South Carolina serves the role of the Cinderella in this year's edition. As a 7-seed from the East region, many (including myself) didn't expect them to beat Marquette in the first round. When they did that, they still had to get through Duke in the next round. I thought they had zero chance as Duke was probably the hottest team in the tournament, but the Gamecocks used a 65-point second half to propel themselves into the Sweet 16. When they got to the second weekend, they dismantled 3-seed Baylor and outlasted 4-seed Florida to punch their first ticket to Phoenix. Despite their timely offense, it has been their elite defense that has gotten them to this point. Frank Martin has a great system in place where they literally don't allow a pass to be thrown without constant pressure. It's an angry style for an angry coach. Sindarius Thornwell, the SEC Player of the Year, has led this team on the floor. The senior, who was suspended for undisclosed reasons earlier this season, has been spectacular in leading the Gamecocks.
Their opponent, Gonzaga, boasts the most impressive roster and record heading into the Final Four. The 36-1 Bulldogs have no weakness or vulnerability. They are solid at every position with PG Nigel Williams-Goss, who is a Cousy Award Finalist (Nation's Best Point Guard), SG Jordan Mathews, SF Josh Perkins, PF Johnathan Williams and C Przemek Karnowski, who leads the NCAA in all time wins (135). They also bring McDonald's All American C Zach Collins off the bench. This team is freaking loaded, and while many are going to portray this team as the underdog, the Zags are legit and have a really good chance to win the whole thing. I hate to be so subjective here, but I really want Gonzaga to win it all. It's about time I see a mid major team win the championship, and it's about time people start giving Gonzaga the respect it deserves. They are a national powerhouse and should be treated as such. I'll admit that up until this year, I hated Gonzaga. They were right up there with Wisconsin. I thought they were an overrated program who always wins their crappy conference and never gets it done in the tournament. Then I saw this year's team play, and I realized that there is substance to all the hype. Take my word, haters because I was once among you. Gonzaga Basketball is a thing.
My national champion was Kansas when the bracket first came out, so I was kind of pissed that Oregon beat them. But then I realized that Oregon is a damn good team and I needed to enjoy the type of run they are going on. Oregon (they will be referred to as the "Quack Attack" from here on) lost their starting center Chris Boucher right before the tournament started. That was enough to scare me and many others off from picking the Quack Attack to do anything. I actually had the Quack Attack in my Final Four up until I heard about Boucher. I really liked the Quack Attack because of their depth. Tyler Dorsey, Dillon Brooks, Casey Benson, Payton Pritchard, Jordan Bell, Dylan Ennis and Chris Boucher made up the best starting seven in college basketball. They are now the best starting six in college basketball. Jordan Bell has played out of his mind in the tournament and makes it seem like the Quack Attack doesn't need Boucher at all. Tyler Dorsey is averaging 24 points a game in the tournament and hitting extremely clutch shots. The Quack Attack reminds me of last year's Villanova team: they don't miss. Two more games like the Quack Attack had against Michigan and Kansas, and they will be your 2017 National Champions. If that happens, I guarantee you all that I will get a shirt.
North Carolina comes into the Final Four as the odds on favorite to it down the nets. They aren't as balanced as Gonzaga, or as hot as Oregon, or as Cinderella-esque as South Carolina, but the Tar Heels have the coaching, experience, talent and hunger to win their two games by 20 points or more. Roy Williams knows what he's doing in these Final Fours. He's won two national championships and came pretty close to a third last year. Most of North Carolina's players have experience playing in huge games. And the one that doesn't just made the shot against Kentucky that got them to the Final Four. Lastly, the bad taste left in UNC's mouth after that Villanova loss last year will propel them to a national championship. Life has a way of evening things out, and that's why it's UNC's title to lose. North Carolina has everything clicking for them at the right moment, and with the ACC Player of the Year Justin Jackson leading the way, it's hard to see North Carolina not winning the championship unless Oregon has a crazy shooting night or Gonzaga completely shuts them down on the glass, or the NCAA finally decides to punish UNC for the academic fraud scandal. So yeah, I'm placing my bet on North Carolina to win this thing.
What I Think Will Happen:
Gonzaga def South Carolina
North Carolina def Oregon
North Carolina def Gonzaga
What I Hope Will Happen:
Gonzaga def South Carolina
North Carolina def Oregon
Gonzaga def North Carolina
What Needs to Happen In Order For Me to Win a Bracket Pool:
North Carolina wins
So yeah, I really don't care what happens. As long as Gonzaga or North Carolina win, I'm alright with the result. I wouldn't even mind seeing Oregon win it all since I would get a cool shirt. The only team I don't want to win is South Carolina, and I don't even have anything against them either. It just has the least amount of incentives.
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