Mike Downey
PREDICTIONS
Final Four:
North Carolina
Wisconsin
Memphis
UCLA
Champion: Memphis
UPSET SPECIAL
Keep an eye on Clemson. That Midwest Regional is there for the taking for the Tigers, a very tough No. 5 seed, and not Kansas. Trust me, they will KO KU.
MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER
Call me a homer, but I believe Chicago’s own Derrick Rose will put on a show and become Memphis’ biggest star since that guy who lived at Graceland.
Brian Hamilton
PREDICTIONS
Final Four:
North Carolina
Georgetown
Xavier
Memphis
Champion: Memphis
UPSET SPECIAL
No. 13 Siena over No. 4 Vanderbilt, first round, Midwest regional. The Commodores won’t be able to move Memorial Gym from Nashville to Tampa this week. Anywhere else but on its kooky home floor, Vanderbilt is decidedly vulnerable. Siena beat Stanford this year, while losing close ones to Syracuse and St. Joseph’s.
MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER
Chris Douglas-Roberts, Memphis. Derrick Rose and consistent defense may be the more critical variables to the Tigers winning a national title, but Douglas-Roberts is the All-American and leading scorer with 17.2 points per game. He’ll assume the spotlight en route to the trophy.
Neil Milbert
PREDICTIONS
Final Four:
North Carolina
UCLA
Kansas
Texas
Champion: North Carolina
UPSET SPECIAL
Butler is only the seventh seed in the East Regional after sweeping the Horizon League regular-season and tournament titles. The Bulldogs have a senior-oriented team with a long history of success, and they trounced NCAA bubble team Ohio State. And don’t forget Butler beat Tennessee in the 2007 NIT.
MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER
All season North Carolina junior Tyler Hansbrough has been the best player on the best team from the conference with the best RPI in the country. He scores down low and from midrange, he rebounds, he goes all out on both ends of the court and he has fouled out only once in his career.
Shannon Ryan
PREDICTIONS
Final Four:
North Carolina
Kansas
Pittsburgh
UCLA
Champion: N. Carolina
UPSET SPECIAL
Remember when freshman Carmelo Anthony carried Syracuse to the national title? Michael Beasley is that good. The Kansas State freshman averages a double-double and has played brilliantly in meaningful games. He and USC’s O.J. Mayo headline their first-round matchup.
MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER
Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina. The 6-9 junior forward never gets outhustled and provides the consistent leadership that championship teams require. Hansbrough averages 23.1 ppg and 10.3 rpg, all while keeping opposing big men between himself and the basket.
John Mullin
PREDICTIONS
Final Four:
Memphis
Tennessee
Vanderbilt
Duke
Champion: Memphis
UPSET SPECIAL
There’s something about this bunch. They don’t fit any mold, have outstanding guard play, create miserable matchup problems with quickness. Look for the Bulldogs to get past Western Kentucky, upset UConn, and then take so much out of UCLA that Duke breezes into the Final Four.
MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER
Chris Douglas-Roberts, Memphis. A 6-7 guard shooting who shoots 55 percent from the field and 45 percent from the arc is a mismatch wherever Memphis puts him. He scored 33 against UConn and 24 against Georgetown. His big plays in big games will be the key to Memphis’ national championship.
Skip Myslenski
PREDICTIONS
Final Four:
UCLA
Georgetown
North Carolina
Texas
Champion: UCLA
UPSET SPECIAL
South Alabama over Butler. The Jaguars own victories over San Diego, Mississippi State and Western Kentucky, tournament teams all, and lost by only three to Vanderbilt and by five to Miami, also in the tournament. They have four players averaging in double figures.
MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER
Kevin Love, UCLA. The difference-maker for the Bruins, who were overmatched down low in their last two Final Four appearances. He not only scores, defends and cleans the boards, he is a terrific outlet passer who ignites their fast break.
