The Courier predicts the outcome of the 2013 March Madness college basketball tournament, which will begin March 19.
Indiana University
Indiana University’s men’s basketball has improved tremendously in the last few years with the expertise of coach Tom Crean and the immense talent of players like center Cody Zeller and guard Victor Oladipo. Both Zeller and Oladipo have among the highest shooting percentages in all of college basketball at around 60 percent each. Zeller’s inside presence on defense and Oladipo’s high percentage of steals per game help carry the team. With Indiana’s incomparable combination of both height and agility in its lineup, the team is one of the most competent teams in the tournament.
University of Michigan
University of Michigan is projected to be a major threat this March. Glen Robinson III and Tim Hardaway Jr. have contributed immensely to the team’s success throughout the season, along with their star point guard Trey Burke. While Michigan has had one of the best records in college basketball this season, a recent loss to one of their rivals, the University of Wisconsin, shows that the team’s usually efficient offense can be stopped with tough enough defense. The Wolverines will need to capitalize on point opportunities in the key, having missed 14 points in lay-ups during the Wisconsin game.
Duke University
Nationally ranked number three, Duke University is seen as a great competitor in the tournament. Despite an early season loss to Miami, Duke has been able to rally behind star player Mason Plumlee and hold the second highest spot in college basketball. With a tough end to the season schedule, Duke will need to come out strong in every game in order to clinch a prime spot in the tournament. Duke is known to be the most consistent college basketball team because of hall of fame coach Mike Krzyzewski; therefore, Duke will have one of the best chances at winning the title.
The University of Miami
After upsetting Duke University early in the season, the University of Miami has consistently improved, beating many other teams when they were originally projected to lose. With the team’s highest ranking in its program’s history, star players Kenny Kadji and Julian Gamble are hoping to lead the team to its first national title. The Hurricanes’ overall inexperience as a top team may lead to an early loss in the tournament. However, if the team is able to play with the same level of heart that they exhibited during the regular season, a national title is definitely a strong possibility.
