Big 12 Basketball: Selection Sunday Bracket Breakdown
By trevb
Big 12 NCAA Bracket Breakdown
The Kansas Jayhawks
What a draw for the Jayhawks! Not only did the committee not screw the Jayhawks by putting Wichita State in an eight or nine-seed line for their eventual encounter in the second round, but they gave them Miami and Michigan State.
1. Heading into the tournament fresh of an embarrassing loss to the TCU Horned Frogs, Kansas has a extremely easy travel schedule ahead of them. With the first two round games being in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight games being in Kansas City, Missouri you could not ask for a better travel plan. Their maximum this year should be winning it all. Their minimum has to be the Final Four considering their homestead play.. Midwest Region. . Kansas Jayhawks
While you should never underestimate your opponents, Michigan State has been an embarrassment of late. Not to mention Miami has had their share of inconsistencies as well. So, let’s head into it.
First Round
North Carolina Central gets more headlines than UC Davis, but either team that plays the Jayhawks will get brutally murdered. A number 16-seed has never won against a one and it is not happening against a potential National Champion. I am favoring North Carolina Central over UC Davis, but then they meet their demise against the Jayhawks.
Prediction: Kansas 87, North Carolina Central 46
Second Round
Miami should win over Michigan State unless Tom Izzo figures out how to attack the Hurricanes efficiently. While Miami has taken down Duke and others throughout the season, I believe this should be a fairly easy second round for the Jayhawks. Miami should not be able to keep up with the Jayhawks dynamic offense.
Prediction: Kansas 74, Miami 60
Sweet Sixteen
The Wooden Award frontrunners meet in the Sweet Sixteen of the Midwest Region. In my bracket I have Caleb Swanigan and Frank Mason meeting in the Round of 16. Sorry, Cyclone fans. With this matchup, I see Kansas’ backcourt overtaking the game like they did against Kentucky at Rupp Arena.
Prediction: Kansas 67, Purdue 60
Elite Eight
Here is where my picks get kind of interesting. With Michigan’s unrelenting run in the Big Ten tournament, I believe that they do not hit the brakes when they hit the Big Dance. They meet their matchup nightmare in the Jayhawks and that will be the end of the magical run. Kansas’ athleticism should just overtake this game.
Prediction: Kansas 78, Michigan 62
Final Four
Finally after five years, Kansas breaks the wall in front of them with a Final Four berth behind the power of Frank Mason and Kansas City fans. Now they face their biggest test of the tournament. UCLA should matchup extremely well with the Jayhawks, though the best backcourt closers in America should steal this one.
Prediction: Kansas 65, UCLA 60
National Championship
And then there were two. Kansas finally makes to the big game of the whole tournament since 2012 when they fell to Kentucky. Meeting them in the grand finale will be Duke. Duke has one of the best lineups in college basketball along with some elite leaders. Yet they have one huge flaw, which is a brewing pot of emotion.
In the National Championship, the Blue Devils will see their freshmen crack under pressure, and Grayson Allen will throw the biggest temper tantrum on national television.
Prediction: Kansas 76, Duke 68