NCAA Basketball: Mock 2020 NCAA Tournament national title predictions
Brian Rauf – @brauf33
The championship has finally arrived and we get the nation’s most efficient offense going against the nation’s second-most efficient defense. Defense wins championships, but good offense always beats good defense – which cliche is true?!?!
This matchup is particularly interesting because of the ways these teams match up together. Kansas obviously relies on Udoka Azubuike down low, and his presence there on both ends is what has made Kansas a special team. However, Gonzaga has the tallest front line in the country and can throw multiple big men at him, which could complicate things for the Jayhawks offensively. Filip Petrusev, who joined Azubuike on the All-American teams, has the offense to match what Azubuike could throw at him defensively, too.
Devon Dotson is the best guard in this matchup, though Ryan Woolridge was a really good defender for the Zags all season long and Joel Ayayi has played his best in the biggest games.
This matchup looks so even that it’ll be one of those many championship games decided by role players – and there are plenty of X-factors on the table here. Can Marcus Garrett be a reliable offensive option in this game? Will Isaiah Moss get red hot? What about Corey Kispert? Will Ayayi have one great offensive nights?
With those things being so unpredictable, I think the most tangible thing that will affect the outcome is Gonzaga’s lineup versatility. Mark Few has the ability to go small or big without losing much production on either end of the court. Kansas doesn’t have that same versatility. If Dotson or Azubuike are limited, they become much more vulnerable. Because of that, I’m going with the Zags by a narrow margin.