I know it is April now and "America's pastime" has begun, but as we go into Final Four weekend I cannot help but still feel the Madness of March and speculate as to whom will run the table and take home the national title. With a few exceptions, this year's NCAA Tournament had been kind to the higher seeds until the Regional Finals last weekend. All four number one seeds advanced to the Elite Eight for just the fourth time since the field expanded to 64 teams in 1985, but Texas was the only top seed to survive and make it to New Orleans.\nMy bracket this year has been a mess, and last year I was one for three in picking Final Four games, so we will see if I can make up for lackluster performances.
Marquette\nAs great as sophomore point guard Travis Diener has been in the tourney, the Golden Eagles will go as far as Diener's backcourt mate, junior Dwyane Wade can take them. Wade showed why he is a Wooden Award finalist with his triple double in the Midwest Regional Final. It was just the third triple double ever in an NCAA tournament game. If Wade can put together another miraculous performance or get solid help from Diener, senior Robert Jackson in the post and freshman sharpshooter Steve Novak, Marquette may have a shot at their first championship since 1977 when the late Al McGuire led them on a stellar run to the title.
Kansas\nLed by seniors Kirk Hinrich and Nick Collison, the Jayhawks are in their second straight Final Four. Having had a taste of it last year before being beaten by eventual champ Maryland, Kansas definitely has the experience factor in their favor heading into New Orleans. Unfortunately they have an added distraction this year. With the resignation of Matt Doherty from North Carolina on Tuesday, speculation is rampant that Kansas head coach Roy Williams may bolt for his alma mater. Williams went through this process three years ago before deciding to stay put, but with Hinrich and Collison graduating, the time to leave may be now. Unless Williams denies any interest in the job, he will be hounded all weekend, but expect the veteran Jayhawks to overcome the distraction and make it to the final.
Syracuse\nThe Orangeman have already defied most odds by making the Final Four with such a young squad. Experience usually pays off come tourney time, but do not tell that to Syracuse freshmen Carmelo Anthony and Gerry McNamara. Anthony is hands down the best all-around freshman in the country and although he has not played up to his potential yet in the tournament, he has lead the Orangeman this far. Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim is now in his third Final Four and second in New Orleans; his first was abruptly ended by IU's Keith Smart with a game-winning shot in the 1987 title game. Youth will catch up to the Orangeman now though and Texas will advance to play Kansas in an all-Big 12 final.
Texas\nSophomore point guard T.J. Ford is easily one of the most fun players to watch in the country, but he will need help against Syracuse's 2-3 matchup zone. As long as juniors Brandon Mouton and Royal Ivey can knock down a couple of threes, the Longhorns will get by the Orangeman with quality post play from their solid quartet of big men. All year the Big 12 has proved its strength by knocking off top teams from other conferences, so it would be fitting for two Big 12 teams to meet for the final. It would be the first time since 1988 when Kansas beat Oklahoma that teams from the same conference played for the national title. Despite Kansas' experience and 90-87 win over Texas (which was at Kansas), the Longhorns will prevail and claim their first national title. Even more scary than the 'Horns this year is that Texas' top eight scorers will be back next year if no one departs early for the NBA.
