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2011 NCAA Tournament Picks: Final Four

No. 1E Ohio State vs. No. 1W Duke
Some may say these are the top two teams in the country. But who's going to win? Let's check the tale of the tape:

Offense: Ohio State (1) over Duke (6).

Defense: Duke (6) over Ohio State (10).

Margin of Victory: Ohio State (17.1) over Duke (16.8).

Conference Blowouts: Duke (9) over Ohio State (7).

Experience: Duke (defending NCAA Champion) over Ohio State (three freshmen in top six scoring).

Travel: Ohio State (Cleveland, Newark) over Duke (Cleveland, Anaheim).

As you can see, it's pretty even. Two things give Ohio State the edge:

First, many of Duke's numbers are skewed because some of those results happened with Kyrie Irving. And second, the travel comparison is a big deal. Only three teams since 1985 have traveled three timezones and still made the national semifinals.

2011 NCAA Tournament Pick: No. 1E Ohio State

No. 1SW Kansas vs. No. 2SE Florida
Unlike the other semi-final, this is a bit more lopsided. Let's check the tale of the tape:

Offense: Kansas (4) over Florida (12).

Defense: Kansas (12) over Florida (36).

Margin of Victory: Kansas (17.1) over Florida (8.5).

Conference Blowouts: Kansas (7) over Florida (3).

Experience: Tie.

Travel: Tie.

I have Florida getting to the Final Four because they're in a very weak bracket. Kansas wins.

2011 NCAA Tournament Pick: No. 1SW Kansas

2011 NCAA Tournament: Championship

No. 1E Ohio State vs. No. 1SW Kansas
This is so tough to call. Let's check the tale of the tape:

Offense: Ohio State (1) over Kansas (4).

Defense: Ohio State (10) over Kansas (12).

Margin of Victory: Tie (17.1).

Conference Blowouts: Tie (7).

Experience: Kansas.

Travel: Tie.

As you can see, it's pretty even. Both teams are outstanding and could easily win the NCAA Championship.

Both teams have a glaring weakness:

For Ohio State, it's their three freshmen. I don't trust freshmen.

For Kansas, it's their mediocre point guard play. It's not a bad situation, but the Buckeyes have the advantage.

Ultimately though, the Buckeyes' weakness is masked a bit by the strong upperclassmen that complement the talented freshmen.

Ohio State is the best team in the NCAA Tournament, and I'm picking them to win my bracket.

2011 NCAA Tournament Pick: No. 1E Ohio State

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JT 03-15-2011 12:07 am xxx.xxx.xxx.207 (total posts: 2)

and i bet St. John's beats gonzaga. DJ kennedy isn't the key to st. john's, Hardy is...Zags suck.

JT 03-15-2011 12:05 am xxx.xxx.xxx.207 (total posts: 2)

@Dustin - not an idiot just difficult to bet against Kemba Walker and I honestly believe Duke is better than how they've been playing (which is pretty great already) with kyrie.

@Brad- tendency is always to choose 3 #1s and a 2...but it never happens. You usually want your final four to add up to 8-11...last year was 13 total...
It is the SAFEST way to pick your bracket...but usually safe doesn't put you in the money.

@Justin...agree they won't do anything past elite eight

@Bobobobobobobobo- Uconn will lose to Duke.

Bobobobo 03-14-2011 09:38 pm xxx.xxx.xxx36.3 (total posts: 1)

UConn. Where is UConn. I can see them getting to the final four fairly easily, and right now I am hesitantly predicting them to win it all.

Justin 03-14-2011 08:18 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.118 (total posts: 1)

ku making it to the final four is a joke. team is highly overrated. who exactly did they play this season? bunch of nobodies, the pac 10 and the big 12. why would anyone fear them?

Brad 03-14-2011 07:31 pm xxx.xxx.xxx7.75 (total posts: 1)

Is the tournament that top-heavy, or are you playing it REALLY safe with 3 #1s and a #2 in your final 4?

Dustin 03-14-2011 07:17 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.242 (total posts: 1)

Am I an idiot for thinking that SDSU could beat UCONN and DUKE?

JT 03-14-2011 06:54 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.170 (total posts: 1)

How come no one is paying attention to the fact that Kyrie Irving is going to come back and put Duke back in the championship for the win? Remember when Duke dominated at the beginning of the year....then Kyrie got injured and they lost a couple games? ya imagine him back...and smarter from studying the playbook. Duke wins as a repeat champion...they just gotta get past Texas and most likely Ohio State...they will own UNC or Syracuse if they meet there...

Ryan 03-14-2011 04:26 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.140 (total posts: 1)

My big upset is Bucknell over UConn

Isaih Thomas 03-14-2011 04:17 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.242 (total posts: 1)

How many of you UNC apologists here have actually seen UW play?

Doug 03-14-2011 03:05 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.166 (total posts: 1)

Washington doesnt have anyone to handle Tyler Zeller (7'0) and John Henson (6'10). UNC is the best rebounding team in the country.

Rusty Shackelford 03-14-2011 01:35 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.206 (total posts: 1)

St. Johns will beat Gonzaga and will probably beat BYU too even with Kennedy out.

Tar Heel pride 03-14-2011 01:29 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.0.7 (total posts: 1)

Whats with the disrespect for unc...i saw on espn a second ago washington was picked to upset the heels as well. I dout it....the heels can play with anyone in the country,while i'm not predicting a ncaa championship anything other than the sweet 16 is a slap in the face.

Randy Shannon's Moustache 03-14-2011 11:06 am xxx.xxx.xxx.170 (total posts: 1)

No way UNC loses in Charlotte. I think they're 123010-0 all time there in the NCAA tourney.

NBD143 03-14-2011 10:37 am xxx.xxx.xxx4.27 (total posts: 2)

Upset Special BABY!! Ohio State is going down

NBD143 03-14-2011 10:36 am xxx.xxx.xxx4.27 (total posts: 2)

Ohio State is going out in the first round. GO ALABAMA STATE!!!!!!!!!!

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2011 NCAA Tournament Picks: Final Four

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