The Final Four Is A Perfect Fit

For the first time in history, all four #1-seeds have made it through the first four rounds of the tournament unscathed to collectively arrive at the Final Four. On one side of the bracket, the North Carolina Tar Heels and Kansas Jayhawks will compete for the right to play for the national championship. On the other side of the bracket, the Memphis Tigers and UCLA Bruins will do battle.

These four programs have proven all season that they deserve this chance. The NCAA selection committee agreed when they handed out top seeds to each. The numbers agree as well. Though I will not release a complete poll until after every game in the tournament is played, my real-time rankings have Memphis (37-1) ranked #1, followed by UCLA (35-3), North Carolina (36-2), and Kansas (35-3). The top ten is rounded out by Wisconsin (31-5, exited in the Sweet Sixteen), Texas (31-7, exited in the Elite Eight), Tennessee (31-5, exited in the Sweet Sixteen), Duke (28-6, exited in the second round), Louisville (27-9, exited in the Elite Eight), and Georgetown (28-6, exited in the second round).

In addition, I have two other ranking models that I use, though I do not release them publicly. They are referred to as the Q-score indicator and P-score indicator. These models were designed specifically for predicting game outcomes. At present, Memphis is #1 in the Q-score rankings (.7676), followed by North Carolina (.7559), Kansas (.7362), and UCLA (.7256). Memphis is also ranked #1 by the P-score indicator (.7691), followed by Kansas (.7651), North Carolina (.7559), and UCLA (.7455).

No matter how you look at it, the four most deserving programs will be competing in San Antonio for the National Championship.

RottironTee-Baller

608 days ago

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Yes, the final four is perfect. I believe that this tournament will belong to the team with the best point guard. Currently, I believe that distinction belongs to North Carolina. After missing a good portion of conference play Ty Lawson appears to be hitting his stride. Plus, his back-up received valuable minutes. Having all number ones will validate this years national champion. The Tar Heels will once again rule the colleg basketball world.

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RogersPollVarsity

607 days ago

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It is interesting that Kansas has been fortunate enough to have other teams doing their dirty work for them. They've knocked off the 16-seed (Portland State), the 9-seed (Kent State), the 12-seed (Villanova), and the 10-seed (Davidson). Has a team ever made the Final Four without facing an 8-seed or higher?

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Pas493JV Squad

607 days ago

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I dont want to see this, I mean I do but I dont. There will bes some great games but wheres my Cinderella or at least someone to root for. I hate all four of these teams and I'm only rooting for UCLA for the state of my bracket. No one likes 4 power houses but it will be some good basketball. I think Memphis losing their backup point guard might hurt more then Coach Calipari thinks.

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JtdatruthJV Squad

606 days ago

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Normally I like seeing one or two cinderella's in the final 4 but I think having the four number 1 seeds this year is a very nice change up. For once it looks like the committee got the number 1 seeds right and it should be exciting watching the four best teams in the country battle it out to prove who really is the best in the nation.

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