Final Four Preview: Part 2--The Mystery

By Joseph Barry on October 18, 2012

If you read part one of my Final Four Preview, you know which teams I think are locks and will make up 3/4 of this season’s Final Four. But what about that fourth spot?

I’ll start with my own school: Ohio State. The key to how far my Buckeyes make it is how well Deshaun Thomas and Aaron Craft can handle the void left by Jared Sullinger’s departure to the NBA. Craft has been one of the elite defenders and point guards in his first two seasons, but he will have to look to score more this year. Deshaun Thomas had ups and downs during the 2011-12 Season, but at times was the best player on the floor. He was on a hot streak during the NCAA tournament, until getting stymied for only 9 points against Kansas. Assuming Thomas can handle the pressure of being the guy, Ohio State could make it to their second consecutive Final Four.

Only Kansas could lose the likes of Thomas Robinson and still be expected to win at least a share of their conference. How Bill Self continuously breeds champions amazes me–talent wise he seems like a poor man’s Calipari, continuously losing NBA stars yet not dipping whatsoever.

I think the circumstances are perfect for a North Carolina team that lost its primary stars but retained all of its “role players” (a term I hate) who all have significant playing experience. Perhaps I am biased after attending the Roy Williams’ basketball camp and taking two trips to the Dean Dome, but I think that being overlooked (unusually being predicted to finish third in the ACC behind Duke and NC State) will take away pressure of expectations long enough for a relatively young team to get their footing. I wouldn’t be surprised if this team makes a solid run in the tourney.

Deshaun Thomas and Aaron Craft both help to fill the figurative and literal void from Jared Sullinger’s departure to the NBA; photo from http://www.rebuildingsince1964.com

UNC’s Tobacco Road rivals, Duke and NC State, will also have a solid chance to make it to the final weekend of the season. Don’t be fooled by Duke’s first round exit from the NCAA tournament a year ago. They are heavy with seniors who have been a part of a national championship team before. Not to mention that the biggest distraction from last year (*cough* Austin Rivers *cough*) has moved on to the NBA.

NC State completes the dominance the Triangle Area could have on college basketball this season. Returning a cast that led the Wolfpack to the Sweet 16 last year in Mark Gottfried’s first season–in addition to a top crop of freshmen–could be the recipe for success in Raleigh and for State to finally claim their place among the top of the ACC after much absence. As the preseason favorite to win arguably the toughest conference, it wouldn’t come as a surprise to see NC State in Atlanta.

Midwesterners would heavily debate that the Big Ten is the premier conference for this upcoming season, as Indiana and Ohio State, as well as Michigan and Michigan State are expected to do their fair share of damage. Michigan returns Trey Burke, an All-American. Tom Izzo always seems to get his Spartans playing well at the right time of the year.

The only thing I am certain of is that this will be one heck of a college basketball season, so let the debates begin!

Follow Uloop

Apply to Write for Uloop News

Join the Uloop News Team

Discuss This Article

Get Top Stories Delivered Weekly

Back to Top

Log In

Contact Us

Upload An Image

Please select an image to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format
OR
Provide URL where image can be downloaded
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format

By clicking this button,
you agree to the terms of use

By clicking "Create Alert" I agree to the Uloop Terms of Use.

Image not available.

Add a Photo

Please select a photo to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format