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We had over 700 entries(!) last year with Wolverheel taking the top spot with 1350 points and correctly picking Villanova to win the 'ship. My initial gut feeling when filling out my bracket this year is UCLA.
Brackets lock at 12:15 PM on Thursday with the tip of ND vs Princeton. Good luck everyone!
I won't start a new thread, but Teddy Greenstein from the Chicago Trib, who has come in for some grief from Brian, has Michigan in his final four (along with Duke, ND, and UCLA. He also has Luke Kennard, who Beilein really wanted, as the most outstanding player.
Thinking of Kennard brings my thoughts to Mohamed Bamba. Most people assume he will go to Duke or Kentucky. That Michigan perpetually is "always a bridesmaid, never a bride." I can't help but hope a deep run leads Bamba to Michigan. I know, I know, it is very unlikely. But one can dream, can't you?
Bamba is a one-and-done player. Do we want that? It takes players a while to figure out Beilein's system. So does HE want that?
I don't know on a one and done kind of player. If that is really Bamba, maybe he is a better fit at Kentucky.
What's the point of having an elite talent if he can't learn the offense until the end of the season, if ever?
You kind of answered your own question. Maybe it won't be right away but when he does learn the system he could very well be an absolute beast for you, Heading into the conference and NCAA tournaments to boot. Would you prefer to not have another elite player in the tourny?
I guess I just don't really see the downside. Isn't 1 year better than no years? The occasional one and done player isn't going to hurt our overall scholarship depth. Would you have preferred to never have had McGary? He was instrumental to our championship game run after picking up the offense throughout his freshman season.
Weird that Teddy has michigan in his Final Four. He HATES everything about Michigan.
I also really like UCLA. They've got a tough path though; I'm struggling to pick them over Nova in my hypothetical Championship.