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Jayhawks will rock their way to title
Kansas has the experience and talent to win it all and it will -- beating Big 12 foe Texas in the final.
When explaining whom I pick to win the NCAA tournament -- an annual exercise usually as futile as a Memphis free-throw attempt -- it's actually easier to first explain whom I didn't pick.
I didn't pick UCLA, because of injuries.
If someone could promise that Luc Richard Mbah a Moute's ankle would be healed and Kevin Love's back would be sound, I would immediately script them as champions. But nobody knows. They're strong enough to make it to the Final Four, but maybe no further.
I didn't pick North Carolina, because of defense.
The Tar Heels don't play it. They gave up more than 80 points seven times this season. They will find themselves in a shootout with Tennessee in the East Regional final, and nobody does shootouts better than Tennessee.
I didn't pick Memphis, because of too much John Calipari and too little free-throw shooting.
After several recent tournament meltdowns -- remember his playground effort against UCLA two years ago? -- Calipari has to prove he can coach a gritty game. And his team, which makes barely half of its free throws, has to prove it can make a big one.
Memphis' South Regional will be stolen by a team with a better resume, yet less fanfare, than any in tournament. Remember Texas? During the regular season it beat Tennessee, UCLA and Kansas.
The Longhorns have the strong veteran guards required of most Final Four teams -- D.J. Augustin and A.J. Abrams. Plus, they have the advantage of playing a regional in Houston and the Final Four in San Antonio.
Once there, Texas will defeat a weary UCLA and advance to the title game.
In the other half of the bracket, Kansas will emerge from a relatively easy Midwest Regional and beat Tennessee.
Yes, the final will be a repeat of the terrific Big 12 Conference championship game. And yes, for a second consecutive time, the Jayhawks will win -- this time for the national title.
They're experienced -- their best players are a sophomore, two juniors and a senior. They're talented at both ends of the court -- they led the Big 12 in all major offensive and defensive categories.
They can run if necessary, or bang if necessary. Brandon Rush and Mario Chalmers can beat you outside, Darrell Arthur and Darnell Jackson can beat you inside.
They lost three games this season, all on the road, by a total of 13 points.
They won't lose again.
bill.plaschke@latimes.com
I didn't pick UCLA, because of injuries.
I didn't pick North Carolina, because of defense.
The Tar Heels don't play it. They gave up more than 80 points seven times this season. They will find themselves in a shootout with Tennessee in the East Regional final, and nobody does shootouts better than Tennessee.
I didn't pick Memphis, because of too much John Calipari and too little free-throw shooting.
After several recent tournament meltdowns -- remember his playground effort against UCLA two years ago? -- Calipari has to prove he can coach a gritty game. And his team, which makes barely half of its free throws, has to prove it can make a big one.
Memphis' South Regional will be stolen by a team with a better resume, yet less fanfare, than any in tournament. Remember Texas? During the regular season it beat Tennessee, UCLA and Kansas.
The Longhorns have the strong veteran guards required of most Final Four teams -- D.J. Augustin and A.J. Abrams. Plus, they have the advantage of playing a regional in Houston and the Final Four in San Antonio.
Once there, Texas will defeat a weary UCLA and advance to the title game.
In the other half of the bracket, Kansas will emerge from a relatively easy Midwest Regional and beat Tennessee.
Yes, the final will be a repeat of the terrific Big 12 Conference championship game. And yes, for a second consecutive time, the Jayhawks will win -- this time for the national title.
They're experienced -- their best players are a sophomore, two juniors and a senior. They're talented at both ends of the court -- they led the Big 12 in all major offensive and defensive categories.
They can run if necessary, or bang if necessary. Brandon Rush and Mario Chalmers can beat you outside, Darrell Arthur and Darnell Jackson can beat you inside.
They lost three games this season, all on the road, by a total of 13 points.
They won't lose again.
bill.plaschke@latimes.com
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