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March Madness: 8 bold predictions for 2019 NCAA Tournament

By Brian Rauf

Duke Blue Devils, North Carolina Tar Heels. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Duke Blue Devils, North Carolina Tar Heels. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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LUBBOCK, TX – MARCH 04: Jarrett Culver #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders shoots the ball while Jase Febres #13 of the Texas Longhorns looks on during the second half of the game on March 4, 2019 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Texas 70-51. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX – MARCH 04: Jarrett Culver #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders shoots the ball while Jase Febres #13 of the Texas Longhorns looks on during the second half of the game on March 4, 2019 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Texas 70-51. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /

7) Duke, Virginia, North Carolina, and Texas Tech will make the Final Four

So Virginia’s in and I think they’ll be joined by the other two No. 1 seeds to come out of the ACC, and I don’t really think I need to explain why.

But I will.

With a healthy Zion Williamson, Duke is back to being the overwhelming juggernaut they were for most of the season. They struggle to shoot from the perimeter at times, sure, but they’re so talented in every other phase of the game that it almost doesn’t matter. Their region also sets up incredibly well for them, as we discussed before.

Then there’s North Carolina, who will have to get past Kentucky in the Elite Eight in all likelihood – the same Kentucky team that beat them pretty handily back in December. Yet UNC has been playing so much better of late and I still think they are the most versatile team in the country. They have shooters who can burn you from three, big men who can beat you up on the inside, a deep bench, and a ton of senior experience.

That leaves us with a loaded West Region that features Gonzaga, Michigan, Texas Tech, Florida State, Marquette, and Buffalo as the top six seeds. You could logically pick any of those teams in the Final Four and have legitimate reasons for doing so. Yet, in my mind, Texas Tech is the only choice.

Marquette and Buffalo are guard-oriented teams that rely on their perimeter shooting and, while they’re great at it, few teams win with that being their only dominant area, so they’re bound to have an off game and be out. Then there’s Florida State and Michigan, both of whom are quality defensive teams but have had their offensive problems. They’re out, too.

That leaves us with the Zags and Red Raiders and, of those, Texas Tech is the most balanced. They have the best defense in the country per KenPom, the best player in the region in Jarrett Culver, and an offense that has found its groove since early February. They will be the only team in the Final Four that isn’t a No. 1 seed.

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