will pull out the tourney win in the end, mostly because I just don't think Arizona is that good. Here is the equation: Arizona + Brandon Ashley= Top 5 or 10 team Arizona - Brandon Ashley= Top 20 team.
Big 12
Final: Kansas vs. Oklahoma
Winner: Kansas
MVP: Andrew Wiggins
Although Kansas lost to West Virginia, it was on the road, and West Virginia is a good team. Oklahoma seems to be the only option on the other side of the bracket, as Texas is playing horrible at the moment. Kansas may face its toughest tests on their own side of the bracket in likely games against Iowa St and Oklahoma St (the two best in the conference after Kansas), but I think they will win these games, and then beat Oklahoma.
American
Final: Louisville vs. Memphis
Winner: Memphis
MVP: Michael Dixon, Jr.
Michael Dixon is one of my favorite players. At Missouri two years ago, he was the best 6th man in the country, and he is again this year in a different uniform. Not only does he score the basketball at an alarming rate, he defends as well as anyone in his conference. He is the one reason that I think they will win the American tourney. The other reason is that they have Chris Crawford, Geron Johnson, and Joe Jackson, who are just three more phenomenal guards. They might have the best guards in the country. Louisville will only have to face one test on their side of the bracket, and that is SMU. Although I think SMU is probably just as good of a team (if not better), Rick Pitino is a great coach, and they always do well in the conference tournaments.
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