CBB: Who Will Be in the Final Four?

Preseason, the talk was surrounding the usual blue bloods (Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, and North Carolina). Then UNC fell a few times and they were replaced by Michigan State. But then Duke and Kentucky fell a combined nine times in less than two months. So Oklahoma and Villanova flew up the rankings, as smaller schools like West Virginia and Xavier were making noise under the radar. With no undefeated teams left and five different No. 1 teams, all we know about this college basketball season is that March will be fun. I will give my two cents on who I think will be standing in Houston in early April.

WARNING: THIS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

Just missed the cut.

1. Villanova Wildcats: It is always dangerous to live and die by the three, which has come back to bite the Cats the last two seasons in the tournament. If they can hit their shots then a deep run is within reach.

2. Michigan State: You can never count out Tom Izzo when it comes to March, and this team is one of his most talented. Denzel Valentine is versatile enough to win a few games on his own, the supporting cast is key to winning games in March.

3. Virginia Cavaliers: Defense wins championships, as Virginia has proven in the ACC over the last two years. Their success has not translated into March as much as they would like, but this year might be the year for them. Malcolm Brogdon is a good player, but he has an opportunity to bloom into a star if he can dominate on the big stage.

4. Texas A&M Aggies: The balance for this team is unheard of. Each player in their starting five has the potential to take over a game, as well as two players coming off of the bench. But lack of experience will hold them back, as none of their players have been to the NCAA tournament since joining A&M.

5. Xavier Musketeers: Six players average 8.9 points or higher, four scoring double digits per game. Depth is one of their strengths, and they have experience to make a run but I think this team is one year away from doing something truly special. Four of the top five scorers will be coming back for another shot in 2017.

6. Iowa Hawkeyes: They have exceeded all preseason expectations already, and Iowa has shown they can win big games with two victories against Michigan State. The Hawkeyes rely on Jarrod Uthoff and Peter Jok for the bulk of their scoring and as teams focus on locking those two down, the remaining players may not have enough to carry Iowa.

Final Four Team #1: North Carolina (Record Right Now: 18-2)

Why they WILL make it to the Final Four: This team was #1 to start the season for a good reason. The Tar Heels have a lot of depth and a lot of experience. Marcus Paige joined by Brice Johnson is one of the best one-two duos in the country. They are supported by Justin Jackson, Kennedy Meeks, and Joel Berry. This team has star power like no other and I believe those stars will carry UNC to Houston. With their talent on the court, their biggest star might be on the sideline. Roy Williams is the only coach to win 350+ games at two different schools (Kansas and North Carolina). He has two championships in the last 11 seasons and knows how to get it done in March (and April). They will win the ACC Tournament and will be hot at the right time.

Why they may NOT make it to the Final Four: The only thing holding this team back is potential injuries and possible overconfidence. Marcus Paige broke his hand and missed the first part of this year and Kennedy Meeks has had minor injury troubles. If they can stay healthy and avoid being overconfident assuming they roll into March, then they are the safest pick.

Final Four Team #2: Oklahoma Sooners (Record Right Now: 16-2)

Why they WILL make it to the Final Four: Two words. Buddy. Hield. March loves superstars, and they do not get much bigger than the senior from Oklahoma. He is one of the best players in the nation right now and is projected to be a lottery pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. The reason the Sooners have been so dominant this year goes much further than their best player. Jordan Woodard, Isaiah Cousins, and Ryan Spangler are one heck of a supporting cast. Woodard and Cousins are knock down outside shooters, but also have the ability to get into the lane. Spangler is the effort guy that every team needs. The Gonzaga transfer seems to be in the right place at the right time, as he blocks shots, grabs clutch boards, and makes smarts decisions. Their bench is one of the best in the Big 12 which comes into play as the season gets longer and longer. Then for good measure, their head coach is one of the best. Lon Kruger took Florida to the Final Four in 1994, won the Big 10 regular season with Illinois in 1998, and won the Mountain West Tournament with UNLV in 2007 and 2008. He is extremely experienced and has the potential to take this Sooner team to amazing places.

Why they may NOT make it to the Final Four: They rely on the outside shot a lot. Four of their starters shoot over 38% from three point range. Shooting outside is nice and all, when the shots are falling. But with stronger defenses and more time to prepare, teams will be ready for Oklahoma's outside shooting. If their shots stop falling then I am not sure if they have enough of an inside game.

Final Four Team #3: Maryland Terrapins (Record Right Now: 17-3)

Why they WILL make it to the Final Four: Melo Trimble and Diamond Stone can take this deep into the tournament, nearly by themselves. The talented youngsters are averaging a combined 27.7 points, 5.8 assists, and 8.2 rebounds. To help them out, they have Jake Layman, Rasheed Sulaimon, and Robert Carter. Those three players have more experience than the two aforementioned, which can help the Terps make a late run. Another thing that can help this team out is their phenomenal free throw shooting, which always seems to come into play late in games. Three of their starters shoot over 80%, the other two shoot 75% and 64%. The first player off of the bench (Jared Nickens) hits 86% from the charity stripe. If they need cluth free throws down the stretch, almost anyone can provide just that.

Why they may NOT make it to the Final Four: They have struggled in big games this year. Two of their three loses have come on the road to top 11 teams (Michigan State and North Carolina). In March, every game is a big game so they need to make sure they bring their best game no matter the environment.

Final Four Team #4: Kansas Jayhawks (Record Right Now: 18-3)

Why they WILL make it to the Final Four: The Big 12 is by far the best conference in the country as 70% of the league has a chance to make it to the NCAA tournament. The best team has been Oklahoma all year, but not too far behind them has been Kansas. The Jayhawks are one of the most balanced teams in the nation. Frank Mason, Devonte Graham, Wayne Selden, and Perry Ellis are all very effective scorers. Those four players will carry this team, which just might be to Houston. Another advantage they have is Bill Self. Their veteran head coach has proved that he can get it done in Mach, proving so in 2008 with Kansas won the national title. KU have taken some licks throughout Big 12 play, but their talent and balanced scoring make this team extremely dangerous come tournament time.

Why they may NOT make it to the Final Four: Kansas has two weaknesses. The first is they struggle on the road. Luckily for them, they will not have to face true road games in the tournament. The second weakness is inconsistency. When Perry Ellis and/or Wayne Selden have an off game, then the team usually falls apart at the seams. If they can avoid that for a few weeks in early spring then I am not sure if anyone can take them down.

Projected matchups and winners.

North Carolina over Kansas.

Oklahoma over Maryland.

North Carolina over Oklahoma.

Photo Credit: CBSsports.com.